Travel to Central America

Is There a Hole in the Boat?: Tales of Travel in Panama without a Car

Format: Paperback
Author: Darrin DuFord
ReleaseDate: 16 June, 2006
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.
Rating:

take a trip to Panama
I'm not saying I hated the book, because there were parts of it that I did enjoy. I'm not sure exactly what it is I was expecting when I started reading this book, but whatever it was, it wasn't what I got. Other parts of it though, I found to be. . well. . boring.

The book is about the author's travel through Panama, and is filled with tales of politics, food, and day to day life in a tropical no man's land. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud, and there were times when the world around me seemed to disappear and I was there in Panama with the author, up to my knees in mud. Other times I found my mind wandering, completely uninterested in the story before me.

If you enjoy travel narratives, or are just interested in Panama, you should definitely check out this book. True, parts of it may have bored me, but just because it doesn't fall within my realm of interests doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. This book is full of information and description; those of you interested in Panama will LOVE it. The author also includes a pretty extensive bibliography at the end, for further reading pleasure.

Travel like the locals do
This is not a standard "go here and see this" style of travel book. Is There a Hole in the Boat? is a book of travel stories about the author's visits to Panama. DuFord takes you on his journeys through the country of Panama. On the way he reveals a great deal about the geography of this county that surrounds the Panama Canal. You are introduced to Panama's history, ecology and the indigenous people of the country, but DuFord uses stories that are both amusing and revealing.

Each chapter in the book takes you to a different area of the country. With titles like "186,000 Chickens" and "Hiking to the Bush Rat Buffet," DuFord captures your interest.

He writes in a clear, transparent style that allows the peoples and cultures of Panama to speak for themselves. He isn't above laughing at himself, but he doesn't let his ego get in the way of telling the story. The people he meets and writes about are as diverse as the country of Panama itself. Through the author we are introduced to people ranging from the last King in the Americas to the chef of the Bush Rat Buffet.

Though the stories are entertaining, DuFord also provides an education into what it like to live in a country where the average wage is $7 a day. He chooses to use public transportation and see the country from the same vantage point as the Panamanians. The diablos rojos, the wildly painted school buses that are the backbone of the public transport, weave in and out of most of his tales. The Panamanians, like their buses, are shown to be determined and colorful. DuFord never patronizes the people that he meets, but neither does he romanticize them.

Whether or not you are planning a trip to Panama. Is there a hole in the boat? is a worthwhile read. Darrin DuFord brings a country and its people to life, and in the process tells some very good stories.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique view of Panama all will enjoy.

A fun read and very informative
If you're interested in Panama at all, it is a must read. I throughly enjoyed this easy to read and fun book about the real Panama. Panama is so much more than the canal and this book proves it.

Related products:
click image or link for details on these Central America travel books.

	Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick: An Englishmans Adventures Homesteading in Panama
	Moon Handbooks Panama
	Panama - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)
	Waterproof Panama Map by ITMB
	99 Days to Panama: An Exploration of Central America by Motorhome, How A Couple and Their Dog Discovered this New World in Their RV