Portobelo

We set sail for Portobelo fairly early in the morning so we could make the most of the next stop. The wind was light so we motor-sailed round the corner. We could have sailed but it would have taken over twice as long and time was limited.

We went ashore soon after arrival. By consensus we skipped the fort on the north side and tied up at the dock to see the fort and town on the south side.

We spent a little while in the museum in the old customs house. Annie was desperate to see a monkey and we did indeed find one outside the museum up a tree. We spent a while watching it and at one point it jumped on Annie to try and get inside her backpack.

We explored the rest of the fortifications and the central church which houses the ‘Black Christ.’

We decided to eat lunch in town before buying provisions. We bumped into the couple who used to sail ‘Double Dutch’ (who we last met on the turtle tour in Grenada). They now have a new boat but I have unfortunately forgot the name. They were sitting at a table in a tiny restaurant with their family. We chatted for a while before going off to choose which restaurant we would eat at. We eventually ended up back at the same place.

After lunch we shopped including treating ourselves to ice cream on a stick.

Back on the boat we rested for a while. Sam and Annie went back into town to find the monkey. They came back having found it, fed it and being bitten by it thinking it was all worth the pain and effort. I think Annie now wants a sloth and a monkey for pets.

We left Portobelo at first light this morning and are currently sailing towards the Chagres river where we expect to spend two night before transiting the canal. If the winds stay as they are we should arrive around midday.