Hugging the coast....
| The late April passage
from Astillero to Bahia San Juan was windy but fast. I kept Vesper
“one foot on the beach” to keep from being blown too
far off the coast.
I’ve been at anchor in Bahia San Juan for close to a month
already. I vow to drop anchor in Astillero again one day in the
future. Next time it will be with a boat load of much needed toys,
school supplies, lice shampoo, food, clothing, vitamins and medicine
for the humble rural community. |
VESPER hugging the coast |
San Juan Del Sur is changing...
| Nicaragua is such a trip! One has
to live long enough in the heart of the madness to appreciate the
sense of it's magic and mayhem. Here you’ll find a juxtaposition
at every corner.
The first time I sailed into Bahia San Juan was May 25th 1998.
San Juan Del Sur was a sleepy seaside village with little access
to the outside world. Email and Internet were unknown words back
then. Oxen and horses ruled the information highway. Messages were
often delivered by pony express. Cars were few and taxis non-existent.
9 years and 3 children later (all born here) San Juan Del Sur continues
to develop into Nicaragua’s most popular beach town. I’ve
seen a lot of changes to the land, the people and the culture. I
wonder what goes through the heads of elders who have lived here
all their life. |
Ffishing sardines-good catch.
San Juan Del Sur's Subway |
|
Today the horses are gone. Every so often an ox cart roams into
town to deliver fire wood to families to poor to afford propane.
Otherwise you’ll find a gillion taxi drivers shouting “Rivas
Rivas” mixed with Toyota pick up trucks packing hoards of
surfers to nearby breaks, buses, SUV’s, ATV’s, honking
horns, blaring loud speakers and Hyundai’s rule the road during
these new times.
|
Old gives way to the new.
|
With all the misgivings that come with growth and development, San Juan
Del Sur manages some how to retain its identity as a quaint little fishing
village.
A month in SJDS...
I’ve had a good, though daily heart-breaking month, with Rosio
and the children. I say good, because I am back with them spending quality
time but I also concede to heart break at finding my little family living
much closer to the ground than can be made sense of. Time, tolerance and
due diligence are in order.
First tropical storm...
| Right now on the 29th
of May, the first tropical storm of the year TS Alvin has moved
up the Pacific West coast of Central America. It is heading NW out
of harms way. It left us with a lot of much needed rain. In a few
days San Juan Del Sur will be jungle green again. A nice change
from the dry season.
Too be continued… |
Vesper May 28th.
SW tropical depression. |
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Box
839, Dana Point Ca 92629 |
| |
Phone:
Mobile: |
011
505 668-1501 (Nica)
959 374-0803 (USA) |
| eblackb@earthlink.net |
|
