Panama

We are here in Costa Rica on tourist visas.  Which means, we can be in the country for 90 days, then we have to leave the country and come back in with another 90 day visa.  Repeat this process until we are done with language school.  We thought - no big deal!  HA!!!  Having to do this with 2 small children isn't very easy.

There are a few options of how to renew the visa.  Fly out of the country.  Go to Nicaragua and possibly have to wait in an immigration line for 2 or more hours - no thanks!  Take a 6 hour bus ride to Panama with the chance of not getting a seat and having to stand the whole time - no thanks!  Hire a private shuttle company to drive you to Panama - this is the option we chose. 

As we planned the trip, there were a few details we didn't realize until it was too late.  The shuttle company can drive us to the boarder, and then we have to walk across a CRAZY bridge (see pictures below) with all of our stuff (suitcases and two car seats) to get into Panama.  Then another shuttle company will pick us up on the Panama side and drive us to the boat landing.  All of us and our stuff will then get on a small motorized boat to go to the island.  Once on the island we load up on a van to go to the hotel.  Repeat this process when returning to Costa Rica. 

I know what you are thinking :  Ahh island life- a nice Caribbean vacation - beautiful beaches - sunny days -  That was what I was thinking . . .   BUT the boat ride to the island was HORRIBLE with very choppy water, the island was not very pretty, quite dirty in parts, our hotel was clean but surrounded by shacks, the beach across from the hotel wasn't swimmable due to some algae that had washed up, and it rained most of the time we where there. 

There was a good part of the trip.  The other family that was with us.  They helped make the trip fun.  They go to school with us and their children are the same age as N and J.  Jacob is one of Nathan's best friends.  The boys did so well traveling together and really helped keep each other entertained on the 5 hour van ride.  We are very thankful the Cains were with us. 

The kids also did really well for all the craziness!  I was worried about them having to ride in car seats again, and they did great with it. 

Nathan and Jacob riding along in the van. 

On the road to Panama

Banana Trees

The bridge we are about to walk across

Juliana's ride across the bridge.  She had the best seat in the house.

Nice whole in which my son could fall through!

Nathan holding a sweet lady's hand who was with us as we started across the bridge.

Jeff with our duffel bag and a death grip on Nathan's hand.

The rest of us as we start across. 

On the boat to the Island.  Juliana wasn't too happy!

Welcome to Panama

Waiting to go through immigration in the rain!

The one day we went to the beach, it rained.  The boys didn't care.

Eating on the water.