Archiv
CW 26 2003
23.06. - 29.06.2003
| The week starts with a holiday. Most Cartagenese don't know what holiday
this is, but who cares? As long as you don't have to work and can celebrate.
Tourism has also returned, since the summer holidays have started in lots
of other parts of the country, and thus Bocagrande, Cartagenas center
of tourism, is well filled. And that's not a bad thing; allows the countless
people selling goods on the beaches and streets to finally make an income
again. We're finishing our last preparations so we can leave our friendly host, the Club Nautico, for a while, taking off heading towards Panama. On Wednesday morning we visit the local market, where everything offered is eatable (even if it doesn't look like it). |
 |
This turns out to be quite an adventure. Amongst the countless traders those
rummage around (and not only a few either) that are just selling what the
garden or last nights fishing tour (or wherever it came from) provides.
You really need stamina in this total chaos, but since we "only"
need fruit and vegetables we succeed after just one hour - and for the value
of about 25 Euro we get so much that we have to use a wheelbarrow to get it
from the taxi to the ship. And that wheelbarrow is loaded up high!
 |
Now, on Thursday, we finally leave, but not without having waited for Luznelas diving mask until the afternoon. Her mask has optical lenses, otherwise my mermaid wouldn't see much under water, and that would really be a pity, in St. Blas's underwater paradise. After a friendly good-bye at the landing, we take off at 5pm and at
6pm the main sail and the genua are up and SILVER BLUE is sailing into
the night. |
| A good time to get the fishing rod out and let it drag. And really,
at 9am a fat yellow fin tuna is caught. What a yummy guy. That'll be enough
for a few good meals. The rest of the day and the following night are relaxed. There's only a light wind, but under all sail SILVER BLUE runs at least 5 knots. On Saturday morning it's no more than 20 nautical miles to the entrance to the St. Blas archipelago and a special welcoming committee accompany us for more than an hour - about 50 dolphins. It's always touching to see these graceful creatures play with the boat. |
 |
 |
The Cayos Holandes are our first destination. We glide through turquoise
water, zigzagging through countless reefs, heading for one off the best-known
anchoring spots in St. Blas, the so-called swimming pool. Of course we're
not alone here; a few other yachts are here with us and really seem to
float in this 3m deep swimming pool. We enjoy the rest of the day here, recovering from the journey, and guess what we're having for dinner? Tuna, of course, and this time fried in a pan at mild temperature with butter, lemon, lemongrass, fresh pepper (not hot) and a little garlic. With that we have small baby-potatoes, baked in olive oil - a feast! |
Well, it is the rainy season and accordingly Sunday starts with a massive
thunderstorm. 30 knots wind, plenty rain and impressive strokes of lightning,
followed by thunder that lets the boat shudder. The spectacle is over after
one hour and we make our way to the island Porvenir, 19 nautical miles away
and the administration of the St. Blas archipelago is situated. After all,
we still have to sign in. Upon our arrival we find a soccer match taking place
on the local airport (a landing strip and a wooden hut). At the local police
station - one of two men who take turns fishing at the landing - I'm told
that we can't sign in today. So it'll be manana. We've got time.
What happened manana and during the following week, amongst these beautiful
palm-islands, is something you can find out here soon.
So long
TOM
