Map of Venezuela

November 11

Start the countdown. In a mere two years from today, for the first time in a century, the date, in format mm/dd/yy, will consist of all the same digits. Since you may not notice the next one, you should, for the next 730 days, prepare to party like there's no (11/12/11) tomorrow.

One trick to buying diesel and gas at 1 mille por litre (about $.80/gal., many times the local rate) is finding someone at the pump. It's a(n) hit or miss affair. Running a business is apparently not a well understood concept in this country. Not much to do today, so periodically dinking over seemed like a great way to fill up the calendar. Eventually had a taxi man, Carlos, take jugs to fuel station. Same price, plus he delivers and makes a tidy profit.

Finally finished Dominican coffee to start on vacuum packed Starbucks brought from home. Many friends rave about the DR stuff, but it just doesn't reach down and grab you by the short hairs like Seattle's better than Best. Makes the arduous trek each morning from V-berth to galley worth undertaking.

Occurs to me that the human ability to adapt and prosper in difficult situations, while enabling mankind to progress, is also responsible for the ability of oppressive and destructive governments to persist until the roots of a society are eroded so badly that the structure collapses. Thinkers, creators and producers enable tyrants.

Jack