Boquete Day 3

So we are back in Boquete after finishing our river rafting and camping trip. The group we went with and our guides were absolutely phenomenal - Boquete Outdoor Adventures. Write the name down because they were really excellent. We woke up early yesterday and took a bus to the rafting site. On the way we stopped and got some drinks and snacks at the El Rey supermarket with the knowledge that this would be the last bathroom we'd see in 36 hours. We drove further up almost to the Costa Rican border and got some beautiful views of the upper Panamanian hills. I didn't bring a camera with me so apologies about the lack of photos. After parking our bus and then hiking for about a half hour to get to the Chiriqui Viejo river and our rafts. There were 5 to a raft and ours included Charles, Danny, Jacob and JQwest (John A.). Our guide, Freddie, was truly excellent. He knew every nook and cranny of the river and guided our raft, and my slightly terrified self, through the white-water 3+ / 4 grade rapids without any problem. After hours of rafting and swimming in the river after we may or may not have fallen out / been pushed out by our guides, we reached our dock and hiked up to our campsite.
Our living arrangements were great and the rain held out until our tents were all set up and ready. We shared two person tents and the guides gave us air mattresses, towels (better used as pillows), sheets (blankets) and a sleeping bag (sheets). They also prepared a delicious lunch for us right after we got to the campsite and then had a bounty of chicken fajitas for dinner. Then we got back to the important business of the all-VG spades tournament. Our heavy favorites, Fish and Dyer, got knocked out and immediately claimed the tournament wasn't really the best way to tell who the best players were. This is, by the way, a double elimination tournament. The champion looks to be decided tonight. Later on we serenaded our guides with a few numbers that were, at times, in the right key.
Early this morning a contingent of VGs woke up at 7:30 and to milk a cow and then others drove over to see/swim in an amazing waterfall not far from our campsite. After a quick lunch and then a religious visit to the outhouse pit (oh my God please do not make me go in there ever again) where many VGs almost missed the hole in the ground, we got back on our rafts and paddled to our final stopping point. This leg of the trip was a little more adventurous but Danny survived his tumble, unhurt, and the group weathered the speedy, rain soaked river fairly quickly.
Now we're back in Boquete in a new hostel that we booked with the help of Jim from Boquete Outdoor Adventures. This place is amazing - it's a giant lodge with a big dorm room and then a guest room with more beds that we were able to rent out almost completely for a great rate. The group is watching "There Will be Blood" (Simon is averting his eyes since he HATES this movie) and we're going to go out to dinner in about an hour.
This, unfortunately, is my last night with the group. Tre, John D, Wayne and I are leaving Boquete at six in the morning tomorrow and then flying out of David, Panama at 7:45am to get to Panama City. From there, we're off to either New York or back to Virginia.

Check back soon for updates from London and elswhere around the world.

-Simon