Still Cruising Season 9

I am so out of practice blogging that I published this blog several months ago but I published it under Beyond Burgoo - my food blog.  Ooops.  Link

March 24, 2022

Hello.  How is everyone?  It's been a long time since I blogged.  2019 to be exact.  Many excuses why, most not worth detailing.  I have missed writing.  I have missed you all.  

But here we are, our 9th cruising season.  Wow!  Can that really be?  

We are currently in Utila, the western most island of The Bay Islands of Honduras, approximately 20 nautical miles off mainland Honduras.  We arrived here February 27, 2022 from Rio Dulce Guatemala.  

We've not been to this particular Bay Island and we were quite keen to see and experience it.  When we came around to the Western Caribbean in 2019, we checked into The Bay Islands at Guanaja, the eastern most island.  We spend a couple of weeks there and then sailed to Roatan, the biggest and most developed of The Bay Islands.  Then we ran out of time and had to skip Utila and head for the safety of the Rio Dulce in Guatemala for hurricane season 2019, 2020 (COVID), 2021.

So far, we are really diggin' Utila.  The people are friendly and genuine.  Things ashore are fairly easy to navigate.  Many business owners who allows us to land and lock our dinghy at their docks.  That is not always the case in places we cruise to.  Easy trash disposal, provisioning, diesel, propane, water, etc....

I am going to keep this first one short so that is all for now. 

 

S2R2 - Well, We Have Come This Far - Santa Marta

Santa Marta water front 

December 31 2018

S2R2 looking sharp

S2R2 meeting

We are finding Santa Marta Colombia a very vibrant city.  I thought I would show you around.

We are staying in the IGY Marina.  This area is very famous for strong gale force winds.  The katabatic winds come screaming down the Sierra Nevada Mountains at night.  It is not uncommon to have winds in the 30's with gust in the 40's and 50's.  The other night it was howling.  I got up and turned on our instruments.  We had a gust of wind to 46 knots!  Nice to be in a marina when those winds kick up.  BTW - the marina staff is EXCELLENT!!!!  We have been treated SO well.

The Liberator Simon Bolivar

Writer Gabo Museum 

Being in the marina has allowed us to explore the city at will.  There are many Colombian's from other parts of Colombia here on holiday as well.

Proper coffee with sv Quicksilver

Shwarma 

Fresh juice - Pic by Samantha Pettitt

Mangoes cut and ready to eat - Pic by Samantha Pettitt

There are lots of restaurants and food stands.  More than once, we've eaten our way up and down various streets here.  The prices are low.  Actually, it is just dirt cheap here in terms of food.  "Cheaper to eat out" has been the general consciences among the S2R2 boats.  Example:  full meal - soup starter, meat, rice, salad, beans, plantain, and fresh juice =$10US for both of us.  Street snacky food is really, really cheap.  And YES, we eat it.  No issues!!  Fresh street juices made from real fruit are $2US for both of us with endless refills.  You can just stand there next to the juice guy drinking as much as you want.

S2R2 boats enjoying the night life of Santa Marta

Sharon sv Quicksilver in the heart of it all

Not far from the marina, there are two or three streets that are pedestrian only.  They are several blocks long.  There is also a "square." This is the epicenter of action at night.  Locals and tourist alike, stroll these areas, enjoying diner, drinks, and live performers.

Tom enjoying the sounds of Funky Band

In regard to the last item, live performers.  We have seen a couple of different live street bands that are excellent and a young tumbling/break-dancing troupe.

Tumbling / break dancing troupe

The street art is kewl.

Along the waterfront near the marina, there are tons of street vendors selling hats, t-shirts, Colombia, woven purses and other tourist items.

Conga line off the party bus

Colombians on holiday - party bus

SO vibrant!!

   

S2R - Well, We Have Come This Far - Minca Day 2

December 29 2018

After a fairly good night's sleep in our hostel hut, we dressed and joined the others on the common patio.  Btw - the mosquito netting worked.  However, I think a gecko or something similar ran across the netting on the upper part of my pillow and hair during the night!  And hearing a river rushing by so close throughout the night was a new sensation for us.  Breakfast was included in our room and consisted of coffee, two crepe like pancakes, good scrambled eggs and fresh bananas and papaya. 

Lat and long at the waterfall

Today's plan was to hike up to Marinka Waterfall - Casade de Marinka in Spanish.  The hostel staff confirmed the directions and distance.  "One hour walk but steep."  So longer for me!  We organized our stuff, "Of course you can leave your items here!"    Then we paid our bill and set off across the river. 

The hike up to the waterfall was on the road/trail and mainly shaded.  It was steep at times.  And of course I am out of shape, especially for mountain hiking but we managed.  Many locals and Colombians from other areas of Colombia were hiking up too.  Some came by Moto Mink motobikes and a few by 4 wheel drive. 

An hour or so later, we arrived.  $5,000 COP each entry fee or $3US total.  The waterfall was nice with two levels.  We came this far, so of course we got in.  The water was refreshing aka chilly.  S2R2 boat sv Tao Pao showed up and took a dip as well.

We dried off and hiked down.  A hint from Sher on sv Tao Pao lead us to a yummy chicken lunch in Minca - soup starter, rice, fries, small salad, 1/4 toasted chicken each and fresh juice smoothies. 

We booked our ride home and walked back to the hostel to get our other bag. 

Mural on the wall of the lunch spot

The ride home was a souped up, mountain ready Land Cruiser.  Tom and I stuffed in front, 9 others crammed in the back.  Again, our driver was very cautious and easy driving us back down to Santa Marta.

Our ride down

We arrived back home to the boat around 16:30 tired, hot and a tad but sore from all the walking.  

But what a wonderful time in Minca!