Monkeys and Keyboards?

I have made up my mind with regards to the whole Carnival dilemma. Gonna keep focused on my mission, and join in whatever goes on wherever I am. That keeps it simple. I hope I don´t end up stuck somewhere with nowhere to stay though. So the plans are shaping up, have been in touch with more boat owners about sailing over to Colombia from here. I imagine it won´t be too long before I get something sorted. I have looked into doing it a more local stylee route which involves a domestic flight to an isolated little town that is nothing more than a lonely military outpost on the Carribbean sea, from there you have get your exit stamp then catch a launch to a similar place on the Colombian side, get your entry stamp, another boat to another little trading town, and bus up to Cartagena where I want to go. Three days in Guerilla-y country, fairly safe though so people I have spoken to say. All the flights are booked up for a week and a half though. I don´t really want to be here that long, as

DUnno what the results were. Maybe Ill look it up some time. 

Today I went to the Parque Metropolitano. It was a long walk through random bits of the city till I got there to be welcomed by these Turtles in their lovely Murky pond! 

Home sweet home. Zuly�s backpackers hasnt been round for long (4 months I think) and already looking to expand. Fine location and a real mattress. The kitchen is good too, although I have yot to find a hostel kitchen with a decent chefs knife init. 

Road signs designed to be understood even by American sportsmen. 

I liked this building. 

A fire Hydrant growing out of a root? What!!? 

A well kept Mosque on a quiet leafy street just back from the bayside. 

And from the same spot looking the othere way... 

Money. 

Along this part of the waterfront there were people selling anything they could salvage. All grouped together, here you see a stretch where the specialty was ropes and cables. Around the corner perhaps you might find the wing mirror people or the TV remote men! 

Casco Viejo From half way round the bay. 

Here we are: old, run down, smelly, teeming with life vs shiny new, and closed. I have noticed how money breeds paranoia. All the houses of in the middle class and rich areas have bars and security guards, and an atmosphere of suspicion, while in the poorer parts doors stand open and poeple smile because they dont have any things to worry about. 

old fishing boats. Still you guessed it on the Casco Viejo side of the bay. 

I had lunch here. A massive bowl of really tasty (if a bit offaly) soup, plate of rice and a ginger ale for a dollar thirty. It felt like a very real place, everyone comfortable fitting into their places easily. 

The shoes.  

Heres a mincer military uniform or no... He was chatting to this lady and her daughter outside their shop when I nodded and said "Hi!" he grinned back,and then as I was linig up the picture of the shoes, he said "Take one of me with the �Chinitas�" The girl went and hid in the shop while her mum shyly turned round.  

The stair well in one of the run down old apartment buildings... 

Guess what the advet being filmed here was for... 

ahh the ole Republic of Panama Bandera. 

Pretty part. 

Squeek scweek, this mangy chap took a liking to my camera strap, and stayed close by me throughout his domain untill he was distracted into chasing birds... 

Here is the bird puss was after. They are scavengers these fellers, I did know their name... should write these things down when you ask James! 

This Lady from the Kuna indegenous people of panama,makes lovely things among which were the cushion cover I bought for my sisiter. (It�ll be in the post soon Janey) 

Looking back at where I had been from the tip of the look out point. 

More children!