H*A*P*P*Y B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y to me from Istanbul!

Headed to Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Dean boarding flight for Bocas del Toro

The runway may have been flooded and completely unsafe for passengers to walk on but the crew somehow convinced everyone that is was safe, perhaps that is because most of the passengers couldn’t speak a word of Spanish. By the time the plane was airborne a lake of water had pooled on the runway and it didn’t feel safe. As the plane accelerated and Dean was lost in thought about runway drainage systems, I quietly regretted seeing the Queen’s head land face up only days before, maybe coin toss is not the best way to make decisions. Once we were in the air and I knew all was well, I quickly disposed of all regret about having won the coin toss, a win is a win after all and what could possibly go wrong in Panama?

First Class with Air Panama

Bocas Del Toro, Panama

We love islands and really love island time so Panama was just what we needed. A proper trip packed with adventure and a lot of island time. Stilt houses built on the water, dutch pirates, boat taxis, huge stingrays, torrential rain, crisp cold beer and endless reggae music blasting out of every hut. I won the coin toss to decide all domestic transport while in Panama and booked us two first class tickets to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean Sea, just south of the border with Costa Rica.

the navy dinner jacket

Dean with Steve

Living in remote Patagonia could be tough at times and so we had to invent ways to amuse ourselves. Dean found humour in fashion, sporting this navy dinner jacket while hiking in rugged Patagonia. Most of the Canadian crew battled culture shock and the challenges of working in isolation on a daily basis, so when a local stray dog started hanging around it wasn't long before she was named Steve....poor little thing. Steve was the name of their boss at the time, knowing Steve the man made the very sight of Steve the dog an excellent way to laugh off the days frustrations. To Steve the man, if you ever read this, I am sorry that you heard it from me first buddy.

life as it used to be...

As all of my 8 followers are aware, Dean and I have been doing some travelling in 2010 and 2011. The next several posts will be short anecdotes accompanied with pics celebrating my time as a former traveller. I say former traveller because I am now a stay at home girlfriend and do not currently travel abroad because we decided to move abroad instead. More on the new home country coming to you soon....

MLTRP investment for the avid traveller that simply doesn't feel like working for a while.

It has been a long time since my last update. I have lived in roughly 9 different homes located throughout South America, Central America, Canada and parts of Europe while enjoying MLTRP, "Mid-Life Temporary Retirement Plan", not a part of your standard retirement savings plan, however is highly recommended by the McBryants.

Paso Agua Negra with blue cheese and trail mix

Who attempts to cross the highest pass in the Andes with only blue cheese, trail mix, one pear and a can of coke? Oh I forgot to mention that we did this in a KIA. None of the restaurants in the sleepy town of Pisco Elqui serve breakfast before...um lunch. So if we wanted to cross the border before sunset we had to hit the road on an empty stomach. It seemed like the more I read about Paso Agua Negra the less I knew, I mean no one crosses this pass. None of the travel sites have anything to say about Paso Agua Negra but I can definitely send them an update now. The only thing we knew for certain is that there was definitely a road and that eventually it lead to the border...even if it meant we would reach 4720 meters (in a KIA) and that with a little luck and good weather we would pop out on the other side....Argentina.