09/25/2008
Venezuela, a beautiful country in a bit of a turmoil. The non-official exchange rate seems to change radically daily. Unfortunately our timing was not so good when the exchange rate was at its worst and with the inflation sky rocketing, Venezuela did not seem as cheap as it used to be.
We were a bit undecisive about getting work done in the country, but after spending a few days in Puerto La Cruz which was one place we could get hauled out, we opted to postpone and go to Curacao where the price of haul out is about the same but the price of labour is more but also maybe the quality standard is higher.
The situation in the country increases the crime level and security is an issue. We did not feel at ease anywhere on the main land. We needed to lock everything on the boat, including ourselves in at night. We made sure our flare guns and gaseline spray bottle were ready. We did not have to used them thankfully. We decided that it was not worth staying any longer on the main land and risking the boat or our lives, so we sailed to the outer islands.
Los Roques and Aves are groups of islands far enough from the coast and from crime. We felt totally safe there and spend a wonderful month cruising in their waters.
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08/21/2008
We got up early to hike up to the light beacon on top of Testigo Grande. The hiking up was good, a bit warm but we made it up to the top to catch some great views. We also did a few laps of rock climbing right at the top.
The island is dry with lots of cacti along the path, on the way down I managed to fall down and land my face on some cactus. It was very painful especially when Mom was pulling the prickles out of my cheek. Dad carried me down a lot of the way back. As we got closer to the fishing village a parrot flew at Mom's head and landed on the branches close by. She picked it up and it stayed with us until we got back to the dinghy. There some locals were having mangos and it was pretty happy to stay to feast on some fruit. We went back to the boat to treat my injuries and by the end of the day, I had forgotten about the whole ordeal.
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Les ouragans peuvent-il être un problème dans votre région ?
ciao,
Mario, Diane et Carl
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Wish we could see you guys again.
The boys look good. Shadow, the cat says to say Hi.
Maybe we will meet again in the future.
Until then, Happy Sailing
Robin and Cheryl
Aboard just Imagine...
08/21/2008
Two days ago we pulled into Los Testigos, a beautiful group of islands between Grenada and Margarita, Venezuela. It had the some of the clearest water on the trip through the Caribbean but it was also the coldest.
We hiked up some sand dunes to get to the windward side of the Testigo Grande. Finally a surf break, so I got to go boogieboarding and body surfing.
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08/13/2008
The Carnival in Grenada is certainly about music. We went to a few events and all were very loud, maybe the best was the bus ride into town, all crammed with our hearts vibrating to the music, our ears...I should become an earing aid importer for in a few years, a lot are going to be needed.
It was fun to see so many people excited about the party.
We went to the Panarama (steel pan competition) with Rennie and Denny from Salt and Light. Their daughter Michaela was nice enough to look after the boys and we had a nice "adult" evening. All the events were about 2-3 hours late. GMT Grenada maybe time. We also went to the festival of lights which did not get started until midnight or so. We cut it short with the boys...The best was the parade on the last day, where we could see all the costumes. Simi and Ethan (Salt and Light) had a wonderful time collecting beads, feathers, stringers and all kinds of treasures that were scattered on the street after the contestants went by. The best part about the parade was that we felt totally safe to leave the kids running around amongst the crowd. The people were so friendly.
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08/08/2008
Finally we have slowed down. We have been in Grenada for almost a month now. The kids are in heaven, they have found some other kids to play with. Hog Island is great for them has it is their own little treasure island.
We first arrived at St-Georges and toured around the laggon but decided to go and anchor on the outside where the breeze is present but not the mosquitos. We toured the town for a few days, checking out the market and the shop along the carenage.
We then moved to the southern end of the island, Prickly Bay. We met up with Gerhard Kyllmann, a heli-ski guest who has a house here on the island. Gerhard showed us around the island. He took us to the differnt Forts and to Concord Falls. The kids still talk about the hike through the jungle. It was fun jumping over the river from rock to rock. Finally we were rewarded at the end with a swim. It was rainy weather but still quite warm and we had fun jumping from the ledges into the pool bellow the falls.
We then moved to Hog Island, where the kids found fun... other kids!
We went back to Priclky and Grande Anse by St-Georges for a few days , John flew the kite and we went snorkeling but we had to go back to Hog Island where the kids enjoy themselves so much.
Simi had his 6th Birthday party with lots of friends. We organized a few games in the water but they also had a treasure hunt and a water balloon fight.
Now it is carnival time and everybody is in a festive way. Music is loud and everything is closed. We will be on our way to Venezuela in the next week.
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07/15/2008
Bequia is the biggest island of the Grenadines and has a beautiful anchorage in Admiralty Bay. We spend a few days exploring the island. We pulled the bikes out of the locker and went touring. The kids were keen on a turtle sanctuary localed on the windward side of the island. Hawksbill and green turtlles eggs are taking from the beach and then when the turtles are big enough, they introduced them back to sea. It was great to see them so close. We them continued our bike ride to the other side of the island to a whale museum. It's a local retired whale hunter's house. It is really small with a few pictures but the stories the old guy has to tell are worth the trip. We went back to town and were rewarded with an ice cream treat. We went back to the boat and stayed in the water for a good part of the afternoon.
We left the next day for the Tobago Cays. The cays are the most prettiest of the Grenadines. They are unhabited islands with beautiful sandy beaches and good snorkeling. The islands are protected by a great horseshoe shape reef. We swam with some green turtles and after seeing them in captivity in Bequia at the sanctuary , it made it even more special.
John hooked up with some Norwegian guys on the beach who were trying out kites. They were very nice to show him what they knew and John was finally able to fly the kite. A few more days of practice are necessary so we hope to find a school where he can take a course.
We then went to Mayreau Island, we got there early and spend the day around the bay but by dinner time we got invaded. The bay became the most popular anchorage around. The following day we made to Union Island where we needed to go to check out. We stop at Palm Island for a swim on the way there. A nice resort island with beautiful beaches but the current keeps you from having a relaxing swim. At Union, we anchored by the reef and went snorkeling but it was not too spectacular. Lots of little fishes but most of the coral was dead. We checked out the nurse sharks that are caged in by the waterfront resorts, good entertainment. The next day we bought some fresh produce from the locals and went to Customs fro the legalities. We then left for Petit St-Vincent in a bit of a storm. The anchorage was pleasant and we met the Norwegian there again. That was the last of the Grenadines. We then continued to Carriacou, a Grenada territory.
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