Antigua Guatemala

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA
Antigua Guatemala

Antigua, the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala, was founded in the early 16th century. Built 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773 but its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. In the space of under three centuries the city, which was built on a grid pattern inspired by the Italian Renaissance, acquired a number of superb monuments.
Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala means "Old Guatemala" and was the third capital of Guatemala. The first capital of Guatemala was founded on the site of a Kakchikel-Maya city, now called Iximche, on Monday, July 25, 1524—the day of Saint James—and therefore named Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Goathemalan

Antigua Guatemala

After several Kaqchikel uprisings, the capital was moved to a more suitable site in the Valley of Almolonga (place of water) on November 22, 1527, and kept its original name. This new city was located on the site of present-day San Miguel Escobar, which is a neighborhood in the municipality of Ciudad Vieja. This city was destroyed on September 11, 1541, by a devastating lahar from the Volcán de Agua.[4] As a result, the colonial authorities decided to move the capital once more, this time eight kilometres (5 mi) away to the Panchoy Valley. So, on March 10, 1543, the Spanish conquistadors founded present-day Antigua, and again, it was named Santiago de los Caballeros.[citation needed] For more than 200 years, it served as the seat of the military governor of the Spanish colony of Guatemala, a large region that included almost all of present-day Central America and the southernmost State of Mexico: Chiapas.

 Antigua Guatemala


weather

FLEET UPDATE 2019-05-22

1) Panama Canal, Panama


Canal

You know the old man.


Don

The young lady in the burgundy top is our daughter Alison


Family

Seth with our other, granddaughter Sylvie.

FIGMENT

2) Panama City, Panama

Anyone needing a ride in Panama City or to/from shelter bay call
Carlos +507 6912 7843 he speaks good English and has a nice car
and reasonable
We also had a great experience getting our dog Snickers out of the
country, we used Family Member Vet in Panama City +507 387 7875
who rewrote the rabies certificate on her letterhead, did the
health certificate which must be done within 10 days of travel,
and went to the govt office and picked up her exit certificate ,
then we picked everything up at her office just before we left,
all for $58

Mai Tai

3) Expect very heightened SW to S swell for at least the next 10
days. Those of you in or thinking of crossing the bar in Bahia del
Sol, take extreme caution

Yes, the bar here at Bahía del Sol is closed this week due to the
swell conditions making crossings dangerous.  Bill & Jean are
able to give forecasts before you depart enroute to El Salvador. 
Best to use their resources or risk having to either cruise on by
or anchor outside until it’s safe to enter.


Big
          Swell

Tropical Weather Outlook

For the eastern North Pacific...east of 140 degrees west
longitude:,,1. Disorganized showers and thunderstorms are
associated with a broad,area of low pressure located a couple
hundred miles south of,Guatemala.  Environmental conditions could
support some slow,development of this system by the middle of the
week while the,disturbance moves slowly westward to the south of
Mexico., ,
Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.,
Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.


Hurricane

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac


FISH ON

FLEET UPDATE 2019-05-14

in this update ..

Red Frog Marina - Special Panama Posse Rate 

RSVP - Saturday May 25th the official Panama
Posse End of Season Party

Beach Cleanup -Bahia del Sol, El
Salavador

"Fish On" 60 pound Yellowfin

Marina Chahue Update

Isla Naranjo Panama

Riddle of the week
Check in at Puerto Armuelles Panama

Official Dinghy Dock Petition in Zihuatanejo, MX

Remember your Panama Posse season with custom gear from our
online shop

Sign up for the 2019-2020 Panama Posse season - simply reply

1) RED FROG MARINA, Bocas del Toro, PANAMA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Special Panama Posse Rate 

Red Frog Marina would like to extend a warm welcome and invite
the Panama Posse to our tropical paradise. 

Please see our special Panama Posse rates below:

Nights Rate per night
1-3 $1.10
7 $0.73
14 $0.70
30 $0.44

Will offer free Red Frog Marina T-shirts and hats.

Please contact our marina office
RFM@IGYMarinas.com
+507 6726-4500 or  (281) 892-1683
Marina http://www.igy-redfrogmarina.com/
Resort https://www.redfrogbeach.com/


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Our Marina is nestled between mangroves on the South side of Isla
Bastimentos, full of rainforest, wildlife and beautiful beaches.

Perfect for relaxing on your vessel or enjoying activities that
the Red Frog Resort has to offer, we promise you will not grow
bored here. 
Zip lineing, snorkeling, surfing or having dinner and a cocktail
at one of the oceanview restaurants, Red Frog has much to offer. 

2) Mark your calendars Saturday May 25th,
The official Panama Posse end of season Party @
 Boga Bar, Vista Mar Marina, PANAMA

FREE
beer/wine and dinner (burgers and seafood risotto- plus live
music for all the Panama Posse folks.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

A big
thank you to Jacqueline and everyone at Vista Mar for being so
supportive !

RSVP by May 22nd by following this link
https://www.facebook.com/events/2167540473561231/

or
simply reply
to this email with your RSVP.

Thank
you Suzy from Distant Drummer for helping out and putting this
together 


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Suzy & Neil DISTANT DRUMMER

3) Bahia del Sol, El Salavador - Beach Cleanup 

Posse members along with El Salvador Rally members, the local
rotary and some select honors prisoners
cleaned up the beach area near Bahia del Sol last Saturday.  Lots
of orange bags filled!


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

With any swell over 3 feet the bar crossings into Bahia del Sol
are treacherous at best
The bar is closed for around a week right now - please always heed
the warnings of Bill & Jean.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Dale & Kenneth  - Jim & Laura

SLOW DANCER  - NILAYA

4) FISH ON - Picture of the week !


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Destination's first yellowfin tuna. 60 pounder!

After some confusion and a night at hotel in Panama City,
"Destination" is finally legal here at Vista Del Mar as of 6am
today .
Just in time to put niece on 9am flight out of here.  We fly out
Sunday to Fla. Back in October to head to Carribean.
Thanks to all Posse members for their advice and helpful posts.
Honestly don't think our trip from Sea of Cortez to Panama
would have been as successful, reasonably priced or as safe
without belonging to such a great group. Wishing all of you safe
travels and tight lines!

Chris & AnneDESTINATION

5) Marina Chahue, MX Update

Just talked to the marina & they are still silted in. Offered
to send out send panga to do fuel.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

John & TrishMARIAH

6) Isla Naranjo, Panama

Last night we anchored at Isla Naranjo Abajo, 

09 25.566 N W 079 48.182 W in 12 feet of water.

Good protection from the swell. There was no wind and way too many
mosquitos.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Juan & MichelleAY CARAMBA !

7) LONGLINES - South of Manzanillo, MX


Longlines

We dodged dozens of long lines and had to coast over a few of them
in this area
just south of Manzanillo. Keep an eye out for them.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Dietmar & SuzanneCARINTHIA

8) FLAMENCO, Panama

Riddle of the week ???




PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Saw this anchored outside Flamenco Panama. Wondering if it’s the
modern style shrimp boat.

Rick & BrendaDAD'S DREAM


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

9) Puerto Armuelles, PANAMA

Taliesin Rose and Shearwater officially checked into Panama at
Armuelles today. 

Happy to report beer prices at $0.58 per can.

Pier in bad shape. 


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Today's conditions were better than yesterday, but now we are
anchored in unprotected 17knots of wind riding 6' chop.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Looking forward to some island hopping...

Victoria, Rowan & Crew - Pati & Eric
TALIESIN ROSE  - SHEARWATER

10) Official Dinghy Dock Petition in Zihuatanejo, MX

We have officially petitioned Zihuatanejo to put in a dinghy
dock.DINGHY DOCK BEST PRACTICES &
ETIQUETTE

- Well maintained stable floating dock to adjust to tides
and water levels protected from waves


- Handrails from shore to the Dinghy Dock
with non skid surface on the plank

- Small strong galvanized marlin cleats
with ability to run chain through

- Long Painters on Each Dinghy &
Dipping the Eye Use only one line. Do not tie bow and
stern.

- Ability to lock dinghy to dock with a long chain and
padlock
- Do not lock out other dinghies
- Throw-able Life ring with floating line

- No fishing allowed / No Swimming / No
fish cleaning 

- Well lighted area with 24/7 video
surveillance 

- Guarded or in “shouting” range of
authorities

- In cellphone and VHF rage of the main
anchorage

- Nearby road to hail taxis, buses or uber
and walking distance to town
- Ability to load and unload packages and
provisions


- Establish a No Wake Zone


- Potable water spigot to take on fresh
water / wash dingy

- Trashcan


- Message Board for relevant
announcements


- Do not lift engine up to avoid damage to
other dinghies


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

11) Shop Panama Posse  - only open till July 5th


The online shop is open for a limited time (open till July 5th
only )
To celebrate the end of the season so get your custom made gear 
http://shop.panamaposse.com

Many shirts have your vessel name on the back
All profits will be donated to the future development of
Good Nautical the 501(c)3
non-profit organization focused on preserving maritime knowledge.


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

12)
THE LAST WEEKLY
2018-2019 PANAMA POSSE FLEET CHECK
IN and
MORNING NET
on MONDAY at 16:00 UTC via LINE


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

Please download and install LINE  https://line.me/en-US/ 

Works on Android / ios / Windows / MAC OS


PANAMA POSSE CENTRAL AMERICA

13) Please reply to this email with any
updates -
to resign up for next season simply reply letting us know you
wish to be part of the 19-20 Panama Posse

14) opt-out from the Fleet Updates simply reply
with "REMOVE"


FLEET UPDATE 2019-05-07

in this update ..

Remember your Panama Posse season with gear from the online
shop

Isla Otoque, Panama

Special Summer Rate in Marina Puerto de la Navidad

Chiapas, MX

Alert Entering Panama

Alert Mexican Fuel
"shortages"

Panama Posse Party at
Banana Bay Marina Golfito, Costa Rica

Picture of the Week
Mango
Festival, El Salvador

Shipwreck
found in Zihuatanejo, MX

END
OF SEASON PANAMA POSSE PARTY AT VISTA MAR MARINA 

Santa Teresa Hot Springs, Bahía del Sol, El Salvador





1) Shop Panama Posse


The online shop is open for a limited time (open till July 5th
only )
To celebrate the end of the season so get your swag 
http://shop.panamaposse.com

Several shirts will have your vessel name on the
back.

All profits will be donated to the future development of
Good Nautical the 501(c)3
non-profit organization focused on preserving maritime
knowledge.



2) Isla Otoque, Panama

We anchored at Isla Bona (just south of Otoque) AFTER transiting
the canal and used it as a head start for Punta Mala and beyond.
The bay on the west side was an attractive, calm anchorage, but
remote-feeling with no services. Prior to transiting the canal
it would be helpful to be closer to Panama City for the required
measuring and other paperwork, plus provisioning. Canal transits
are often crack of dawn starts, another reason to be in the
anchorage at Playita or the Balboa Yacht Club. Hope this helps.
S/V
Bill & Katy





KLICKITAT II

3) Special Summer  Rate @ Marina Puerto de
la Navidad, Barra de Navidad, MX

For
your info  Secundino Álvarez has
extended a special low rate
to all Panama Posse vessels.



$10.40 x foot + taxes and electricity x
month

plus as an added benefit  Alaska Air
flies non-stop between LAX and Manzanillo twice a week
at a ~ $330 pp summer rate round-trip.

Reserve
your summer slip



Harbormaster
Secundino Alvarez

4)
Chiapas, MX

The entire staff at Marina Chiapas are all helpful and most
accommodating. There is a small convenience store and one
higher end restaurant on site. The estuary and wooded areas
provide a birdwatcher many interesting specimens. The marina
is a bit isolated from town, but it is easy to catch a taxi or
van by walking to the main road at the marina entrance. If you
go south, you'll find "Playa Linda" with some small eateries
and some small hotels along the beach. One of the first you
will encounter is Villa Veleros and the Canadian owner allows
you to come in to order food and drinks for use of their pool
or beach. If you go north on the main road, you can choose to
go to the airport, Puerto Madero or Tapachula.

Madero is a small town with the usual small hardware stores,
fishing supply, restaurants, and markets. You can buy seafood
directly from the boats at the fishing dock (also Pemex fuel
dock-so accessible from your boat or dinghy) or from stores in
town. It's difficult to walk between the port and town so
you'll have to catch another van if you stop to buy at the
port.

In Tapachula, you will first encounter the Sam's Club and then
WalMart shopping mall with a Telcel for phone service, auto
parts store, fabric store and a bank. Further into town there
is an Office Deport then another large market called Chadraui
and next door is a Bodega warehouse market. In the area are
many papelerias where you can get copies and office supplies.
Besides the restaurants in the mall, in the neighborhood are
some small eateries. There are other services such as FedEx
and cooking gas. Just ask the marina staff for info on
whatever you need. Good seafood is found at what's called a
Cocteleria. Our taxi took us to Mariscos de Tiberon near the
bicentennial park. They had excellent food and drinks. There
were other similar places along the same street.

In order to get back to the marina, as two people, the cost
was 300 pesos for a taxi or grab a van for 15 pesos to get
back to Chadraui, then a van 50 pesos to the marina (should
say either Playa Linda or Zona Naval). You decide what your
time and hassle is worth.

As many other Posse members before us, we partook of some
tours while at the marina. Both guides, Luis and Miguel, do
similar tours for similar prices. We chose Miguel and were
very pleased. Tours are actually his hobby but he is very
passionate and knowledgeable. On our Chocolate Tour, we were
with two other boats staying at the marina for a total of 6
people, so he rented a tour van. It was modern and
comfortable.

We first visited two sites of Mayan ruins. Miguel had many
interesting stories regarding the discovery, history and local
impact.

After the archeological sites, we went to the town of Tuxla
Chica where many families harvest Chocolate, so the town is
nicknamed "Chocolate Town". In many of the family homes, they
have a chocolate retail store.  We were shown how they harvest
and process the cocoa beans to make different varieties of
chocolate, along with peanut treats, all done on a wood fire.

The chocolate ladies also prepared an excellent meal for us
that included home made tortillas, quesadillas, black refried
beans, cheese, salsa, and tamales. For beverages, they served
a refreshing drink of combined spices including cinnamon and
achoite (commonly used as a red coloring) and of course, hot
chocolate! There were sweet breads to dip in the chocolate.
The ladies kept making more of everything until we said to
stop.

Next stop was just down the street from where we ate, to visit
the ladies who made the tamales we were served. They had
enclosed in the corn masa; stewed chicken meat, hard boiled
egg, olive, prune, mole seasoning all wrapped and steamed in a
green banana leaf. Everyone rated them as the best they had
ever tasted.

We then returned to Tapachula and spent an hour provisioning
at WalMart. It's obvious Miguel knows cruisers. It was an
enjoyable and interesting day, all included for $40 US per
person. Prices will vary depending on the details of your tour
and number of people. There are tours to coffee plantations
and other sites, and some that cover a span of days, so talk
to one of the guides and decide what works for you. We highly
recommend Miguel, Discover Chiapas 962 133 6820 toursdiscoverchiapas@hotmail.com.
We also did a self planned tour to Mexico City and the
mountains near Morelia to see the monarch butterflies. Let us
know if you would like details of our trip.

Laura & Jim





NILAYA

5)
Alert Entering Panama

Please be advised that you are obliged to check into Panama at
the first possible port of entry .
You can not put this off for 3 weeks after checking out from
Costa Rica and hang out go ashore etc.
The authorities may let it slide if you come directly to Vista
Mar after having left Golfito with a few stops along the way.

But
to be certain and avoid fines check in in Puerto Armueles or
Pedigral on a weekday -
announcing your arrival with the port captain in advance
following the well outline protocol in Good Nautical.



The recent presidential elections in Panama will most likely
bring changes to these procedures.



6) Alert Mexican Fuel "shortages"

If
you feel like you are not getting all the gas you pay for in
Mexico - you may be right - according to several recent
articles in Mexico News Daily

Around
10% of all Pemex stations use plug-in to distort sales volumes
and sell stolen fuel
Scores of gas stations in Mexico allegedly use an illegal
software plug-in that allows them to manipulate the sales
figures they
report to Pemex and tax authorities, and conceal the sale of
stolen fuel. Known as El Rastrillo (The Razor)
the plug-in allows the pumps’ volume controls to be altered,
with gas station owners choosing
between options that enable them to report sales that are 5%,
10% or 15% below their real level.

Ask
the local taxi drivers which gas stations they use to avoid
them.



7)
Golfito, Costa Rica



Looks
like a great gathering in Golfito -
A big Thanks to Maikol, Claudia and the staff at Banana Bay
Marina for hosting the Panama Posse
ATA MARIE, SHEARWATER, PARADISEA, SONAMARA, SECRET WATER,
TALIESIN ROSE, a.m.o.

8)
PICTURE OF THE WEEK

r-c

Ay
Caramaba selfie checking out the Locks at the Panama Canal.

Michelle & Juan





AY CARAMABA !

9)
Mango Festival, El Salvador

Two
weeks in El Salvador, local food, land travel, get togethers
with the small  but amazing cruiser community here in Bahia
del Sol. Today Bill and Jean organized a bus for the cruisers
to attend the Mango festival. We were the only gringos I saw.
Packed with people, swimming pools, entertainment and of
course everything Mango, plus Chocolate filled Churos , this
is @SeaGlub’s kind of event. $10pp for the luxury air
conditioned bus. $3 to get into the festival. Beer $1
Annual event...plan on a stop next  year if you missed this
one.



Festival Grounds



Mangos and fruits



Mango Queen



Live Music



And delicacies

Barry
& Kathy





BLUE OASIS

10)
S
hipwreck found in
Zihuatanejo, MX

Here's a moment of frustration, sorry, but this is a true
side of cruising. We have been more than disappointed in
Zihuatanejo, there's just so much trash everywhere and the
ocean water is disgusting and we're so anxious to leave that
we were going to do so starting tonight.... Until we learned
our anchor had fouled a sunken panga. Our friend and great
crew mate took in on himself to dive and try to figure it all
out but alas our underwater light didn't last long enough and
now we're stuck here until the sun comes up and we can try to
free the anchor again. The best part is the water is so filthy
and polluted I begged my friend to not try this but he
insisted. Fingers crossed he doesn't contract some disease or
virus or bacteria. #zihuatneveragain
90 minutes of swimming around with our holiday hookah. The
chain had wrapped three times arrive what's left of a sunken
sailboat hull and keel. Then the chain got wedged under the
keel. So for 90 minutes I was (thankfully only 15') under
water digging around the rocks and gravel to get the chain
loose.  Then in order to avoid it happening again before we
could pull it up I went and found the anchor, picked it up and
walked it (underwater) about 30 feet past the the wreck... I
should've taken pictures but the clarity was only about two
feet and I was just more interested in getting out of there

SEAGLUB







Chris, Monica & Penny

11)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS

May 25th, 2019 

END OF
SEASON PANAMA POSSE PARTY AT VISTA MAR MARINA 

Please RSVP Suzy Carmody <suzy@carmody-clan.com>
FROM SV DISTANT DRUMMER



12)
Santa Teresa Hot Springs, Bahía del Sol, El Salvador

-
One of the highlights of El Salvador is the hot springs near
the volcanos in the country.  The best place to enjoy the hot
springs is probably “Termales de Santa Teresa” http://www.termalesdesantateresa.com

While it *might* be possible to get there by bus from Bahía
del Sol, we rented a car through the hotel for $30/day and
visited the springs as part of a 5-day, big circle drive
around the country.  When you arrive at the springs, the first
person you meet tries to get $10 per person from you as
payment for a day visit to the pools.  If that’s what you
want, then fine, but if you plan to stay at the resort, then
you’ll have to insist that you’re only going to the
“restaurant”.  For some reason, he understands a visit to the
restaurant better than the hotel.  Anyway, the best room in
the place is only $75/person per night.  For that you get a
room in a duplex suite with two semi-private pools and
lounge.  It’s great for a single couple and would be fabulous
for two couples to chill-out in the private outdoor lounge and
hot pools.

The public pools between the suites are a terraced series of 7
or 8 pools beginning with scalding hot at the top and
overflowing from one to the next until tepid is reached at the
bottom.  So it’s easy to be Goldilocks and find just the right
temperature.

The rooms include a dinner and breakfast for each person and
we found the meals to be above average.  We really enjoyed our
stay there.

Robert & Carol





SINGULARITY

13)
WEEKLY
2018-2019 PANAMA POSSE FLEET CHECK IN and
MORNING NET on MONDAY'S at 16:00 UTC via LINE



Please download and install LINE  https://line.me/en-US/ 

Works on Android / ios / Windows / MAC OS

- Register using your vessel name as the USERNAME
ie     MY CROSSROADS

- Next search for panamaposse and befriend us
-

- wait and accept your PANAMAPOSSE GROUP INVITE

Connect every Monday at 16:00 UTC and send us your
position via the message
system and listen to the vessel check ins
(all free
as long you have IP connectivity
which we now know is pretty much all along the coast)
The LINE system allows for up to 200 live conference
call participants.





14) Please reply to this email with any
updates - your vessel location -
contenders for picture of the week -

Dietmar & Suzanne
SV Carinthia



15) opt-out from the Fleet Updates simply
reply with "REMOVE"