Puntarenas Costa Rica
So far, we’ve visited four Central American ports: Cozumel (small tourist Island); Cartagena (larger trading port); Panama City (most important city in Panama) and Puntarenas. Cozumel seems to and claims to have little or none of the criminal unrest present elsewhere in Mexico - “an island far from the mainland,” “too small - everybody knows you or your parents,” or “only six gas stations; if you steal a car, the police can wait for you at the gas station.” Don’t recall any police presence. Cartegena had visible police presence, but dressed and equipped like beat cops in NYC. Panama City, as I’ve mentioned - motorcycles carting two armored machine pistol carrying officers. Puntarenas - a very friendly place with no visible police presence. They apparently don’t even have an army, and apparently are welcoming to immigrants fleeing troubles in Nicaragua. The Pan American highway passes through - we drove on part of it - so those who have conquered Rte 66 from Chicago to California and US 1 from Ker West to Maine can now plan for Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay, a mere 19,000 miles. Recommendation - bypass the Darien Gap. Not paved.
Photos not uploading now will add in a separate post
There we go! Puntarenas is a peninsula forming a sheltered harbor on the Pacific Coast and from there the country views as a cloud topped mountain range. When we get to New Zealand - Aotearoa or land of the long white cloud, I’ll try a “Compare and contrast.”
Leaving Puntarenas. Red sky at night?

What a grand way -as a seafarer -to gain first hand perspective on this earth! It’s just wonderful to travel with You! Thank You!
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