..." No street signs, no front doorways, just 'homemade' roads intertwining from one living area to the next; and the more I walked, the more smiles I collected along the way, the more smiles I collected along the away, the bigger the reminder became that when you have nothing to lose, you have the world to gain."...
What a place! What a unique experience today tendering directly to one of the best kept secret of Panama, The San Blast Islands. And what a gift it was to see a port where the competition was not who had the biggest yacht, but the biggest smile.
"...I hope all of us working hard on leaving a trace behind in the world, take a moment to remember that the world is here to leave a mark on us. We just have to allow it..."
The San Blas Islands are a group of approximately 365 islands and cays, which gives you an opportunity to visit a different San Blas island each day of the year. However, not all of them are inhabited. There are about 50 islands that are deserted and non of the 365 islands are your average paradise island from a tropical tourist brochures. As a matter of fact, San Blas Islands are everything, but ordinary. All of the islands are teeny-tiny. On the larger islands as Aguja Island, Guanidup Island, Chichimei Island, Yandup Island and Porvenir Island you will find the local indigenous people known as Guna Yala’s. They protect their land and keep it healthy, beautiful, and untouched. So if you want to visit the islands, you are more than welcome but be prepared to experience the Guna Yala's lifestyle. It is a all natural, eco- friendly lifestyle, a real chance to experiencing indigenous living in modern days. All the accommodation is created from materials found in the jungle and food comes mostly from the skills of the local fishermen.
As we arrived the indigenous people were running around. The women were shining bright in florescent embroidered clothing, the kids were busy playing in the dirt, men were praying as live music was shadowing from every direction. The homes were primitive, no traditional housing, just a boarding area with hammocks to sleep in. No street signs, no front doorways, just 'homemade' roads that were intertwining from one living area to the next; and the more I walked, the more smiles I collected along the way; the more smiles I collected along the away, the bigger the reminder became that when you have nothing to lose, you have the world to gain.
I hope all of us working hard on leaving a trace behind in the world, take a moment to remember that the world is here to leave a mark on us. We just have to allow it!
~Lady Captain