We got to sleep later this morning.  We boarded our boat at 9:30 which took us to Sandubidi Village.  Abdiel, our guide, took us to this village instead of the village that most groups tour because these people are not so commercial.  The women  here only make a small quantity of beaded jewelry, bags, or shirts to sell.
We were guided through the village by Rose, a woman whose grandparents first came to the island to live. Â Now thirty families live here. Â Seven or eight people live in each house. Â We got to visit the school which was not in session. Â Children can attend school on this island through ninth grade. Â For the last three years of high school they have to go to a bigger island or Panama City. Â When they finish high school about 3/4 of the students return to the village.
As we continued to walk around the island, I spotted children playing in a picnic area. Â I approached them with Cha-Cha-Cha. Â As she sang and chatted with them in Spanish (with Abdiel’s language assistance), the children were smiling and giggling yet shy. Â When we said good-bye to them to continue the village tour, they seemed to appear in other places. Â We got to visit the village President’s home. Â His wife was fixing spaghetti for lunch. Â We peeked into the only small village store, then we got to look at the items the women were selling. Â Several people bought some of the handmade items.
Next the boat took us to Coral Key where we ate grilled cod with garlic sauce, rice cooked in coconut milk, and deep-fried plantain.  After lunch we went snorkeling.  On the way back to our hotel, the boat took a side trip through an area of mangroves with a rainforest inland.  Suddenly Abdiel spotted a three-toed male sloth.  We saw a total of three of them.
We went to town for dinner tonight, and had seafood linguini. Â We are enjoying eating the fresh local seafood here. Â We have had seafood every lunch and dinner since we arrived.
Red Coral
My favorite house in the Indian village
The store in the Indian village
Carol and Cha-Cha-Cha with villagers in front of the store
Sailing Ship seen on the way back to the hotel
La Tortuga Hotel on Bocas del Toro where we are staying