Jamaica



Jamaica

Hello Mon

 

Da mon on da big tourist boat, he talk too dam quick to understand. Da reggae music blast too dam loud for ya to talk, and da smell of da jerk chicken wafts across da bay make ya hungry.  Yes this is da Jamaica, home of Bob Marley, dreadlocks and beach partying till the wee small hours of the morning. Lively to say the least.

 

The Island was first populated by the Arawak Indians.  Christopher Columbus discovered the Island in 1494.  The Spanish arrived in 1510 and introduced sugarcane using the Arawak as slaves.  By the end of the century the Arawak Indians had been entirely wiped out from ill-treatment and European diseases. New slaves are now brought in from Africa.  In 1654 the English arrive on the scene, and take control of the Island. Autonomy from Britain was granted in 1947, and full independence in 1963.

Return To Cayman Islands

Hello Again To You All At Long Long Last

Beautiful Caymans
 

Well, this is our third visit to this beautiful corner of the Caribbean, George Town, Grand Cayman. Yes it can be glitzy, commercial - say like a mini Florida, and, very expensive, but it is an excellent stop for yachts to take that break after a rather hard slog here, as we were  against the trade winds on this leg.  It also makes a great break for those traveling on to Central America. Check in is free, the waters are crystal clear, and one can have those spare parts flown in from anywhere in the world knowing they will arrive – yes we are waiting on some!!

Easter on the Rio
 

 

Easter on the Rio

 

Firstly back to our last days on the Rio Dulce, Guatemala. As we waited for that weather window to depart, Alec and I filled in time making “SHAMAL” ready for her first ocean passage of the season – well so we thought!  Also  we had the Easter week break.  We watched as the locals gathered on the Rio for what is considered one of their most important festive seasons of the year.   Things got a little crazy on the water.  Villages arrive in Frontares by boat and whatever means they can to join family and friends.  The rich, famous and stupid arrive on the river and out come all the water toys.  Easter here was a week of craziness.  There was one accident, which Alec and I did not see, where two local lanchas ( they are the local motorised small boats about 7mts long with an over powered motor on the back) hit each other, one cutting the stern off the other!!!  On Good Friday morning the local Priest came around the river with a flotilla of boats all dressed in purple cloth, to bless the boats.  They stopped at twelve marinas – stations of the Cross - to give the Blessings. It was rather a grand site watching the parade and see the spirit of Easter celebrated here.

 

Guatemala

Spanish Fort entrance Lake Izabal

Hello Again

 

Where are we, and what are we up to???

Spring is on its way

 

Yes it has been a very long break away from SHAMAL this time round, but we are now back on the Rio Dulce, Guatemala, and SHAMAL is about to be put back in the water at long last.

Fonteras

 

Fronteras

We departed New Zealand on the evening of 24^th January and flew to Houston, then on to Newark to visit with our family and see the Grandchildren again.  On the 6^th February we flew down to Miami, then on to San Pedro Sula in Honduras.  This airport is closer to the Rio Dulce than Guatemala City.  We had booked a shuttle to take us from the airport directly to the Marina, a trip which is done frequently by this company.  We were to be met at the airport by one of those guys holding up a sign with our name on.  Ha Ha.  Something went wrong as he had been double booked, we found out later.  Having no phone contact with the company, we were able to email them to be told, don’t worry, someone is coming.  Two long hours later a woman arrived in her own 4x4 to take us – well that is what we thought.  Off we set.  About an hour into the drive she pulls off the highway and informs us that this is as far as she is going.  Well that is what we think she said as she only spoke Spanish, and our Spanish is less than limited!! We are to wait and someone else will take us.  Thank goodness she did not just leave us on the side of the road.  We sat for another hour in her 4x4 till the next driver arrived in his minivan.  This is when we found out about the double booking.  The company had forgotten to inform him of our arrival.  Oh well never mind – all part of life’s little adventures.