Boobies Abound
No.,.we don't mean booby prizes
or big chests! Identifying new
birds has really become a
fascination with us. Great Frigate
birds, parrots, lorokeets, pink
flamingos, when spotted in the
wild are quite a thrill. Sometimes
the seabirds even hitch a ride on
the boat for a few hours rest as
we sail along. Boobies are
common to us now, but not the
blue-footed variety, which we
saw for the first time on little Isla
de la Plata, Ecuador, aka "Poor
Man's Galapagos".
No.,.we don't mean booby prizes
or big chests! Identifying new
birds has really become a
fascination with us. Great Frigate
birds, parrots, lorokeets, pink
flamingos, when spotted in the
wild are quite a thrill. Sometimes
the seabirds even hitch a ride on
the boat for a few hours rest as
we sail along. Boobies are
common to us now, but not the
blue-footed variety, which we
saw for the first time on little Isla
de la Plata, Ecuador, aka "Poor
Man's Galapagos".
| Yellow Equator Stuns Sailors |
We're sure you thought the
Equator was an imaginary line;
so did we! As you can clearly
see, however, it's actually bright
yellow! Though sometimes
nearly invisible, we were lucky
as it was quite clear the day we
crossed... reflection of the sun
on the water maybe? Above,
David pays homage to Neptune
as we crossed the Equator on 6
October 2003.
Equator was an imaginary line;
so did we! As you can clearly
see, however, it's actually bright
yellow! Though sometimes
nearly invisible, we were lucky
as it was quite clear the day we
crossed... reflection of the sun
on the water maybe? Above,
David pays homage to Neptune
as we crossed the Equator on 6
October 2003.
Diversions...
Living aboard a boat is different
every day, however the crew still
likes a change. Marcie has been
writing travel articles and has had
some success getting published.
David has been working on a
software project aimed at
monitoring ship's systems with
hopes for commercialization in
the future.
Living aboard a boat is different
every day, however the crew still
likes a change. Marcie has been
writing travel articles and has had
some success getting published.
David has been working on a
software project aimed at
monitoring ship's systems with
hopes for commercialization in
the future.
Lunching with Lizards
The Drier Side of Bonaire
A visit to Bonaire's Washington
Slagbaai Wildlife Preserve is an
interesting contrast to the water
sports usually associated with the
island. In addition to several
species of colorful birds, the Park
teems with whiptail lizards and
they're not shy! Averageing
10-12" in length, these fearless
(and toothless) little beggars
aggressively vie for pieces of
cracker or fruit held out to them.
Strikingly colorful with a bright
irridescent turquoise stripe down
their backs and on their feet,
they're amazingly quick at sensing
the presence of a free lunch and
they don't mind sharing.
The Drier Side of Bonaire
A visit to Bonaire's Washington
Slagbaai Wildlife Preserve is an
interesting contrast to the water
sports usually associated with the
island. In addition to several
species of colorful birds, the Park
teems with whiptail lizards and
they're not shy! Averageing
10-12" in length, these fearless
(and toothless) little beggars
aggressively vie for pieces of
cracker or fruit held out to them.
Strikingly colorful with a bright
irridescent turquoise stripe down
their backs and on their feet,
they're amazingly quick at sensing
the presence of a free lunch and
they don't mind sharing.
| Speaking in Tongues |
One of the many interesting aspects
of the countries we visit is the
different languages we encounter.
We've made great strides in
Spanish (still a long way to go), but
we try to learn at least a few words
in every language particularly
unique ones such as Papiamentu,
spoken in Bonaire and Curacao,
Kuna and Wounaan in Panama and
Quechua, native to the indigenes of
the Andes.
of the countries we visit is the
different languages we encounter.
We've made great strides in
Spanish (still a long way to go), but
we try to learn at least a few words
in every language particularly
unique ones such as Papiamentu,
spoken in Bonaire and Curacao,
Kuna and Wounaan in Panama and
Quechua, native to the indigenes of
the Andes.
Equator Monument Wrong Spot
A visit to Mitad del Mundo (Middle
of the World) netted us an official
equator stamp in our passports. We
found out, however, that the
monument was actually built in the
incorrect spot. The actual equator is
some 300 meters north of the
marker. Oops!
A visit to Mitad del Mundo (Middle
of the World) netted us an official
equator stamp in our passports. We
found out, however, that the
monument was actually built in the
incorrect spot. The actual equator is
some 300 meters north of the
marker. Oops!
While waiting for a Canal transit in
Colon, Panama, the weather
kicked up and spawned a terrific
waterspout.
Colon, Panama, the weather
kicked up and spawned a terrific
waterspout.
| The High Life Living on Stilts |
A trip via motorized panga (dugout
canoe) took us up river in the Darien
Jungle to the Emberra village of
Mogue. Their open, thatched huts
are built on stilts about 8 feet off the
ground and accessible by ladders
made by notching steps in logs.
canoe) took us up river in the Darien
Jungle to the Emberra village of
Mogue. Their open, thatched huts
are built on stilts about 8 feet off the
ground and accessible by ladders
made by notching steps in logs.
Iguana Wanna Banana
Though herbivorous, having a 4
foot long iguana come running at
you to snatch up a banana peel is
a bit unnerving. Marcie dropped
the banana peel and made
tracks...fast! (But not before
taking this picture!).
Though herbivorous, having a 4
foot long iguana come running at
you to snatch up a banana peel is
a bit unnerving. Marcie dropped
the banana peel and made
tracks...fast! (But not before
taking this picture!).
