(^14) Day 3
Day 3 brought an earlier departure than the previous day. Breakfast was served at
the first island stop, consisting of boiled banana and salty pork fat. I’m not
ungrateful, but I couldn’t eat it. The crew, on the other hand, seemed delighted
with their breakfast. Mercifully, we still had a few stale rolls, half a jar of peanut
butter, and the famous pork & beans (without pork).
Following loading, sailing continued past numerous small islands with coconut
palms and white, sandy beaches. They looked idyllic, and the water was clear
enough to see fish swimming even in the deeper water – the San Blas was indeed
close to paradise. Unfortunately, the Kuna people were shy and didn’t like being
photographed. I did, nevertheless, manage to steal a blurry shot or two. Small
bare-bum kids ran about or rowed their wooden dugout canoes, seemingly before
they could even walk.
The days became increasingly hot, but it wasn’t too unbearable while sailing. Still,
the heat sent everyone running to a shady spot when we moored. The rhythm of
loading and off-loading, and then sailing to the next island to do the same, became
a familiar routine. While we moored, food was served, and a good thing too, as the
boat rocked far too severely to cook or eat. Lunch was rice, beans and liver. I
happily gave my liver to Ernest and ate the rice and beans, neither of which will
ever make it to the top of my favourite list.
By evening, anchoring was at a relatively large island, for the San Blas,
(approximately 500 metres x 800 metres). We all sat watching the teams play
basketball and I thought it a good thing the tiny Kuna people played each other.
Supper consisted of a boiled banana and fried fish. We sat around the square until
realising this was it, and nothing more would happen. Then, when darkness fell, we
all crawled in, trying to get as comfortable as possible while listening to the snoring
and farting of the crew in their hammocks above.
leana
(Leana)
#1