After crossing the Canal, Tanasza Polska Ustka is staying in the anchorage by the Balboa Yacht Club. The anchorage is very close to the main canal, through which about 30 ships a day pass day and night, so it’s a bit shaky and, what’s more, there are many small ferries here... we’re swinging in the rhythm of Panama... gosh, it’s amazing to watch those giants passing so near.
I get on the shore by a water taxi – we pass by a yacht with a dog on board, whose night-time hobby seems to be waking up all the people sleeping in the anchorage. The chief of the dock is Mr Victor, who has been working here for more than 20 years. He says he loves that job because he meets people from all over the world. His office, located at the end of a long pier, is the centre of local affairs and I’ll be getting fuel there today.
I mean I hope so, because here, as it is in all Latin countries, everything goes in the manana mode, which means tomorrow. What’s more, I get the impression that Panamanians’ specialty is Super Triple Manana :).

Today, I met Jasiek again. He speaks Polish so well! Congratulations to his parents on the efforts they made for their son, who was brought up in France, to know our mother language. Before he sets off to the Marquesas Islands, he’ll help me on the yacht a bit. I’m so happy especially because he’s such a nice person – he loves mountains and climbing and that’s why he says: “actually, I don’t know what I’m doing on water”... but he’s on the cruise around the world... I wish everyone was so modest...

Panama is famous for its turbulence, and I don’t mean the government here, but the weather. Never in my life have I experienced such lightening with such huge drops of water. I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t inform you about the progress in my relationship with mosquitoes - continuation of Mosquito - survival Around the World. I found out that they do not transfer malaria here, but a very serious fever might occur. So all the time, I have two remedies against these scoundrels with me and the ointment, which was given to me by French friends on St. Lucia to use on the bites. By the way, thanks to their help I got in touch with Franek, who  has seriously involved himself in helping to deal with many things for Tanasza. Thank you, thank you so much!

Yesterday, when I was coming back from the city, the driver yawned and said that I was his last client for that day.

-So after you drive me home, you can go home to have some rest?
-Oh no, I’m going to go dancing! :)

Indeed, the Panama City has some districts where it’s better not to go after dusk because they’re dangerous, but there are also such districts, where a vivid life of elegant people starts after 11 p.m. or even at 2 o’clock in the morning... you can find here whatever you want and everything at a reasonable price.
A couple of days ago, I ate a boiled egg... an overdue Easter egg. I had felt like eating it for... two months!!! :)

I have to fix several things – what a surprise, lol! A bit of  writing the materials and I can set off, unless a hurricane breaks out in the last moment...

http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Hurricane/Active.aspx?storm=1&type=track

P.S. As they say: boats are safe in harbours but they aren’t build to stay there :)
If you ever happen to be in Panama, make sure about the price of the drive before getting on a taxi. Even if they lower the asking price by 50%, you should be aware that you overpay at least three times because you’re a gringo, which means ‘a white foreigner’ in the local language.

Do you know where this expression comes from? If not, then I’ll tell you. During the Mexican-American war, the North American soldiers used to wear green uniforms and the Mexicans shouted at them: “Green go home!” With time, the expression changed into Gringo. This way it entered everyday Spanish language as a label for foreigners. Or perhaps someone knows a different story?

Today, I went to a supermarket, because I’ve run out of sunglasses and it’s time for new ones. The last ones stayed with me for ages, as I bought them in Darwin. Anyway, I strolled from one really well-stocked shop to another. I think the only thing they don’t have is polarised sunglasses, and I need exactly this type :( However, all female dummies in shop windows have breasts in the size of 2XXL. It’s really crazy.

In the morning: I ordered coffee, about an hour ago... lol, nobody’s in a hurry here. Maybe it’d be a good idea to transfer some of this sweet laziness to big cities in Poland? Imagine that you go to a petrol station and it takes you at least an hour and a half to get fuel :) but you’re smiling all the time :)
In the evening: when I spend hours looking at the lightening so near me, I imagine what it’ll be like at a dark night when I set off from here and I get wrinkles... not necessarily on my face :)