Panama/Colombia 2021

Originally, this should have been a trip in March 2020. COVID-19 came across and made me return home after only one week. So now, in Summer 2021 I am able to finally travel! My boyfriend Fabian is joining - his first trip outside of Europe… Read more

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Trip start
July 2, 2021
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Day 1
Friday, July 2, 2021
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Netherlands Waterlooplein 52.367302, 4.8998252°22’2” N 4°53’59” E
Ámsterdam - Starting our trip
July 2, 2021 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Traveling to Amsterdam is the first stop of our trip. Packing last things, setting up the watering system for my plants and trying to get a good sleep before being awake for almost 24 hours. Luckily the airport is just 20 minutes away from my apartment in Amsterdam.Read more
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Day 1
Friday, July 2, 2021
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Panama San Miguelito 9.049978, -79.4749489°2’60” N 79°28’30” W
Arriving in Panama City
July 2, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
We arrived safely, Fabi three hours before myself as he had a direct flight and I had a layover in Madrid. Although tired, I am so overall happy and thankful to meet my dear friend Chinelo after 2 years not seeing her. She welcomed us with a typical Panamanian dinner: Patacones con pollo.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, July 3, 2021
🌧 29 °C
Altitude: 46 m
Panama Río Seco 9.083876, -78.7926539°5’2” N 78°47’34” W
Lago Bayano
July 3, 2021 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 29 °C
Our first day in Panama! Got up pretty early (6 AM), packed the car and together with a group of friends went to the Bayano Adventure: Caves with Bats, Water and a pretty Lagune in the end, as well as alligators, jumping into the lake and kayaking. Good food and company as well! Even took a bag self collected Mangos home…Read more
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Day 3
Sunday, July 4, 2021
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 32 m
Panama Grande River 9.020149, -79.6099559°1’13” N 79°36’36” W
Community Bible Church Day
July 4, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Uff - got up again at 6 for a bike ride along the cinta costera in Panama City. Every day there are long parts of the main roads in the center closed for cyclists and we could be among them. Apart from that I was Really excited for this day because I got to meet mi querida gente - mis amigos de Panama. Four years ago I spent quite some time with them here in Panama. After church in the morning we took some rest and then went to Pastor Todd’s and Mariellenas house for an American BBQ party in honor of the day of independence in the states. Everybody came dressed in white, blue or red, Pastor Todd hosted a great self cooked buffet with Mac and cheese, Hot Dogs and other typical food from his home country - we really got the full experience here! Finished the evening with karaoke, mafia, other fun games, dancing and karaoke. In the end had to rush home because of the curfew at 10PM.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, July 5, 2021 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 164 m
Panama Llano Roble 8.539818, -79.9902658°32’23” N 79°59’25” W
Cajones de Chame
July 5, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We are starting our road trip through Panama! First stop outside the city: a really pretty river having its way through huuuge stone walls. Our friend David accompanied us so we were four. Water was so nice but the sun hit hard! Fabi got his first really bad sun burn and I ended the day having a sunstroke. In the afternoon David left to return to Panama City and we continued to our next stop. I was feeling very bad by then, headache and a very bad feeling in my stomach. Slept through the whole ride and as we arrived in the resort we were heading to it happened: First time I had to vomit because of sun. 😳 thankfully, a couple of hours sleep did their best, so I could even accompany Fabi and Chin to dinner.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, July 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM
🌧 27 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Panama Scarlett Martinez International Airport 8.362877, -80.1288458°21’46” N 80°7’44” W
Resort Decameron
July 5, 2021 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
First time at an all inclusive resort… pools, beach, spa, shows, nice food, drinks, gym and more. We really enjoyed 2 days and 2 nights in this nice resort. A lot of Panamanian families and visitors and much much food. BUT we had nice workouts every day.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 7:10 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Panama Barriada El Sol 8.123912, -80.6708378°7’26” N 80°40’15” W
Quick overnight stop for good wifi
July 7, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
While looking for a Hostel which has good working WiFi, we found “Hotel Central” owned by Chinese people which would always call Chin y myself “Mami” which means “honey” or “sweetheart” here in Panama. While Fabi set up his computer and equipment for the oral presentation/exam his students needed to present that night (German time in the morning, Panamanian time during the night 😴), Chin and myself went to a place to wash laundry.

Fun experience, Chinelo and myself sleeping while Fabi would listen to and grade the presentation of his students - all in the same room!Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 9:46 AM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 572 m
Panama Lago El Flor 8.418903, -80.8519448°25’8” N 80°51’7” W
La Silampa and Señor Augustins House
July 8, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
First really beautiful hike in the area of Chitre. After a sleepless night for Fabi, we started off with breakfast at Señor Augustins, our guides, house. We ate Ojaldra, a piece of dough which is fried accompanied with salchicha en salsa. The view was stunning! On our road trip we were getting closer to the mountain part of Panama and already saw some really beautiful nature during this hike. The trail to “La Silampa” took around 2 hours. Then we arrived at the Lagune with a small waterfall, a place to enjoy nature, get into the water and hang out.
Thankfully has rather been cloudy - a good break for our already burned skin. But even though the sun was hidden by clouds, we rather kept our shirts on because being so close to the equator also means the sun is so mich more intense than in Germany.

After we came back, Señor Augustins family proudly shared their garden harvest with us, we tried sugar cane, got fresh lemon grass, and some other exotic fruits and vegetables! Although they don’t have a lot they were so joyful in giving and sharing with us. This really was an impressive day!Read more
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Day 8
Friday, July 9, 2021 at 12:18 PM
🌧 28 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Panama Quebrada Gatosa 7.430405, -80.1888127°25’49” N 80°11’20” W
Playa Venao - Surf Hostel Selina
July 9, 2021 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
Our first day of surfing!!! I was so excited.. and I still am. First time ever surfing for Fabi.

But let’s start from the beginning. We arrived quite late at night after a 5 hour drive from La Silampa. We were glad to just get to sleep. Fabi again had some night meetings (from 2:30 until 7 AM 🥺) because of the time difference so he slept in the next day until 11 or so. Chin and myself got up early and explored the area, the hostel and especially the waves - checking out the surfing spot :) after Fabi got up, we jumped into our surfing clothes (to protect from sun) and got the boards. The day was cloudy, not bad for surfing though!

3 tough hours of surfing and we were sooooo spur the next day, but it was so much fun and I was very proud of Fabi who picked up the basics quite quickly.

After surfing we had to get going quite fast again due to another 5 hours on the road ahead of us.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, July 9, 2021 at 10:30 PM
🌧 19 °C
Altitude: 1,097 m
Panama Pueblo Nuevo 8.777095, -82.4320298°46’38” N 82°25’55” W
Boquete
July 9, 2021 in Panama ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Next stop: Boquete in the region Chiriqui. The one thing I really wanted to do during this trip is tk hike the 3000m Volcan Baru. But unfortunately it is raining season in Panama and although we were very lucky so far with the weather, here in Chiriqui, the mountain region of Panama, it has been raining much more. So no Volcan Baru Hiking 😞

We still had 2 really nice days here in Boquete! Starting with our hostel which looked like a castle where we used the big pool and Jacuzzi, watched a (not so good) movie on to a really delicious breakfast at “Olgas Place”, over to visiting coffee plantations and eating the best Brazilian pizza in Quiriqui as well as seeing many beautiful plants and flowers Boquete was like a refreshing break which really helped to relax a bit more.Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, July 11, 2021
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Panama Changuinola/Captain Manuel Nino Airport 9.44497, -82.5199939°26’42” N 82°31’12” W
Casa Owkuka
July 11, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Casa Owkuka!! Finally… Mommy Owkuka has been asking since years when I would finally come to visit their house and get to know Changuinola, the place where Chinelo grew up. Now the time has come. We arrived around mid day on Sunday and first things first: we got Nigerian soup (which is to be swallowed) and Nigerian rice with meat. After that, Kimberly, Chinelo’s sister and Chin took us around Changinola to see the banana plantations from the company “Chiquita”. EVERYTHING around this city is basically banana plantations…. These are the bananas we get in Germany.
Also, we spent a short visit to Costa Rica, walking over the bridge which connects Panama and Costa Rica. Usually we could easily cross over to Costa Rica but now with COVID everything is more complicated so that we just stayed on the bridge.

At night we still spent time with the family and played Rummy Kubb, had palomitas and coconut 😍Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 11:07 AM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Panama Grassy Bank 9.339879, -82.2401739°20’24” N 82°14’25” W
Surfear la Isla
July 13, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Final stop on our trip in Panama are las Islas de bocas del Toro! A well known and much collection of tropical islands in the Atlantic. One of Fabis and my main activities is: Surfing! Our on the reef break “Black Rock” in front of the island carenero, we tried to improve our skills. Caught more waves on the first day and finished up after the second day with hurting rips and back/shoulder muscles, but it was worth the pain. Got to know people on the water, enjoyed a very very nice meal Chinelo’s friend Ariel cooked for us and loved the Hostel Hansi with cat Cleo.

Really fun time here on the island. And now… wrapping up our things in Panama and heading to Colombia.Read more
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Day 14
Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 5:19 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 49 m
Panama San Miguelito 9.058281, -79.474779°3’30” N 79°28’29” W
Layover in Panama City
July 15, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We are back in the city!! After an 8 hour ride from Bocas Adel Toro to Panama City, we arrived in the evening at Chinelo’s house, tired but very well. We are staying here for another night and tomorrow (16th) fly out to Colombia 🛫
Chin will accompany us - we are very much looking forward to meet our friend Alejandra and her family in Guarne which is close to Medellin.

Our last day here in Panama is full of packing, relaxing, getting last things done, like going to an American Second Hand Store and so on. Time has been flying, for me personally it feels as we would have just arrived in Panama. But it has indeed been 2 complete weeks here!Read more
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Day 15
Friday, July 16, 2021 at 4:51 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 34 m
Panama Tocumen International Airport 9.066754, -79.3867249°4’0” N 79°23’12” W
Tocumen Aeropuerto Internacional
July 16, 2021 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Nothing special, just: first time that the three of us travel together in an airplane!!! 🤓
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Day 15
Friday, July 16, 2021 at 8:53 PM
🌧 15 °C
Altitude: 2,123 m
Colombia José María Córdova International Airport 6.171345, -75.4275376°10’17” N 75°25’39” W
Aeropuerto José María Córdova
July 16, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Finally seeing Alejandra, quick antigen test - which was not really quick because the administration was kind of messy - but we arrived safely and well in Colombia.
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Day 16
Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 8:20 AM
☁️ 13 °C
Altitude: 2,196 m
Colombia Guarne 6.287805, -75.440726°17’16” N 75°26’27” W
Finca de la familia de Ale
July 17, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
First time during daylight in Colombia. Alejas family lives outside of Guarne, a small town in Antioquia. They renting a marvelous finca with a huuuuge garden and many plants. At night we were so warmly welcomed with Arepas and hot chocolate… everybody was so hyped, her family and us as well that we stayed up until late. After a delicious breakfast we are packing our things to get on the road again…Read more
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Day 16
Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 12:18 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 1,910 m
Colombia Guatapé 6.289092, -75.1544726°17’21” N 75°9’16” W
Guatapé, Antioquia, Colombia
July 17, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Once we entered the city I remembered that I was already here 4 years ago. A beautiful small town surrounded by a lot of water. El pueblo “El peñol” was flooded 30-40 years ago after the municipality built a dam in order to use the accumulated water to produce energy. Now most of the energy used in Medellin and the area comes from this big lake.

We spent the day here, ate bandeja paisa and did a nice boat ride.Read more
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Day 17
Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 11:34 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 997 m
Colombia Quebrada La Villa 6.188675, -74.9920386°11’19” N 74°59’31” W
San Carlos
July 18, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
From Guatapé, we took quite a curvy road to San Carlos where we planned to spent the weekend. San Carlos is a cute little pueblo, not very touristic and therefore especially nice to visit.

Súper Colombian experience, with huevo hogado, arepa con queso y chocolate for breakfast and arepa relleno y patacón pisado for dinner. Also, spent the day at a beautiful river with multiple waterfalls - all of that without getting a sunburn 🤗Read more
TravelerLiebe Rahel, ich sehe gerade zum ersten Mal deine Fotos und bin ganz beeindruckt und überwältigt von Euren Erlebnissen und der Vielfalt Eurer Unternehmungen! Welch eine besondere Zeit für dich und Fabi!!! Ganz liebe Grüße schicke ich Euch um die halbe Welt herum
7/20/21Reply
TravelerAch danke liebe Cornelia! Jaaa wir sind auch total beeindruckt und müssen die Erlebnisse erstmal verarbeiten wenn wir zuhause sind glaub ich. Herzliche Grüße vom anderen Ende der Welt auch besonders von Chin und Fabi…
7/20/21Reply
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Day 18
Monday, July 19, 2021 at 2:34 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 1,961 m
Colombia El Peñón de Guatapé 6.221899, -75.1779816°13’19” N 75°10’41” W
El Peñón de Guatapé
July 19, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
On our way back to Guarne we planned to hike el peñón, a big rock - said to be a meteor. Weather was really nice and it was a good exercise…
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Day 19
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 1:40 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 2,193 m
Colombia Guarne 6.243332, -75.4553156°14’36” N 75°27’19” W
Truchera la Honda
July 20, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
The 20th of July - day of independence in Colombia - and we decided better to not go to the city or similar. Here in Colombia there are still riots and demonstrations going on, therefore better not get involved in places where there are more people. Instead we got an invitation from friends of the Bedoya family (Alejas family) to go to a place where we could fish and get our catch grilled and served with side dishes like patacones our arroz de coco. A really great experience to fish - for me personally it was the first time! It was super delicious :)

After that for postre these friends invited us to their suuuper big finca to have ice cream. We are finishing this relaxing day with going on the movies 🥳🥳 black widow it is…Read more
TravelerDas habe ich erst im Verlauf deiner Fotos und Erzählung kapiert, dass Chinelo euch begleitet! So klasse! Grüße sie auch ganz lieb von mir
7/22/21Reply
TravelerHabe sie gegrüßt! Ja das hatten wir letztes Jahr schon geplant dass Chin mitkommt. 😁
7/24/21Reply
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Day 20
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 5:22 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 1,474 m
Colombia Plaza Mayor 6.245595, -75.57376°14’44” N 75°34’25” W
Day in Medellin
July 21, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
We decided to go to Medellin for one day. Alejas parents took the five of us (Aleja, Chin, Fabi, Sofi and myself) to parque Arvi from where we could take the metrocable to the city.
First stop in the center: plaza Botero. A whole different experience than outside of the city. Crowded with people and loud. But very colorful and interesting.

The best experience this day was by far La Comuna 13, a neighborhood in Medellin which has suffered a lot of violence and Guerilla, but now flourishes with culture and art. We stayed here until it got dark, took breaths of the Colombian culture here and gazed at the beautiful graffitis.

Ending the day a bit chaotic, trying to order and eat pizza within 30 minutes in a bad, we had to run to first catch taxis and then the last bus to Guarne at night. Made it but had to eat the pizza in the bus 🙈

Our last day together! Fabi is gonna leave tomorrow to fly back to Germany. A bit sad already, but we really had a marvelous time here. I will stay until the beginning of August, partly working and partly spending time with Alejas family.Read more
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Day 21
Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 12:55 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 2,052 m
Colombia José María Córdova International Airport 6.155351, -75.4230546°9’19” N 75°25’23” W
Bye bye Fabi y Chin <3
July 22, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
That’s it! Two of us already left 😞 on Thursday we all went to the airport primarily to drop Fabi for his flight to Germany. Chin left the next day so they both did their COVID test. Took some last pictures, many hugs and then Fabi was gone through the doors to the airport. Time went by so quickly!!

Chin, Aleja and myself enjoyed the rest of the day did some shopping, picked up my MacBook from the repair store, and watched Disney movies at night. Well - not Aleja: she had to work on her German homework.

And the next day same procedure: driving to the airport, taking last pictures, hugging and gone is another peace of us: Chinelo ❤️😳 hoping that this time it won’t last 2 years until we get to see each other again!

Now I am the only extranjera left here in the finca. I am looking forward to some nice and chill time here which is a bit more “daily life”. I will be working half of the days next week while Aleja has her German classes… and the other time I plan to spent time with Aleja and her family, workout and just do some normal life.Read more
TravelerSind Fabi und Chinelo wieder gut zurück gekommen?
7/24/21Reply
TravelerJa! Beide sind gut angekommen… für Fabi eine größere Veränderung wieder in Münster zu sein als für Chin, aber beide sind schon wieder in ihrem Alltag angekommen…
7/24/21Reply
TravelerDas glaube ich!!! Er wird sich auch freuen, wenn du wieder zurück kommst 🤗
7/29/21Reply
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Day 26
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 7:37 AM
🌧 11 °C
Altitude: 2,193 m
Colombia Guarne 6.288168, -75.4410616°17’17” N 75°26’28” W
Back to Somewhat normal
July 27, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
After the Weekend, my vacation also ended in a sense that I decided to go back to my normal daily routine. Which is mainly working, excercising and eating healthier than the last three weeks. The latter is not so easy being in a Colombian family. Food is always served on a plate so I can not decide by myself how much I want. After some days, I just went over to only eating as much from the plate as I would have put on my plate and leaving the rest for dinner.

Also being disciplined with work is harder than I thought… time is just sooo relative here and everything takes longer than I expect beforehand. But I learn a lot and grow on these small daily challenges.

Apart from that I accompanied Alejas parents to the city on Monday, hang out with Aleja and her sister and so on. Most precious is that I can live and be with Aleja while she is preparing to travel to Germany.Read more
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Day 30
Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 7:00 AM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 2,123 m
Colombia José María Córdova International Airport 6.171345, -75.4275376°10’17” N 75°25’39” W
Bye Bye Familia Bedoya Robledo
July 31, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
That’s it! My time in Guarne with Alejas Family has come to an end. Today, I traveled to Bogota stayed one more night there and right now am heading back home.

This last week was pretty chill and down to earth. I managed to stay disciplined and work every day. Apart from that I also went to the pool for swimming twice and did some small shopping in Guarne. Alejas Family was so sweet, Liliana her mum cooked a goodbye dinner for me, we had some Lambrusco and they packed a big bag of sukkulent babies for me to take to Germany/NL. I will miss them, but looking forward for Aleja to arrive in Germany around mid September. She will then start her master program in Germany! 🥳Read more
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Day 30
Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 5:48 PM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 2,564 m
Colombia El Dorado International Airport 4.698034, -74.142484°41’53” N 74°8’33” W
Layover in Bogota
July 31, 2021 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Before flying back to Germany I stayed one night in Bogota. As I have traveled the city already 4 years ago, I decided to have a chill day organizing and finishing some pending todos and getting good food. On Sunday, I went do Conbiba, the church I was working with in 2017. I met some the people I know and we spent the rest of the day together.

I am writing this, sitting in the airplane just about to land in Frankfurt. This has been an awesome month in Latinamerika, but I am also looking forward to be back in Germany. Not looking forward to the weather though 😬Read more
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Trip end
August 1, 2021