Hanging out with the sea dogs at Balboa Yacht Club, Panama City

Today started out well, then it got a bit iffy, then it ended on a high!

We visited a shopping Mall called Albrooks to get a widget for Harvey. We need electricity hook up because it is so dang hot here; we are sweltering by 0930 hrs. But the plug is damaged so we need a new one. There is always something that needs fixing or replacing. The road is tough on ‘systems'.

I amused myself whilst Uli hunted for the part. I had a manicure for 5$US and a trendy hair wash and cut for 14$US. I am now sporting a fringe again. Johnny the stylist was from Columbia and did not speak English. The owner was Italian so he translated. I love it when you pitch up somewhere and you are surrounded by this cosmopolitan energy. Johnny kept dropping his combs and scissors and then did not wash them/replace them so I was a bit nervous. But it in end, he cut a LOAD of hair off – he cut into it and thinned it out. It was like a woolly tea cosy before; far too heavy and hot. Now it is quite trendy and Uli likes it! Yeah!

Then we got lost in the Mall. Literally. It is huge. We wandered around and around and couldn’t find an exit. Uli became irate. I thought it was funny. Normally, it’s the other way around! We finally made it out, and then we became lost in the concrete roadway jungle of Panama City. It’s tricky to navigate this place, especially with a crumby map. We paid three times at the same road toll station. Eventually we worked it out and got back home. If I ever live here I would sell my car and just use taxis. Not worth the blinking headache plus mucho traffic. I had forgotten what a drag it is to sit in hot stinky traffic.

The fun part was hanging out at the new Balbo Yacht Club and meeting two old sea dogs; Tom from near Glasgow, Scotland and Buddy from Tennessee, USA. They have a passion for boats and were fun to chat with and gain info on how we can catch a yacht going through the canal and have a free ride as crew.

Tom is skippering a huge Katamaran (20 birth) and is awaiting his boss and owner to come to Panama City and then they will sail to Australia and sell the boat for double the price.

Buddy is here on vacation keeping Tom amused. Nice, likely lads. Funny stories. And scary stories too about being shipwrecked. They took us down to Flamenco Yacht Club at the end of the Amador causeway where the real sailors hang out – nice bar/resto surrounded by beautiful yachts in the marina and cheaper Balboa beer! I shall try to hook up with these boys again; they are great company and I would love to take a peek at the fancy boat!