We are headed up to Santa Cruz Bay on the NW corner of Curacao to position ourselves for the crossing to Aruba. It is a small pretty bay just made for short stays. We tried to anchor outside twice, but too much coral so we headed in to shallow water and a sand bottom. Ok, that's better and also prettier. We will be leaving at o'dark thirty so I'm taking a close look at our position and the route out of here. It looks like all I need to do is aim for Mermaids' anchor light and then go around her as we clear the bay and all will be well. It was New Years eve and the fireworks went on all night, even here. At 4:30am we pulled the hook and hauled ass to Aruba. It was a good downwind sail and the seas were moderate as promised. We made good time and arrived in Barcadero to check in at about 12:30. We eased her up to the dock with lots of fenders out to keep us off the big ugly black tires. A couple of Venezuelan crewmen from one of the vegetable boats came over and caught lines for us. The wind was off shore so it helped to hold us off the dock and the tires. Check in was smooth and easy and took all of about 30 minutes, as we had to wait for immigration to return from another job. We then headed up to the anchorage just north of the airport. There were about 5 other boats there and we slid past them to the shallow water closer in and dropped the hook. She bit on the first try and we were in Aruba. Good sand bottom that held us well, even when it blew hard. Aruba reminds me of Ft Lauderdale. High rise hotels, IGA supermarkets and US restuarant chains to include Hooters. The best part for us was the supermarkets where we could get things we hadn't seen in four years. Of course we paid a commensurate price, but hell, no one put a gun to our heads. Our sole purpose here was to be 55 miles closer to Columbia when a window opened for the trip. In the meantime we did some sightseeing with our new friends on Conari, Mike and Ineka. It doesn't take long to see the whole island and we did. Then we did some more provisioning as we intended to be out in the San Blas for several months and there are things you can't get in Cartagena. There is almost nothing available in the San blas. Therefor we spent a small fortune trying to get it all before we left Aruba. Ah well, we'll eat good while we're out there. Now all we need is a wx window!

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Well, we're back at anchor in Spanish Waters. We have a couple of days to show David and Nikkie the highlights of the island. Should be enough time as the touristy items are some what limited here. We will do the old town and the shops in the tourist area, then have some lunch at our favorite restuarant on the waterfront, Grill King. Curacao is great for buying or importing boat parts and getting repairs done, also for provisioning; otherwise it holds little appeal for me. We catch the bus and head for the old town. Don't know how long it's been since David and Nikkie rode a bus, but they take it all in stride and soon we are wandering around the old city of Orangestad acting like your typical touristas. The girls are enjoying themselves and David and I are trying to hang in there without any sign of boredom! Still it was a good day and a good time was had by all. Back to the boat for thier final night with us. A nice dinner and drinks in the cockpit, last night conversation, and at 5am I take them in to meet the taxi we have laid on to take them to the airport. By dinner time tonight they will be 3000 miles north of us and 40 degrees colder. However, I know that it won't be too long before the siren call of the sea will bring them back for another visit.

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For the next 12 days it was all about showing David and Nikki the islands and diving and snorkeling. Oh yes, let's not forget the shopping. In the evenings it was cocktail time on one boat or another with good friends and good times. We got David back into a scuba rig for the first time in 20 years and he made a dive with Linda along the wall where the boat moorings are. They kept it to about 40ft as you can't get into too much trouble at that depth and it had been a long time. Nikki and I snorkeled along the upper edge of the wall above them as they cruised the face of coral with a thousand varieties of fish all around them. Back in the dinghy after the dive a cold beer was necessary to wash the salt from our throats and give us time to talk about the dive. It was a little bit difficult for David to talk about it as his grin kept getting in the way. After about 8 or 9 days we headed for Curacao with an overnight stop in Klien Curacao
(little Curacao), a small desert island about 6 hrs away from the anchorage at Spanish Waters. There is a very impressive old lighthouse in the exact center and several shipwrecks on the windward side to remind sailors to remain vigilant while passage making. One wreck was a 50 ft sailing sloop that now sits high and dry on the rocks. Wish I knew the story behind that one. We spent the day snorkeling and visiting the wrecks and lighthouse, then a BBQ in the cocpit while the sun turned a fiery red and then was extinguished by the ocean far to the west of us. Next morning we pulled the hook and sailed for Spanish Waters. David and I managed to get the spinnaker up for the downwind run. However, I soon found myself alone as every one else was sound asleep in the shade of the Bimini. That's OK, as the hiss of the hulls cutting through smooth water and an occasional passing ship are sufficient company for a while. Next Curacao.

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