Shelter Bay Marina, Panama
3/22/18 – 0 nm – N9º22.1′ W79º57.0′ – Shelter Bay Marina – 15 kts, cloudy.
Flew in yesterday, dropped our bags ($5 each) at the baggage drop, took the bus to Panama City (don’t forget to buy a bus card before walking 10 minutes to the bus stop! $10 for the reusable card, beep it on the bus), transfered to Mercado de Maricscos for four kinds of ceviche. Oooh, the ceviche de Pulpo, so ono! Outdoor seating, a little warm and humid, but the beers went down well and we just couldn’t stop ordering the clean, fresh ceviche. Eight orders later we were stuffed. Totoal bill, $21 for 2. From there we walked around Cacso Viejo until sunset taking pictures, snooping around the shops, quick coffee stop with a very nice Columbian waiter and finally a Tapas place before bussing it back to the airport. We met our friends Gary and Patty as they exited customs and met up with Cap’n Chris’ taxi driver Alex for the hour ride to Shelter Bay Marina. The new bridge was lit with construction up in the dark sky with some very eerie overhangs suspended high above the canal banks. We took a car ferry across and continued our bumpy ride to meet Chris and Cheryl. Drinks on the boat, then dead asleep in our foreberth, port side hull of the amazing Catana 50 catamaran. A/C made my sleep almost as succulent as that ceviche.
Today we worked on the boat, minor repairs and filled up on gas and water. Free water! Bahamas was $0.40 per gallon!