06/27/2012, Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad
The scene around here is that there are many marinas lined up along the water, separated by metal and barbed wire fencing with no access other than the main highway and through individual security gates. Each marina long and narrow from the highway down to the water, meaning a fair distance to walk from the security gate to the water where stores, restaurants and docks are. Yesterday I had two errands, one at Peak's Marina, the other at Power Boats. I had to walk down to the road from our marina, then along the highway to the first place, all the way down their boat yard (where the boats are "on the hard" for storage, repairs or both) and to the water from the security gate. Once I arrived at the water for my first errand, I realized it was the wrong marina and had to walk all the way back to the road, down a few more yards to the next security gate and all the way through their boatyard to the store I wanted. My next errand was at our friend's boat and when I left them, I asked a local person to guide me back to the exit. He did, guiding me ALL the way down through the boatyard to a locked gate. What? By now, I'm hot, tired and my bladder is not happy. I yelled for the security guard who I could see from the locked gate and asked if he wouldn't mind (pretty please?) opening up for me. "This is only opened in case of emergency" he said sternly. "Yes, I'm terribly confused" (and this IS an emergency, can't you see it written all over my face?) "You're confused?" he said through a smile? "Yes, terribly, but next time I'll know better". Gate opened, and down I go back through our boatyard where Luna greeted me with a "Where the hell did you go without me?" look. You dog owners know that look, don't you? Later, I eagerly made my way to the showers where I looked forward to standing under some hot water, shampooing my hair, enjoying the amenities of a marina. Except that there was no water. At first I thought I must have lost all my intelligent reasoning, that maybe there was some special technique for turning the shower on. I swear, that's exactly what I thought. I pictured another cruiser coming in, my asking for assistance and her telling everyone, "See that woman over on that boat with the dog? She couldn't figure out how to use the showers!" Heads shake, everyone then knows me as that woman...
My intellectual reasoning was intact enough to finally deduce there was no water. When a Columbian woman we'd met earlier in the day came into the bathrooms I asked if there might be a water problem and she said, "Oh yes, for about a week now". Hah! Disappointing but at least I still have a brain.
Today I'll do a "proper" clothes washing in a real washer and dryer. My least favorite chore. Other than washing dishes. And sweeping dog hair. I can't say I enjoy scrubbing toilets either. If I could fix diesel engines maybe I'd enjoy that line of work better. Probably not.
|
Comments [0]
06/27/2012, Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad
At the area marinas, some boats are on moorings out in the bay. Some are on anchors. Others are at slips like we are. Still others are leaving their slips to get the boat hauled for repairs and/or storage. Some get hotel rooms while their boat is on stilts, while others remain on the boat and use ladders to climb up and down. I'll try to get a photo of a ladder. Trouble with that for us is coming up and down with Luna. Can you picture that? Many people from all over the world are preparing to fly home (we spoke with an Aussie couple yesterday who leave in a couple weeks for example) for varying lengths of stay. Some for a few weeks, some for several months. People come and go constantly or are in the process of something. If you blink, you come up top only to discover the boat across from you is missing. Oh yeah, they are hauling out today over at Peak's. That boat? They're over on the hard at Power Boats. You have to keep up. Or not. The photo is of a boat from Gibraltar in our marina, on the hard.
|
06/27/2012, Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad
Who is this Skylark imposter? A power boat? For sale? Let's hope the new owners change the name and not go "skylarking" through these parts.
|
06/24/2012, Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad
Lat/Lon is updated for those interested.
We are settled in at our slip at Coral Cove Marina in Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad. It's a bit surreal being here. We are in the northwest part of the country, not too far from the major city of Port of Spain. Although Luna will be limited to the marina, we'll have access to lots of places. There's a good bus system here and I'll be able to do some shopping on my own. The buses are similar to other West Indian buses, or vans, typically there's nothing written on them but if you're on the side of the road and stick your hand out, they'll stop for you. Ask the driver if they're going where you want to go and if so, climb on board. If someone asks you how many people can fit on a maxi taxi in the Caribbean, the answer is "One more". They pile in. The fare is dirt cheap but you pay again every time you get off and on. Usually it's the equivalent of $1.50 US one way. When you want to stop, in other Islands you just say "Driver, stop here". But in Trini we understand there's a button you push to exit when you want to be let off.
On our dock, we are surrounded by an English family who have been cruising for 5 years, a New Zealand couple, several Americans, a S. African couple who have also been out for many years who we met in Bequia, a couple from Canada (though the husband is Brazilian) and we understand an Aussie is around here somewhere. We said goodbye to our Polish friends who leave for Poland tomorrow and are nearby on the hard (their boat is on stilts and out of the water), and I feel certain there are other interesting people we've yet to meet. Everyone we've met thus far has been great. Our friends on Just Imagine and Miclo III are at different marinas but not too far and within dinghy or walking distance. In this photo, Skylark is toward the end, 2nd to last one.
|
