Sept. 22, 1999-Cartagena, Columbia
We made it safe and sound to Cartagena. It is quite different from Colon and Panama City. Much safer, cleaner and more historic. The Tuac, The Legend, Maralga, Carefree Isle, Trivor Pursuit and a couple of other boats are here. We are staying at Club Nautico. We are med moored and are having 18 to 35 kts of wind from the south every day. It is a challenge to stay off the dock. The others are anchored and some have dragged their anchor. SO either way, one should stay aboard when there is a blow. They are called "chichen asses"?-well that is how it translates anyway.
We had good trip down the Panama Coast. We stopped at many places on the way down --for the first stop out of Colon, Portabello has forts and a good history . Then it really started to get interesting in Isla Linton - then next to Isla Grande. We continued down to Nombre de Dios which is a good rest stop to the San Blas. The first isla in San Blas was Chichimee-very interesting. Before you drop anchor, the Kunas are all around you trying to sell their molas.-cloth squares in many pretty colors that they hand stitch. They are an interesting and an annoying group of people. They don't take 'No' for an answer! They want to charge you for anchoring, which we didn't pay all the time. Once an 86 year old Kuna paddled over to our boat and climbed aboard-well he kinda held on to our life lines and his boat slipped away. SO what could Dave and I do but grab him under his armpits and pull him on board. He was so cute that we paid him the 5 bucks he was asking for. Avoid Lemon Cays -muchos mosquitoes. Kunidup Las Grullas is a great isla with two mooring balls and a sunken sailboat in 50 feet of water. It was fun to dive on it. Get in touch with Kuani Tom and Mina-they are great cruisers and the great white hope of the Kuna people.
The San Blas have many places to anchor and the water very clear and warm. We ate lobster and crab and conch chowder every day. Rio Diablo is the best place to provision -it is near Green Island and not too far from the east Hollandes which are great too. Lots of reef action, so read those charts well.
We were going to sail to Isla Pinos and then to Columbia but the weather didn't hold so we decided with three of us on 2 1/2 hour watches we could make it from Snug Harbor to Isla Fuerte (135 miles). It was a good overnight trip. We stayed one night and left for Isla Palma-now that island was a treat!
Isla Palma had a resort, so we signed up for an all inclusive day on the island. It included breakfast and lunch and snacks and an open bar! I got to swim in the dolphin pool! The island also had a bird aviary which was spectacular. Then we took two days to get to Cartagena and here we are sightseeing and enjoying its o far.
Our friend, Duff left for the States today. He was great fun and a good crew. We will miss him and we hope he sails with us again.
We will be hauled out at Todo Mar and have work done on the Sorrento and then probably go back to Med moor at Club Nautico again. It is close to downtown, their restaurant is very good and the peso is 1900 to 1 dollar now.
Miss you all, Fran and Dave
We have pictures of some Cartegena highlights
UPDATE: NOV. 1st.
Fran and Dave are still in Cartagena. They are still having the boat worked on (automatic pilot) and Fran reports that she is taking Spanish lessons. They will time their departure from Cartagena to meet up with Ted and Mary Ann Mitchell in the San Andres Island, in mid-November.