Inspiration Ladys, Jacksters and Crew in Willemstad

December 14

Preparatory to extricating this operation from Curacao tar baby on Wednesday, took stinky sheets and underwear to laundry for discovery that Tuesday's holiday (nobody could explain for what) prevents retrieval until past planned departure time. May try to leave later in day for Santa Cruz, north end of island, but feel like Michael Corleone, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in".

Seems that nearly all non-European natives here speak Dutch, English, Spanish and native Papiamento. Pretty impressive. Of these, my best and favorite language is English... Oh wait, it's my only one. That would probably explain the affinity.

Did my part for the planet today at Ben & Jerry's by buying scoop of Imagine Whirled Peace. Almost surely Al Qaeda and Somali pirates will take notice. Feel so much better about myself now, but frankly, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Next time will visualize Chunky Monkey or Turtle Soup (Oops, there went my greenie creds).

Car rental, at $6 a head, with Inspiration Ladys tomorrow noon will facilitate, most critically, all-you-can-eat ribs for dinner at Rodeo Restaurant near Curacao Marina (blame falls entirely on Gary). Ancillary activities will include clearing out with customs/immigration (open all day, every day), copying charts of Colombia/Panama and reclaiming clean, fresh skivvies from Het Washok Wednesday morning.

Jack