After docking and paying our marina fees, Diana of Serenada and I made the trip to customs and immigration. Making the mistake of going to immigration first, bad directions. Both offices were very professional, with lots of yes sirs, and yes ma'ams. We were out of there $150 poorer, but free to roam these beautiful islands, and catch their bounty of fish and lobster. Afterward we continued up the road to the Batelco office to look into cell phones. For $72 I got a phone, and $30 worth of pay-as-you-go minutes. $.15 to text Canada, $.33 a min for incoming calls, and $.80 per min to call Canada. What that means is if you don't except texts, I ain't talkin' to you. Unless of course your dead or dying, I'll take those calls.
By the time we had Vita tied up snug in her berth, and taken a shower, it was time to head for dinner with our friends Gil and Diana. We hadn't seen them since New York, so it was good to hang out and catch up. If this crappy weather ever lets up will have to get together for sundowners, but with 35 knot winds, and wind driven rain, everyone is hiding in their boats. Can you blame them?
Had a great time at dinner, burgers, real conch fritters, and local beer "kalik", pronounced "click". A great time, but with so little sleep, the beers knocked me on my butt, and it was bed time. We did hang out on the dock for a few minutes though, and watch the giant tarpon swimming around in the underwater lighting of the big power boat on the end of the dock. I slept like the dead. I got up once to check the lines and make sure we weren't blowing down the bay and get rid of the beers, but that was it. Snooze land.
Yesterday the boat was rocking like we were on a bucking bronco. The waves coming into the marina were big enough to throw us around, but it wasn't dangerous. Serena did get a little nauseated. But after a pancake breakfast and a couple of coffees, we were ready to go see the Island.
Main drag Alice Town. We checked out all the little tourist shops, grocery, laundry, etc..
The ocean was crazy wild. With 35 knots of wind, and nothing but open water, the waves get big here.
One boat didn't make it. The surf has almost totally disintegrated this old hull. Eventually the sea will claim it for her own.
By the time we got back to the boat, it was 5:00, and our feet were getting a little tired. Serena made banana bread and quesadillas. While I, um, ah, watched her! Okay, I am sure I did something productive, I just can't remember what it was. A couple of coolies and then bed. We did manage to stock up on some cheap rum, and have to wait until today to get some Kalik, as it was still on the pallet in the street. I am happy to report that the beer is not the reported $54 per case, but that it is only $42 per case. Beer at home costs that much. We are still glad we brought 250 cans with us, but we are not adverse to paying $1.75 a beer. It could always be worse!
Today will be slow. The weather is crappy. Rain, wind, cold. A good day to curl up with a book.
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