Boat Ride from Alimantre

....Water front property in Alimantre. I think the turquoise door is the outhouse.

Because Bocas del Toro is on an island it is necessary to either take your car on the ferry or to leave it on the mainland and take a boatride to Bocas. It is safer for your car to leave it on the mainland because for $3 a day there are secured lots where you can park it.

In true Panamanian style the route to the boats is not marked. Therefore enterprising young men watch for a car full of tourists and then yell at you and wave for you to follow them. We have done the drill before and were happy to find one. Marcello rode his bike (note the crooked seat) as fast as his little legs could pedal, leading us to the parking lot. He is gestering us to wait there while he checks for a parking spot.

Once there all his friends flock in like vultures waiting for a piece of the action. When the car has been shoehorned into it's spot they rally around to grab your bags as fast as you can unload them and insist on carrying them. Before you know it off we go to the boat. The result is a whole parade of tourists, kids and bicycles. They stay with you as long as they can and insist on putting your luggage in the boat. That is of course so that they will get a bigger tip. Then you have to tip them all with even the stragglers who didn't carry luggage looking expectant. Really they are very cute and earn their tip.

I have attached a few pictures of waterfront property in Alimantre if anyone is interested, I am sure the prices of real estate are fairly reasonable and if you email me I would be happy to make inquires on your behalf. There is even a boat house where you can moor your yacht. It is about a 15 minute boat ride to Bocas and I wouldn't want to do it in stormy weather....Rose