Hi everyone! We are still here in Chaguaramas Bay, Trinidad. It is a commercial harbor and, therefore, also very filthy. It is amazing that the locals here litter the water as well as the land. They just throw their trash off the side of the boat or on the ground. Obviously, they are not educated about pollution. The water is full of oil, gas, and diesel that you can plainly see on top of the water. We will have to clean the hull when we leave for all of the grime on the sides of the boat. Trash, plastic bottles, bags etc flow in and out with the tides.
It is an environmental nightmare. You can understand why we are all getting antsy to leave and find another crystal clear cove to anchor out in and frolic in the water since it is hotter than the devil's den, but the water here is cloudy at best due to the runoff from the rivers in Venezuela. So, the next best place to be is the dock where we have power, unlimited water, and access to stores, bars and new friends which is precisely where we are.We have met a fantastic English family on the boat L' Aventura with two playmates for Phillip, Keir 13, and Iona 14, and playmates for us parents, too, Andy and Sue. I have to say that the timing of the "new friends for Phil" couldn't have been more perfect with Doug and Andrew's departure. They seem to have hit it off and have been spending lots of time together. Tonight we are having a pizza party on the Adamo. L' Aventura is on the hard getting extensive work done. Everyone who has read the blog knows that being on the hard in this heat is brutal! It is hard to cook... well, it is hard to to anything. So we invited them over to enjoy some air conditioning, a meal that nobody has to cook, and drinks of course!
We have also been to several pot-luck gatherings and a book/ DVD swap and have met other cruisers. I find these events a little uncomfortable here because it is kind of like high school where there are definitely clicks. Weird! But you have to do it in order to met other people.
Phillip and I have started home school. It is painful to begin a new year of material! We are both suffering over it. Battling Phil to study for a couple of hours is not my idea of fun; but I know it is a matter of time before we get into a groove.
Mike is getting to the end of his list of maintenance items and he has offered to help our new friends with some of their stuff. We are waiting for them to get into the water so we and go down the river together in Venezuela. We still have to provision for that journey as well as pick up trading items for the Indians. More on that later.
Phil and Mike just returned with a couple of tuna and a jack. So it is sushi for breakfast! They also found a beach nearby that we will venture to today to have some fun in the sun.
