Join me on my trips

A bottle of water at Schipol costs £5. So did without. Flight delayed haven't worked out how long this coming home has taken. Got back to a wonderful welcome of chocolate cake and hot apple from the kids. Thank you to them.  We tried out some of the chocs I brought back. General impression is that we all love central/south america

As I don't have to check out until 12 having  swim.  Beyond the railing is the sea with the tide in. Pelicans flying over.  Where the canal meets the sea and thus the waters mix, the fresh water fish, which would die in the salt, provide a feast for the birds. The paths we take in life often seem unimportant at the time but I realise that I'm here in Panama because of a path I took in 1963 and everything subsequent to that led me here. Nothing before that and nothing after had the same profound result. "Come to the ball with me tonight." That sealed it but there was no way I could know what would happen in the intervening 62 years. It is 31 and climbing degrees today, the hottest it has been so am glad to be leaving, probably also good for my barclaycard.

As its Monday and lots closed have booked cooking course and a massage. No rain and not too hot. Tasted some of the local chocolate. Quite a different experience. Learnt Panamanian Afro cooking for 4 hours. The guy was trained on Nairobi and has set up  business in his flat. 7 of us and most enjoyable, instructive and delicious. We made a chicken stew with a multitude of spices with coconut rice. Also all about pineapples and why foil has a shiny side and a matt side as well as lots of other tips. Before this I had stopped off in an ice cream shop with a group of over tattooed Americans. I was attempting to photograph their legs when a girl came and stood over my shoulder so quickly turned the screen to a hibiscus. She was quite aggressive but I actually did get this snap. However I think if you are out in public you are fair game.

Starting at 6.30  drove up to the Chagos river, hopped into a tiny boat with an Aussie and an American couple and zoomed off into Gaton lake which sort of joins the two main parts of the canal. Three types of monkey, howler, capuchin and tamarind. The little islands are home to sloths which I saw high up sleeping, plenty of birds and many other creatures includ ing these bats. A cayman. A small iguana. Termite and ants nests in the trees.  W onderful views and light. Could have spent more time in and out of the creeks. Then to a butterfly, frog and sloth sanctuary. An agouti running off with a flower which it then buried like a squirrel. A yellow caracara. Thought i was having lobster for lunch but turn...

Seems there is a large American party of 30 somethings who like the famous Germans hog all the seats early on. Took a taxi for 8 dollars to thd Biomus but the heat suddenly got to me so after seeing the geological history of Pznam got a taxi back for 20 dollars. First time the heat has got to me and ripped off at the same time. So spent an hour in the water. Saw an iguana and if you can make out this pic of the animals that once roamed the isthmus.  The array of facilities in my room still defeats me, need to learn the various coffee making machines. American men also keep their caps on all the time and there are acres of tattoos. Women too. The national theatre was closed and this rather downhearted girl had wanted her picture taken there. And next to her were these similarly miserable looking birds.

2 hour walk, some over soft sand and lots of obstacles knackered my knees. Pile of wet clothes. Food here is very good and healthy with, of course, plenty of fruit. Cash however is essential, only the restaurants up here in Bocas take them and then reluctantly. The ATMs run out they say. Taxis are cash too. Wa dered around enjoying the place, meeting up with boat captain from yesterday. When you look different people recognise you and say hi. I thought it was illegal to catch these? One of the buildings undergoing renovations. Eventually got my flight and got to Sofitel. A huge crowd of young drinking at the bar, a wedding party apparently.