Just arrived on Isla Colon in the Bocas del Toro archipelago. It´s like a funky California beach town, but hotter and funkier. Dudes walking around with surfboards under their arms, people cruising around on bikes and mopeds, lots of Americans (met people from evergreen and conifer in the airport). The ex-pat thing is real and it´s big. Checked out my hotel, which is on the water. Not beachy, but docks going out over the water. Lazy fans and everything in tropical colors. Of course the woman from the office was out to lunch (literally, that is) so I parked my suitcase and went walking. What did i come to first? A lovely lavender house offering hatha and ansuara yoga. Walked right up and took a schedule. Headed away from town to check out a B&B, Cocomo on the Sea, that was recommended by the masseuse I visited in Boquete, and it was indeed lovely. Will probably move down there after a couple nights. Hammocks on their dock – who could resist that? Already going with the owner, Doug (a guy from Cincinnati who chucked everything about 7 years ago when he came down and bought the little B&B on the spot. Happy as a clam) and some folks to dolphin bay for snorkeling and lunch tomorrow. I must say, though I normally shun the americans and try to live ¨in country”, it´s so easy to meet people and they´re all so friendly. Everyone wants the same kind of life. Snorkeled the mangroves with Doug, Deedee and Rachel, then lunch at a lovely, isolated B&B – tested out their hammocks and signed up for a boat trip out snorkeling to a reef and lunch on Zapatilla island. As you can see from the photos, it was a rough day! Next day, took a water taxi over to Bastimentos Island to hike up to a great Thai restaurant on the hill, with a view of one of the surfer’s favorite breaks. Chatted with a couple we met and then hiked further up to a small house that served tea and homemade chocolates. Yum!