Travel Banter

A few weeks ago we searched for Oropendola nesting colonies. They are unique birds that nest in groups, high under the tree canopies. The birds live in the jungle of Latin and South America. Their nests resemble long ‘socks’. We did not find them last time. But some mornings, I hear Oropendola calls near our boat. The calls are unmistakable, deep, and distinctive. To me, they sound like a melodic...

They are bright. They are poisonous, They are the frogs of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. When Charles Darwin noticed the diversions of features among closely-related species on neighboring islands, he arrived to a profound idea - the principle of natural selection. Darwin focused on the beaks of finches but the Poison Dart frogs of Bocas Del Toro are another great example of such polymorphism. The many...

Stilt homes are all around us in Panama. Some are over the water, others are embedded into to steep hillsides of the surrounding hills and mountains. We chat about these homes, their construction and ecological benefits and risks. The stilt houses are not new. The indigenous people have lived in these since before Columbus visited the area in 1502. And they only have grown in popularity since. Wat...

Talking of weather is not fun you say? Well, we beg to differ. The rainy season in Panama lasts from May until November. It rains a lot, but the sun still shines. What is it like to live with it? Surprisingly fine. We unpack the story of the rain and share what it’s like to be here. You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundat...

We are in the Bocas Del Toro archipelago. The islands are home to much wildlife: howler and capuchin monkeys, sea turtles, poisoned dart frogs, and many more. But today, we talk about sloth. They are unique creatures, docile symbols of the islands and the island life. We ran into one on our recent walk. We talk about their habits, habitats, and unique symbioses - mammalian-plant mutualism. This ep...

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago of 200 islands and islets on the west side of Panama. Boats are the way, the main way, to get around between the islands, to grocery shop or get to work. We talk about the two main boat types that make life possible here for the locals and tourists. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...

We are in Bocas Del Toro, Panama embracing the local’s way of drinking. Yes, an occasional Balboa beer, but mostly coconut water, fresh off the tree. But first, we chat about machetes, the most useful tool in these parts and the shortcut to feeling like a local. You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us, we donate 15% of our net proceeds to World Literacy Foundation . Help children r...

In the podcast Alex narrates the story then we talk about our experience in the city of One Hundred Fires. You can read the story below and view the photo gallery after. I start on Malecon, the main boulevard connecting Punta Gorda to the center of Cienfuegos. The Malecon is busy on the weekends and for an hour before sunsets, but in the morning it is mine. Only a few electric tuk-tuk taxis, and a...

We read the story from the island and talk about the majestic place. The story is below. The sand is the whitest in Cayo Largo. It is coral ground by the relentless swell of the Caribbean Sea. The swell crushes against the reefs, breaks the dead bits, and abrades them against the older sand in a slow motion of years. It uses the sand to make more of it. The reefs run for a hundred miles along this...

We rounded the Western Tip of Cuba and explored islands of the Archipelago de Los Canarreos. In this episode, we talk about our visit to Cayo Campos and read a story from that island. It is a slice of paradise, a site for a study of human impact on remote areas, and a place to ask ourselves questions about what we want to see for ourselves. You can subscribe for free. If you choose to support us,...

We have been traveling since the beginning of September and seldom had a moment to produce Travel Banter with other work and responsibilities. But here we go with the latest update on what is happening on our sail from New England to the warmth of the Caribbean. Today, we are catching up with Scott, who travels much for his work. We talk about the world of a yacht broker, the islands he loves, and...

We go hiking and talk about the trails and peaks in the park. Egor chats about the history of carriage roads on his run through the park from Bar Harbor to Northeast Harbor. From the show: “…It's Saturday morning and the weather is excellent. Our friend Anna is with us and her dog with us as well. So we thought we'll climb up to the top of the Sargent Mountain. And the trail looked fine and fairly...

We made it from Provincetown to Bar Harbor in one shot by staying far in the ocean to avoid lobster traps. It worked and we saved four days of hopping along the coast. We love this place (when the weather is nice). From the show: “…Roots, rocks, and a dog pulling me out of sync with my steps. So it's always a bit tricky to climb these things because I have to worry about my balance more than I nor...

We left Martha’s Vineyard and spent a few days in Nantucket, followed by a few days in Provincetown at the very tip of Cape Cod. From the show: “…Does it happen to you when you get a certain idea of the place that you know is entirely false, but you keep hanging on to it no matter what? That is essentially my history with Nantucket… fishing village it is not…” “…rows and rows of colonial-style hou...

We almost wrote off Martha’s Vineyard after last year’s subpar experience. But we made a lovely detour to Edgartown that changed our perspective. From the show: “…can already tell, it's a very beautiful little picturesque place. There is a beach with a bunch of sunbathers on it and boats that are anchored just outside the inlet. That is where we'll find ourselves. The plan was to go to Nantucket,...

We planned to stop only for four days but stayed a week. We enjoyed Block Island. Good restaurants, many greenway trails, and stunning views. A favorite may have been the bakery boat delivering calzones, cannoli, and cookies to anyone who hails them on VHF channel 71. From the show: “… it was named after a Dutch explorer, Adrian Block, who charted the area in, I believe, 1614. Prior to that, the i...

We sailed from North Carolina and landed in Rhode Island - our longest passage, 600 miles - while sailing the East Coast of the United States. We share with you the episodes from the voyage that we captured while on the way. From the show: “…In the ocean, like life, the fastest path to destination sometimes is not a straight line. And if you were to look at our track, you'll notice that we are tra...

The crabs are actually Fiddler Crabs but I stick by our name for the reasons in the podcast. We love Beaufort, NC. A lively community with pleasant people and plenty to do, if you like nature and low key places. From the show: “… the wild horses are definitely an attraction here. They live on the Carrot Island, which is the one right next to our boat, just a few feet away, really. And on Shacklefo...

As soon as June arrived we knew our Bahama adventure was coming to a close. Hurricane season starts June 1st, and this year is supposed to be an active one. As we worked our way back up the chain of islands, we got some sad news from home and Alex flew out to be with family. Which left Egor and Bèlá the task of sailing back to the US, alone. After some storms of their own, and 3 days at sea, they...

The Exuma Cay Land and Sea Park is a place to see. Headquartered in Warderick Wells Cay, it is home to beautiful and lively reefs. We had a chance to dive them, swim with stingrays, and wonder about the intentions of a rather inquisitive Caribbean Reef Shark. If you are in the Bahamas, Wardericks Wells is a place to stop. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subsc...

Fast restaurant service (in Bahamas?), James Bond and Thunderball Grotto, hot walks to the beach, and 1990s music. What a lovely island for a couple of days stay. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blueplanetstories.com

Before we left Rat Cay, we stopped at a festival in Barraterry, Exumas. We missed the main festivities but learned a bit anyway. At Rudder Cut Cay, we dove “The Paino and the Mermaid”, the underwater sculpture commissioned by David Copperfield. Then we moved onto Black Point where we met Killer and enjoyed some proper cocktails. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...

We had visitors last week and did the quintessential Exuma things. We snorkeled the reefs, visited an Iguana island, and hung out with pigs and a brood of tiny piglets that live on White Cay. It is rewarding to host friends. They help you engage with the place and with each other. Through their eyes, we are reminded why sailing the Bahamas is an amazing time. This is a public episode. If you would...

We are in the Bahamas off-season. Beaches are empty, boats are sparse, and the cold beer is a little harder to find, but only a little. We have to time our stops at restaurants as they may be closed early. And we may have to visit a couple before we find one that is open. But… It is all worth it when we make it to a beach devoid of anyone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss thi...

We made it to Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas, in one shot, much faster than we had planned. But it came with a bit of an adventure. The Exumas are as relaxed as Eleuthera, and the island time is… well… I don’t know if they even wind the clock. Beautiful place. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.blueplanetstorie...