Carnavales Series, Part 4: My Carnival

So, amidst all the celebration, I had to do something. Last year I just stayed around the city and while relaxing, five days in a city that has been completly shut down was not exactly just a day in the field. It was boring as all get out! So I had to do something this year.

I made plans, and oh there were good. The long weekend started out with a crazy fishing trip. We left a little late and missed all the fish! However, we did go boating on the lake that was dammed up to make the canal, and it was surreal to be fishing, look up and see huge container ships pass by. We spent the whole day fishing with no avail and fruitlessly. After drinking quite a few beers on the boat, rowing, eating, waiting, waiting and no biting, we decided to go (row) back to shore. Upon arriving and having been laughed at by all the accomplished fishermen of the village, the owner took pity on us and gave us a few fish to take with us. Then one of the local fisherman said he would give us more fish if we simply took him to buy some beer at the local store (about a five mile ride). So more fish was added to the bounty. Then after taking the fisherman to the store and having made a new friend, he decided that we were cool enough to offer us a ride on his speed boat. We all got on, and he drove us right out into the canal, no more than about 20 feet from a huge container ship that was passing through. We were in the freaking canal, without permission! It was great.

Sunday night brought a fish fry at Milton's house, and we enjoyed all the fish we had "caught". This was supposed to happen Saturday night but we were all so tired and sun drenched that no one of was awake enough for a fish fry. And of course, there was the preferred carnaval beverage, beer. Milton cooked rice with guandú, fish and salad. Excellent.

Monday brought about the beginning of the tour of Panama. We left Panama early in the morning so that we could get to our first stop, the beach, before it got too crowded. After lathering up, Milton, Carissa and I (the crew) dove in and enjoyed the crystal waters for about an hour. We also spent time just hanging out on the beach and relaxing. At about 12:00, we left for stop number 2, Penenomé, a city about two hours from the city. Since Penenomé is one of the first cities that is considered the "interior", it also has some of the biggest parties for Carnavales. It is also where all the really ghetto people (and when I say ghetto, I mean fights that the cops have to break up ghetto) go because it is the only trip they can afford. So the combination of large parties with large quantities of alcohol, a little more than questionable people-age, it only lead to the inevitable. I was pick pocketed in the culecos. But how? Let me explain the culecos: you know those big gas tankers that transport our life supply, oil, across the country? Well, in Carnavales in Panama during the day, those are filled with water, and then sprayed upon hundred of scorched people. Sound like fun? Its basically like walking past a open fire hydrant. But, with the loud music, and the quantity of alcohol aforementioned, yes it is fun! But take at look at this video and you will understand how I got pick pocketed: