We have heard over the last few days on the news that the blockades by the Indians had increased, with one blockade located on the main highway (the only single road that connects one end of Panama to the other), and is in our way to get back to the boat.
Hoping that we can at least get through to David to get some things for the boat before the shop closes for the weekend, with hopes that the blockade will be intermittantly open to traffic on our way back to the boat (like what we encountered on our way to Bocas), we took the speed boat back to the mainland yesterday and made our way.
Barely half an hour into our journey, we encountered our 1st blockade. We weren´t sure if this blockade just recently started as we were the 1st vehicle on our side of the road. 2 tree trunks were placed on each side of the bridge, and on one side were some Indians sitting on the tree trunk, preventing traffic from passing through.
We got out of the car and walked to the other side of the bridge where the Indians were seating, and tried to sound out how long we would have to wait before we could make our way. No answers could be given to us, and one of the Indians had his ear placed closely to his ear, as if awaiting for something to happen. Niklaus tried reasoning with them, and mentioned that although he understands the reason behind the blockades, there wasn´t going to be much effect if they do not get the support of a major international organisation similar to the likes of UNESCO or Greenpeace.
Unfortuately reasoning out with this particular group at the blockade was a lost cause, and so we went back to our car and waited it out. Shortly after, a few other vehicles showed up, including a few delivery trucks.
Not certain how long we would have to wait and instead of waiting for something to happen, we decided to make the most out of it! So Niklaus took out a bottle of Bacardi we had in our car and poured it into a half bottle of soft drink as a mixer and offered everyone a drink.
When we were finished, and still not knowing how much longer we had to wait, one of the truck drivers jumped into our vehicle and we decided to drive back to the town of Almirante to buy some beers and more rum (mainly as an alternative drink for me as I don´t enjoy beer!), along with some snacks and some bread, cheese and ham to make a sandwich.
We placed all the drinks into a styrofoam box and filled it with ice. Just as we were about to start a party of our own, the Indians decided to open up the road block at 6pm (Must be dinner time!). We heard that there is another blockade further up from where we were, so we put the ice box into one of the trucks and quickly drove off towards the next blockade to continue our party.
About another half an hour drive later, we reached the 2nd blockade. Just as we reached, apparently the blockade seemed to have been intermittantly opened and some cars were just passing through the road from the other side.
Niklaus tried to squeeze through the blockade, but we were too late and we almost knocked over one of the Indians as they closed up the blockades again. The Indian got really upset and almost threw a brick or a stone at our car, when someone pulled him apart. We tried to use a sympathy trick by saying that we need to catch our flight the next day, in the hopes that they will let us pass, but unfortunately that did not work.
So off we went back to our side of the road and continued with our private party.
A few hours went by with darkness slowly creeping up on us. We were in the middle of the road surrounded by nothing but trees and hills on both sides of the road.
Mosquitoes were also starting to come out and feed, and I quickly sprayed my insect repellent to prevent being eaten alive by them.
We were also almost out of drinks and there was still no news on when we may be able to pass, and so we decided to take a walk over to the other side of the blockade.
This blockade stretched a long way, as compared to the ones we had encountered so far, and there were numerous tree trunks lining across the road all the way as far as we could see. We walked until we reached a huge tree trunk, which I was told would take at least 20 people to move it out of the way.
One of the truck drivers had previously ran through a blockade with his truck, but there was no way we could do so with this particular blockade.
To get some fire and light going, some of the Indians started burning a tire which created a horrendous rubber smell that could be smelt metres away (not very smart and something which I disapprove of!). We tried to get some information about chances of passing through, but got mixed news on when it would be possible, with only possible mentions that it may be open at 6am the next day.
So instead of heading back to find a hotel and possibly missing the opportunity to get through, we decided to sleep the night in the car and hope that we would be able to pass at 6am. Definitely not comfortable, as I drifted in and out of sleep!
6am came and still no signs of any let up. Some of the truck drivers seemed to have tried sounding out the situation, and had also recently heard over the radio that the police seemed to have taken fire at some of the Indians at the main blockade on the main highway and killed one of the Indians, causing major displeasure with the Indians.
Getting instructions from their boss over a phone to turn back to town in case the Indians start turning nasty over the killing, we followed them back to Almirante. We decided that we will head back to Bocas to wait it out, as it is a much nicer place to stay with more offerings than Almirante, and checked back into the same hotel.
Let´s hope the blockade opens up soon!
Hoping that we can at least get through to David to get some things for the boat before the shop closes for the weekend, with hopes that the blockade will be intermittantly open to traffic on our way back to the boat (like what we encountered on our way to Bocas), we took the speed boat back to the mainland yesterday and made our way.
Barely half an hour into our journey, we encountered our 1st blockade. We weren´t sure if this blockade just recently started as we were the 1st vehicle on our side of the road. 2 tree trunks were placed on each side of the bridge, and on one side were some Indians sitting on the tree trunk, preventing traffic from passing through.
 |
| Blockade |
 |
| Sign faintly written to show their unhappiness about the hydrodams |
Unfortuately reasoning out with this particular group at the blockade was a lost cause, and so we went back to our car and waited it out. Shortly after, a few other vehicles showed up, including a few delivery trucks. Not certain how long we would have to wait and instead of waiting for something to happen, we decided to make the most out of it! So Niklaus took out a bottle of Bacardi we had in our car and poured it into a half bottle of soft drink as a mixer and offered everyone a drink.
When we were finished, and still not knowing how much longer we had to wait, one of the truck drivers jumped into our vehicle and we decided to drive back to the town of Almirante to buy some beers and more rum (mainly as an alternative drink for me as I don´t enjoy beer!), along with some snacks and some bread, cheese and ham to make a sandwich.
We placed all the drinks into a styrofoam box and filled it with ice. Just as we were about to start a party of our own, the Indians decided to open up the road block at 6pm (Must be dinner time!). We heard that there is another blockade further up from where we were, so we put the ice box into one of the trucks and quickly drove off towards the next blockade to continue our party.
 |
| Filling up the ice box |
 |
| All our drinks! |
About another half an hour drive later, we reached the 2nd blockade. Just as we reached, apparently the blockade seemed to have been intermittantly opened and some cars were just passing through the road from the other side.
 |
| Niklaus and truck drivers reasoning out with Indian |
Niklaus tried to squeeze through the blockade, but we were too late and we almost knocked over one of the Indians as they closed up the blockades again. The Indian got really upset and almost threw a brick or a stone at our car, when someone pulled him apart. We tried to use a sympathy trick by saying that we need to catch our flight the next day, in the hopes that they will let us pass, but unfortunately that did not work.
So off we went back to our side of the road and continued with our private party.
 |
| Private party with truck drivers |
Mosquitoes were also starting to come out and feed, and I quickly sprayed my insect repellent to prevent being eaten alive by them.
We were also almost out of drinks and there was still no news on when we may be able to pass, and so we decided to take a walk over to the other side of the blockade.
 |
| Some Indians sitting around the blockade |
One of the truck drivers had previously ran through a blockade with his truck, but there was no way we could do so with this particular blockade.
To get some fire and light going, some of the Indians started burning a tire which created a horrendous rubber smell that could be smelt metres away (not very smart and something which I disapprove of!). We tried to get some information about chances of passing through, but got mixed news on when it would be possible, with only possible mentions that it may be open at 6am the next day.
So instead of heading back to find a hotel and possibly missing the opportunity to get through, we decided to sleep the night in the car and hope that we would be able to pass at 6am. Definitely not comfortable, as I drifted in and out of sleep!
6am came and still no signs of any let up. Some of the truck drivers seemed to have tried sounding out the situation, and had also recently heard over the radio that the police seemed to have taken fire at some of the Indians at the main blockade on the main highway and killed one of the Indians, causing major displeasure with the Indians.
Getting instructions from their boss over a phone to turn back to town in case the Indians start turning nasty over the killing, we followed them back to Almirante. We decided that we will head back to Bocas to wait it out, as it is a much nicer place to stay with more offerings than Almirante, and checked back into the same hotel.
Let´s hope the blockade opens up soon!
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