Getting to know the Kuna Yala...just don't try to snap any photos

Good morning, paradise. Wake up at 7 AM to have breakfast of champions. Scrambled eggs, sausage, pan, nescafe and tea. Take a 30 min boat ride to Isla de Perros (dog island). No dogs to be seen. We were told that we have to pay a fee of $1 per person to sit on the beach there. Turns out it was $2/person and we had to borrow from our friends since we only brought the necessities. We snorkeled around an old sunken ship. There were a ton of fish swimming around the beautiful coral. We kept getting roughed up when brushing up against the coral underwater. Luckily I'm traveling with a personal nurse in case first aid is necessary. Our boat AKA motorized canoe arrives filled with half-dead fish...lunch time baby.

Snooop!

We make it back to our island for more snorkeling, lunch, and a quick siesta. Idan buys an awesome bracelet from the Kuna woman. Will he ever be able to take it off? 3 months later and it's still on his wrist. Idan falls asleep for a couple hours in the hammock outside our hut and gets owned by the sun.

 Around 4 PM we go on a quick tour of the "authentic" Kuna Yala community. We get charged $1 person to visit the community and they even offered us a chance to see the indigenous dance for a measly extra $1 per person! Give me a break. Sloane smiles at one of the older Kuna women several times, hoping to make a new friend, only to be brushed off without showing any interest. Little children are running around yelling "hola hola hola" at us while torturing baby chickens. Everyone is trying to sell us "molas", the indigenous commodity that is basically a piece of fabric the women needlepoint and claim to use on their clothing. Feel free to take as many pictures as you want of the Kuna people, if you don't mind paying $1 per person in the picture. Whenever the Kuna decide to make it out to California for a visit, Idan told them it will cost them 2 bucks per picture.

The only picture we could take in the Kuna community without being charged.

The Kuna community including a bathroom with a seaside view

Back to the island where we learned a bit more about the Kuna people after having a chat with the hotel manager's daughter. The Kuna live mostly without running water or electricity, but apparently you can still find them on Facebook. Imagine that. We have some more lobster for dinner along with our favorite side dish, arroz con coco (coconut rice). While getting ready to call it a night, Idan acts as translator and deciphers some phone messages that were left on the owner's cell. The owner suggests that Idan stay for an extra month and work for him. He seriously considered the offer.