Here is some Net info:
Panama Pacific Net: 8.143.0 SSB at 14:00 Zulu (Sid was Net-Manager for
6 months)
Panama Connection Net: 8.107.0 SSB at 13:30 Zulu
Breakfast Club: 7.083.0 lower side band ham at 13:00 Zulu
PANAMA
PUNTA BALSA or UNNAMED ANCHORAGE: 08.04’38N, 82.50’56W Great spot to spend the night, open to the south, so watch weather. Keep an eye on the water, lots of trash and tree trunks floating.
ISLA PARIDA Very beautiful, a must stop. Shopping can be done in David.
ISLA SECAS We didn't stop here, were on a fast track. Supposed to be the best snorkeling and prettiest islands.
ISLA BRINCANO Very nice, remote, but open to easterlies. Great snorkeling. Island has a small river, we took baths in.
BAHIA HONDA Great anchorage. Very, very beautiful. Dominga will bring you fresh veggies and fruits, he's a very nice guy. This was my favorite anchorage off pretty much all the anchorages while cruising. No provisions here, except for the basics, but they do have a bar with beer. You an buy cases from them too.
BAHIA NARANJO Also very nice anchorage, with great snorkeling. There are three beaches, don't anchor in front of third beach to the right (south), bad holding. The middle beach did us fine. Great snorkeling, especially out by the island. Like a swimming pool.
PUNTA GUANICO Is a good stop for just a night and to rest up for Punta Mala. Anchorage good holding, but watch weather. Keep an eye out for floating trees.
ISLA IGUANA OK stop. Very beautiful island, but anchorage is a bit tuff. We had no problems but we did anchor in 45 feet of water. You have to anchor in 45 plus the bottom is a corral cemetery and bad holding. Interesting snorkeling here.
ISLA BONA good holding and great to dive your boat one last time before going to Panama City.
FLAMINGO PANAMA CITY you can anchor on either side. I prefer the city side. The canal side is very rolly do to all the tug boats and big ship traffic. There also is no way to get your dingy ashore. The city side has an incredible view over the high rise buildings. Beach access is much easier here. Although to go shopping from here, you have to catch the bus, which runs only ones every hour. Taxis are available, if someone takes a taxi out there and you take it back into town. If you plan on staying in Panama City for a while, I would go to Pedro Miguel, which is a really neat marina in the Canal Zone. When shopping in Panama, don’t pay with 100 bills, they will not take them, too many counter fits.
BALBOA YACHT CLUB we preferred the Yacht Club to the Flamingo anchorage, although it’s expensive. They even charge 25 bucks to join the club, which doesn’t exist and if you need any help or info, the office doesn’t know shit and is not offering to help with anything. It’s a good place though to get ready for the transit and if all goes well, you should only be in there 3 or 4 days. It is more convenient to go shopping from her then Flamingo.
PEDRO MIGUEL BOAT CLUB: Apartado 2613, Balboa, Ancon PH: 232 4509, 232 4184 Fx: 232 4165 E-mail:denisece@hotmail.com A MUST STOP!!! We just absolutely loved it here. If you decide to spend some time at beautiful Pedro Miguel Boat Club in the Miraflores Lake, you will have to call or visit them prior to admeasuring the boat and make arrangements. They then will make arrangements with the Canal office for a permit to stop at Pedro Miguel. The marina is located right next to the Pedro Miguel Lock in the Miraflores lake and unfortunately do to that, there are some times when we get horrendous currents from the tugs propeller wash when they push a big ship into the lock and can easily snap a dock line. Some boats have been smashed onto the dock with minor damage. So it is very essential that the boats are tied up with many, many dock lines. The clubhouse is fun. Every cruiser gets a space in the one of the four big refrigerators and in the freezer, yeah, ice-cream and ice for cocktails!!! There is a huge community kitchen, Cable-TV, computer, email, workshop, sewing room and of course shower facility, for no extra cost. You feel right at home in this place. The kitchen even had a dehydrator. Everyday the bread man comes by with the most delicious cinnamon rolls, breads and other sweets. Saturday and Sunday lunch a local girl cooks delicious meals for $2 a person. Saturday is pot-lock night with sometimes a pig roast. Shopping: is so easy from Pedro Miguel and a lot of fun. I used to take the bus to Albrook and from there a Taxi into town. They will probably tell you to take the taxi to 5 de Mayo, which is in a very bad area of town. Albrook is closer and more convenient. Taxis will be from 1 - 2 dollars anywhere you go. To go back I either took a Taxi (never paid more then 4 bucks to Pedro Miguel, just tell the Taxi: “Quatro (4) Balboa, Pedro Miguel.” If he says yes, get in, if no, just ask the next taxi. If I took the bus back, I went to Albrook again and told the Busdriver: “Wako por favor.” And he’ll drive you right to the front door of the Boat Club. They only drive down that road if someone asks. Patilla is the best shopping. You can find Kosher, a Jewish deli place with international foods a wonderful place to shop. Mini Max is another must store. This one is an oriental store, which has the most incredible veggies. You can find from artichokes, asparagus, arugula, fennel, rhubarb, pretty much any veggie you need, including the most unique tropical fruits and of course sushi and Chinese stuff. I can never remember which streets either one of these stores are on, but one is on Italia and the other on Brazil. There are also two great grocery stores, 99 store and Casa de Carne. On Transmistica, you can find Abernattys, which is a great boat and sporting goods store. He even has water pumps and other boat parts and odds and ends. He’ll even give you a great discount if you spend more then 150 bucks, which is easy to do. A bit further down the street is a 99 store. But in-between is a little car wash with a great grill and bar restaurant, a must stop for lunch, great meats. A little past the 99 store is a True Value and across from there Glidden paint which has bottom paint. Across from the 99 store is RS (Riba Smith), which has the best cheese selection anywhere. There is a dive shop close by as well and auto parts store for filters, oil etc. El Tapiz: Ave 12 Ancon, 1509 Y Calle “H” # 12-02 PH: 262 2334, has Sunbrella between 10 to 12 bucks a yard. He’ll go down on the price, but if he asks you if you need a recite, tell him no, because then he will charge taxes. Hydromundo: great service for water maker El Dorado: is a great shopping center and has several grocery stores, Internet and clothing stores. Across the streets is an ICOM representative and a Radio Shack. Fung Sick: Is a Chinese Vegetable place, across the Gas station before Pedro Miguel and has the most beautiful vegetables and fruits. Restaurants: Best Pizza and steamed clams at Napoli, wonderful restaurant close to Tapiz (closed on Tue). Here is some Net info, for cruisers heading south: Panama Pacific Net: 8.143.0 SSB at 14:00 Zulu (Sid was Net-Manager for 6 months) Panama Connection Net: 8.107.0 SSB at 13:30 Zulu Breakfast Club: 7.083.0 lower sideband ham at 13:00 Zulu Dr.Tinker: Gynecologist, Mammogram, Osteoporosis Test Centro Medico Nacional Cons.413 Ave. Justo Arosemena y calle 38 PH: 227-5444 COLON Well, Colon is not the greatest place to be. Be careful where you go and use the taxi, they are very cheap, you shouldn’t pay more then a dollar anywhere in town. Don’t wander around at night. The anchorage in the Flats is 30 feet everywhere, make sure you’re hooked well, it’s an ugly mud bottom. After three days securely anchored, the wind turned around and we dragged during the night. The marina is very convenient, but we think we had some electrolyses problems! There is no maintenance done in the marina. Haul out here is great, if you decided to do a haul out in Panama, I would success to do it in Colon. In Balboa the boats are on an 20 degree or more angle, where in Colon your leveled. (There is a Glidden Paint store here as well for bottom paint.) If you’re planning to go to Cartagena, you can haul out there as well. The price is about the same as in Colon. You will have to bring the paint with you, no paint here in Colombia. Colon: you have the restaurant right next to the haul out facility, showers and easy access to town. Cartagena: there is a 10 dollar taxi ride into town and you’re stuck on the boat at night, they have some mean dogs protecting the property. The Yacht Club, is actually only a restaurant and a bar. Food is great (try the fried wontons with sweet and sour sauce or the breaded pork chop sandwich, yummy, yummy!)and a pitcher of beer is 3 bucks. Don’t forget to do the 15 dollar round trip flight to Panama City from here and tell the pilot you want to see the canal, he’ll fly right over it. Shopping: Shopping isn’t as great here as in Panama City. There are several grocery stores in town. One of the Rey stores is just south of the marina, you’ll need a taxi, and it better then the stores in town. There also is a 99 Super Mercado and is way out of town. Ask the marina office for the phone number. Call them and they will pick you up in a school bus and after shopping drive you home again with some kids, who will carry all you stuff down to your boat or dingy. This service is free and this 99 store is the best I’ve seen, has everything, kind of like a small Walmart. Down Towns main street, has lots of clothes stores. I found great quality bathing suits anywhere from 1.99 to 3.99. Also sun dresses for 1.99. SAN BLAS Stock up well on fresh produce, stock up well period if you plan on staying several months in the San Blas. You can get veggies and fruits there but some places you will not see anything for over a week. You can fly to Panama City from some of the places, Porvenir (don’t buy cruising permit there, Colon will not accept it!), Rio Diablo, Tigre, Playon Chico, etc. They have about 12 stops and the price is around 60 dollars round trip. If you have any problems and need parts sent into Panama and you’re in the San Blas: Julie Arias, Panama Yacht Services, P.O.Box 6-4891, El Dorado, Panama, Republic of Panama, PH: (507) 613-6337 E.mail ariasjul@pananet.com Julie will receive your stuff and send it via plane to any of the islands you are. You also can order veggies, fruits, grocery from her and she will send it. She has a 40 dollar charge and then 10% of the value of the stuff you buy. But it’s a convenience if you’re in need. We got together with several boats and had grocery and even mail sent and split the cost. Bring lots of one dollar bills to San Blas. Rio Diablo has a bank, but will not take travelers check or cash advances of credit cards. They have no telephone connection with the other banks. They will exchange money, not higher then 50 bucks. Although there are some pay phones in town, connection is sometimes very bad or the phones don’t work, they are solar powered. Out of 15 times trying to get hooked up on email, it only worked twice on those phones.
KUNA DICTIONAIRY
The Kuna have no written language of their won. Traditions, ballets and tales have always been told, mostly by the Sailas, from generation to generation.
Here is a section of Spanish and the Kuna Indian language. Kuna is the predominant language in the San Blas region. It is important to remember that within the San Blas region, there are several Kuna dialects. The language guide here should be basic enough to be understood on most islands in the San Blas.
Hola hello
Tekimalo good-bye, see you later, adios, hasta luego
Panemalo see you tomorrow, hasta manana
Sedomalo see you later, hasta luego
Nuume gambit welcome, please to meet you
Nele medicin man
Saila chefe
Kantule singer of historical chants
Nika? Is there? Are there? Hay?
Nika madu? Is there any bread?
Nika masi? Are there any bananas? Hay guinesos?
Sate to not have
An mani sate I have no money
Anmar sate regalo we don’t have a gift
Namala let’s go!
Igui mani? How much money?
Nuedi mague nicely sewn
Be oguabie molas? Will you trade for your molas?
Ia segua it depends
Kuna yala Kuna nation
English to Kuna phrases
Where are you from bea daniki?
I come from_____ ueba andaniki_________
What’s your name? Be iguinuga?
My name is______ Ani nuga_________
How old are you? Igui birganika?
I am ___ old An tegi birga nuye___
How many children Warbigua be mimi nika?
do you have?
I have no children An mimi sate
I have ___ children an mimi ____ nika
How are you? Deguite be nuedi?
I am well Nuedi
Do you understand? Acu am betogue?
I don’t understand? An acu itogue
Can you make change? Mani oguae?
Do you have a gift for me? Angabe be imar uda moka?
I don’t have any gifts animar sate regalo
I want to sleep An kapie
Come back at____ Sedo be danigoe____
Let’s eat An mar mas gume
I have no money, I can’t buy Mani sate mor bako suli
How much does it cost? Iguy Mani
I want to buy______ An I _______ baibiye
I need _______ An abe________
We are going to________ amilesar nay_______
The sun is shining (brightly) dad (binasur) gai
It is raining (heavily) Di (binasur) uie
The wind is light (strong) Burua binagua (binasuli)
We will come back Noni baley
How? What? Igui?
I am sorry sau suli
Finished? Pela?
My friend Anay
Watch! Look! ` Nue daki!
Numbers
1 soquen
2 soibo
3 soiba
4 soibake
5 sogatar
6 soga nergua
7 soga cuile
8 soga babat
9 soga bakebak
10 sogampe
ENGLISH KUNA SPANISH
American merki gringo(a)
Anklet worn by Kunas uinni
Aunts, leaf-cutting igli arrieras
Avocado ause aguacate
Baby mimi bebe
Bad iscana malo
Balloon guunu globo
Banana masi guineo, banano
Basket carpa canasta
Big tuma grande
Bird pecking on reptile uekko
Birds sikui aves, bajaros
Boat urr, ruleulu barco, bote
Boy machigua nino
Bracelet worn by Kunas uinni sakira
Bread madu pan
Brother susu hermano
Butterfly chuchu, momur mariposa
Candy bastia dulces
Cat misi gato
Canoe urr cayuco
Cedar (wood canoes) urruwar cedro
Chicken candia pollo
Chief, high cacique cacique
Child goe nino(a)
Clam timurgua almeja
Coconut ogop coco
Drinking cononut ogop dudu pipa
Comb gui peine
Cooking scoop bunuyui noga tutuma, paleta
Noshui
Corn oba maiz
Cotton upsan algedon
Crac suga cangrejo, jaiba
Egg manisibu, huevo
Candir acua
Expesnsive carguerba caro
Fan bibi abanico
Fish ua pesca, pescado
Flag bander bandera
Flower tute flor
Foreigner uaka extranjero
Friend ay amigo(a)
Fruits imarg(h) uleguet frutas
Girl punolo nina
God tiolele dios
Grandfather dada abuelo
Grandmother mu abuela
Guava (brown pod fruit) unamalya guava
Hat kurguin sombrero
He/she/it jue e/ella/ello
Head nono cabeza
Headdress musue prenda para la cabeza
Heaven bam ninika cielo
Horse moli caballo
Husband/wife ansui, anome esposo(a)
I/my an yo/mi
Island tupu, dup isla
Kitchen mastuedi cocina
Large tuma grande
Lightning and thunder malgole relampago y trueno
Lime naras sole limon
Lipstick niar lapis de labios
Little pipigua pequeno(a)
Lizard aspan lagarto
Lobster tulup langosta
Man macharret hombre
Mango mango mango
Manta ray nitirbi mantarraya
Maria seed nacis semilla de Maria
Maria tree juerug arbol de Maria
Mermaid ansu sirena
Money mani plata, dinero
Monkey sulu mono
Month, moon ni mes, luna
Mosquito guigala mosquitos
Mother nan madre
Mountain yala monte, montana
Mouse nusa raton
My / I an mi/yo
Nail escoro clavo
Name nuga nombre
(to) need abe necesitar
needle iko aguja
night mutiki noche
no suli no
no-see-um gui chitras
onion aguer cebolla
orange naras tumba naranja
other baiti otro
owl shicui buho
(rowing) paddle gami cenelete
(weaving) paddle kami
papaya guargua papaya/lechosa
Parakeet cuili / wili perico, perocuito
Parrot cuacua loro
Pig cina puerco
Pineapple oso pina
Pipa (drinking coco) ogop dudu pipa
Plaintain machuna platano
Pochote (tree) issiwar pochote
(very) pretty yearta legue (muy) bonito(a)
rain, water di lluvia, agua
rattle nasisi sonajero
red snapper cuelu pargo
rice oros arroz
river diuar rio
sail urrmon vela
(to) sail urrmur navegar a la vela
scarf of kina women tuunet
(goard water) scoup tabor achicador
(cooking) scoop bunuzui, noga, tutuma, paleta, noshui
sea darmar mar
sea grape (ocean creature) obacua
sea grape (tree) nur
sewing maque cosiendo
shark nagli tiburon
she/he/it jue
sister buna hermana
skeleton kala esquelato
skirt of Kuna women (wrap) saburaat
sleeping cammai dormiendo
small pipigua pequeno
smile ale sonrisa
snail cole caracol
squirrel uksuini ardilla
star niscua estrella
statue agains demons (wood) uchu
storm tiburruwa, puruar tormenta, borrasca
sun dada sol
sweets bastia dulces
they juemar ellos
thread juaidu hilo
thunder and lightning malgole trueno y relaampago
tiger digar tigre
today emi hoy
tomorrow caniche manana
toy (top) imadurgan peon
toucan uerjuel tucan
tree sapi arbol
turkey sikili pavo
turtle yauk, moro tortuga
wasp iguabur avispa
match, clock watchee reloj
water, rain di agua, lluvia
(ground) water tia
village tupu pueblo
we amilesar nosotros
week itoed semana
(fishing) weir miria pescadera
whale pak ballena
wife/husband sui esposa(o)
wind peruar viento
wind from mountains yar, sapur or kiki puwar
wind from E di puruar puruar
wind from N yor puruar
wind from NW saguir
wind from SE kigui puruar
wind from W mandi puruar
woman ome mujer
wrap skirt of Kuna woman saburaat
yacht urrbote yate
yes ella si
yesterday saji ayer
you/your be tu, usted
INFO FROM OTHER CRUISER:
PANAMA VISA
When checking into the country you need to be registered as a mariner. You need two pictures, one for your tourist card and one for the registration. The cost is $10.00 per person plus $1.00 for each receipt. Make sure you keep your stamped receipt as we are told there are a lot of forgery's. Because we are mariners aboard slow moving sail boats we do not have to leave the country anymore but we do have to get our extensions on a monthly basis. You will receive a "Mariners Tourist Visa."
Those that fly in on a tourist visa have to leave the country after 30 days. We are wondering how this is going to go over with all those people who have condos, etc. Can't imagine Donald Trump and other investors will stand for this change. The "Donald" is building two high rises, one in P.C. and one up the coast. Who would want to buy if they have to leave the country every 30 days. All the locals we have spoken with believe it won't be long before this will all be changed again.
Lynne and Lois
s/v Spice Island Lady
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Posted by: "Glenn Tuttle"
Fri Nov 9, 2007 9:23 am (PST)
Hello Friends,
For those using a Panama Cable & Wireless pre-paid cellular phone, and would like to have their phone a little more Gringo-friendly, here's a tip how to change the menu (used for adding and checking your available minutes) to English.
Dial *167 SEND
Once the message starts in Spanish
Dial 3 then
Dial 1 then
Dial 2 then
Dial #
That will change your menu to English.
Then when you check your remaining balance (*165) or add minutes (*166) the menu will be in English.
You can also have your voice mail menu changed to English by calling their customer service (*161) and speaking to an English speaking representative to make the change.
Also, Eddie and I finally received our Panama Pensionado and multiple entry visas few days ago. The pensionado visa is valid indefinitely, while the multiple entry visa is valid for 2 years. This eliminates all immigration issues, however we will still need to re-new our cruising permit every 90 days. This is a simple procedure not requiring an agent and costs $69.00. There is no requirement to periodically take the boat out of the country as in some other countries.
The pensionado visa also entitles you to substantial discounts, i.e.: 50% on hotels, 15% on air travel, 15% on restaurant meals, even medical dental and pharmaceutical needs.
If anyone wants more information on this you can contact us directly at
Cheers,
Glenn & Eddie Tuttle
M/V Tothill
LAS PERLAS HIDDEN ROCK COORDINATES:
This is an info I received from a fellow cruisers who happened to find the hidden rock that is not charted, approach with care and at your own risk.
