Hurricanes and Visas

The hurricane part would be what changed Kelly's and my trip destination from Belize to Panama. Visas would be the reason we had to go to begin with (although a little vacation is always a good incentive). Enjoy the brief notes (with one exception) that follow.

Day 1: We had to go to Tegucigalpa (Teguc.), the capital city of Honduras, a day early in order to purchase our bus tickets for the next day. We hung out in Teguc.--watched a movie, did some shopping, and visited with some friends.

Day 2: 18-hour bus ride from Teguc. to San Jose, Costa Rica. The bus was tour-bus style with very good service. Arrived in San Jose at 12:30 AM, spent what was left of the night in a very nice hostel, Hostel Bekou.

Day 3: This day needs a detailed explanation!

SO. It's our second day of real travel, the one after our 18-hour bus ride to Costa Rica. We're on our way to Panama. We got really good, step-by-step directions from our hostel people about how to get to Bocas del Toro, and we're feeling pretty good about it. We buy tickets for the bus that will take us to the bordertown between Costa Rica and Panama, supposedly a 5 1/2 hour trip. We leave at 10:00 am. The first thing that happens is traffic due to an accident up ahead. That was about a 45 minute lovely wait. (Keep in mind we have reservations in Panama for this night, and I had told them we'd arrive around 4:00.) The next obstacle was slightly larger...our bus broke down!! Sitting alongside the road in Costa Rica for about 2 hours. (We were actually inside the bus most of the time. People were trying to fix it while we were waiting for another one from the same company to come get us. Thankfully, I had a really good book to read at this point in time.) By this time, Kelly and I are getting a little concerned. The second bus finally comes, and we stop at all of these little places for people to get off, and we don't think we're ever going to make it. (a little foreshadowing there)

We finally arrive in the bordertown around 5:30 or so. As we're walking to the border, to the immigration office, this "random" (angel-to-be in disguise) man informs us that we can't walk across the bridge border into Panama because immigration closes at 5:00!!! (We were at the Costa Rica border at 8:00 last night!) WHOA!! What now? Don't panic! Our new friend, Nestor, tells us to follow him to a hotel down the road. Um, o.k. Can't sleep on the street. That's when prayer comes in real handy! So, we follow Nestor, praying all the way, a good ways down the street to this hotel. When we arrive, we see, with relief, a group of white girls standing outside the hotel. Turns out they're from Germany, Holland, and the U.S., and also missed the border crossing. Unfortunately, there weren't enough rooms for all of us.

So, still praying, we follow Nestor back to where our bus arrived, full circle, and he puts us in a taxi with directions for the man to take us to another hotel. It's dark and we have no idea where we're going. We arrive at this hotel and when we first ask the dining couple outside if there's a room, there's some hesitation, but then the man says "yes." He opens up our room,*cough*,closet, which contains 3 beds, a bedside table, and a fan that doesn't work. The toilet and showers are separate stalls around back, no sink in sight. Wow. True, we were very thankful to have a roof over our heads, but it was slightly scary. We pushed the 3rd bed against the door and slept with our money on us.

I know it sounds crazy and scary, and believe me, it pretty much was, but at the same time, it is even more proof that God exists and that He watches over and provides for His children. There was nothing we could have done other than what we did, and He thankfully protected us. It definitely gives definition to the word "adventure"!! An added blessing to all of that was that when we finally arrived at our hotel in Panama, our room was still waiting for us, and they didn't charge us for the night that we missed. Praise God!

Day 4: We were told last night that there would be taxis going by our shady hotel early in the morning. There weren't. So we walked from the hotel back to the border and the immigration office, walked across the bridge, and finally arrived in Panama. Took a 50-minute boat ride to Isla Colon, one of the larger islands of the region called "Bocas del Toro." Checked into our nice hotel over the ocean (Hotel Olas ("waves")) and went to explore the island. Walked for a long time and then with relief, ate lunch after a day and a half of eating nothing. Checked out a beach area and ate a good dinner at a restaurant where God used us to encourage the staff who were being hasseled and exhausted by an annoying patron.

Day 5: Boat tour!! We went on a boat tour that took us to many different locations: Dolphin Bay where we got to see lots of dolphins, snorkeling, a restaurant over the ocean where we ate lunch, and the most beautiful beach that I have ever seen! Ate dinner at a fun, cute little restaurant called "The Pickled Parrot."

Day 6: Went shopping. Traveled to the supposed best beach on our island. We were skeptical at first, due to the fact that there was no beach of sand to sit on, but when we discovered the starfish that our taxi driver had mentioned and that God lovingly created for us to marvel at, we were happy campers. The starfish were big, numerous, beautiful, and amazing. Ate GREEK food for dinner--more happy travelers.

Day 7: Time to go already? Traveled back to San Jose, CR. Much smoother trip this time around! Stayed in a bed and breakfast close to our bus terminal.

Day 8: Left San Jose, at oh, 2:00 AM!! Traveled back to Tegucigalpa. Spent the night with my friend, Ethel, and her family

Day 9: Last bus ride for awhile, hopefully...to Guaimaca. Now, we're rested and legal. Thanks be to God for a safe and wonderful trip! Check out pictures through the link below!