This letter arrived today (Sept. 8) and was mailed by a "friendly cruiser" who posted it in Atlanta, Georgia 4 days ago.
Hi All!
Dave, Duff and I are in the San Blas Archepelago off the southeast Carribean coast of Panama. The San Blas Islands are small, flat, coconut covered islets surrounded by barrier reefs. The water is crystal clear and the anchorages are calm and swell free. We are happy to be back in the Carribean because the water is clearer and there is a negligable tide range. This is unlike the Pacific side of Central America where the range is 15 to 20 feet that made anchoring a nightmare in some places.
Yesterday we went diving and Dave caught two huge crabs and 3 lobsters. The reefs are full of them. We will be eating lobsters, carbs and conch chowder everyday we are here.
Kuna Indians live on these islands. They live in bamboo and palm thatched huts and paddle around in dugout canoes called 'cuyucos'. The women wear brightly embroidered costumes and wear beaded leggings from their ankles to their knees. Also they wear a thick ring between their nostrils. They sell 'molas' , which are brightly embroiderd material which can be used to make pillowcases or quilts, to the cruisers. This material is very pretty. The women contribute to their families' livelihood by selling these molas.
We plan to be in Panama for a few more weeks before heading up to Cartagena, Columbia where there are good haul-out and repair facilities. Sorrento needs some routine rudder shaft maintainance and the transmission needs a new aft seal. From Cartagena, we will sail some 400 miles to Isla San Andres and Isla Providencia which are well out in the Carribean but off from Nicaragua. We will wait out the remainder of hurricane season there. We will e-mail you when we get to Cartagena.
Miss you,
Love Fran & Dave