Our return to Marina Santa Marta coincided with the onset of 2 weeks of gales. The wind howled day and night, night being worse when the wind was often was in excess of 40knots. Fortunately, there was a great group of cruisers, also stuck there. We had a few days with our new friends in Minca, the small hill town high above Santa Marta. It was great to do some walking and to escape the wind, heat and grit for a few days.

Kenny, the host where we stayed in Minca made a very good mojito.Christmas was a good time to be in Santa Marta. The street music and performers were fantastic

We found some great restaurants, our favourite Lulo’s (Ian’s vote for best mojito) and Ouzo where we had a delicious meal on Christmas Eve.

 Christmas was spent with a group of new friends on one of the party boats (ie catamarans).

The marina put on a lovely party for the cruisers on the 26th December, the wind dropped on the 27, and on the 28th, we were out of there!  After an uneventful 2 day passage we navigated our way through the tricky shoals for which San Blas is notorious. We had 3 navigation systems going. Open CPN, which we’d only just installed was invaluable.

We anchored near our Austrian friends on Fenua in a piece of paradise, Green Island.

  Coconut palms swaying in the breeze, pelicans diving, calm water and no bugs!

Not long after we anchored the lobster boys arrived.

Now this is the life – $5 each and absolutely delicious barbecued.

New Years Eve was spent sharing drinks and plans with cruisers around a bonfire under the coconut palms, before BBQ lobster on Sea Cloud with Katharina and Friedl. The only problem with this lovely sight is the thought of sharing the waters with the resident crocodile.

Check in to Panama is not easy these days as formalities can  no longer be done in Porvenir  in the San Blas. So, we’ve just covered 60Nm to Puerto Linton to check in and will head back to the islands tomorrow. Hoping the trip back will be okay, as its usually a beat to windward against the current. At least we can get some shopping done in Portobellow, as apart from the lobsters and occasional veggie boat, there is not much in San Blas. All part of its charm.

Although you can buy molas made by the local women…