Archiv
CW 39 2002
15.09.2002 - 21.09.2002
Today is Sunday, September 15 and we start the day early, getting up before
7am preparing for the trip to Isla Margarita.
At 8.30am the anchor is weighed and about 50 miles lie ahead of us, until
we reach our destination Porlamar.
Less than half an hour after we left Playa Real the sails are set … and
we are sailing!
Again, things are going well for us and we're making pleasant 5 knots on average.
At this speed it seems appropriate to get the fishing lines out again. But
apparently no one else is around today; no other sailors and no fish.
| A few large freighters are around - and pretty close - and it seems,
on their way to Panama. It a not too distant future SILVER BLUE will also set that course! Since sailing makes you hungry - as everybody knows - we through something together in the afternoon. We've hardly finished eating as a rain shower comes along to cool us off. Oh well, that's just part of the game. Who knows how to find out if you'd enjoy sailing? Get into the shower, turn the cold water on and tear up 100$ bills. Why that? Well, it rains very often, is cold and tremendously expensive! |
 |
Actually this route is called the bare-foot route because rain and bad weather
are very rare, so I guess we shouldn't complain.
Isla Margarita is lying right ahead of us and, by what we can see through
the binoculars, the bay seems to be rather full.
But surely we'll find a nice place.
We didn't believe it any more, but there really are fish here!
Anglers luck strikes!
A Venezuelan tuna fish! Great!
And only half an hour ago we read in our tourist guidebook that Venezuela
is famous for its large amount of fish near the coast. That only made us grin
since nothing had gone for our bait (then).
Now the fact is proven and our dinner provided for.
Now it's getting time to bring the sails down. Surrounding the cape is a little
rough since the water is rather shallow already; it's only about 20 m deep.
At 5.15pm the anchor drops for a last time (for now) and we're lying in the
Bahia Concorde, right in front of Porlamar.
Signing in can wait until tomorrow and we can let the day come to an end with
a delicious dinner. Tuna of course, with baked potatoes and carrots of herbs
of the Provence.
Our first deed for Monday is signing in, but that takes place in a different
manner here than usually.
Thomas only had to drop the papers of and by evening everything was taken
care of.
Of course the papers need to be accompanied by a few dollar, because we don't
have any of the national currency, the Bolivar, yet.
In the evening we go ashore and enjoy a tasty dinner at Jack's restaurant.
On first sight you wouldn't want to call it a restaurant, but sometimes the
first impression is not the right one. In this simple little house behind
that simple bar hides a great kitchen with Thai influence.
Reading the menu here, comparing it to the situation in Trinidad: a difference
like night and day!
A steak with side salad and rice or French fries costs less than 5 €.
In Trinidad you couldn't get a steak for less than 15 € and in a fancy
restaurant you'd pay no less than 30 €.
On Monday our friends from the S.Y. Julia also arrive. They stayed at Playa
Real for another day and arrive here at Porlamar in the evening.
On Wednesday we finally realise that really everything is a lot cheaper here,
because we take an organised tour to a shopping centre.
Juan, the man who runs the Marina Juan, organises this tour.
It's a free transfer to a large shopping centre including the trip back with
all the bought goods.
And, one thing is for sure: there's nothing they don't have here!
We can get cheese and yoghurt here and we can buy ham or salami again without
having to pay a small fortune. And fruit juices.
We also buy some fresh stuff and then decide to take a taxi back home - that
seems more comfortable to us.
Even taxis are more than cheap. We pay 2000 Bolivar for the trip into town;
that's less than 1.50 €.
It's only 50 miles from Trinidad to Venezuela, yet they're worlds apart.
But that's what makes life interesting, to see how different things are.
The rest of the week is less interesting though since we more or less spend
every day running errands, driving to town a few times etc. etc.
So, nothing really interesting and therefore good news for those who thought
this log was much too long anyway.
Next week there'll definitely be something new again.
Until then, enjoy life and if you like …
next week here:
same time, same place!
so long
Diana + Thomas
