Panama ...phase 1

OK, so after being hit on by the owner at my recent hostel I decided it was time to move on. I set forth to Panama with an Australian boy named Luke today. He convinced me not to pay $30 USd for the tour route to Bocas del Toro and I went along with it since he was armed with the most recent edition of Lonely Planet.
AFter a crazy long and very hot locals bus ride we hit the Panama border...basically you get out get an exit stamp for Costa Rica and then carry everything you own across a rickety old bridge...I swear Im throwing half my stuff away. At the end you buy a tourist card which only North Americans and Aussies need to purchase and a bus ticket back but this is enforced strangely as I used Lukes and got in. From there you argue with bus and cab rides about who you are going with. The taxi gave it to us for half price so we chose him which got the mini bus driver to get the army involved...this actually sounds scarier then it is but it was definitely nuts. Finally they let us go and we have but an hour to make the water taxi to the island. About 24 KM{s away we hit a huge road block...a trailer has flipped on the only bridge leading to the terminal and traffic is held up as 3 ppl died. We had met an American girl and German boy with good Spanish and were sharing the cab so we decide to hit a hotel and stay in this very local border town where it is clear we are tourists. We go to Hotel Carlo which is recommended by Lonely planet but I think in the 70{s as mold dominates this room, Luke is thrilled but I said at least their can{t be bed bugs because no one would stay here (hes mildly hungover so this is only fun for me) anyway we all go for dinner and have some good fish and Panama cuisine with a hint of Chilean wine and now Im here writing to tell about it.
Anyway we should hit the island tomorrow and I hope I do even tho Im mildly sunburned on my shoulders (screw you Kari, I have backpack to carry)
Big loves to those reading this and chat soon
xoxoxoxo