Post Card Islands
03.01.2017 - 12.01.2017
It was weird, getting used to the 9-1 rhythm again after having 5-9 for so long. I kinda miss it.
On the evening of the fifth day at sea, we anchored in front of a few small islands with straw huts and palm trees. Looking good. Big cleaning the next day, interrupted by wooden canoes filled with handmade goods. We bargained over the colourful cloths and bracelets in broken Spanish, then returned to cleaning. After lunch we went to the closest little island, which was its whole own little world. We walked through it and sailed in their canoes, now that’s something else. We had free time after that, not that there was much there. That evening we re-opened a few people’s ear piercings with a glowing hot needle and a slice of lime. We even gave someone a new one. Disinfection with rum, daily stuff you know.
A day of school, and off again. The place we wanted to go to was against the wind, so we just went somewhere else. We passed the Thor Heyerdahl, from Klasse unter Segeln, next to Moron Island – no joke.
It only took a few hours, almost entirely during my watch. We anchored in front of three idyllic little islands, palm trees waving in the wind. Closer to the beach the water got almost unhealthily blue. I was not complaining.
The next day I woke up way too late, and ended up packing my bag with lunch on my lap. Most minimalistic bag for the win. Hop in the last dinghy, the right island it was. Sadly not uninhibited, but the few Kuna there welcomed us. Time to find an appropriate palm tree for your hammock, and build a shelter – not too well though, as the ever-blowing wind worked as a natural mosquito net. The first coconuts were cracked, a fire built. I walked around the island with two others, discovering a swamp. People started snorkelling, and found loads of starfish and sea urchins. A local showed us how to eat the latter, who had short, sometimes white spikes. Dinner was bread on a stick. When I went to see if there were seconds, Ellen spotted a hermit crab. Sam grabbed it, and roasted it alive. This erupted frantic crab searching. One after the next was thrown into the fire and eaten not much later. A proper crab was found too. No thank you.
We were woken up by Sam and Jelle the next morning, and set to making rice with beans on the fire. Coconut as a bowl, be creative if you want a spoon. Have a morning swim. I spent the day spotting starfish, helping here and there and gathering wood. Food was rice, beans, chickpeas or bread (made with sea water, delish SEAsoning). We also talked about the vegetarian drama with the whole group.
What had happened was that about ten people had decided to go vegetarian, for real or just to try, and didn’t tell Jelle. Not very smart. And then a whole thing happened with a meal with three versions, one with meat, one vegetarian for the core veggies and one with chicken bouillon for the “fake” vegetarians. It angered quite some people, and was also totally illogical. So we talked about in on the island, and it ended with that those who had really changed their perspective became veggie, and the others went back to meat. A good outcome.
Most of the second morning was spent on breaking everything down, and once back on the ship clearing that mess up too. Then a big moment arrived: the groups for our own journey through Panama were announced. I was with Jurjen, the math teacher and my mentor, Ellen, Ken, Thibault, Marit & Nikki. None of my close friends, but nice enough. Let the fight for our only Lonely Planet begun. You know, with super accurate 2013 information. Go the no-phone life.
One more day of school and sailing, watch at 21.00, little gybe, sail into the bay by Portobello. Another, small ship, ah, could it be? Yes, the Johann Schmidt, nice Germans ahoy! It took them a moment to notice, but they did. We waved, and apparently they called us on the radio later in the night. Germans.
Anchor watch, shove all the shit in your bed aside, fall asleep. Hello Panama.