img_7004.jpgRafting Day! White water rafting is amazing! I had a great time. The guides picked us up at our hotel in Panama City and we drove to the Ma… River. The roads were 4×4 roads, so it was quite an adventure sitting in the back of the Land Rover. At one point we passed an old Panamanian guy riding a donkey/mule, culture shock! When we got to the river we divided into groups, thankfully, I got the experienced guide. However, our raft had some leaking issues, so that part wasn’t as fun. Rafting is really fun, although I wouldn’t like it in cold water. Here in Panama it’s great!

We stopped for lunch in an etty (the opposite of a jetty), and then continued on. The second half of the river was Class III, IV, V, so some of it we had to walk, while the guides guided the boats down. The group was a little cranky and paranoid, but we survived. Personally, I was ok with rafting anything, as long as the guides were comfortable with it. Oh wells. We finally got through the rough patch and on our way.

I really love my new river shoes. They’re excellent for jumping and running rocks. I felt like I was 7 years old again, rock jumping across the river.

By the time we got down the river, the trucks were waiting to take us back. We drove to a drop-off point for several of the guides. It was fascinating to watch all the activity at the “Fred Meyer / Wal-Mart” of Chico, Panama. People milling about, kids in school uniforms, little groups of teenage girls wearing decade old trends, and Diablo Rojos driving by every few minutes. We finally got back in the trucks and headed into the hills to the 4×4 camp (4×4 camper cabins). We passed some rank chicken farms and finally arrived at a mini-paradise, cuatro y cuatro paraíso. We walked up to the top of the hill while we waited for dinner. Dinner was pretty bad, it was mainly meat, so I was really hungry still. Thankfully there was also plantain, other than just salad. After dinner we sat around outside the “Cabin Romantica” and had Panama beers. The host was explaining to us in español that the dorm cabin was just the general camping cabin and the cabin by the “pool” was la Cabaña Romantica, lol.