Powerful Portobelo

I made it to Portobelo! It took 1 night sleeping in a strange bed, 2 hours driving in the dark on a crumbling road and 3 hours perched on the back of an 18 year-old motorcycle clocking in at 100km/hour. Life sure is an adventure! The Christo Negro festival was in full swing when I arrived. Thousands upon thousands of people trekking up a steep hillside to witness and worship an age-old celebration. Those that have committed really bad sins (murder) come crawling on hot asphalt on all fours. Scraping their backs against the rocky pavement, they are bloody and bruised and chanting forgiveness from Saint Christo Negro. Some bear heavy crosses on their shoulders. Others have hot wax poured on their arms and legs while they plead for mercy. Of all the religious ceremonies I've videotaped - this by far is the most dramatic, powerful and chilling. It took everything out of me to keep from weeping with the rest of the patrons. Now, I'm off to the canal watershed to capture more unbelievable foootage for my uncoming documentary/travel series. Stay tuned