Winter break

Early yesterday morning, I left Bocas del Toro en route to my next destination in Panama.

It was a long day of travel.

First, I caught a boat from the Island of Bastimentos to the main Island, Isla Colon, in Bocas. Then I caught a boat to Almirante on the main land. After a solid hour on the water, I took a short taxi ride to the bus station, where I hopped on a bus to the city of David.

The bus ride was an absolute bitch. I was over tired from my second night in a row of partying in the Carribean, my back was severly sunburned, and the bus was packed like a melon truck.

To top things off, the driver had techno music blasting the entire time.

After a five hour bus ride to David, I had to switch buses and go back in the direction from which I came. And after one more hour, this time on a school bus--which was also blasting techno music--I arrived in the town of Boquete.

Home sweet home.

When I arrived at Hostel Mamallena, all I could think about was taking a nap and finding some food.

The hostel owner, Miguel, had other plans in mind.

He offered me a beer while I was getting settled in.

Then he brought me another.

And another.

Well, to make a long story short, I wound up partying the night away with the staff here at the hostel.

They just opened up six months ago and Miguel is working hard to build his business. Now that the hostel is up and running, he told me that he's planning to open up a bar next door.

"Interesting," I said. "It just so happens that I know a thing or two about bars."

Miguel couldn't fathom the fact that I know how to make over twenty different types of margaritas.

"You're just the person we're looking for," he said.

Miguel told me that when I have some time off of school in December he'd like me to come back to Boquete, stay for free, and train his bar staff.

Looks like my winter break is shaping up fairly nicely.