Bocas

Based on recommendations, I picked another winner of a hostel upon my arrival in Bocas. I stayed in the annex at Mondo Taitu with the three people I met on the trip to Bocas and, as I would find out, a bunch of other good people.

The annex turned out to be perfect. It was basically half of the duplex next door to the main part of the hostel. We were able to create our own vibe and party on our own, yet go next door to hang out or visit the built-in bar at night. The annex also featured some decent (and some not-so-decent) artwork on the walls. The staff of the whole hostel turned out to be laid back, helpful, and fun.

As mentioned, we put together a good crew in the annex. The hostel bar hosts a costume night every Friday. We managed nearly full participation. My costume came together at the last minute (as everything tends to do in my world), but I was happy with the results. I started out by shaving my thick beard into quite an ugly display, then someone volunteered to paint my face, and with some borrowed clothes and accessories in my hair my costume was complete -- a clown-like beast that would surely make children cry.

The hostel bar tends to close a bit earlier so everyone can party elsewhere. Frequently we end up at a bar on the waterfront that has a dock built around an illuminated shipwreck. That night, most people changed out of their costumes before leaving. I decided to keep the display alive. It turned out to be the right decision. With the paint on my face, I decided not to partake of the tradition of diving in and swimming around (and cutting your feet on) the shipwreck. I managed to find a fun time anyways.

Lest you think all I did in Bocas was party, I also took the courses and qualified for my PADI open water SCUBA certification. At $175, it was too good a deal to pass up. I've found another hobby that I can spend money on in many parts of the world, and a beautiful new world under the waves.