Cólon, Panama

Yesterday I visited Cólon Panama.
We started our day visiting the Canal and watching a ship pass through the locks.  That was an amazing site.  What was crazy was how much those ships pay to pass through.  The price is based on the total capacity of the boat.  There were two boats goig through - one towards the Atlantic and one that was even bigger heading towards the Pacific.   The smaller one had to pay $117,000 and the bigger on paid $330,000!!!  Remind me never to complain when I have to pay $1.25 to traverse the WV Turnpike. 
After that we headed deeper into Còlon and took a 25 minute boat ride to visit an authentic Indian village.  Well, I guess you really can't call it a boat, more like a hallowed log...but it was neat.  
The village we visited was amazing too.  The natives were very friendly.  Since I alreay had a tat, a guy came up and asked if he could paint some decoration on my arm.  The ink was a black watery substance and he applied it with a flattened toothpick.  I even let them paint my face - but more on that later.  
A native named Binder came over later and was looking at my tats.  When he saw my Aces he became very excited and asked if he could copy it.  So his friend came over and she copied it onto his chest.  He spoke broken English and asked me about Blackjack and casinos.  He told me he has played solitaire and gin rummy before.  I just so happened to have a deck of cards in my bag, so I took then out and gave them to him.  He was so excited.  He asked me to show him how to shuffle.  He could only get about halfway through it.  After a few times watching me and he had it down pat.  I may have just seeded the first Indian Casino in Panama!  LOL
Binder said that when he goes to town he checks FaceBook and has e-mail.  So I gave him my card and he said he would add me.  That whole experience there was really cool.  
I was having a great day, until we got back on the boat and I realize the ink on my face won't wash off!!!  ;-(  I've tried Lava soap, baby oil, acetone, alcohol, skin so soft, eye liner remover, and just about everything else people offer up for me to try.  Still no luck!  LOL
But...I refused to let it get me down.  So I sort of look like a 1/2 blue smurf (the black ink has faded to deep blue).  All the people here think it's funny.  I'm just REALLY thankful I had already made some "friends" and I didn't need to try to get them to see past my dumbass blue face.  LOL
So...needless to say I will probably still have some remnants of the ink when I get home.  I've been told 7-10 days before it wears off.  The things I do to stand out!  LMAO
Today I spent some time in the sauna and steam room thinking maybe that I could sweat the ink out...but no luck. 
At High Noon I meet a buddy for a chess match.  Major Bob is a big fella from Canada and he and I had a wager that the loser would buy beer!  ;-)  We had a good game, but eventually he struck a good blow and won!  Great guy to have met.  
Then I played goofy golf with my new friend that I have nicknamed "Lip Ring".  Hopefully the nickname speaks for itself.  She won the first game and I won the second. 
Tonigt is formal night but with my smurf face I will probably skip this!  ;-)
I'm not planning on drinking too much tonight to save my energy for tomorrow.  I've alreay been warned that I should expect to get trashed from morning, noon, and night!  LOL
I don't expect to post anymore blogs until I get back to the states.  I hope you all have enjoyed following my adventures.  
Later!  ;-)