Kai O'hana
12/28/06 - The Caribbean Christmas Spirit!
-A letter from Lauren
Hey Happy Holidays!
The Internet is back up a running. We could not get on for the last two days, and so it goes with technology on the Islands and in relatively remote areas.
We had a glorious Christmas day. First thing in the morning we went to Boo-Boo-Jams at Orient Beach. Surfing, playing volleyball, doing some art and laying in the sun were the order of the morning with the back drop of aqua marine water, white sand, and clear sunny skies.
We returned to the boat around 11:30 for a quick change of clothes, I made a cabbage salad, and we gathered up rum, pinapple juice, and a pumpkin pie for a potluck dinner at Simpson Bay Beach. Of course, we went by dinghy and stopped by Sinbad, a large, 120-foot, steel motor-sail freighter, to pick up our new friends and guides for this fun adventure (Doug “Captain Crunch”, Beth Anne, and their daughter Azura). With Craig and Doug at the helms of their “sports cars”, they couldn’t resist racing through the lagoon, out through the channel and into the Caribbean to our destination. It was our first true beach “drop-off” -- having to unload the boat in the crashing surf of the food, a guitar, and our personal bags. Craig had dropped the anchor off the bow and had us stern-to the beach. The girls were in the water wrestling with a stern line to keep the outboard toward the beach while waves sprayed water over the bow of the boat. It is a good thing I am tall as I held these items over my head to keep them from getting wet. Now I know why sailors are always in swim wear whenever they go anywhere.
We met a lot of new people and visited with friends that we had known for a while. Jessica, our hostess, lived in this home/hotel on Simpson Bay Beach, which we walk on frequently on our exercise days. It was very nice to finally meet her, and the variety of food traditions was a treat for the palate. The interlaced stories of who knows who, and how and where about the world they met, were great stories and rich entertainment. It truly is a small world.
As we prepared to leave (yes, this time I got large trash bags to protect all the items that were not water friendly) we did the whole process in reverse. It went quite smoothly considering we had a bit of rum with dinner. Of course the universe decided to clear our minds by giving us a good fresh shower as we raced back to Sinbad (thank goodness for the trash bags!) -- and yes, we were soaked from head to toes, yet smiling all the way. We drop off our friends, went back to our boat and changed once again into dry attire. Then we jumped back into the dinghy and zoomed off to visit our Czech Republic friends on their moored boat, Isabell.
Well, when we arrived, they had already been visiting with Ursela, Pedro, and Daniel (our welder) for a while. Our hosts Romana and Martin “Danger” Danek, were in good form and as the night progressed Craig, Preston, and Danger Danek moved into rare form and gave us a dancing show. Yes, you would have loved it. All us girls were whooping it up. My family was the last of the group to leave Isabell as we danced the Christmas night to a close. The girls took control on the way home as the designated drivers. I am so proud to have empowered young women in my life and men who appreciate them.
Today the kids and I are in good shape. I think Craig's age is teaching him a lesson. It is all good fun.
May you experience all life has to offer.
Lauren
www.KaiOhana.com
