Jamaica
Libertijn!
Thank god for Hans and Annalies of Libertijn. If not for them, we would have lost our minds in the never-ending deluge, and general-nasty weather trough, that hovered over Port Antonio for three weeks in March, spoiling our sunbathing and snorkeling. Hans and Annalies are so much fun -- they had us really laughing and having a great time, and Hans was a tireless mentor, helping us figure out some tricky systems on our boat. Libertijn is a beautiful sailing boat... "the perfect"... we think. We really hope to see them again in the San Blas this winter.
Annalies on the bow: "I am sailing...."
This seems to be our only picture of Hans? Sorry, Hans... but here's Libertijn, looking gorgeous against the Port Antonio coastline.
If it's any indication of how much we missed them, we nearly followed them to sea in our dinghy (like a dog running after a car) when they sailed for the Dominican Republic...
Megabucks - Port Antonio, Jamaica - March, 2007
In a fine show of contrast, on the morning that our toilet pump broke and we reverted to using a bucket in the cockpit, this four story mega-yacht arrived in the marina, with a modest crew of 14, a garage of jet skis, a Chris Craft for a dinghy, and an owner (a native son of Port Antonio and self-made billionaire) whose arrivals and departures are heralded by a show of thundering helicopters. Ye gods.
"Fiwi Sinting" Rasta festival - Buff Bay, Jamaica - February 18, 2007
We visited this Rasta event one day, where a lot of the Rastafari families of the district of Portland came together to celebrate. The music, the styles, and the vegetarian food were great.
These guys were JAMMIN -- and there was some cool dancing too.
The Blue Mountains - District of Portland, Jamaica - March, 2007
Our friend, Lorenzo Troop, treated us to a great daytrip to the Blue Mountains, where famous Blue Mountain Coffee -- the most expensive coffee in the world -- is grown and harvested. It is a stunning landscape of green mountains, clear rivers, sheer waterfalls, and hairpin turns.
Patchwork huts, monster ferns, and -- we were told -- the colorful, flagged house of a voodoo doctor...
Our view, more than once, as we rounded a sharp mountain turn... was of a mack truck, head-on.
Here are the white blossomed coffee plants, the red coffee berries, and terraced coffee crops on the steep mountainsides.
Only Ulf asks for a photo when a commando stops you for a roadside inspection...
Errol Flynn and Navy Island - Port Antonio, Jamaica - February, 2007
For the last month, when not in the boatyard, we've been moored about a hundred yards from Navy Island, where Errol Flynn once lived. We're told that it was once quite exclusive -- with Hollywoodies stopping over to rough it on the tropical island. Today it's completely overgrown; the forest is literally eating up the bungalows.
We explored the island with new English friends we met at the marina: Mark and Louise, of Jem, and Chris, Sophie, Otti and Mimi, of Sara Grace.
"Avandre" Haitian Refugees - Port Antonio, Jamaica - February, 2007
One morning in February, we were enjoying coffee and breakfast in the cockpit, when we noticed a small, gaff-rigged boat sailing westward outside the reef. We assumed it was local fishermen, but then the Jamaican coast guard sped in and closed on the little boat. Later in the marina, we learned that this boat was carrying 23 Haitians, trying to make a landing in Jamaica after 6 days at sea.. When we saw their "ship" tied up to the dock later that day, and realized how desperate they must have been to cross the open ocean in it, we were very sad to hear that they would probably be sent back to Haiti.
Home in Port Antonio, Jamaica - February - March, 2007
Dawn and dusk are magical events from the deck of Sea Quill.
It's also a great time to fish; while some kids play and fish from bamboo rafts, Ulf and Mr. Troop head out for some late afternoon trolling in the dinghy.
Chores occupy a lot of our time. Here's Jen, scrubbing the cabin cushions on the boatyard dock, while one of Port Antonio's rare visiting cruise ships, leaves port.
The dinghy: our minivan. Off to town to grocery shop; later, dinner prep.
When Jen joined Ulf on Sea Quill, she found this bottle of "HER" brand dishsoap beside the sink. But Ulf's attempts at subliminal behavior control were only half-successful. Occasionally, Ulf washes "HIS" dishes too.
See you...
