They’ll always be starfish to me

We took the colectivo back to Playa del Drago – our second trip to this beach. This time, we hiked about half an hour and found the starfish. In just a couple feet of water, large starfish lay in crystal clear water. A great place to hang and snorkel. Today’s road school was learning all we could about sea stars–they live 35 years!

The hike here involves wading through some mangroves, but not all that tough. Definitely worth the effort.

Back in Bocas Town, we spent more time wandering around and generally taking it easy. This is a simple town to be a tourist. There’s even some pretty good Indian food (the first we’ve seen since… San Diego?) and sushi.

It can be a pretty place if you look hard enough, but it is still seedy. Everyone here is a hustler. If you want something, someone will tell you they can get it. Guys pedal by on bikes offering cocaine and weed under their breath.

We heard a few stories about people dealing with these guys and getting left somewhere without a boat ride home, having them take the money and ride off and never see them again, getting sold old banana leaves instead of weed (my favorite). The hustling can get old – especially since they are constantly buzzing around. You will utter the phrase “No, I don’t want a water taxi or a place to stay” many times.

Still, it’s nice here if you can ignore all that. The beaches make it worth it.