Opportunity Knocks…

Yesterday I went to Colon, a port town on the Caribbean coast of Panama.  It is advised in Lonely Planet that if you are able to avoid this place then it is probably wise. . . and I now know why.  I want to refrain from posting anything on the internet that dissuades others from traveling to places that could lead to better tourism of a location badly in need of such. . . however, as Lonely Planet has already published it I will tell you that this place is like a bad dream.  It is recommended in the book to take a taxi even in the daytime and taking a small jaunt through the neighborhood has me convinced.  I didn´t pass one building with the windows still intact and if there were doors the doors were hanging from the frames.  It seems, from the living conditions, that Colon is just a city of squatters whom have become trapped. . . or stay for reasons of which I can’t comprehend.  It is; however, a photographer’s paradise as the city streets are littered with people playing street games, chaotic traffic with chicken buses blasting exhaust from their smokestacks. . . yes, smokestacks on an old U.S. schoolbus. . .and the buildings create a great story as well. 

While in Colon I managed to fall into something great!  I met a sailing crew that wants me to be a part of their crew to sail through the Panama Canal!!!!  Unbelievable!!  I still can’t get a grip on my excitement yet!!  Mark and Nicole are from Australia and have been sailing for years all around the world.  They just came to Panama from St. Martinique and apparently when sailing through the canal by law you must have a certain number of crew to help at the locks.  I am totally stoked!!!  We will be sailing through the canal this Thursday and Friday.  And guess what, if you want you can watch me on webcam as we sail through.  The website is www.pancanal.com

We go through the first lock on June 12th between 8-10pm and the second lock on June 13th between 1-2:30pm

¨The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.¨                               

-Emerson