Paradise Isla Providencia

Oh my this place is great! We have been so social here for some reason. We have toured the island and are meeting the locals that have been so kind and welcoming as well as extremely generous. 

I've been taking pictures and would love to share them all with you but for space reasons I'll try to group them as much as possible. I have been posting them on our Facebook page Saga Sea if you want to get sooner. 

I am trying to walk as much as possible but the lack of exercise has soften me. My Fibrocrap is flaring up some so I'm trying to build back up slowly. Steve, on the other hand has hiked up to the highest peak of the island, I will post the video. 

We paired up with another couple and rented a cart and drove around the island. We enjoyed some spectacular views, pirate history, loved seeing all the cotton trees, which they hold sacred and are not allowed to cut down, awesome mosaic sculptures, friendly people, beaches without sand flies, and the amazing island culture. 

  

Their culture and dialects refects that they are mostly descendants of the pirates, slaves and the Puritan settlers. This island may be owned by Colombia but the Columbian culture isn't prominent here. 

Fishing and tourism seems to be the biggest industries here on the island. Yet, unlike the smaller sister island San Andres, Providencia has remained mostly rural. We here the rumors that it might not last much longer. Developers from Colombia has plans to make this paradise more of a resort destination. 

That saddens me a bit, We are enjoying its charm and how welcoming they are to cruisers. That might end when the larger resorts take over. 

The weather so far has been so pleasant. A few high wind days and a couple of showers but mostly very very pleasant. 

During our motor tour we met the local radio DJ and musician, Robert Britton. Some of his music will be on our videos

Oh and this fabulous ship came in 

It is a school and sail ship that had around 20-30 teenage students aboart for six months. They learn to sail while continuing their school work aboard. Awesome opportunity! 

Best of all we got to come aboard 

The galley was amazing 

Everyhing from a coffee maker and coke machine to a walkin cooler. 

They even have a bread mixer and waching machines. Their generator can't handle everything at once so all AC power devices are on an operating schedule

Oh Steve was told this was a converted fishing ship from Denmark.  

If you look closely that is a lady holding a dog under the bowsprit

So this brings us up to last night. We met these three guys while eating dinner in town. 

This is Boogie 

Dogs and alcohol seem to be the common language 

 

The Peeps we have met thus far

Yesterday, after noticing that this, yet another, cool cruising couple we just met keeps a blog that I should be sharing the blogs with you all. Why not, right?  So this post will have all the new friends we have met thus far then after we leave a place I will share who we have met at that location. Of course only if they have blogs. There are tons of people out here but only a few peeps are as public as we have been. 

We met Dave and Ellen Bett on SV Cordelia in Guanaja February 2015 

http://sailingcordelia.wordpress.com

We met Martin and Iris Locher on SV Kalea in The Rio Dulce during hurricane season 2015 www.mykalea.com

We met Luc Roy and Aline Deschenes on SV Oceana I in The Rio Dulce during hurricane season 2015 www.voyageoceana1.blogspot.com

We met the Fushs Family on SV Foxtrot in The Rio Dulce during hurricane season 2015 www.svfoxtrot.com

We met Matt and Karen Donovan on SV Where II in French Harbor Roatan back in March of 2015 http://blog.whereii.com

We met Steve and Debbie Graves on SV Delphinia in November 2015 in French Harbor Roatan www.delphinia458.blogspot.com

We met Royce and Jennifer Johnson on SV Cerca Trova in French Harbor Roatan this month http://cercatrava.us

We met Barry on SV Sea Swift in Guanaja this month January 2016. http://www.sailblogs.com/member/seaswift/

And we just met Eulalie Sullivan and Eric Laschever on SV Elizabeth Jean yesterday here in Providencia Colombia www.svelizabethjean.wordpress.com

Im sure you will enjoy reading about their travels as we have enjoyed hearing of them.  We love the cruising community it is a big part of this life style that makes us want to continue. 

We Flew and I threw, up that is.

Made it to Providencia Colombia. Left Sunday morning and arrived Wednesday morning. We have never seen Saga Sea move so fast. Maybe from all the work being completely made her feel like a Filly running free at last.  She felt great, I didn't. This was a two bucket trip for me. Not fun!  Steve was a single handed pro. I was better by the third day. Guess it was just getting around that corner. 

In any case we are here in Beautiful Providencia Colombia. We might not leave... Im not too eager to do any sailing anytime soon for sure. 

Schooner giving me I love you eyes in the cockpit on the third day. It was less of a wet day 

My peeps that got me back online

Schooner chilling while daddy puts the boat back together 

Walking sidewalk. Thank you Colombia 

Our anchorage this afternoon 

Brisge over to Catalina Island where we left the dinghy so I could walk some. I miss walking on sidewalks 

Tourists wanting a pic with Schooner 

Locals getting their fade on. Hahaha. Oh I swear the port captain looks like Ice cube. Ill post a picture if he will let me take one. 

Heading to Providencia Colombia

Well we are packing up and preparing to leave in the morning for Colombia, well for two Islands owed by Colombia, Isla Providencia and Isla San Andres. They are actually closer  to Honduras and Nicaragua and only about 280 nm from the Panama Canal. 

This trip will probably take around five or more days. We plan to stay over night in Cayo Vivorillo, just to rest midway. 

So that is the plan, stan. We really are not completely sure what we will do after this place. We first planned to head to Panama but after experiencing summer in the Rio Dulce I think I will pass. Plus, we hear the fees have risen greatly and there is so much confusion on what is being charged. Another reason is our savings is running down pretty quickly. So this means we may have to be work chumps for a bit to fill our cruising kitty back up and being closer to the States makes more sense.  So we shall see. Let's face it, we know we are too young to think we can do this forever but we will be very happy to get a couple of years of freedom at this age than none at all. That is why we agree with the saying "Go Small, Go Now"!

We always enjoy our time in Guanaja. The people are great and it is beautiful 

Steve's mother celebrated her 84 birthday this year. I sent her some books, she calls homework. I want to suck all her wisdom out before she leaves us. Hahah. I know I sound terrible but It is said with love.  Happy Birthday Jean. We love and miss you. 

She is my June Cleaver

Here are some photos of our dear friends coming over to say hello. This is Rosalinda and Shana. They own a restaurant on the Cay called Rosalinda's over on Vietnam street. It is a must try place. Best friend chicken and I hear their liver and onions are great as well. Honestly, I havent had a bad meal there ever. And they are the sweetest people. They just need a sign outside and there needs to be a map made of all the retail places in the area and given out atthe  Immigration office.   There is my request! 

Dont you love how they travel. Hahah 

Shana and her babies 

Ok im finally putting the last row on my crochet throw blanket. It has taken me forever to complete because it is made with a 1.5 needle and small thread.  I take long breaks to keep my hand from cramping.  Now I will have to finish Steve's. 

Here is a shot at my herbs Im growing in plastic soda bottles. I tried starting my seeds in an egg carton but it didnt work well so I just put them in the containers they will stay in, so far so good. That is a mint plant I bought but almost killed because I left it hanging during strong winds. It looks to be coming back. The seeds are basil in one and rosemary in the other. We will see how it goes. 

Schooner wanting to take her morning nap with her dog treats. Got to include the cute baby picture. 

Well guess I will let you all know how the trip goes in a week or so. Take care of yourselves and love one another