S/Y Anastacia Circumnavigation
We are a Swedish couple in their mid 50s who decided to live out our dream. This is our story.
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https://sy-anastacia.skipperblogs.com
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000
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French Polynesia and the Tuamotus
Malin
<p class="MsoNormal">The sail
from Nuku Hiva to the small atoll Kauehi in Tuamotu took four days and started
with a surprisingly large pod of dolphins with over 50 individuals that joined
us for an hour or so. We believe they were bottlenose dolphins. Wonderful to
see! đ During the sail we had good wind but very variable weather. During the
day we had strong sunshine and at night one small storm replaced another with
so-called squalls which mean a sudden increase in wind that lasts for 15-20
minutes with thunder and sometimes rain. Neither the windvane nor the autopilot
is able to keep the course during stronger squalls so you have to steer manually,
follow the wind, and then slowly bring the boat back in the right direction. It
was certainly good training because you learn to handle the boat in tougher
weather but also tiring in the long run because we are alone on the shifts at
night, when the other person is sleeping. At one point it rained so heavily
that you couldn't even see the other side of the cockpit when you were at the
helm. You just had to try to keep up, and steer the boat as best you could
until it was all over. We also saw large illuminated ships at night without any
AIS turned on, moving slowly a few nautical miles away. We suspected large
trawlers that didn't want to be discovered. Later we also received confirmation
that Chinese and Japanese fishing vessels are fishing illegally in Polynesian
waters.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The entire
Tuamotus consists of 78 atolls spread over an area that is about 2,000 km long.
The atolls are all former underwater volcanoes that are now coral reefs. Kauehi
is a small atoll that is relatively easy to get into and was therefore our
beginner's choice đ The only entrance is on the southwest side of
the atoll. We had managed to adjust the sailing so that there was just over an
hour left until high tide when we reached the inlet and the current was about
two knots into the atoll. We had a light wind against us which did not pose any
major problems but we sailed through the mouth with some areas with
"overfalls" and smaller so-called standing waves which are the result
of when the current and waves/wind go in opposite directions. It was very deep
both just outside and just inside the inlet. Once inside the atoll we noticed
that it was much larger than we had first thought. It took us just over an hour
to reach the northwestern, inhabited part. The rest of the atoll consists of
reefs that are either just below the water surface or are lined with coconut
palms. A strange feeling to sail into an old volcanic crater! Once we arrived
at the village of Tearavero which is located at a shallower part of the lagoon
we were lucky enough that the only remaining buoy was free and in good
condition, so we moored at it. Apart from another sailboat that was in the same
lagoon, we were the only visitors. The other boat turned out to belong to a
Frenchman who had been in the area for 15 years!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kauehi has
around 200 inhabitants. The village has everything you could need, shops,
church, cemetery, school, a mayor, a small health centre etc. The island has
also had its own small airport for a few years now, with flights 1-2 times a
week. The main source of income comes from the coconut plantations owned by the
various families on the atoll. There used to be pearl farms here, but these
have now been closed down. Old pearl farm buoys are ideal for holding up the
anchor chain (i.e. floating anchor chain) when anchoring near corals. With
these buoys, the chain is kept slightly above the seabed and there is no risk
of damaging the corals or getting stuck around the coral heads (boomies) when
the boat turns around. We were looking to get hold of some of these buoys and
to our delight got a couple from some kind villagers who had them in their gardens
đWe wanted to pay or exchange them for something, but they didn't want to
hear about it!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We stayed a
few days at Tearavero and enjoyed looking at the turquoise water with small
darker boomies with small colorful reef fish. We got to know the retired
captain Hiti who was born and raised on the island. He told us about his life
and how he did his military service in the French navy as a young man.
Throughout his adult life he has been a captain of cargo ships and traveled to
many distant places. He knew all the islands and atolls in French Polynesia
well. He himself thought that he and his wife were doing well in their nice
house and were happy with their pension. We asked him how he viewed the issue
of independence from France and he replied that few Polynesians talk about it
out loud and the younger generation do not want to hear about completely
freeing themselves from France. After all, France contributes economically and
with infrastructure, education systems, etc., but the older generation may have
a different view.<br>
-We are not free, he said. Then he looked at us seriously and continued.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">- You know.
During our military service, we were ordered to Moruroa 24 hours after they
dropped the bomb. 24 hours! âIt was nothing dangerousâ, they said. We wondered.
If it's not dangerous. Why don't they detonate the bombs in France? Why here? I
remember what it looked like! Destruction everywhere, dead fish floating in the
water...<br>Then he
turned away and fell silent. We understood that this was hard to talk about, and
didn't ask any more questions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hati
changed the subject and told us that he now takes care of the family's coconut
plantation and showed us his land and how to harvest the coconuts. He offered
us fresh coconut water from still green coconuts. Then he showed us some young
coconut palms that were only a year old. My grandchild planted these, he said
and smiled broadly! He proudly told us about his children and grandchildren.
The children were all well-educated. Some lived in Tahiti, others in France.
None of them lived on the island, which is slowly being depopulated. On Kauehi,
as on many other smaller islands, children go to school until they are around
10 years old. To continue their education (secondary school), they must be
accommodated with a family in Tahiti, for example. If you don't know of a
family the children can stay with, the parents may also have to move there and
look for accommodation and support. Young Polynesians also choose to continue
their studies at universities in France and it can be difficult to motivate
themselves to move back to the island where the livelihoods are worse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the
little sightseeing, Hiti gave us two young coconuts to take on the boat and
urged us to drink the water from them within a week because otherwise they
would have time to go bad from being shaken around on the boat. He gave us
advice on how to navigate into Fakarava, our next destination. When we asked if
he knew the times for high and low tide for the next 24 hours, he said that
nowadays he just went by what he had learned from his grandfather. When the
moon was at its highest in its orbit, it was high tide. Then you can calculate
the rest⊠We thanked him for his hospitality and everything he had taught us
with a gift in return and the next day we set off for Fakarava. We had studied
the moonâs path in the evening and, sure enough, when we looked at the tide
tables for the area, the theory was relatively correct. The time for the
highest point on the moonâs path is high tide. If you add 6 hours and 15
minutes, you get the time for the next low tide, after another 6 hours and 15
minutes the next high tide will come, etc. Then you just have to consult the
moon again⊠Not an exact science but enough for us to navigate byđ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Afterwards,
we also read more about the nuclear weapons tests that France carried out on
the uninhabited atolls of Moruroa and adjacent Fangataufa. We also remembered
how the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior had been sunk in connection with these
and the protests that arose around the world. Between 1966 and 1996, over 190
nuclear weapons tests were carried out on the atolls, both above and below
ground. It was later shown that this had devastating consequences for both
animal and plant life and, not least, all residents of the islands and the
military personnel who participated in various missions in connection with the
blasts. Primarily, the number of cases of thyroid cancer has increased
significantly, but the frequency of other forms of cancer has also increased,
as have deformities in newborns, birth defects, etc. since the test blasts were
carried out, and the whole of Polynesia has been affected in various ways
because the winds and water currents have brought radioactive particles with
them. It can still be difficult to obtain compensation from the French governement,
even though the regulations have changed somewhat over the years as more
evidence has been produced of damage linked to the blasts. France was by no
means the only country to have carried out this type of blast. The USA, Great
Britain, the Soviet Union/Russia and China have also carried out test blasts,
to name a few. These have also almost always taken place in occupied areas
where the indigenous population has been affectedâŠ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sail to
Fakarava, where we are now, took almost six hours. The island is the second
largest in the Tuamotu and is part of one of the UNESCO biosphere reserves. The
atoll and has two inlets/outlets. We entered through the (enormous) northern
inlet, completely without any problems. Even in this atoll, it is the northern
part that is inhabited with the largest village, Rotoava. Just outside Rotoava,
about fifty sailboats were anchored. When we arrived, we looked for a free
place to anchor and tried, for the first time, to float the anchor chain with our
buoys as not to damage or get stuck to the corals on the seabed. However, the
depth was so great that no corals probably grew there, but we practiced anyway.
We were a little worried that if the chain came off the seabed, the anchor
might not set properly, but we have now been here for four days without
dragging, so it seems to be working. đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fakarava
turned out to be much more tourist-oriented than little Kauehi and reminded us
more of Nuku Hiva with large cruise ships that come in and unload passengers
ashore for a day's experiences before they re-board for the onward journey to
the next island. Craft shops, grocery stores and restaurants are open and taxis
arrange transport and small excursions. It is important to make the most of the
hours that tourists are ashore!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The atoll
is so large that there is a lot of life in the large lagoon such as different
species of sharks, turtles, rays, mantas, etc. Even dolphins are said to be
here! The atmosphere is calm and relaxed and we were warmly welcomed by the
staff at the mayor's office when we went in to pay the tourist and garbage fee.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the
shallower parts of the lagoon, the water is turquoise blue and the sand is
chalk white. For those who like sun, swimming and white beaches, this is pure
paradise! Small boomies can be seen here and there in the water that you can
cross between when you go ashore with the dinghy. We took the time to snorkel
around a reef that was close to the boat and saw lots of reef fish and
beautiful corals. Unfortunately, most of the corals were in poor condition and
completely gray. We have also seen blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks
and large water turtles. It also looks like we caught three suckerfish from
Kauhei that probably hitchhiked with us by sitting under the Anastacia's hull.
We had fed them small pieces of bread in Kauehi and were surprised when the
same fish appeared again as soon as we anchored in Fakarava. They look funny
with a big sucker plate on their heads⊠Of course, they got some bread crumbs
here too. Baguettes, naturally. These are French islands! đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fakarava is
perhaps best known for its pearl farms and that was something we wanted to
learn more about. You can see the buoys of the farms floating in the water
further out in the lagoon. We booked a small tour at Les Perles D'Havaiki. The
guide showed the whole process, from surgically inserting a small mini-pearl
made of seashells into the oyster's stomach to how to pick out a finished pearl
after the oyster has grown for about two years. The finished pearl is then
washed and classified by color, size, shape, etc. In Polynesia, mainly black
pearls are cultivated, which have a special luster. The whole process requires
clean water and a good environment for the oyster to thrive. An oyster can be
allowed to produce several pearls one after the other until it is too old. In
cases where the oyster can no longer be used, it is opened completely and the
meat (muscle) is sold to restaurants. The shells are used to make jewelry and
other works of art, as these also have a beautiful luster. To end the tour, we each
got to choose an oyster that was ready to harvest and take home the pearl that
had formed in it. Now we understand what a complicated process pearl farming is
and involves many steps that require craftsmanship and several different
professions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, we
will soon set off again. There will be no more atolls for us, but we have a
two-day sailing to Tahiti where we are also expecting a visit from our son and
his friend.</p>
<div>
~~~~~~~~~~~</div><p><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seglingen frÄn Nuku Hiva till den lilla atollen Kauehi i
Tuamotu tog fyra dygn och började med en överraskande stor flock delfiner med
över 50 individer som slog följe med oss under nÄgon timme. Vi tror det var
flasknosdelfiner. Underbart att se! đ Under seglatsen hade vi
bra vind men mycket varierande vÀder. PÄ dagarna hade vi starkt solsken och pÄ
nÀtterna avlöste det ena lilla ovÀdret det andra med s k squalls som innebÀr
plötslig vindökning som varar i 15-20 minuter med Äska och ibland regn. Vare
sig vindroder eller autopilot klarar att hÄlla kursen vid kraftigare squalls sÄ
man fÄr handstyra och s a s följa med vinden, för att sedan sakta föra bÄten
tillbaka i rÀtt riktning. Bra trÀning var det visserligen eftersom man lÀr sig
hantera bÄten i tuffare vÀder men ocksÄ tröttsamt i lÀngden eftersom vi Àr
ensamma pÄ passen nattetid, dÄ den andre sover. Vid ett tillfÀlle regnade det
sÄ kraftigt att det inte ens gick att se andra sidan av sittbrunnen nÀr man
stod vid rodret. Det var bara att försöka hÀnga med, och styra bÄten sÄ gott
det gick tills det hela var över. Vi fick ocksÄ Äterigen se stora upplysta
fartyg pÄ nÀtterna utan nÄgon AIS pÄslagen som sakta rörde sig pÄ nÄgra sjömils
avstÄnd. Vi misstÀnkte stora trÄlare som helst inte ville bli upptÀckta. Senare
har vi ocksÄ fÄtt bekrÀftat att kinesiska och japanska fiskefartyg fiskar
olovandes i de polynesiska vattnen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hela Tuamotus bestÄr av 78 atoller utspridda pÄ ett omrÄde som
Àr ca 2 000 km lÄngt. Atollerna Àr alla före detta undervattensvulkaner som
numera Àr korallrev. Kauehi Àr en liten atoll som Àr relativt enkel att ta sig
in i och blev dĂ€rför vĂ„rt nybörjarval đ Det enda inloppet ligger pĂ„ atollens sydvĂ€stra
sida. Vi hade lyckats anpassa seglingen sÄ det var drygt en timme kvar till
högvatten nÀr vi nÄdde inloppet och strömmen var pÄ ca tvÄ knop in mot atollen.
Vi hade svag vind emot oss som inte utgjorde nÄgra större problem utan vi
seglade igenom mynningen med nĂ„gra omrĂ„den med âoverfallsâ och mindre s k
stÄende vÄgor som Àr resultatet av nÀr ström och vÄgor/vind gÄr i motsatta
riktningar. Det var brÄddjupt bÄde strax utanför och strax innanför mynningen. VÀl
inne i atollen konstaterade vi att den var mycket större Àn vi först hade
trott. Det tog oss dryga timmen att nÄ den nordvÀstra, bebodda delen. Resten av
atollen utgörs av rev som antingen ligger strax under vattenytan eller Àr
beklÀdda med kokospalmer. En mÀrklig kÀnsla att segla in i en gammal vulkankrater!
VĂ€l framme vid byn Tearavero som ligger vid en grundare del i lagunen hade vi
sÄdan tur att den enda kvarvarande bojen var ledig och i gott skick, sÄ vi lade
till vid den. Förutom en annan segelbÄt som lÄg i samma lagun var vi de enda
besökarna. Den andra bÄten visade sig tillhöra en fransman som vistats i
omrÄdet i 15 Är!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PÄ Kauehi bor runt 200 invÄnare. I byn finns det mesta som
man kan behöva, affÀrer, kyrka, kyrkogÄrd, skola, en borgmÀstare, en liten
vĂ„rdcentral etc. Ăn har sedan nĂ„gra Ă„r tillbaka Ă€ven en egen mindre flygplats
dÀr flygen gÄr 1-2 gÄnger i veckan. FrÀmsta inkomstkÀllan kommer frÄn
kokosplantagen som Àgs av de olika familjerna pÄ atollen. Tidigare fanns det
Àven pÀrlodlingar hÀr men dessa var nu nerlagda. Gamla pÀrlodlingsbojar Àr idealiska
för att kunna hÄlla uppe ankarkÀttingen (s k bojad kÀtting) nÀr man skall ankra
i nÀrheten av koraller. Med dessa bojar hÄlls kÀttingen lite ovanför botten och
man riskerar inte att förstöra korallerna eller fastna runt korallhuvudena
(boomies) nÀr bÄten svÀnger runt. Vi var ute efter att fÄ tag i nÄgra sÄdana
bojar och fick till vÄr förtjusning ett par av nÄgra snÀlla bybor som hade dem
i sina trĂ€dgĂ„rdar đVi ville betala eller byta med nĂ„got med det
ville de inte höra talas om!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi stannade nÄgra dagar vid Tearavero och njöt av att titta
pÄ det turkosa vattnet med smÄ mörkare boomies med smÄ fÀrgglada revfiskar. Vi lÀrde
kÀnna den pensionerade kaptenen Hiti som Àr född och uppvuxen pÄ ön. Han
berÀttade om sitt liv och hur han gjort sin militÀrtjÀnst i den franska flottan
som ung. Under hela sitt vuxna liv har han varit kapten pÄ fraktfartyg och rest
till mÄnga avlÀgsna platser. Han kÀnde vÀl till alla öar och atoller i Franska
Polynesien. Han tyckte sjÀlv att han och hans fru hade det bra i sitt fina hus och
var nöjd med sin pension. Vi frÄgade om hur han sÄg pÄ frÄgan om
sjÀlvstÀndighet frÄn Frankrike. Han förklarade att fÄ polynesier pratar högt om
det och de yngre vill inte höra talas om att helt frigöra sig frÄn Frankrike.
Frankrike bidrar trots allt ekonomiskt och med infrastruktur, utbildningssystem
m m men de Àldre har kanske en annan syn, menade han.<br>
-Vi Àr ju inte fria, sa han. Sedan sÄg han allvarligt pÄ oss och sa:<br>
-Ni vet. Under militÀrtjÀnsten blev vi kommenderade till Moruroa 24 timmar
efter att de slĂ€ppte bomben. 24 timmar! âDet var inget farligtâ, sa de. Vi
undrade. Om det inte Àr farligt. Varför sprÀnger de dÄ inte bomberna i
Frankrike? Varför hos oss? Jag minns hur det sÄg ut! Förstörelse överallt, döda
fiskar flöt i vattnetâŠ<br>Sedan vĂ€nde han sig bort och tystnade. Det hĂ€r var jobbigt
att tala om, förstod vi och stÀllde inga fler frÄgor.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hati bytte samtalsÀmne och berÀttade att han numera sköter
om familjens kokosplantage och visade oss sina marker och hur man skördar kokosnötterna.
Han bjöd pÄ fÀrskt kokosvatten frÄn Ànnu gröna kokosnötter. Sedan visade han
oss nÄgra spÀda kokospalmer som bara var ett Är gamla. De hÀr har mitt barnbarn
planterat, sa han och log stort! Han berÀttade stolt om sina barn och barnbarn.
Barnen var alla vÀlutbildade. NÄgra bodde pÄ Tahiti, andra i Frankrike. Ingen
av dem fanns kvar pÄ ön som sakta hÄller pÄ att avfolkas. PÄ Kauehi liksom pÄ
mÄnga andra mindre öar gÄr barnen i skola tills de Àr runt 10 Är gamla. För att
fortsÀtta sin utbildning (secondary school) mÄste de inkvarteras hos nÄgon
familj i exempelvis Tahiti. KÀnner man ingen familj barnen kan fÄ bo hos, mÄste
kanske förÀldrarna ocksÄ flytta dit och söka bostad och försörjning. Unga
polynesier vÀljer ocksÄ att lÀsa vidare pÄ universitet i Frankrike och det kan
vara svÄrt att motivera sig att flytta tillbaka till ön dÀr
försörjningsmöjligheterna Àr sÀmre. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efter den lilla sightseeingen gav Hiti oss tvÄ spÀda
kokosnötter att ta med pÄ bÄten och uppmanade oss att dricka vattnet frÄn dem
inom en vecka eftersom de annars skulle hinna bli dÄliga av att skakas runt pÄ
bÄten. Han gav oss rÄd om hur vi skulle navigera in i Fakarava, vÄr nÀsta
destination. NÀr vi frÄgade om han visste tiderna för hög- och lÄgvatten det
nÀrmste dygnet sa han att han numera bara gick efter vad han lÀrt av sin morfar.
NÀr mÄnen stod som högst pÄ sin bana sÄ var det högvatten. Sedan kan man rÀkna
ut restenâŠVi tackade för hans gĂ€stfrihet och allt han lĂ€rt oss med en gĂ„va
tillbaka och dagen efter gav vi oss ivÀg till Fakarava. Vi hade studerat mÄnens
bana pÄ kvÀllen och, mycket riktigt, nÀr vi tittade i tidvattentabeller för
omrÄdet sÄ stÀmde teorin relativt bra. Tiden för högsta punkten pÄ mÄnbanan rÄder
högvatten. LÀgger man till 6 timmar och 15 minuter sÄ fÄr man tiden för nÀsta
lÄgvatten, efter ytterligare 6 timmar och 15 minuter kommer nÀsta högvatten o s
v. Sedan Àr det bara att konsultera mÄnen igen⊠Ingen exakt vetenskap men
tillrĂ€ckligt för oss att navigera efterđ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">EfterÄt lÀste vi ocksÄ pÄ mer om de kÀrnvapenprovsprÀngningar
som Frankrike gjorde pÄ de obebodda atollerna Moruroa och intilliggande Fangataufa.
Vi mindes ocksÄ hur Greenpeacefartyget Rainbow Warrior hade sÀnkts i samband
med dessa och protesterna som uppstod vÀrlden över. Mellan Ären 1966 och 1996
genomfördes över 190 kÀrnvapenprov pÄ atollerna bÄde ovan och under mark. Det
har senare visat sig att det fick förödande konsekvenser för bÄde djur och
vÀxtliv och, inte minst, alla boende pÄ öarna och de militÀrer som deltog i
olika uppdrag i samband med sprÀngningarna. FrÀmst har fallen av
sköldkörtelcancer blivit mÄnga fler men frekvensen av andra cancerformer har ocksÄ
ökat liksom missbildningar hos nyfödda, fosterskador m m sedan
provsprÀngningarna genomfördes och hela Polynesien har drabbats pÄ olika sÀtt
eftersom vindarna och vattenströmmar fört med sig radioaktiva partiklar.
Fortfarande kan det vara svÄrt att fÄ ersÀttning av franska staten Àven om
regelverket förÀndrats nÄgot genom Ären i takt med att man kunnat ta fram fler
bevis för skador knutna till sprÀngningarna. Frankrike var ingalunda det enda
land som genomfört den hÀr typen av sprÀngningar. USA, Storbritannien,
Sovjet/Ryssland och Kina har ocksÄ genomfört provsprÀngningar, för att nÀmna
nÄgra. Dessa har ocksÄ nÀstan alltid skett i ockuperade omrÄden dÀr
ursprungsbefolkningen drabbatsâŠ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seglingen till Fakarava, dÀr vi nu befinner oss, tog nÀstan
sex timmar. Ăn Ă€r den nĂ€st största i Tuamotu och ingĂ„r i ett av UNESCO:s biosfĂ€romrĂ„den.
Atollen och har tvÄ in-/utlopp. Vi kom in genom det (enormt stora) norra inloppet,
helt oproblematiskt. Ăven i denna atoll Ă€r det den norra delen som Ă€r bebodd med
den största byn Rotoava. Strax utanför Rotoava lÄg ett femtiotal segelbÄtar
ankrade. NÀr vi kom fram letade vi upp en ledig plats att ankra pÄ och provade,
för första gÄngen, att kroka fast bojar lÀngs ankarkÀttingen för att inte skada
eller fastna vid korallerna pÄ botten. Djupet var dock sÄ pass stort att det
troligen inte vÀxte nÄgra koraller dÀr men vi övade ÀndÄ. Vi var lite oroliga
för att om kÀttingen lÀttar frÄn botten sÄ kanske ankaret inte skulle sÀtta sig
ordentligt men vi har nu legat hÀr i fyra dygn utan att dragga sÄ det verkar
fungera. đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fakarava visade sig vara mycket mer turistinriktat Àn lilla
Kauehi och pÄminde oss mer om Nuku Hiva med stora kryssningsfartyg som kommer
in och lastar av passagerare i land för en dags upplevelser innan de Äter gÄr
ombord för vidare fÀrd till nÀsta ö. Hantverksbutiker, mataffÀrer och
restauranger hÄller öppet och taxibilar ordnar med transporter och smÄ
exkursioner. Det gÀller att ta vara pÄ de timmar som turisterna Àr i land!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Atollen Àr sÄ stor att det ryms mycket liv i den stora
lagunen som olika hajarter, sköldpaddor, rockor, mantor etc. T o m delfiner
skall finnas hÀr! AtmosfÀren Àr lugn och avslappnad och vi blev hjÀrtligt
vÀlkomnade av personalen pÄ borgmÀstarens kansli nÀr vi gick in för att betala
turist- och sopavgiften.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I lagunens grundare delar Àr vattnet turkosblÄtt och sanden
kritvit. För den som gillar sol, bad och vita strÀnder Àr detta rena paradiset!
SmÄ boomies syns hÀr och var i vattnet som man fÄr kryssa emellan nÀr man Äker in
till land med dingen. Vi tog oss tid att snorkla runt ett rev som lÄg nÀra
bÄten och fick se massor av revfiskar och vackra koraller. Dock var tyvÀrr merparten
av korallerna i dÄligt skick och alldeles grÄ. Vi har Àven sett svartfenad revhaj, sköterskehaj
och stora vattensköldpaddor. Dessutom ser det ut som att vi fÄtt med oss tre
sugfiskar frÄn Kauhei som troligen liftat med oss genom att sitta under Anastacias
skrov. Vi hade matat dem med smÄ brödbitar i Kauehi och blev förvÄnade nÀr
samma fiskar dök upp igen sÄ fort vi ankrat i Fakarava. De ser lustiga ut med
en stor sugplatta pÄ huvudet⊠SjÀlvklart fick de nÄgra brödsmulor hÀr ocksÄ. Baguetter,
sĂ„klart. Det Ă€r ju franska öar! đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fakarava Àr kanske mest kÀnt för sina pÀrlodlingar och det
var nÄgot vi gÀrna ville fÄ lÀra oss mer om. Man kan se odlingarnas bojar flyta
i vattnet lÀngre ut i lagunen. Vi bokade en liten visning pÄ Les Perles
D'Havaiki. Guiden visade hela processen, frÄn det att man kirurgiskt opererar
in en liten minipÀrla av snÀckskal i ostronets mage till hur man plockar ut en
fÀrdig pÀrla efter att ostronet fÄtt vÀxa till sig i ungefÀr tvÄ Är. Den fÀrdiga
pÀrlan skall sedan tvÀttas och klassificeras efter fÀrg storlek form etc. I
Polynesien odlas frÀmst de svarta pÀrlorna som har en speciell lyster. Hela
processen krÀver rena vatten och bra miljö för att ostronen skall trivas. Man
kan lÄta ett ostron producera flera pÀrlor efter varandra tills det blivit för
gammalt. I de fall ostronet inte kan anvÀndas lÀngre öppnas det helt och köttet
(muskeln) sÀljs till restauranger. Av skalen görs smycken och andra konstverk
dÄ Àven dessa har en vacker lyster. Som avslut pÄ visningen fick vi vÀlja ut varsitt
ostron som s a s var fÀrdigt att skörda och ta med oss pÀrlan som bildats i
djuret. Nu förstÄr vi vilken komplicerad process pÀrlodling innebÀr med mÄnga
steg som krÀver hantverksskicklighet och involverar flera olika yrkesgrupper.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nu skall vi strax ge oss av igen. Det blir inte fler atoller
för vÄr del utan nu vÀntar tvÄ dygns segling till Tahiti dÀr vi ocksÄ vÀntar
besök av son med kompis.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Kauehi</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Kauehi_GoogleMaps.png?1741418696" loading="lazy" data-original-width="728" data-original-height="695" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Kauehi_GoogleMaps.png?1741418696 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Kauehi_GoogleMaps.png?1741418696 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f/userfiles/Tuamotus/Kauehi_GoogleMaps.png?1741418696" width="150" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250302_095143.jpg?1741420108?1741420108" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250228_122719.jpg?1741420108?1741420108" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_114649.jpg?1741420107?1741420107" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250301_113836.jpg?1741420107?1741420107" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Fakarava</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Fakarava_GoogleMaps.png?1741419675" loading="lazy" data-original-width="761" data-original-height="778" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Fakarava_GoogleMaps.png?1741419675 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Fakarava_GoogleMaps.png?1741419675 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Fakarava_GoogleMaps.png?1741419675 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/Fakarava_GoogleMaps.png?1741419675?1741419675" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103033.jpg?1741420263" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103033.jpg?1741420263 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103033.jpg?1741420263 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103033.jpg?1741420263 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103033.jpg?1741420263?1741420263" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103212.jpg?1741420263" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103212.jpg?1741420263 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103212.jpg?1741420263 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103212.jpg?1741420263 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250306_103212.jpg?1741420263?1741420263" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="2250" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_082144.jpg?1741420263?1741420263" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_081936.jpg?1741420263" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_081936.jpg?1741420263 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_081936.jpg?1741420263 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250307_081936.jpg?1741420263 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2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250305_104039.jpg?1741420263 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250305_104039.jpg?1741420263 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250305_104039.jpg?1741420263 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250305_104039.jpg?1741420263 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Tuamotus/20250305_104039.jpg?1741420263?1741420263" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" 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Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/march-2025/french-polynesia-and-the-tuamotus
/blog/march-2025/french-polynesia-and-the-tuamotus
-
French Polynesia, Nuku Hiva and the Marquesas
Malin
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesia (meaning roughly the many islands) is
a large cultural and geographical region in the Pacific Ocean consisting of a
variety of islands, archipelagos and nations where the people share the same origin
and speak one of the many Polynesian languages. Polynesia is bordered by Hawaii
(to the north), New Zealand (to the southwest) and Easter Island (to the
southeast). The area is sometimes referred to as the Polynesian Triangle.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">French Polynesia is part of Polynesia and is
almost as large as Europe and consists of 118 islands and atolls, of which 67
are inhabited. The islands are divided into different archipelagos; Marquesas
Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Society Islands, Gambier Islands and Austral
Islands. There are long distances between the archipelagos with the Gambier
Islands and Austral Islands being the southernmost. We will probably not be
able to visit these two southern archipelagos. Further north, from east to west lie the
Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society Islands, where Tahiti with its capital Papeete
is perhaps the best known. We plan to visit a few islands on each of these archipelagos
before heading further west to other Polynesian islands/nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The islands in French Polynesia have all been
formed from volcanoes and the youngest are about 1-5 million years old, such as
the islands in the Marquesas. The oldest islands are in the Austral Islands and
Tuamotu and are around 50 million years old. The oldest islands are no longer
real islands, but millions of years of erosion have transformed them into
atolls where only some parts protrude from the sea surface.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The islands in French Polynesia were first
settled by Austronesian-speaking Polynesians, who probably originated from
Southeast Asia (Taiwan-Philippines) and migrated east via Samoa and Tonga. This
migration was part of the great Polynesian expansion across the Pacific. In
French Polynesia, it began in the Marquesas a few hundred years BC and the last
islands colonized by Polynesians are believed to have been the Gambier Islands,
which also became the islands from which a group of inhabitants probably emigrated
and continued the long journey to Easter Island and later Hawaii, which began
to be populated around the 11th and 13th centuries AD. A prerequisite for this
strong expansion, despite the great distances in the Pacific Ocean, was the
sophisticated navigational skills that the Polynesians had developed. They
navigated with the help of stars, ocean currents and bird migration patterns.
They used the characteristic wooden canoes with an outrigger (additional hull)
attached to one side of the canoe. These canoes were very stable and could be
both paddled and sailed. Today, the same type of canoe is still used, but made
of more modern materials.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first time Europeans came into contact with
the islands was in the 16th century when the Portuguese and Spaniards noted
that the islands existed but they probably had little contact with the
inhabitants. In 1767, the British Samuel Wallis landed on Tahiti and declared
the island British. Protestantism was then introduced to the island. The French
eventually took over Tahiti after disputes and battles with the British and the
population of the islands under the then Polynesian regent Queen Pomare IV. In the
early 20th century, all five island groups belonged to France and Catholicism
became the official religion. Today, French Polynesia has more autonomy but is
still considered one of France's so-called overseas collectivity where France
retains control over defense, foreign policy, justice and law enforcement and
currency/economy (the CFP franc is tied to the euro). French Polynesia now
controls its own laws, economy, budget, health, education (partially) and
internal security. From what we understand, there no longer seems to be
majority support among the population on the islands for complete independence
from France, but instead they are trying to make better use of their own old
culture and have, with the help of historians and archaeologists, begun to
rediscover and embrace parts of it, such as dances, crafts and food traditions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Polynesian indigenous culture and its
traditions vary between the islands but have a common core. Before European
colonization, the population was organized into hierarchical chiefdoms ruled by<em>
Ariâi</em> (chiefs). Below the chiefs there were several different social classes
and the lowest were the slaves who were often convicted criminals or captured
enemies. The Polynesians could build impressive structures such as <em>marae
</em> which were sacred temples for religious and social purposes. They lived on what
the sea could provide and cultivated and planted many different crops such as
breadfruit and fruit trees of various kinds which were harvested and stored in
various ways to last longer than the harvest season. Fermentation was used as a
method. For example, <em>mahi </em>or <em>pĆpoi </em>as it is also called was made.
It is breadfruit that has been mashed and left to lie in a low-oxygen
environment in a leaf-lined pit where it eventually fermented (by lactic acid
bacteria). Mahi could be stored for several years and is said to be both
nutritious and healthy. When the Polynesians colonized new islands, they
brought with them many of the important fruits and seeds and some domesticated
animals such as pigs and dogs that they needed to survive on the previously
uninhabited islands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Polynesians were very trade-oriented but
were also warlike and fights between the islands/kingdoms occurred. They
practiced a complex polytheistic religion that was intertwined with daily life
and social structure. Their spiritual beliefs revolved around <em>atua
</em> (gods), ancestors, <em>mana </em>(spiritual power) and <em>tapu </em>(sacred
restrictions). The word taboo comes from the Polynesian word tapu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mana was a supernatural force that existed not only
in all living things but also inanimate things such as objects and places.
Chiefs and priests had strong mana, which gave them divine authority.
Women's mana was usually greater than men's because they could give bearth
(give life). Losing mana, through defeat in battle or breaking a tapu,
resulted in dishonor and loss of status. For example, it was tapu for a
woman to step in a canoe because her mana was much more powerful than
that of the canoe and the canoe would lose its power. This was especially
important to consider when the canoes were to be used in battle. Similarly, it
could be tapu to step over a chief's shadow if one was lower in rank.
Serious violations of a tapu could sometimes be punished by death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesians believed in a balance of masculine
and feminine energies, rather than fixed gender roles based on physical
appearance, and some myths describe gods or spirits who change sex or are
androgynous. Mana was therefore not strictly tied to biological sex, but
rather one's role in society. French Polynesia, like other parts of Polynesia,
had a recognized "third sex" known as <em>mÄhĆ«</em>. These were people
who embodied both male and female characteristics. They were biological males
who took on female gender roles, including clothing, speech, and occupations.
In some cases, there were also female mÄhĆ« who took on male roles. MÄhĆ«
had several important roles in society. They could often be priests, healers,
teachers or artists, specialized in oral traditions, dance forms and were
responsible for the care of children and the elderly. They were seen as
guardians of knowledge, and were a kind of cultural bearer of information about
different lineages, old stories and religious customs that they passed on
between generations. Chiefs could turn to a mÄhĆ« for advice before important
decisions. After European colonization and the introduction of Christianity, mÄhĆ«
were seen as an abomination and Western gender roles were introduced and many mÄhĆ«
were subjected to social oppression and avoided showing their identity. Today,
however, mÄhĆ« are still present in Polynesian and Hawaiian culture and are more
accepted, although their role has evolved and adapted to today's way of life.
Many today work in various service professions, for example.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Polynesians were also known for their <em>tikis</em>,
human-like anthropomorphic figures carved from stone, wood or bone. According
to Polynesian mythology, the tiki is sometimes considered to be the
first human created by the gods, but interpretations vary between the different
island groups. In the Marquesas, tikis primarily represent ancestors and
protective spirits. They were often designed as half human and half animal or God
with enlarged heads and eyes. One interpretation of the large eyes (which
almost look like glasses) is that through the eyes one comes into contact with
the spirit world. Tikis are also often connected to spiritual protection,
strength and guidance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have now been anchored for just over two
weeks outside the capital Taiohae on the island of Nuku Hiva, which is also the
main island of the Marquesas. As soon as the hurricane season (cyclone season)
ends in April, the actual tourist season begins and many boats and tourists
come to the islands. We are early in the season so there is plenty of space in
the bay and few tourists on the island, except when the cruise ships dock, when
Taiohae is packed with people for a day. The lady in the tourist office next to
the port has all the information of when the cruise ships arrive and makes sure
to book the local ensemble of dancers and drummers who have their shows for the
fascinated cruise tourists. The trade in crafts, fruit and vegetables is
flourishing and the small local cafes are full. It is understandable that
tourists are an important source of income for the islands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The clearance process was painless. We rang the
doorbell of the French gendarmes and even though we arrived outside office
hours, they received us and the procedure was completed in 10 minutes. We had
prepared ourselves by filling in our details digitally in a system used on the
islands and had our passports and boat papers with us. As EU citizens, the
rules for visiting and staying in French Polynesia are incredibly favorable.â
This is how easy it should be to get to France. Welcome!â, one of the gendarmes
said in broken English. Or, to be more precise. The guy started speaking in
English but as soon as he noticed that we knew a little French he switched to
his native language. đAfter customs we took out some cash,
got ourselves a local SIM card and topped up with data. Finally connected
again!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nuku Hiva is a very beautiful island with high
mountain peaks and steep cliffs towards the sea with fantastic views. There are
several bays with good anchorages around the island. The second highest
(longest?) waterfall in the world is also said to be here. We rented a car and
drove on the few roads that exist. First, we went east and came to some smaller
towns with small fishing ports, shops and restaurants. The mango trees along
the road were full of half-ripe fruits and we took the liberty of picking some.
The island is lushly green and along the roadsides you can see pigs, horses and
goats and the occasional cow wandering around freely. Roosters and chickens can
be seen running around everywhere. Some horses are kept tethered and you can
see fenced areas, but there are just as many animals outside as inside the
enclosures.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In the small town of Hatiheu we had a fantastic meal. A stew made
from goat meat and coconut milk served with cassava, fried breadfruit and rice.
What we couldn't finish we then had to throw into a small stream, right next to
the restaurant where two large eels appeared and feasted on the leftovers. The
eels were "regulars" at the restaurant and part of the experience the
restaurant is known for.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Outside Hatiheu is one of several historical remains
from the time before European colonization. The place we visited is called Kamuihei and is one
of the largest archaeological excavations on the island. Here there are sacred
places, rebuilt houses and areas for various social purposes and we saw tikis,
sacrificial pits and small pits carved into rocks similar to those we can see
in rock carvings in Sweden. In addition, there were several petroglyphs on
large stone slabs with depictions of animals, gods, people and symbols that are
also found in the many tattoos of the Polynesians. Since the Polynesian culture
was a culture that was carried by oral stories and lacked written language,
interpretations are difficult to make and the meanings are said to vary
somewhat between the island groups, but archaeologists believe that they almost
always involve representations of gods, ancestors, travel, celestial bodies and
protective symbols. There was also a gigantic banyan tree at the site that is
said to be 600 years old!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last part of our drive went west towards
the airport. Now we came to higher mountain areas, deep valleys and in the
distance, we could see a very long and very narrow waterfall. Instead of palm
trees and fruit trees, the road was lined with pine plantations with a species
of pine that originally comes from the Caribbean. The pines have been planted
mainly for the sake of the wood but have, of course, also changed the
conditions for the native species that lived there before.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the beach in Taiohae almost every day we saw
young guys riding back and forth on their horses. Sometimes they competed along
a given distance to be first. It was impressive to see because they were riding
bareback (without a saddle) at a fast gallop with only a blanket to sit on.
They looked mighty proud when we wanted to take pictures. However, we never saw
a girl riding. Horses now seem to be an integral part of Polynesian life but
the origin of horses is somewhat unclear. The most likely is that the Europeans
introduced different animals like horses, goats and cows to the islands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The waters around the Marquesas Islands are
rich in life. The local fishermen come into the harbor almost every day with
fine catches of fish that they sell directly on site. The leftover fish after
cleaning is thrown into the harbor to the delight of the sharks. The sharks are
of the species (greater) blacktip reef shark. Not all residents in the area are
delighted with the spectacle in the water when the sharks fight over the
leftovers, but it is a good tourist magnet⊠đ In addition to the sharks, which are not particularly dangerous to
humans, we have also seen many manta rays swimming around our boat.
Unfortunately, we have not been able to get any good pictures of them and when
we snorkeled in the bay and tried to film, the visibility was too poor. Hopefully
there will be more opportunities. One morning we heard a terrible splash behind
the boat and when we ran out onto the deck to see what had happened, we saw a
sea turtle trying to free itself from the dinghy's mooring line that it had
managed to wrap around its neck. After a few fruitless attempts to untie the
rope, we were forced to cut it. As soon as the turtle felt it was free, it took
a big, loud breath before diving into the water and disappearing. How it
managed to get tangled up so strangely, we could never figure outâŠ</p><p class="MsoNormal">On Valentine's Day we took the opportunity to have a three-course dinner at a restaurant in Taiohae where local musicians performed languid ballads. The next day we were also able to take part in a Valentine's Day party where both locals and tourists were welcome. The meal was accompanied by a show that was over an hour long and was more like a long danced story. We showed up later in the evening but still saw parts of the show. Later we were able to dance a little ourselves to deafening Polynesian popular music đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In recent days, we have been stocking up on
supplies at the local store and buying a souvenir in the form of a mini-tiki
made of wood made by a local artist on the island.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now we are waiting out some rough weather
before we can set off for the Tuamotu atolls. Since these are shallow reefs
with few entrances or exits and where the currents are strong, we have to
adjust to the tides so that we enter when it is slack water. We hope to be able
to practice on a simpler atoll with more room for the boat to enter, before we
set off to reach the Fakarava atoll where we hope to see pearl farms!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesien (betyder ungefÀr de mÄnga öarna) Àr en stor
kulturell och geografisk region i Stilla havet bestÄende av en mÄngfald av öar,
ögrupper och nationer dÀr mÀnniskorna delar samma ursprung och pratar nÄgot av
de mÄnga polynesiska sprÄken. Polynesien avgrÀnsas av Hawaii (i norr), Nya
Zeeland (i sydvÀst) och PÄskön (i sydöst). OmrÄdet benÀmns ibland som den polynesiska
triangeln.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Franska Polynesien Àr en del av Polynesien och Àr till ytan nÀstan
lika stort som Europa och bestÄr av 118 öar och atoller varav 67 Àr bebodda.
Ăarna Ă€r indelade i olika ögrupper; Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago,
Society Islands (SÀllskapsöarna), Gambier Islands och Austral Islands. Det Àr
lÄnga avstÄnd mellan ögrupperna dÀr Gambieröarna och Australöarna ligger lÀngst
söderut. Dessa sydligare ögrupper kommer vi troligen inte att besöka. LÀngre norrut, frÄn
öst till vÀst ligger Marquesas, Tuamotu och SÀllskapsöarna dÀr Tahiti med
huvudstaden Papeete kanske Àr den mest kÀnda. NÄgon ö pÄ var och en av dessa ögrupper
har vi tÀnkt besöka innan vi ger oss av lÀngre vÀsterut till andra Polynesiska
öar/nationer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ăarna i Franska Polynesien har alla bildats frĂ„n vulkaner
och de yngsta Àr ungefÀr 1-5 miljoner Är gamla, som t ex öarna pÄ Marquesas, De
Àldsta öarna ligger i Australöarna och Tuamotu och Àr runt 50 miljoner Är
gamla. De Àldsta öarna Àr inga egentliga öar lÀngre utan Ärmiljonernas
erodering har förvandlat dem till atoller dÀr bara vissa delar sticker upp ur
havsytan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ăarna i Franska Polynesien bosattes först av
austronesisktalande polynesier, som troligen hÀrstammade frÄn Sydostasien
(Taiwan-Filippinerna) och migrerade österut via Samoa och Tonga. Denna
migration var en del av den stora polynesiska expansionen över Stilla havet. I Franska
Polynesien började den vid Marquesas nÄgra hundra Är f Kr och de sista öarna
som koloniserades av polynesier tror man var Gambieröarna som ocksÄ blev de öar
dÀr en grupp invÄnare förmodligen emigrerade och fortsatte den lÄnga fÀrden till
PÄskön och senare Hawaii som började befolkas runt 1000 respektive 1200-talet e
Kr. En förutsÀttning till den starka expansionen, trots de stora avstÄnden i
Stilla havet, var de sofistikerade navigeringsfÀrdigheter som Polynesierna hade
utvecklat. De navigerade med hjÀlp av stjÀrnor, havsströmmar och fÄglars
migrationsmönster. De anvÀnde sig av de karakteristiska trÀkanoterna med en
utriggare (extra skrov) fÀst pÄ ena sidan av kanoten. Dessa kanoter var mycket
stabila och kunde bÄde paddlas och seglas. Idag anvÀnds fortfarande samma typ
av kanoter men tillverkade av modernare material.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Första gÄngen européer kom i kontakt med öarna var pÄ 1500-talet
dÄ portugiser och spanjorer noterade att öarna fanns men de hade troligen ingen
större kontakt med invÄnarna. 1767 landsteg britten Samuel Wallis pÄ Tahiti och
deklarerade ön som brittisk. Protestantism infördes sedan pÄ ön. FransmÀn tog
sÄ smÄningom över Tahiti efter dispyter och strider med britter och
befolkningen pÄ öarna under den dÄvarande polynesiska regenten Drottning Pomare
IV. I början av 1900-talet tillhörde
alla fem ögrupperna Frankrike och katolicismen blev den officiella religionen. Idag
har Franska Polynesien mer sjÀlvstyre men rÀknas fortfarande som ett av Frankrikes
sÄ kallade utomeuropeiska förvaltningsomrÄden dÀr Frankrike behÄller kontrollen
över försvar, utrikespolitik, rÀttsvÀsende och valuta (CFP-francen Àr knuten
till euron). Franska Polynesien kontrollerar numera sina egna lagar, ekonomi,
budget, hÀlsa, utbildning (delvis) och inre sÀkerhet. Vad vi förstÄtt verkar det inte
lÀngre finnas majoritetsstöd hos befolkningen pÄ öarna för fullstÀndig
sjÀlvstÀndighet frÄn Frankrike men man försöker istÀllet ta vara pÄ den egna
gamla kulturen bÀttre och har, med historikers och arkeologers hjÀlp, börjat
ÄterupptÀcka och omfamna delar av den som exempelvis danser, hantverk och
mattraditioner.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Den Polynesiska ursprungskulturen och dess traditioner
varierar mellan öarna men har en gemensam kÀrna. Innan den europeiska
koloniseringen var befolkningen organiserad i hierarkiska hövdingadömen styrda
av <em>Ariâi </em>(hövdingar). Under hövdingarna fanns flera olika samhĂ€llsskikt
och lÀgst stÄende var slavarna som ofta var dömda brottslingar eller tillfÄngatagna
fiender. Polynesierna kunde bygga imponerande strukturer som <em>marae </em>som
var heliga tempel för religiösa och sociala ÀndamÄl. Man levde pÄ vad havet
kunde ge samt odlade och planterade mÄnga olika grödor som exempelvis brödfrukt
och frukttrÀd av olika slag som man skördade och lagrade pÄ olika sÀtt för att
vara lÀngre Àn skördesÀsongen. Bl a anvÀndes fermentering som en metod. T ex
gjorde man <em>mahi </em>eller <em>pĆpoi </em>som det ocksĂ„ kallas. Det Ă€r
brödfrukt som mosats och fÄtt ligga syrefattigt i en lövbeklÀdd grop dÀr den sÄ
smÄningom fermenterade (genom mjölksyrabakterier). Mahin kunde lagras i flera
Är och sÀgs vara bÄde nÀringsrik och nyttig. NÀr polynesierna koloniserade nya
öar hade de med sig mÄnga av de viktiga frukter och frön och vissa tamdjur som
grisar och hundar som de behövde för att överleva pÄ de tidigare obebodda öarna.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesierna idkade mycket handel men var ocksÄ stridslystna
och krig mellan öarna/kungadömen förekom. De utövade en komplex polyteistisk
religion som var sammanflÀtad med det dagliga livet och den sociala strukturen.
Deras andliga övertygelser kretsade kring <em>atua </em>(gudar), förfÀder, <em>mana
</em> (andlig kraft) och <em>tapu </em>(heliga begrÀnsningar). Ordet tabu kommer
just frÄn polynesiskans tapu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mana var en övernaturlig kraft som inte bara fanns i alla
levande varelser utan Àven döda ting som föremÄl och platser. Hövdingar och
prÀster hade stark mana, vilket gav dem gudomlig auktoritet. Kvinnors mana
var vanligen större Àn mÀnnens pÄ grund av att de kunde föda barn (ge liv). Att
förlora mana, genom nederlag i strid eller bryta en tapu,
resulterade i vanÀra och förlust av status. T ex var det tapu för en
kvinna att kliva pÄ en kanot dÄ hennes mana var mycket mÀktigare Àn
kanotens och kanoten s a s förlorade sin kraft. Detta var sÀrskilt viktigt att
ta hÀnsyn till nÀr kanoterna skulle anvÀndas i strider. LikasÄ kunde det vara tapu
att kliva över en hövdings skugga om man stod lÀgre i rang. Att allvarligt
bryta mot en tapu kunde ibland bestraffas med döden.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesier trodde pÄ en balans mellan maskulina och feminina
energier, snarare Àn bestÀmda könsroller beroende pÄ hur man sÄg ut fysiskt och
vissa myter beskriver gudar eller andar som byter kön eller Àr androgyna. Manan
var dÀrför inte strikt knuten till biologiskt kön, utan snarare ens roll i
samhÀllet. Franska Polynesien, liksom andra delar av Polynesien, hade ett
erkĂ€nt "tredje kön" kĂ€nt som <em>mÄhĆ«</em>. Dessa var mĂ€nniskor som
förkroppsligade bÄde manliga och kvinnliga egenskaper. De var biologiska mÀn
som tog pÄ sig kvinnliga könsroller, inklusive klÀder, tal och yrken. I vissa
fall fanns det Ă€ven kvinnliga mÄhĆ« som tog pĂ„ sig manliga roller. <a name="_Hlk191066362">MÄhĆ« </a>hade flera viktiga roller i samhĂ€llet.
Ofta kunde de vara prÀster, helare, lÀrare eller konstnÀrer, specialiserade pÄ
muntliga traditioner, dansformer och ansvarade för omsorg av barn och Àldre. De
sÄgs som kunskapens vÀktare, och var en slags kulturbÀrare av informationen om
olika slÀktled, gamla berÀttelser och religiösa sedvÀnjor som de förde vidare
mellan generationer. Hövdingar kunde vĂ€nda sig till en mÄhĆ« för att fĂ„
rÄd inför viktiga beslut. Efter den europeiska koloniseringen och införandet av
kristendom sĂ„gs MÄhĆ« som en styggelse och vĂ€sterlĂ€ndska könsroller
infördes och mĂ„nga mÄhĆ« utsattes för socialt förtryck och undvek att
visa sin identitet. Idag Ă€r dock mÄhĆ« fortfarande nĂ€rvarande i den
polynesiska och hawaiianska kulturen och Àr mer accepterade, Àven om deras roll
har utvecklats och anpassats till dagens levnadssÀtt. MÄnga arbetar idag exempelvis
inom olika serviceyrken.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Polynesierna var ocksÄ kÀnda för sina <em>tikis</em>,
mÀnniskoliknande antropomorfiska figurer, uthuggna ur sten, trÀ eller ben.
Enligt polynesisk mytologi anses tiki ibland vara den första mÀnniskan
som skapats av gudarna men tolkningarna varierar pÄ de olika ögrupperna. PÄ
Marquesas representerar tikis frÀmst förfÀder och skyddande andar. Ofta utformades
de som hÀlften mÀnniska och hÀlften djur eller gud med förstorade huvuden och
ögon. En tolkning av de stora ögonen (som nÀstan ser ut som glasögon) Àr att
genom ögonen kommer man i kontakt med andevÀrlden. Tikis Àr ofta ocksÄ
kopplade till andligt skydd, styrka och vÀgledning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi har nu legat för ankar i drygt tvÄ veckor utanför
huvudorten Taiohae pÄ ön Nuku Hiva som ocksÄ Àr huvudön i Marquesas. SÄ fort
orkansÀsongen (cyklonsÀsongen) Àr avslutad i april börjar den egentliga
turistsÀsongen och dÄ kommer mÄnga bÄtar och turister till öarna. Vi Àr tidigt
ute pÄ sÀsongen sÄ det Àr gott om plats i viken och fÄ turister pÄ ön, förutom
nÀr kryssningsfartygen lÀgger till för dÄ kryllar det av folk Taiohae under en
dag. Damen i turistbyrÄn intill hamnen har full koll pÄ nÀr kryssningsfartygen
kommer och ser till att boka den lokala ensemblen av dansare och trumslagare som
har sina uppvisningar inför hÀnförda kryssningsturister. Kommersen med
hantverk, frukt och grönt blommar upp och de smÄ lokala caféerna fylls. Man
förstÄr att turisterna utgör en viktig inkomstkÀlla för öarna.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inklareringen gick smÀrtfritt. Vi ringde pÄ dörren hos de
franska gendarmerna och fast vi kom utanför kontorstid tog de emot oss och
proceduren var klar pÄ 10 minuter. Vi hade förberett oss genom att fylla i vÄra
uppgifter digitalt i ett system som anvÀnds pÄ öarna och hade passen och
bÄtpapprena med oss. Som EU-medborgare Àr reglerna för att besöka och stanna i
Franska Polynesien otroligt förmĂ„nliga.â SĂ„ hĂ€r enkelt skall det vara att komma
till Frankrike. VĂ€lkomna!â, sa en av gendarmerna pĂ„ knagglig engelska. Eller,
rÀttare sagt. Killen började prata pÄ engelska men sÄ fort han konstaterade att
vi kunde lite franska gick han över till sitt modersmĂ„l. đEfter
inklareringen tog vi ut lite kontanter, skaffade oss ett lokalt sim-kort och
fyllde pĂ„ med data. Ăntligen uppkopplade igen!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nuku Hiva Àr en vÀldigt vacker ö med höga bergstoppar och
branta stup mot havet med fantastiska vyer. Det finns flera vikar med bra
ankringsplatser runt ön. HÀr lÀr ocksÄ den nÀst högsta (lÀngsta?) vattenfallet
i vÀrlden finnas. Vi hyrde en bil och körde pÄ de fÄ vÀgarna som finns. Först
Äkte vi österut och kom till nÄgra mindre orter med smÄ fiskehamnar, affÀrer
och restauranger. MangotrÀden lÀngs vÀgen dignade av halvmogna frukter och vi
tog oss friheten att plocka nĂ„gra. Ăn Ă€r frodigt grön och vid vĂ€gkanterna kan
man se grisar, hÀstar och getter och en och annan ko vandra runt fritt. Tuppar
och hönor syns sprÀtta överallt. Vissa hÀstar hÄlls tjudrade och man ser
inhÀgnade omrÄden men det gÄr lika mÄnga djur utanför som innanför hÀgnen.</p><p class="MsoNormal">PÄ
den lilla orten Hatiheu Ät vi en fantastiskt god mÄltid. En gryta gjord pÄ
getkött och kokosmjölk serverat med kassava, friterad brödfrukt samt ris. Det
vi inte orkade Àta upp fick vi sedan slÀnga i en liten bÀck, precis intill
restaurangen dĂ€r det dök upp tvĂ„ stora Ă„lar som kalasade pĂ„ resterna. Ă
larna
var âstammisarâ pĂ„ restaurangen och en del av upplevelsen restaurangen Ă€r kĂ€nd
för.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Utanför Hatiheu finns en av flera historiska lÀmningar frÄn
tiden innan européernas kolonisering. Platsen vi besökte heter Kamuihei och Àr
en av de största arkeologiska utgrÀvningarna pÄ ön. HÀr finns heliga platser,
Äteruppbyggda hus och ytor för olika sociala ÀndamÄl och vi sÄg tikis, offergropar
och skÄlgropar uthuggna i stenar liknande dem vi kan se pÄ hÀllristningar i
Sverige. Dessutom fanns flera petroglyfer pÄ stora stenhÀllar med avbildningar
av djur, gudar, mÀnniskor och symboler som ocksÄ Äterfinns i polynesiernas
mÄnga tatueringar. Eftersom den polynesiska kulturen var en kultur som bars av
muntliga berÀttelser och saknade skriftsprÄk Àr tolkningar svÄra att göra och betydelserna
sÀgs variera nÄgot mellan ögrupperna men arkeologerna menar att det nÀstan
alltid handlar om representationer av gudar, förfÀder, resor, himlakroppar och
skyddssymboler. PÄ platsen fanns ocksÄ ett gigantiskt banjantrÀd som pÄstÄs
vara 600 Ă„r gammalt!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sista delen av vÄr bilfÀrd gick vÀsterut mot flygplatsen. Nu
kom vi till högre bergsomrÄden, djupa dalgÄngar och pÄ hÄll kunde vi se en
mycket lÄngt och vÀldigt smalt vattenfall. IstÀllet för palmer och frukttrÀd kantades
vÀgen av tallplanteringar med en art av tall som ursprungligen kommer frÄn
Karibien. Tallarna har frÀmst planterats för virkets skull men har, sÄklart,
ocksÄ förÀndrat villkoren för de inhemska arterna som levde dÀr tidigare.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PÄ stranden i Taiohae sÄg vi nÀstan varje dag unga killar
som red fram och tillbaka pÄ sina hÀstar. Ibland tÀvlade de lÀngs en given
strÀcka om att komma först. Det var imponerande att se eftersom de red barbacka
(utan sadel) i snabb galopp med endast en filt att sitta pÄ. De sÄg mÀkta
stolta ut nÀr vi ville ta kort. Vi sÄg dock aldrig nÄgon tjej rida. HÀstarna
verkar numera vara en integrerad del av polynesiernas liv men hÀstarnas ursprung
Àr nÄgot oklart. Det troligaste Àr att européerna införde flera djur som hÀstar, getter
och kor till öarna.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vattnen kring öarna i Marquesas Àr rika pÄ liv. De lokala
fiskarna kommer in till hamnen nÀstan varje dag med fina fiskfÄngster som de
sÀljer direkt pÄ plats. Fiskresterna efter rensningen kastas i hamnen till
hajarnas förtjusning. Hajarna Àr av arten större svartfenad revhaj. Inte alla boende
i omrÄdet Àr förtjusta över spektaklet i vattnet nÀr hajarna slÄss om resterna
men det utgör en bra turistmagnet⊠đ Förutom hajarna, som trots allt inte Ă€r
sÀrskilt farliga för mÀnniskor, har vi ocksÄ sett mÄnga mantor simma runt vÄr
bÄt. TyvÀrr har det inte gÄtt att fÄ nÄgra bra bilder pÄ dem och nÀr vi
snorklade i viken och försökte filma var sikten för dÄlig. Förhoppningsvis
kommer fler tillfÀllen. En morgon hörde vi ett fasligt plaskade bakom bÄten och
nÀr vi sprang ut pÄ dÀck ut för att se vad som hÀnt sÄg vi en havssköldpadda
som försökte komma loss frÄn dingens förtöjningslina som den lyckats linda runt
halsen. Efter nÄgra fruktlösa försök att vrida loss linan blev vi tvungna att
kapa den. SÄ fort sköldpaddan kÀnde att den var fri tog den ett stort och
ljudligt andetag innan den dök ner i vattnet och försvann. Hur den lyckats
trassla in sig sĂ„ konstigt kunde vi dock aldrig lista utâŠ</p><p class="MsoNormal">PĂ„ alla hjĂ€rtans dag passade vi pĂ„ att Ă€ta en trerĂ€tters middag pĂ„ en restaurang i Taiohae dĂ€r lokala musiker framförde smĂ€ktande ballader. Dagen efter kunde vi ocksĂ„ ta del av en alla hjĂ€rtans dag-fest dĂ€r bĂ„de lokalbor och turister var vĂ€lkomna. Till maten framfördes en show som var över en timme lĂ„ng och var mer som en dansad lĂ„ng berĂ€ttelse. Vi dök upp senare pĂ„ kvĂ€llen men sĂ„g Ă€ndĂ„ delar av uppvisningen. senare kunde vi sjĂ€lva dansa lite till öronbedövande polyneisisk populĂ€rmusik đ </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">De senaste dagarna har vi provianterat lite i den lokala
affÀren och köpt en souvenir i form av en mini-tiki i trÀ gjord av en lokal
konstnÀr pÄ ön.</p>
<p>Nu vÀntar vi ut lite oroligt vÀder innan vi kan ge oss
av till atollerna i Tuamotu. Eftersom det rör sig om grunda rev med fÄ in-
eller utgÄngar och dÀr strömmarna Àr starka mÄste vi passa tidvattentiderna sÄ
att vi kommer in nÀr det Àr slack. Vi hoppas kunna trÀna pÄ en enklare atoll med
större utrymme för bÄten att komma in, innan vi ger oss pÄ att nÄ atollen Fakarava
dÀr vi hoppas kunna fÄ se pÀrlodlingar!</p><p><br></p><p><em>Show for tourists</em></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ezxgysC0OJI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p><br></p><p><em>Different tikis. Some old and some new</em></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250205_153642.jpg?1740271342" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_153642.jpg?1740271342 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_153642.jpg?1740271342 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_153642.jpg?1740271342 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_153642.jpg?1740271342 320w," 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2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_152953.jpg?1740271342 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_152953.jpg?1740271342 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_152953.jpg?1740271342 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_152953.jpg?1740271342 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_152953.jpg?1740271342?1740271342" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" 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src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250205_153734.jpg?1740271342?1740271342" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094639.jpg?1740271343?1740271343" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_094725.jpg?1740271343?1740271343" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095118.jpg?1740271342?1740271342" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_095443.jpg?1740271342?1740271342" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111618.jpg?1740271343?1740271343" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_111947.jpg?1740271342?1740271342" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><br></p><p><em>Views from land</em></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_093308.jpg?1740271599?1740271599" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="3024" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_111212.jpg?1740271599?1740271599" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="3024" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_102837.jpg?1740271599?1740271599" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><br></p><p><em>Animals pasturing freely</em></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_154500.jpg?1740271748?1740271748" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WYwB6cWdUCQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p><br></p><p><em>Hatiheu. eels feasting on leftovers</em></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7jH2Oq1laO4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br><p><br></p><p><em>Kamuihei arheological site</em></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114849.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120000.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114332.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_114640.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120127.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120009.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120143.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> </p><p> <br></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="3024" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121701.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_120942.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_121804.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123052.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250212_123207.jpg?1740271996?1740271996" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><br></p><p><em>Horse riding</em></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WBR_pHo89Bw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br><p><br></p><p><em>Sharks at the harbour</em></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IQW7ruvLkCk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br><p><br></p><p><em>Polynesian Traditional Canoes </em></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250206_164107.jpg?1740290992?1740290992" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250221_163610.jpg?1740290992?1740290992" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250220_171206.jpg?1740290992?1740290992" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250210_100248.jpg?1740290992?1740290992" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><br></p><p><em>Valentine's Day (Malin WAS happy!)</em></p><p> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192021.jpg?1740291240?1740291240" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3024" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_194632.jpg?1740291240?1740291240" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Nuku%20Hiva/20250214_192014.jpg?1740291240?1740291240" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ez_m9Hdbaeg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br>
Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/february-2025/french-polynesia-nuku-hiva-and-the-marquesas
/blog/february-2025/french-polynesia-nuku-hiva-and-the-marquesas
-
Pacific crossing
Malin
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The entire 3100 nautical miles crossing from
Galapagos to French Polynesia took us just under 22 days to complete. We had
favorable winds for most of the crossing as well as a westerly current of about
1 knot. Despite the fact that the weather files we downloaded every day
recommended other routes, we were able to maintain a fairly straight course
towards our destination, the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas archipelago.
The average speed we maintained was almost 6 knots, which can be considered a
good average speed for Anastacia.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On all longer crossings, we write down our
position every few hours and plot it on a paper chart as part of âdead
reckoningâ. The data we obtained showed that on some days we maintained a good
speed and covered 170 nautical miles/day with an average speed of over 7 knots.
One day we had almost no wind at all and did 75 nautical miles in a whole day.
Then we took the opportunity to swim holding on to a rope behind the boat. A
wonderful experience to get a proper clean! đ. Then we also discovered how much growth Anastacia had on her hull. A
lot of gooseneck barnacles had gotten stuck under her⊠That means more hull
cleaning in the future for usâŠđ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During most of the sailing we were able to use
our downwind sail (Blue water runner) either fully on both sides of the boat
(goose wing) or double-folded as a large gennaker. The experience from the
Atlantic crossing, where the halyard was chafed in the mast, had taught us the
importance of sewing in extra chafing protection in the halyard where the wear
was the greatest and also being careful to, at regular intervals, change the
positions of both halyard and sheet to avoid too much chafing at the same spot.
It paid off and despite the hundreds of hours the sail was up, nothing serious
happened. The only thing that occurred was that a small line in the halyard
fastening broke one night, but we were able to quickly fix that by hauling down
the sail and securing it with a new piece of rope. Our third crew member, the
wind rudder, had to work non-stop and had done its job brilliantly. We are
still amazed by this mechanical marvel that steers the boat after the wind with
such elegance. The autopilot has been allowed to rest during the entire trip,
which also contributed to low power consumption. We are also a little proud
that we have not had to use the engine for anything other than sporadically
charging the boat's batteries and running the water maker. We have really been
able to sail the whole time! đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have also taken the opportunity to practice the so called heave
to, which we have never done before with Anastacia. It required a little
trimming of the sail and rudder until we could reduce the speed from 7 to 0.8
knots in relatively high waves. Now we have agreed that we will practice heave
to until both of us can solve it on our own. It can be important to slow down
the boat in rough weather or emergencies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At regular intervals, we have had text contact
with family via Iridium Go (satellite phone) and the crew of the Swedish boat S/Y Kerpa who also
sailed to the Marquesas but started the crossing from Panama. Being without
internet for so long was a challenge for us at the beginning but something we
also got used to relatively quickly and eventually didn't miss at allâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The voyage has otherwise been quite uneventful.
We created routines to be able to get through the days. We ate all meals
together and made sure they ended up between our four-hour watch shifts. The
waves were sometimes big and caused the boat to roll a lot. Sleeping was
sometimes a challenge and we had to help each other give each other extra sleep
time when possible. We have done daily inspection rounds of the boat to check
the ropes, mast, boom and sails. We have devoted ourselves to cooking in a
kitchenette, where just about everything is moving all the time and, at regular
intervals, baked bread, made yogurt, etc. We have spent time on maintenance,
such as renovating the chafing protections for the ropes and stays. We have
read books, learned a little more about sea weather and navigation with a
sextant. At night we could observe the starry sky of the southern hemisphere
where only a few stars and constellations were familiar to us. The North Star
had disappeared below the northern horizon and the guidance for the compass
directions was replaced instead by the constellation of the Southern Cross to
the south. The moon appeared to lie like a small smiley in the sky when it was
new. We noted that at no time during the voyage did we see any airplanes in the
sky, nor have we seen any other boats. We have seen storm-petrels, however,
almost every day. It is incredible that these birds can fly out to sea when the
nearest landmass is 1,500 nautical miles away! We have looked in vain for
whales. However, we were able to see large schools of
dolphins in the distance, a few days after we left the Galapagos. They jumped
several meters into the air before landing with a thunderous splash! A real
spectacle! Christer caught two tunas (Skipjack tuna). They were enough for a
week's dinner for the two of us, but after that there was a fishing ban on
Anastacia! Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing! đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now, after the longest sailing we have ever
done, we have finally reached land and are anchored outside the village of
Taiohae on the main island of Nuku Hiva. We celebrated with a beer and some
chips in the cockpit. A bit festive as there is an absolute ban on alcohol on
the boat while sailing⊠After an uncomplicated clearance at the French
gendarmerie on the island, we went to bed and slept for over 12 hours! Now a
few months of exploring the different island in Polynesia awaits đ</p><p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hela överfarten pÄ 3100 sjömil frÄn Galapagos till Franska
Polynesien tog oss knappt 22 dygn att genomföra. Vi hade gynnsamma vindar den
största delen av överfarten liksom medström med ca 1 knops fart. Trots att
vÀderfilerna vi laddade ner varje dag rekommenderade andra rutter kunde vi
hÄlla en nÄgorlunda rak kurs mot mÄlet, ön Nuku Hiva i ögruppen Marquesas. Snittfarten
vi höll var nÀstan 6 knop vilket fÄr anses vara en bra medelfart för Anastacia.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vid alla lÀngre överfarter skriver vi upp vÄr position med
nĂ„gra timmars mellanrum och plottar ut pĂ„ ett papperssjökort som en del i âdead
reckoningâ. Den data vi fick fram visade att vi vissa dygn höll god fart och
tillryggalade 170 nautiska mil/dygn med en snittfart pÄ över 7 knop. En dag
hade vi nÀstan ingen vind alls och gjorde 75 nautiska mil pÄ ett helt dygn. DÄ
passade vi pÄ att bada hÄllandes i ett rep efter bÄten. En underbar upplevelse
att fĂ„ bli ordentligt ren! đ. DĂ„ upptĂ€ckte vi ocksĂ„ sĂ„ mycket pĂ„vĂ€xt Anastacia
hade fÄtt pÄ sin botten. En massa s k lÄnghalsar (Gooseneck barnacles) hade
fastnat under henne⊠Det innebĂ€r mer bottenskrapning framöver för vĂ„r delâŠđ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under större delen av seglingen kunde vi anvÀnda vÄrt medvindssegel
(Blue water runner) Antingen fullt ut pÄ bÄda sidor om bÄten (goose wing) eller
dubbelvikt som en stor gennaker. Erfarenheterna frÄn Atlantöverfarten, dÀr
fallet skavts sönder i masten, hade lÀrt oss vikten av att sy in extra
skavskydd i fallet dÀr nötningen var som störst och dessutom vara noga med att,
med jÀmna mellanrum, Àndra pÄ positionerna för bÄde fall och skot för att
undvika för stort skav pÄ samma punkt. Det betalade sig och trots de hundratals
timmar seglet var uppe skedde inget allvarligt. Det enda som hÀnde var att en
liten tamp i fÀstet mot fallet brast en natt men det kunde vi snabbt ÄtgÀrda
genom att hala ner seglet och fÀsta med en ny repstump. VÄr tredje
besÀttningsmedlem, vindrodret, har fÄtt arbeta oavbrutet och skötte sitt arbete
med bravur. Vi Àr fortfarande förundrade över detta mekaniska underverk som
styr bÄten efter vinden med sÄdan elegans. Autopiloten har fÄtt vila under hela
resan vilket ocksÄ bidragit till lÄg strömförbrukning. Lite stolta Àr vi ocksÄ
över att inte ha behövt anvÀnda motorn till annat Àn att sporadiskt ladda bÄtens
batterier och köra watermakern för att göra vatten. Vi har verkligen kunnat
segla hela tiden! đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi har ocksÄ passat pÄ att öva pÄ att dreja bi, vilket vi
aldrig gjort tidigare med Anastacia. Det krÀvde lite trimning av segel och
roder tills vi kunde fÄ ner farten frÄn 7 till 0,8 knop i relativt höga vÄgor.
Nu Àr vi överens om att vi skall trÀna pÄ att dreja bi tills bÄda kan lösa det
pÄ egen hand. Det kan vara viktigt att fÄ ner bÄtens fart vid hÄrt vÀder eller
nödsituationer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Med jÀmna mellanrum har vi haft sms-kontakt med familjen via
Iridium Go (satellittelefon) samt besÀttningen pÄ den svenska bÄten S/Y Kerpa som ocksÄ seglade
till Marquesas men startade överfarten frÄn Panama. Att vara utan internet sÄ
lÀnge var en utmaning för oss i början men nÄgot vi ocksÄ vande oss vid
relativt snabbt och till slut inte saknade allsâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FÀrden har i övrigt varit ganska hÀndelsefattig. Vi skapade
rutiner för att kunna fÄ dagarna att gÄ. Alla mÄltider Ät vi tillsammans och
sÄg till att de hamnade mellan vÄra fyratimars vaktpass. VÄgorna var tidvis
stora och gjorde att bÄten rullade en hel del. Att sova blev ibland en utmaning
och vi fick hjÀlpas Ät att ge varandra extra sömntid nÀr det var möjligt. Vi
har gÄtt dagliga kontrollrundor pÄ bÄten för att se över tampar, mast, bom och
segel. Vi har Àgnat oss Ät matlagning i ett pentry, dÀr precis allting rör sig
hela tiden och, med jÀmna mellanrum, bakat bröd, gjort yoghurt mm. Vi har Àgnat
tid Ät underhÄll, som att renovera skavskydd till tampar och stag. Vi har lÀst
böcker, lÀrt oss lite mer om sjövÀder och navigation med sextant. PÄ nÀtterna
kunde vi betrakta södra halvklotets stjÀrnhimmel dÀr bara nÄgra fÄ stjÀrnor och
stjÀrnbilder var bekanta för oss. PolstjÀrnan hade försvunnit under norra
horisonten och vÀgledningen för vÀderstrecken ersattes istÀllet av stjÀrnbilden
södra korset mot syd. MÄnen syntes liggandes som en liten smiley pÄ himlavalvet
nÀr den var ny. Vi noterade att vi inte under nÄgon tidpunkt pÄ seglatsen sett
nÄgra flygplan pÄ himlen inte heller har vi sett nÄgra andra bÄtar. Stormsvalor
har vi dÀremot sett nÀstan varje dag. Otroligt att dessa fÄglar kan flyga ute
till havs nÀr nÀrmaste landmassa ligger 1500 sjömil bort! Vi har förgÀves
spanat efter valar, utan att se nÄgra. Stora flockar med delfiner kunde vi dock
beskÄda pÄ avstÄnd, nÄgra dygn efter att vi lÀmnat Galapagos. De hoppade flera
meter upp i luften innan de landade med ett hejdundrande plask! Ett riktigt
skÄdespel! Christer fick upp tvÄ tonfiskar (Skipjack tuna). De rÀckte till en
veckas middagar för oss tvÄ men dÀrefter rÄdde fiskeförbud pÄ Anastacia! Det
kan ibland bli för mycket av det goda! đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nu, efter den lÀngsta seglats vi nÄgonsin gjort har vi
Àntligen nÄtt land och ligger för ankar utanför byn Taiohae pÄ huvudön Nuku
Hiva. Vi firade med varsin öl och lite chips i sittbrunnen. Lite högtidslikt dÄ
det rÄder absolut alkoholförbud pÄ bÄten under fÀrd⊠Efter en okomplicerad
inklarering vid det franska gendarmeriet pÄ ön lade vi oss och sov i över 12
timmar! Nu vÀntar nÄgra mÄnaders utforskande av de olika ögrupperna i
Polynesien đ</p><p><br></p><p><em>A short video from the crossing</em></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X3kdFzUfXxc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>A happy fisherman</em> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250116_133014.jpg?1738988587" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250116_133014.jpg?1738988587 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250116_133014.jpg?1738988587 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250116_133014.jpg?1738988587 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250116_133014.jpg?1738988587?1738988587" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250122_155402.jpg?1738988587" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250122_155402.jpg?1738988587 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250122_155402.jpg?1738988587 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250122_155402.jpg?1738988587 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250122_155402.jpg?1738988587?1738988587" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Chafing protection. Before and after...</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141526.jpg?1738988762" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141526.jpg?1738988762 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141526.jpg?1738988762 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141526.jpg?1738988762 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141526.jpg?1738988762?1738988762" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141925.jpg?1738988762" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141925.jpg?1738988762 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141925.jpg?1738988762 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141925.jpg?1738988762 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Pacific/20250203_141925.jpg?1738988762?1738988762" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p>
Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/february-2025/pacific-crossing
/blog/february-2025/pacific-crossing
-
Galapagos
Malin
<p class="MsoNormal">The entire
Galapagos archipelago and its waters belong to Ecuador. The area is considered
the world's second largest marine reserve with its 133,000 km2 and is
classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a unique animal and plant life.
The archipelago consists of 19 larger islands, 4 of which are inhabited, plus a
further 110 uninhabited small islets and rocks. The islands are all volcanic
islands and lie at the intersection of three continental plates. The islands
belong to the northern part of the Nazca plate, on the border with the
so-called Cocos plate in the north. To the west, it borders the South American
continental plate. The Nazca plate is slowly drifting in a southeasterly
direction towards the South American continental plate at a speed of about 5 cm
per year. The movement causes new volcanoes to arise to the west and the most
recent eruption on the Galapagos took place in March 2024 on the westernmost
island of Fernandina. It is believed that the islands began to form five to ten
million years ago and the difference in age between the islands varies, with
the oldest, easternmost islands (San Cristóbal and Española) being several
million years older than the westernmost (Isabela and Fernandina). The islands
are believed to have been uninhabited until the first Spaniards from Panama
arrived there in the 16th century. When we spoke to residents of Santa Cruz,
many referred to the âPirate ageâ. It turned out to be a period in the 16th and
17th centuries when many pirate ships, who made plundering raids on the
mainland, were able to escape to the archipelago and, among other things, feed
on the large land tortoises that were on the islands. In fact, the name
Galapagos means tortoise.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately,
the first visitors to the islands brought with them other animal species that
caused damage to the islands. Perhaps the worst was the rats, which multiplied
rapidly and fed on the animals that were already on the islands; baby turtles,
lizards, small iguanas, etc. The lack of mammals and larger predators meant
that the species that lived on the islands became easy prey as they were
completely fearless. To solve the rat problem, cats were eventually introduced,
but they found lizards, iguanas and fearless birds being easier prey than the cautious
rats. On several islands, entire species got extinguished because of this.
Goats and stray dogs have also been major problems. Dogs are now only kept as
pets and under control. Feral cats are still found on some islands. We
ourselves saw a small wild cat chasing a lizard when we walked to a beach on
Santa Cruz. In recent years, it has been possible to remove all foreign species
on some islands and several projects are underway to replant many of the
animals and plants that have disappeared. However, it is also known that
several species have unfortunately become completely extinct.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the
25 days we stayed in the Galapagos, we stayed anchored in Academy Bay near the
town of Puerto Ayora on the main island of Santa Cruz. It is also allowed to
sail to three more islands in the archipelago, but after just a few days, we
didn't think it was worth the trouble with the permits that we had to arrange
with our agent for each island. At each island you have to clear in and out and
pay a small national park fee in addition to the fees we had already paid to be
able to sail here at all. In addition, Puerto Ayora was the port with the best
facilities and where it was easiest to refuel the boat and be able to clear out
of the Galapagos when leaving. It is clear that the islanders focus on tourists
who come to the islands by plane to be able to service them when they ask for accommodations,
food, activities, etc. Leisure boat tourists, like us, requires more work with
checks of the boat and crew and less income for the islands. To get to and from
the island from the boat, we could call a taxi boat. It cost a dollar per
person and was well worth the small fee. You can use your own dinghy if you
want, but in reality, it is not possible as there is nowhere to dock on land.
In addition, the sea lions could quickly take possession of the boat for their
rest when they are not catching fish in the sea outside. When we stepped ashore
on Santa Cruz, it was amazing to see how fearless all the animals we
encountered were. Sea lions and iguanas lay calmly sunbathing in the middle of
the hustle and bustle of the city of Puerto Ayora and various birds sat
completely fearlessly in the middle of visitors and preened their feathers.
Tourism makes up more than 80% of the islands' economy and we quickly realized
that here, as in many other places we have visited, they do everything they can
to make a few pennies from visitors. The taxi boats were just one example. In
Puerto Ayora, the streets were full of small travel agencies offering tickets
for fast ferries between the islands, sightseeing tours on land as well as
diving or snorkeling trips. Drivers hailed from their white pickup taxis and
asked if we wanted a ride. There are very few areas on the islands where you
can roam freely in nature or snorkel on your own. Basically, all places require
you to have a guide with you. The lasting impression was like being in a
gigantic zoo. However, it must be admitted that the guided tours were well
organized and the guides were consistently very knowledgeable. We also made
sure that they were kept busy, as inquisitive as we areâŠđ. Nowadays, all guides and park rangers in the
Galapagos must be certified and continuously trained and also reside on one of
the islands. Everyone we met was also really professional and concerned that we
would have a good experience but also very clear about the rules that applied
so as not to harm animals or plants in any way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first
visit we made, was to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we were given a
brief overview of Darwin's visit to the islands in 1835 and how his studies of
life on the Galapagos played a role in his theory of natural selection. Among
other things, he was able to see with his own eyes how finches had adapted over
time on the different islands depending on what food they could mainly eat. The
shape of the beaks had changed and looked different depending on which island
the finches lived on. It was a somewhat reverent moment for us to visit places
that have become so important for our understanding of how species developed on
earth... The research center also breeds several of the 15 different species of
large tortoises found on the different islands. They wait until the tortoises
are 5 years old before they are released. Only then are the tortoises' shells
hard enough to prevent them from falling victim to rats. 5 years may seem like
a lot, but on the other hand, tortoises live around 150 years! The research
center is very active in various educational projects for both residents and
visitors. Scientists from all over the world come here to study animal and plant
life on land and in the sea. Many projects are focused on the conservation of
endangered species and restoration. Other projects aim to find more sustainable
energy alternatives on the islands and how to tackle the problem of the
enormous amount of plastic waste that flows ashore on the islands via ocean
currents. Illegal fishing in the seas outside is another major problem that is
being addressed, where unfortunately China stands out as being particularly
active. Since the fishing boats turn off their transponders, AIS, etc., they
become almost impossible to track for the few coast guard vessels that patrol
the entire reserve. We ourselves have been surprised when we have sailed at
night and suddenly seen lights from fishing boats appear just a few nautical
miles away that we have not been able to track via our plotter (AIS). When we
have sailed past them, they have turned off their lanterns again and thus made
themselves completely invisible again. Now we understand what could have been
the reasonâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also
visited a reserve for land tortoises and saw them roaming around completely
freely. They like to graze together with the cows that are kept on the island
and the tortoises are so big that they sometimes force their way through the
cow enclosures so that the cows also come out â much to the farmersâ annoyance.
On the way there, we saw giant land tortoises crossing the roads in slow
motion, where traffic had to stop to let them pass. The taxi driver told us
that only park rangers are allowed to move tortoises that are on the road and
drivers can be fined the equivalent of several monthsâ wages and even jail time
if they hit a tortoise. Itâs simply a matter of being patientâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also
booked a snorkeling trip to the small island of PinzĂłn to see more of the
underwater life. Unfortunately, the visibility was poor but we managed to film
some of it. In fact, where Anastacia was lying, there was also a lot of life,
both in and on the water. Reef sharks, large sea turtles and iguanas swam
around the boat. A lot of different seabirds, in addition to the more common
frigate birds and pelicans, visited us. We saw several Blue Footed Boobys which
have become a bit of a symbol of the Galapagos. Then we have a special
relationship with a Galapagos heron which often returned and almost settled on
the boat. We called the bird Sture but had no idea if it was a female or a
male. Sture seemed to think the boat was a perfect place to stand to watch for
fish. We also saw him catch a fish which turned out to be too big for him to
swallow. After several failed attempts Sture released the fish into our cockpit
and watched for more fish. The next day the fish was still there and had
probably been desperately squirming around before it finally died so we had to
clean up the entire cockpit. Christer threw the fish into the sea and Sture,
who was still sitting on the railing, looked at him angrily. Apparently, he
thought it was a shame to throw away the food he had spent so much energy
catching⊠We were also soon visited by a sea lion who parked on Anastaciaâs
small swimming platform. We had thought that the platform was too small for sea
lions, but this individual didnât think so and stayed there all night.
Unfortunately, the sea lion left a big business card behind on the platform
that smelled really bad and we had to spend a good while washing everything
off. After that, we placed two large ball fenders in the stern and avoided
further visits.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christmas
was celebrated with traditional Christmas porridge made from plain rice and
other improvised food for our small Christmas table on the boat. Of course, we
had made sure to bring the obligatory Italian Panettone, bought in Panama,
which we enjoyed with our coffee. New Year's Eve, which was also Christer's
birthday, was first celebrated with breakfast on the boat with cream cake and a
little later in the day, homemade birthday panna cotta garnished with toasted,
candied coconut flakes was served, followed by gift-giving and beautiful
singing performed by the lady on the boat. In the evening, we had a delicious
sea-inspired dinner at a nice restaurant where we got a table on a balcony
overlooking the water. Then we celebrated the old year with thousands of other
Galapagos residents from both Santa Cruz and other islands + a lot of tourists
who strolled the streets and bought something from the street vendors who
crowded along the main street in Puerto Ayora. A small funfair with a train
track for the youngest visitors had been set up at one end of the street. To
our surprise, we saw that the staff, with young, enthusiastic helpers, were
helping to push the train with all the carriages around the track. The children
rode and screamed with delight and had fun and the parents watched. Just like
at any other funfair, although this one was operated by hand without motors or
electricity đ. The city had also arranged
entertainment throughout the evening and night in the square, with artists from
Colombia, among others. At midnight, the cheers broke out. No fireworks or
light shows but a thunderous roar from the stage and cheering people everywhere.
At two o'clock we took a boat taxi back to Anastacia and heard the music from
the harbor well into the morning. When we, on January 2nd, went ashore again to
buy some vegetables, we were surprised that so few shops were open. Now we
found out that the Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, had declared a national
holiday from New Year's until after the Epiphany! We had to wait with the
vegetablesâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The only
disappointment during our visit was that we had a cold last week, which meant
we had to cancel a diving trip to the island Isla Seymour Norte, just north of
Santa Cruz. There we could have seen more species, including reef sharks and
hammerhead sharks! However, we hope to have that chance later on in our
sailing. Now we are preparing the boat for the longest crossing we will make.
We have just over 3000 nautical miles to sail to the island of Nuku Hiva, in
the Marquesas archipelago, French Polynesia. After a few administrative
procedures, we will set off tomorrow and expect to arrive in 25-30 days. We
also operate a postal service, albeit on a very small scale. On the way here,
we delivered a small oil pump that the agent here had ordered from Panama. We
will bring a package to Polynesia for a sailor who had to leave the Galapagos
before the package from his parents arrived here. To be safe, we check the
contents before we set off đ If we had visited the island of
Floreana here in the Galapagos, we could have visited Post Office Bay founded
in 1793 where former whalers could leave letters and at the same time see if
there were letters addressed to the destination they were sailing to... This
unofficial post office is said to still be used today by sailors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hela Galapagos-arkipelagen med
tillhörande vatten tillhör Ecuador. OmrÄdet rÀknas som vÀrldens nÀst största
marina reservat med sina 133,000 km2 och Àr klassat som ett UNESCO
vÀrldsarv med ett unikt djur- och vÀxtliv. Arkipelagen utgörs av 19 större
öar varav 4 Àr bebodda plus ytterligare ca 110 obebodda smÄ holmar och klippor.
Ăarna Ă€r alla vulkanöar och ligger i skĂ€rningspunkten mellan tre
kontinentalplattor. Ăarna hör till den norra delen av Nazca-plattan, pĂ„ grĂ€nsen
till den sÄ kallade Cocosplattan i norr. VÀsterut grÀnsar den till den
sydamerikanska kontinentalplattan. Nazcaplattan driver lÄngsamt i sydostlig
riktning mot den sydamerikanska kontinentalplattan med en hastighet av cirka 5
cm per Är. Rörelsen gör att nya vulkaner uppstÄr vÀsterut och det senaste
utbrottet pÄ Galapagos skedde i mars 2024 pÄ den vÀstligaste ön Fernandina. Man
tror att öarna började bildas fem till tio miljoner Är sedan och skillnaden i
Älder mellan öarna varierar, dÀr de Àldsta, östligaste öarna (San Cristóbal and
Española) Àr flera miljoner Är Àldre Àn de vÀstliga (Isabela och Fernandina).
Ăarna tros ha varit obebodda varit fram till att de första spanjorerna frĂ„n
Panama kom dit pÄ 1500-talet. NÀr vi talade med invÄnare pÄ Santa Cruz sÄ var
det mĂ„nga som hĂ€nvisade till âPirate ageâ. Det visade sig vara en period pĂ„
1500 och 1600-talet dÄ mÄnga piratbÄtar, som gjorde plundringsrÀder pÄ
fastlandet, kunde fly till ögruppen och bl a livnÀra sig pÄ de stora
landsköldpaddorna som fanns pÄ öarna. Namnet Galapagos betyder just sköldpadda.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">De första besökarna till öarna
förde tyvÀrr med sig andra djurarter som stÀllt till skada pÄ öarna. VÀrst var
kanske rÄttorna som förökade sig snabbt och livnÀrde sig pÄ de djur som redan fanns
pÄ öarna; sköldpaddsungar, ödlor, smÄ leguaner etc. Avsaknaden av dÀggdjur och
större rovdjur gjorde att de arter som levde pÄ öarna blev lÀtta byten dÄ de
var helt orÀdda. För att lösa rÄttproblemet infördes sÄ smÄningom katter som
dock tyckte att ödlor, leguaner och orÀdda fÄglar var enklare byten Àn de
skygga rÄttorna. PÄ flera öar dog hela arter ut p g av detta. Getter och
lösspringande hundar har ocksÄ utgjort stora problem. Hundar hÄlls nu endast
som sÀllskapsdjur och under kontroll. Förvildade katter finns fortfarande pÄ
vissa öar. Vi sÄg sjÀlva en liten vildkatt jaga en ödla nÀr vi promenerade till
en strand pÄ Santa Cruz. PÄ senare Är har man kunnat fÄ bort alla frÀmmande
arter pÄ vissa öar och flera Äterplanteringsprojekt pÄgÄr för att kunna
Äterinplantera mÄnga av de djur och vÀxter som försvunnit. Dock vet man ocksÄ
att flera arter tyvÀrr dött ut helt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under de 25 dagar vi stannat pÄ
Galapagos sÄ har vi hela tiden legat för ankar i Academy Bay vid staden Puerto
Ayora pÄ huvudön Santa Cruz. Det Àr tillÄtet att ocksÄ segla till ytterligare
tre öar i arkipelagen men redan efter nÄgra dagars vistelse tyckte vi inte att
det var vÀrt besvÀret med de tillstÄnd som vi hade behövt ordna med vÄr agent för
respektive ö. Vid varje ö mÄste man nÀmligen klarera in respektive ut och
betala en liten nationalparksavgift förutom de avgifter vi redan betalat för
att över huvud taget fÄ segla hit. Dessutom var Puerto Ayora den hamn med bÀst
faciliteter och dÀr det enklast gick att fÄ tanka bÄten och kunna klarera ut ur
Galapagos vid avfÀrd. Det Àr tydligt att man fokuserar pÄ turister som kommer
via flyg till öarna och service till dem dÄ de efterfrÄgar
övernattningsmöjligheter, mat, aktiviteter o s v. FritidsbÄtturister, som vi,
innebÀr mer jobb med kontroller av bÄt och besÀttning och mindre intÀkter till
öarna.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">För att ta oss till och frÄn ön
frÄn bÄten kunde vi kalla pÄ en taxibÄt. Det kostade en dollar per person och
var vÀl vÀrt den lilla avgiften. Man fÄr anvÀnda den egna dingen om man vill
men i praktiken gÄr det inte dÄ det inte finns nÄgonstans att lÀgga till pÄ
land. Dessutom kunde sjölejonen snabbt ta gummibÄten i besittning för sina
vilopauser nÀr de inte fÄngar fisk i havet utanför.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NÀr vi steg iland pÄ Santa Cruz
var det fantastiskt att se hur orÀdda alla djur var som vi stötte pÄ. Sjölejon
och leguaner lÄg lugnt och solade mitt i stadsvimlet i Puerto Ayora och olika
fÄglar satte sig helt orÀdda mitt bland besökare och putsade fjÀdrarna. Turismen
utgör mer Àn 80% av öarnas ekonomi och vi insÄg snabbt att hÀr, liksom pÄ mÄnga
andra stÀllen vi besökt, gör man allt för att kunna tjÀna nÄgra slantar av
besökarna. TaxibÄtarna var bara ett exempel. I Puerto Ayora var gatorna fulla
av smÄ resebyrÄer som erbjöd biljetter till snabbfÀrjor mellan öarna,
sightseeingturer pÄ land liksom dyk- eller snorkelturer. Chaufförer hojtade
frÄn sina vita pickup-taxis och frÄgade om vi ville ha skjuts. Det finns
vÀldigt fÄ omrÄden pÄ öarna dÀr man kan fÄ ströva fritt i naturen eller snorkla
pÄ egen hand. I princip alla stÀllen krÀver att man har med sig en guide. Det
bestÄende intrycket var som att befinna sig pÄ en gigantisk djurpark. Det mÄste
dock erkÀnnas att de guidade turerna var vÀlorganiserade och guiderna var
genomgÄende mycket kunniga. Vi sÄg ocksÄ till att de fick fullt upp att göra,
sĂ„ frĂ„gvisa som vi Ă€râŠđ. Numera skall alla guider och parkvakter pĂ„
Galapagos vara certifierade och vidareutbildas kontinuerligt och dessutom vara
bosatta pÄ nÄgon av öarna. Alla vi mötte var ocksÄ verkligen seriösa och mÄna
om att vi skulle fÄ en bra upplevelse men ocksÄ mycket tydliga med vilka regler
som gÀllde för att inte pÄ nÄgot sÀtt skada djur eller vÀxter. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Första besöket blev pÄ Charles
Darwin Research Station, HÀr fick vi en kort genomgÄng av Darwins besök pÄ
öarna 1835 och hur hans studier av livet Galapagos spelat en roll för hans
teori om det naturliga urvalet. Bl a kunde han med egna ögon se hur en finkar
med tiden hade anpassat sig pÄ de olika öarna beroende pÄ vilken föda de frÀmst
kunde Àta. NÀbbarnas form hade Àndrats och sÄg olika ut beroende pÄ vilken ö
finkarna levde pÄ. Det blev en lite andÀktig stund för oss att fÄ besöka
platser som fÄtt sÄdan betydelse för vÄr förstÄelse av hur arter uppkommit pÄ
jorden⊠PÄ forskningscentret bedrivs Àven uppfödning av flera av de totalt 15
olika arter av stora landsköldpaddor som finns pÄ de olika öarna. Man vÀntar
tills sköldpaddorna Àr 5 Är gamla innan de slÀpps ut. Först dÄ Àr
sköldpaddornas skal tillrÀckligt hÄrda för att de inte skall falla offer för bl
a rÄttor. 5 Är kan verka mycket men Ä andra sidan blir landsköldpaddor runt 150
Är gamla! Forskningscentret Àr vÀldigt aktivt bl a i olika utbildningsprojekt
för bÄde invÄnare och besökare. Forskare frÄn hela vÀrlden kommer hit för att studera
djur och vÀxtliv pÄ land och i havet. MÄnga projekt Àr inriktade pÄ bevarandet
av hotade arter och restaurering. Andra projekt syftar till att hitta mer
hÄllbara energialternativ pÄ öarna och hur man skall angripa problemet med den
enorma mÀngd plastskrÀp som via havsströmmar flyter i land pÄ öarna. Olovligt
fiske i haven utanför Àr ett annat stort problem man försöker adressera dÀr
tyvÀrr Kina sticker ut som sÀrskilt aktiva. Eftersom fiskebÄtarna stÀnger av
sina transpondrar, AIS etc. blir de nÀstan omöjliga att spÄra för de fÄ
kustbevakningsfartyg som patrullerar hela reservatet. Vi har sjÀlva varit
förvÄnade nÀr vi seglat nattetid och plötsligt sett ljus frÄn fiskebÄtar dyka
upp pÄ bara nÄgon sjömils avstÄnd som vi inte kunnat spÄra via vÄr plotter
(AIS). NÀr vi seglat förbi dem har de Äter slÀckt lanternorna och pÄ sÄ sÀtt
gjort sig helt osynliga igen. Nu förstĂ„r vi vad det kan ha berott pĂ„âŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi besökte Àven ett reservat för
landsköldpaddor och fick se dem strosa runt helt fritt. De betar gÀrna
tillsammans med de kor som hÄlls pÄ ön och sködpaddorna Àr sÄ stora att de
ibland forcerar igenom inhĂ€gnaderna till korna sĂ„ Ă€ven korna kommer ut â till
böndernas förtret. PÄ vÀgen dit sÄg vi gigantiska landsköldpaddor korsa vÀgarna
i sakta mak, dÀr trafiken fick stanna för att lÄta dem passera. Taxichauffören berÀttade
att det bara Àr parkvakter som fÄr flytta sköldpaddor som ligger i vÀgen och
förare kan fÄ böter motsvarande flera mÄnadslöner och t o m fÀngelsestraff om de
skulle köra pĂ„ en sköldpadda. Det gĂ€ller helt enkelt att ha tĂ„lamodâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi bokade ocksÄ en snorkeltur
till den lilla ön Pinzón för att fÄ se mer av livet under vattnet. TyvÀrr var
sikten dÄlig men vi fick filmat en del. Faktum Àr att dÀr Anastacia lÄg vimlade
det ocksÄ av liv, bÄde i och pÄ vattnet. Revhajar, stora vattensköldpaddor och
leguaner simmade runt bÄten. En massa olika sjöfÄglar, förutom de mer vanliga
fregattfÄglarna och pelikanerna, besökte oss. Vi sÄg flera blÄfotade sulor
(Blue Footed Booby) som blivit lite av Galapagos symbol. Sedan har vi ett
sÀrskilt förhÄllande till en GalapagoshÀger som ofta Äterkom och nÀstan bosatte
sig pÄ bÄten. Vi kallade fÄgeln för Sture men hade egentligen ingen aning om
det var en hona eller hane. Sture verkade tycka bÄten var en perfekt plats att
stÄ pÄ för att spana pÄ fisk. Vi sÄg honom ocksÄ fÄnga en fisk som visade sig
vara för stor för honom att svÀlja. Efter flera misslyckade försök slÀppte
Sture fisken i vÄr sittbrunn och spanade efter fler fiskar. Dagen efter lÄg
fisken kvar och hade antagligen förtvivlat sprattlat runt innan den slutligen
dog sÄ vi fick sanera hela sittbrunnen. Christer kastade i fisken i havet och
Sture, som fortfarande satt pÄ relingen, tittade surt pÄ honom. Tydligen tyckte
han att det var synd att kasta maten som han lagt sÄ mycket energi pÄ att
fÄnga⊠Vi fick ocksÄ snart besök av ett sjölejon som parkerade pÄ Anastacias
lilla badplattform. Vi hade trott att plattformen var för liten för sjölejon
men det tyckte inte den hÀr individen som lÄg kvar en hel natt. TyvÀrr lÀmnade
sjölejonet ett rejÀlt visitkort efter sig pÄ badplattformen som luktade riktigt
illa och vi fick lÀgga en bra stund pÄ att tvÀtta bort allt. DÀrefter placerade
vi tvÄ stora kulfendrar i akterna och slapp vidare besök.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Julen firades med julgröt gjord
pÄ vanligt ris och annan improviserad mat till vÄrt lilla julbord pÄ bÄten.
SÄklart hade vi sett till att fÄ med den obligatoriska italienska Panettonen,
inköpt i Panama, som vi avnjöt till kaffet. NyÄr tillika Christers födelsedag
firades först med frukost pÄ bÄten med grÀddtÄrta och lite senare pÄ dagen
serverades hemgjord födelsedags-pannacotta garnerad med rostade, kanderade
kokosflarn följd av presentutdelning och skönsÄng framförd av frun pÄ bÄten. PÄ
kvÀllen Ät vi en god havsinspirerad middag pÄ en trevlig restaurang dÀr vi fick
ett bord pÄ en balkong med utsikt över vattnet. Sedan firade vi ut det gamla
Äret med tusentals andra Galapagosbor frÄn bÄde Santa Cruz och andra öar + en
massa turister som flanerade pÄ gatorna och köpte nÄgot frÄn gatuförsÀljarna
som trÀngdes lÀngs huvudgatan i Puerto Ayora. Ett litet tivoli med en tÄgbana
för de minsta besökarna hade satts upp vid ena Ànden av gatan. Till vÄr
förvÄning sÄg vi att personalen med unga, entusiastiska medhjÀlpare, hjÀlptes
Ät att putta tÄget med alla vagnarna runt pÄ banan. Barnen Äkte och skrek
förtjust och hade roligt och förÀldrarna tittade pÄ. Precis som pÄ vilket annat
tivoli som helst fast detta drevs för hand utan motorer eller elektricitet đ.
Staden hade ocksÄ ordnat med underhÄllning under hela kvÀllen och natten pÄ
torget, med artister frÄn bl a Colombia. Vid tolvslaget sÄ bröt jublet ut. Inga
fyrverkerier eller ljusshower men ett hejdundrande hÄlligÄng frÄn scenen och jublande
mÀnniskor överallt. Vid tvÄtiden tog vi en bÄttaxi tillbaks till Anastacia och
hörde musiken frÄn hamnen lÄngt in pÄ morgonen. NÀr vi, den 2:e januari, Äter
gick i land för att köpa lite grönsaker blev vi förvÄnade över att sÄ fÄ butiker
hade öppet. Nu fick vi reda pÄ att den ecuadorianske presidenten, Daniel Noboa,
hade utlyst nationell helg frÄn nyÄr till efter trettonhelgen! Vi fick vÀnta
med grönsakernaâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Enda smolket i glÀdjebÀgaren under
vÄrt besök var att vi sista veckan legat förkylda vilket gjort att vi fÄtt
avboka en dyktur till ön Isla Seymour Norte, strax norr om Santa Cruz. DÀr hade
vi kunnat fÄ se fler arter av bl a revhaj och hammarhaj! Vi hoppas dock kunna
fÄ den chansen senare pÄ vÄr seglats. Nu förbereder vi bÄten för den lÀngsta
överfarten vi kommer att göra. Vi har lite drygt 3000 sjömil att segla till ön
Nuku Hiva, i ögruppen Marquesas, franska Polynesien. Efter lite administrativa
procedurer, ger vi oss ivÀg imorgon och rÀknar med att vara framme om 25-30
dagar. Vi agerar dessutom postservice om Àn i mycket liten skala. PÄ vÀgen hit levererade
vi en liten oljepump som agenten hÀr hade bestÀllt frÄn Panama. Till Polynesien
kommer vi att ta med ett paket till en seglare som hann lÀmna Galapagos innan
paketet frÄn hans förÀldrar hann fram hit. För sÀkerhets skull kontrollerar vi
innehĂ„llet innan vi ger oss ivĂ€g đ Hade vi besökt ön Floreana hĂ€r pĂ„ Galapagos
hade vi kunnat besöka Post Office Bay, grundad 1793, dÀr tidigare valfÄngare
kunde lÀmna brev och samtidigt se om det finns brev som var adresserade till
den destination de skulle segla till⊠Detta inofficiella postkontor sÀgs anvÀndas
Ă€n idag av sjöfarare.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>A heartwarming Christmas carol performed to us by youngsters from the Molas club. Molas Club promotes ecological and biodiversity conservation projects for young people in Galapagos . The performance was part of a competition and we really hope these four won the competition! â€ïž</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7sN4DUsKg5M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Animal encounters at Puerto Ayora and the fish market in Santa Cruz</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241221_121712.jpg?1736821098" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241221_121712.jpg?1736821098 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241221_121712.jpg?1736821098 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241221_121712.jpg?1736821098 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241221_121712.jpg?1736821098?1736821098" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105001.jpg?1736820950?1736820950" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20250111_110415.jpg?1736821610?1736821610" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_110302.jpg?1736820036?1736820036" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105335.jpg?1736820036?1736820036" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241223_105708.jpg?1736820036?1736820036" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u>Giant Tortoises</u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_115049.jpg?1736820036?1736820036" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241226_124424.jpg?1736820036?1736820036" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143102.jpg?1736821447" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143102.jpg?1736821447 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143102.jpg?1736821447 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143102.jpg?1736821447 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143102.jpg?1736821447?1736821447" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241222_143132.jpg?1736821447?1736821447" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the beach. Santa Cruz<iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WLQlL9-BFUc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal">Under water videos. Galapagos islands<iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uFhLVkZGBDc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWNwCqRPqzc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>At our boat</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Galapagos/20241227_221953.jpg?1736821447?1736821447" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nrCMGxZyFp4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/january-2025/galapagos
/blog/january-2025/galapagos
-
From Panama to Galapagos
Malin
<p class="MsoNormal">You are
never so close to death on a sailboat as when you have your pants pulled down
over your knees! We both experienced this fact several times during the sail to
the Galapagos. It was our first real long-distance sailing after the Atlantic
crossing and we had kind of forgotten how rough it can be at sea and the most
critical moments are when visiting the toilet and when you have to take your
sailing clothes off or onâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It may not
seem like a big problem, but if you are a little tired and inattentive, you can
easily go straight across the floor if you don't look up when Anastacia goes
over a wave. Now we both managed fine but there were a few times it could have
gone wrong. This and other similar topics were things we liked to discuss
during the sail. Then you know the quality of our discussions đ. Except of course, when Christer shared his
thoughts on whether time is just a representation of the expansion of the
universe. At the Big Bang, time began⊠If you travel at the speed of light with
the expansion or against it, does time change for the traveller? Without the
Internet at sea, we had to guess as best we could on our own⊠Time may be
affected by the speed of expansion depending on where you are, but was there
nothing before the Big Bang? Not even time?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this way
we passed the time by in the 10 days it took to sail the 900 nautical miles to
the Galapagos. As the crow flies, it is shorter, but to avoid headwinds, we
needed to take a more southerly direction along the coast of Colombia and
Ecuador before we could turn further west, towards the islands. We had light
winds the whole way and sailed on a tack. The first day, the mainsail's
trailing edge broke against the boom, the so-called clew. It had chafed against
the boom without us noticing. Now we could only sail with a reef up, which was
OK but gave Anastacia a lower speed and sometimes we had to use the engine as
support. We had rain and thunder at one point where we temporarily changed
direction but otherwise it was a fairly uneventful but quite bumpy sail as the
waves came from slightly different directions. A few seabirds followed along
and hitched a ride on the boat when they got too tired.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christer surprised me as Lucia (Swedish traditional celebration) when I was about to get off my night shift on December 13th. He showed up with a handmade Lucia crown decorated with a little Santa Claus and holding a candle in his hand serving me cofee. The next day he surprised me again! He caught a two-kilo bluefin tuna which he then prepared and served. It was enough for two dinners. What a wonderful man! â€ïž</p><p class="MsoNormal">The next time there was some excitement on the boat was when we were close to passing the
equator. We make sure to write down our position every few hours and plot the
distance we have sailed on a paper chart. This way you can manually calculate
your position (dead reckoning) if necessary, for example if the power on the
boat were to go out. We soon saw that we were approaching latitude 00 degrees.
This set Christer off and he wanted to immortalize the moment. This should be
celebrated! After studying the chart carefully, he went over to the digital
plotter and saw a blue line that matched the chart's line for the equator. When
there were a few minutes left, we loaded up a bottle of Prosecco bought for
the purpose and two plastic champagne glasses were found. Now we would first
offer a glass to Poseidon and then the moment we crossed the equator would be
immortalized with a selfie. Said and done. The sea god was appeased with a
glass and we toasted solemnly and took a picture when we passed the blue line.
Shouldn't we see our position? I asked. No need! Christer said confidently. He
had a rock-solid grasp of the situation! It wasn't until a long time later that
he realized his mistake. We were still about 80 nautical miles north of the
equator (!?) and that blue line on the plotter was something completely
different from an equator line. A little disappointed, we realized that there was
almost a day left until we could start writing an S after the longitude
measurements. The next morning, we could see on the plotter how we slowly
passed the 00 line but now the Prosecco was gone and the mood was pretty bad
for both of us so a screenshot on the plotter had to suffice to immortalize the
eventâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last
few nautical miles to the main island of Santa Cruz we had good wind but risked
arriving in the dark so we had to reef and sail really slowly so as not to
arrive before the morning light appeared đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The same
day we anchored at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz a delegation from various
authorities came together with our agent and checked the boat inside and out to
make sure we hadn't brought anything illegal in terms of animals or plants +
they asked us about waste management etc. on board. We were approved on all
counts and received our tourist visas and were welcomed to stay at the
Galapagos nature reserve. We took down the yellow Q flag and hoisted the
Ecuadorian and Galapagos courtesy flags on Anastacia. Now a time of exploring
the islands and the privilege of following in Darwin's footsteps awaits!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Man Àr aldrig sÄ nÀra döden pÄ
en segelbÄt som nÀr man har byxorna nerdragna över knÀna! Detta faktum fick vi
bÄda erfara flera gÄnger under seglatsen till Galapagos. Det var vÄr första
riktiga lÄngfÀrdssegling efter Atlantöverfarten och vi hade liksom glömt hur
det kan krÀnga till pÄ havet och de mest kritiska stunderna Àr vid toalettbesök
och vid passbyten nĂ€r seglarklĂ€derna skall av eller pĂ„âŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inget stort problem kan tyckas
men Àr man lite trött och ouppmÀrksam sÄ kan man lÀtt fara ivÀg tvÀrs över
golvet om man inte ser upp nÀr Anastacia far över en vÄg. Nu klarade vi oss
bÄda fint men det var nÄgra gÄnger det kunde gÄtt illa. Detta och andra
liknande Àmnen var sÄdant vi gÀrna diskuterade under seglatsen. DÄ vet ni nivÄn
pĂ„ diskussionerna đ. Förutom förstĂ„s nĂ€r Christer delgav sina funderingar
över om tid bara Àr en representation över universums expansion. Vid Big Bang
sÄ började s a s tiden⊠Om man fÀrdas med ljusets hastighet med expansionen
eller mot den, förÀndras tiden för den som fÀrdas? Utan Internet till sjöss fick
vi spÄna bÀst vi kunde pÄ egen hand⊠Tiden kanske pÄverkas av expansionens
hastighet beroende pÄ var man befinner sig, men fanns inget före Big Bang? Inte
ens tid?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">SÄ fördrev vi tiden de knappa 10
dagar det tog att segla de runt 900 sjömilen till Galapagos. FÄgelvÀgen Àr det
kortare men för att undvika motvind, behövde vi ta en sydligare riktning lÀngs
Colombias och Ecuadors kust innan vi kunde vika av mer vÀsterut, mot öarna. Vi
hade svag vind hela vÀgen och seglade pÄ en kryssbog. Första dygnet brast
tampen till storseglets bakkant mot bommen, det s k bomuthalet. Det hade skavt
mot bommen utan att vi mÀrkt det. Nu kunde vi bara segla med ett rev uppe
vilket var OK men gav Anastacia lÀgre fart och ibland fick vi anvÀnda motorn som
stöd. Vi fick regn och Äska vid nÄgot tillfÀlle dÀr vi tillfÀlligt byta
riktning men annars en blev det en ganska hÀndelsefattig men rÀtt skumpig seglats
dÄ vÄgorna kom frÄn lite olika riktningar. NÄgra sjöfÄglar följde med och
liftade pÄ bÄten nÀr de blev för trötta.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christer överraskade som lucia nĂ€r jag skulle gĂ„ av mitt nattpass den 13:e december. Han dök upp med egenhĂ€ndigt tillverkad luciakrona prydd med en liten tomte och med ljus i handen och serverade nybryggt kaffe. Dagen dĂ€rpĂ„ överraskade han igen! Han fiskade upp en tvĂ„kilos blĂ„fenad tonfisk som han sedan tillredde och bjöd pĂ„. Den rĂ€ckte till tvĂ„ middagar. Vilken underbar man! â€ïž</p><p class="MsoNormal">NĂ€sta gĂ„ng det blev lite liv pĂ„ bĂ„ten var nĂ€r vi var nĂ€ra att passera ekvatorn. Vi ser till att skriva upp vĂ„r
position med nÄgra timmars mellanrum och plotta ut pÄ ett papperssjökort den
strÀcka vi seglat. PÄ sÄ sÀtt kan man manuellt rÀkna ut sin position (död
rÀkning) om det skulle behövas, t ex om strömmen pÄ bÄten skulle slÄs ut. Vi
sÄg snart att vi nÀrmade oss latituden 00 grader. Det satte fart pÄ Christer
som ville föreviga ögonblicket. Detta skall firas! Efter att ha studerat sjökortet
noga gick han över till den digitala plottern och fick syn pÄ en blÄ linje som
stÀmde vÀl överens med sjökortets linje för ekvatorn. NÀr det var nÄgra minuter
kvar sÄ laddade vi med, en till ÀndamÄlet inköpt, flaska Prosecco och tvÄ champagneglas
i plast letades fram. Nu skulle vi först skÀnka ett glas till Poseidon och
sedan skulle tillfÀllet vi passerade ekvatorn förevigas med en selfie. Sagt och
gjort. Havsguden blidkades med ett glas och vi skÄlade högtidligt och tog en
bild nÀr vi passerade den blÄ linjen. Skall vi inte se vÄr position? FrÄgade
jag. Behövs inte! Sa Christer sjÀlvsÀkert. Han hade stenkoll pÄ lÀget! Inte
förrÀn en lÄng stund senare insÄg han sitt misstag. Vi var fortfarande ca 80
distansminuter norr om ekvatorn (!?) och det dÀr blÄ strecket pÄ plottern var nÄgot
helt annat Àn en ekvatorlinje. Lite snopet konstaterade vi att det nÀstan var
ett dygn kvar tills vi kunde börja skriva ett S efter longitudmÀtningarna.
NÀsta morgon kunde vi se pÄ plottern hur vi sakta passerade 00-linjen men nu
var Proseccon slut och humöret ganska uselt pÄ oss bÄda sÄ det fick duga med en
skĂ€rmdump pĂ„ plottern för att föreviga hĂ€ndelsenâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">De sista sjömilen till huvudön
Santa Cruz hade vi bra vind men riskerade att komma fram i mörker sÄ vi fick
reva och segla riktigt sakta för att inte komma före morgonljuset visade sig đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Samma dag som vi ankrade vid Puerto
Ayora, Santa Cruz kom en delegation frÄn olika myndigheter tillsammans med vÄr
agent och kontrollerade bÄten in- och utvÀndigt sÄ att vi inte fÄtt med oss
nÄgot otillÄtet i djur- eller vÀxtvÀg + att de förhörde oss om avfallshantering
m m ombord. Vi fick godkÀnt pÄ alla punkter och fick vÄra turistvisum och vÀlkomnades
att vistas pÄ Galapagos naturreservat. Vi tog ner den gula Q-flaggan och
hissade Ecuadors och Galapagos gÀstflaggor pÄ Anastacia. Nu vÀntar en tid av
utforskade av öarna och privilegiet att fÄ gÄ i Darwins fotspÄr!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Royal tern and juvenile Blue-footed Boobies hitchhiking</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184855.jpg?1734887322?1734887322" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_184811.jpg?1734887322?1734887322" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>A loving husbandŽs contributions to a happy marriage</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241213_093234.jpg?1734887382?1734887382" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241216_142215.jpg?1734887382?1734887382" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Crossing the eequatorial line - or not?</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1980" data-original-height="2640" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241218_161000.jpg?1734887427?1734887427" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/ScreenShot002.png?1734887427" loading="lazy" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="480" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/ScreenShot002.png?1734887427 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/ScreenShot002.png?1734887427 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/ScreenShot002.png?1734887427 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/ScreenShot002.png?1734887427?1734887427" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>We made it!</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing to galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Sailing%20to%20galapagos/20241220_104915.jpg?1734887510?1734887510" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p>
</div>
Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/december-2024/from-panama-to-galapagos
/blog/december-2024/from-panama-to-galapagos
-
Crossing the Panama Canal
Malin
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the
requirements to be allowed to pass through the Panama Canal is that you must
have four linehandlers on board in addition to the captain. There is therefore
a WhatsApp group that mediates contact between captains who are looking for
linehandlers and sailors who will pass the canal themselves and want to gain
some experience before their own crossing. The only requirement apart from food
and accommodation during the canal passage is that you compensate their journey
back to the port they started from. Through that group and our sailing friends
Jodi and Magnus, we had three volunteers ready for Anastacia's crossing.
Unfortunately, our third volunteer got other, more urgent obligations to take care
off, in the days before departure. Via the WhatsApp group we quickly got a new
contact, Charles, who turned out to have the boat on the same dock as our
friends. We were lucky! Together with me (Malin) we were now full crew.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The day
before the canal crossing, we were able to collect long, sturdy lines and
fenders that we rented from our agent. Eight ball-fenders and four ropes barely
made it into our dinghy. Add to that a Malin sitting on top and it was a
miracle that the whole construction didn't fall over. Christer drove the dinghy
veery slowly back to Anastacia, without losing any of the precious cargo đ. The agent also informed us that we were
booked on a two-day canal crossing starting at 3pm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the boat
we prepared food in advance that would be enough for the two days for us and
the rest of the crew and took out water bottles that we had bought in advance.
Everything according to the careful instructions we received from the agent đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We lowered
the Bimini to give more room to handle the lock lines aft and covered the solar
panels with pads to protect them from the lines that the lock crew would throw
from the lock edge and that we are expected to catch. The next morning, we
called up the canal station (Cristobal Signal Station) who confirmed our
position and advised that our canal Advisor would show up at 17:30. We then
agreed with our linehandlers to pick them up a little later than planned. Once
we picked them up there was still a long wait and not until after 18:30 did a
pilot boat appear to drop off Advisor Carlos, on Anastacia. The delay was due
to another boat that was also due to lock at the same time as us waiting for a
crew. Unfortunately, it was now so late in the day that it had gotten dark so
we didn't see much of the surroundings or the canal. However, the locks were
beautifully lit. Carlos instructed Christer on how to navigate and told us that
we would be tied to the outer side with another sailboat in the middle and a powerboat
at the far end towards the canal wall. Once at the first lock, discussions
arose between the pilots on each boat as they did not all agree on the
formation. Carlos was right in the end though. We drove slowly towards the lock
and then the boats were lashed together. As Anastacia was towards the middle of
the lock, we never had to handle any lines from shore, but only had to keep up
with the other boats. The worst were for the powerboat that had the lock wall
on the starboard side and two sailboats on the port side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When you
lock up, you always let the smaller boats lie behind the larger ships in the
lock. On the way down, you do the opposite. In this way, the smaller boats are
not affected so much by the turbulence in the water that occurs when the ships
run their engines, combined with how the water rushes when it is let in and out
of the lock. Consequently, a large freighter lay first in the lock and after it
we lay in our "package" of boats. At the first lock, we also took the
opportunity to eat dinner that we had prepared before. All three locks up to
Lake GatĂșn ran without problems. On the boat, we in the crew kept an eye on the
lines towards the other boat and Christer drove. Carlos supervised it all and
gave directions. He was constantly in contact with the other pilots and via his
mobile phone he could follow how all the boats were positioned in the canal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once in
Lake GatĂșn we were soon able to lay by a giant mooring buoy and a pilot boat
appeared and took Carlos back to shore. The rest of us were really tired and
agreed to go to bed in order to get up at half past seven when the next Advisor
would appear at half past eight in the morning. When we, the next morning, had
just managed to prepare breakfast for the crew, the Advisor Hector suddenly
appeared, almost an hour early! Sitting in peace and eating your breakfast was
simply something to forget. Now, it was full speed again and the food had to be
consumed as best we could on the way... At this point several hours of driving
through the lake followed until we reached the last three locks that would carry
us down towards the Pacific ââside. This time with freighters behind us and in
the last two locks we lay with the powerboat between the two sailboats. Now we
finally got to try handling ropes against the lock wall. Canal workers threw
thin pilot lines with a monkey fist knot at the end which we would catch and
lash to the lines we had on the boat. However, once the pilot lines got going,
it turned out that we had been unnecessarily careful with covering our solar
panels. The staff threw them so far that they ended up on the boat next to us
and the crew there was quick to throw the lines back to us. Then the canal crew
pulled back the pilot line and secured the boat's line to the lock bollards. In
this way, we could manage the lines completely from the boat. We had our lines
against one lock wall and the other sailboat against the other wall. Now the powerboat
only had to maintain a steady course as the water poured into the lock. The sluicing
then ran completely undramatically and even now there was some waiting for all
the boats before each lock, so we took the opportunity to have lunch when there
was a break. After the last lock we concluded that these two days had been
warmer and sunnier than in a long time and that it would probably have been
better to have the Bimini up all the time. Now we were crazy hot, sunburned and
tired, but happy that everything went well even though a lot had not gone as we
had planned đ.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After the last lock, at Balboa
Harbor, we waved off all our guests and steered Anastacia towards the La
Playita marina on the Pacific side, grateful to have had such a capable and
pleasant crew with us. Jodi and Magnus wanted to join in order to gain some
experience before taking their boat through the canal themselves. Charles had
lined up as a linehandler before and already had some experience but thought it
was fun to be involved once more. He will also cross the canal himself with his
boat in a week or so. Many thanks to you! Many thanks also to our experienced Advisors
who were both calm, educational and took no risks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now we are
in the marina and will soon clear out of Panama. We need to arrange some
documents and certificates to then be able to set off on a week-long sailing
trip to the Galapagos. We have reactivated our satellite phone which will
update Anastacia's position on the front page of the blog every hour. The
family is notified and⊠Pacific Ocean, here we come! đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ett av kraven för att fÄ passera Panamakanalen Àr att man
mĂ„ste ha fyra âlinehandlersâ ombord förutom kaptenen. Det finns dĂ€rför en
WhatsApp-grupp som förmedlar kontakt mellan kaptener som söker linehandlers och
seglare som sjÀlva skall passera kanalen och vill fÄ lite erfarenhet innan den
egna överfarten. Enda kravet förutom mat och husrum under kanalpassagen Àr att
man ersÀtter deras resa tillbaka till den hamn man startade frÄn. Via den
gruppen och vÄra seglarvÀnner Jodi och Magnus hade vi tre volontÀrer redo för
Anastacias överfart. TyvÀrr fick vÄr tredje frivillige förhinder, dagarna innan
avfÀrd. Via WhatsApp-gruppen fick vi snabbt en ny kontakt, Charles, som visade
sig ha bÄten pÄ samma brygga som vÄra vÀnner. DÀr hade vi tur! Tillsammans med
mig (Malin) var vi nu fulltaliga.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dagen innan kanalöverfarten kunde vi hÀmta lÄnga, rejÀla
linor och fendrar som vi hyrt av vĂ„r agent. Ă
tta kulfendrar och fyra linor fick,
med nöd och nÀppe, plats i vÄr dinge. LÀgg dÀrtill en Malin sittandes uppepÄ sÄ
var det ett under att inte hela ekipaget vÀlte. Christer körde dingen vÀÀldigt
lĂ„ngsamt tillbaka till Anastacia, utan att tappa nĂ„got av den dyrbara lasten đ.
Av agenten fick vi ocksÄ besked om att vi var bokade pÄ en tvÄdagars kanalöverfart
med start kl 15. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PÄ bÄten lagade vi mat i förvÀg som skulle rÀcka för de tvÄ
dagarna för oss och övrig besÀttning och tog fram vattenflaskor som vi köpt i
förvĂ€g. Allt enligt de noggranna instruktioner vi fĂ„tt av agenten đ
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi monterade ner biminin för att ge mer plats att kunna
hantera slusslinorna i aktern och tÀckte solpanelerna med dynor för att skydda
dem för de linor som slusspersonalen kastar frÄn slusskanten och som vi
förvÀntas fÄnga upp. Morgonen dÀrpÄ ropade vi upp kanalstationen (Cristobal
Signal Station) som bekrÀftade vÄr position och meddelade att vÄr
kanalrÄdgivare/lots skulle dyka upp vid 17:30. Vi kom dÄ överens med vÄra linehandlers
att hÀmta upp dem lite senare Àn planerat. NÀr vi vÀl hÀmtat dem följde ÀndÄ en
lÄng vÀntan och inte förrÀn efter 18:30 dök en lotsbÄt upp som slÀppte av kanalrÄdgivaren/lotsen
Carlos, pÄ Anastacia. Förseningen berodde pÄ att en annan bÄt som ocksÄ skulle
slussa samtidigt med oss vÀntade pÄ besÀttning. TyvÀrr var det nu sÄ sent pÄ
dagen att det hunnit mörkna sÄ vi sÄg inte sÄ mycket av omgivningarna eller
kanalen. Slussarna var dock vackert upplysta. Carlos instruerade Christer om
hur han skulle köra och berÀttade att vi skulle ligga ytterst i bredd med en
annan segelbÄt i mitten och en motorbÄt lÀngst mot kanalvÀggen. VÀl framme vd
första slussen uppstod diskussioner mellan lotsarna pÄ respektive bÄt dÄ alla
inte var överens om formationen. Carlos fick dock rÀtt till slut. Vi körde
sakta mot slussen och sedan surrades bÄtarna intill varandra. Eftersom
Anastacia lÄg mot slussens mitt behövde vi aldrig hantera nÄgra linor frÄn land
utan behövde bara hÀnga med de andra bÄtarna. VÀrst var de för motorbÄten som
hade slussvÀggen pÄ styrbord sida och tvÄ segelbÄtar om babord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NÀr man slussar uppÄt sÄ lÄter man alltid de mindre bÄtarna ligga
efter de större fartygen i slussen, PÄ vÀgen ner gör man tvÀrtom. PÄ sÄ sÀtt
pÄverkas inte de mindre bÄtarna sÄ mycket av den turbulens i vattnet som uppstÄr
nÀr fartygen kör sina motorer, i kombination med hur vattnet forsar nÀr det
slÀpps in respektive ut, ur slussen. Ett stort fraktfartyg lade sig
följaktligen frĂ€mst i slussen och efter den lĂ„g vi i vĂ„rt âpaketâ av bĂ„tar. Vid
första slussen passade vi ocksÄ pÄ att Àta kvÀllsmat som vi förberett innan. Alla
tre slussningarna upp till GatĂșnsjön löpte utan problem. PĂ„ bĂ„ten höll vi i
besÀttningen koll pÄ linorna mot den andra bÄten och Christer körde. Carlos
övervakade det hela och gav anvisningar. Han höll hela tiden kontakt med de
andra lotsarna och via mobilen kunde han följa hur alla bÄtar lÄg till i
kanalen. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">VĂ€l i GatĂșnsjön kunde vi snart lĂ€gga oss vid en gigantisk
förtöjningsboj och en lotsbÄt dök upp och tog med sig Carlos tillbaka till
land. Vi övriga var rejÀl trötta och kom överens om att lÀgga oss för att stÄ
upp vid halv sjutiden dÄ nÀsta lots skulle dyka upp vid halv Ätta pÄ morgonen.
NÀr vi, nÀsta morgon precis hunnit stÀlla fram frukosten för besÀttningen sÄ
dyker plötsligt lotsen Hector upp, nÀstan en timme för tidigt! Att sitta i lugn
och ro och Àta sin frukost var bara att glömma, Nu var det full fart igen och
maten fick intas efter bÀsta förmÄga under fÀrd⊠Nu följde flera timmars
körande genom sjön till de sista tre slussarna som skulle slussa oss nerÄt mot
Stilla havssidan. Den hÀr gÄngen med fraktfartyg bakom oss och i de sista tvÄ
slussarna lÄg vi med motorbÄten mellan de tvÄ segelbÄtarna. Nu fick vi Àntligen
prova pÄ att hantera linor mot slussvÀggen. KanalanstÀllda kastade tunna pilotlinor
med en s k apnÀve (knop) i Ànden som vi skulle fÄnga upp och surra fast i
linorna vi hade pÄ bÄten. NÀr vÀl pilotlinorna kom farande visade det sig dock
att vi varit onödigt försiktiga med att tÀcka vÄra solpaneler. Personalen
kastade dem sÄ lÄngt att de hamnade pÄ bÄten intill och det blev fart pÄ
besÀttningen dÀr att kasta tillbaks linorna till oss. Sedan drog
kanalpersonalen tillbaka pilotlinan och gjorde fast bÄtens lina vid slussens
pÄllare. PÄ sÄ sÀtt kunde vi sköta linorna helt frÄn bÄten. Vi hade vÄra linor
mot ena slussvÀggen och den andra segelbÄten mot den andra vÀggen. Nu behövde
motorbÄten bara hÄlla en stadig kurs nÀr vattnet strömmade in i slussen. Slussningarna
löpte sedan helt odramatiskt och Àven nu blev det en del vÀntande pÄ att alla
bÄtar skulle ligga rÀtt inför varje slussning, sÄ vi passade pÄ att Àta lunch
nÀr det blev en paus. Efter sista slussen konstaterade vi att dessa tvÄ dagar
varit varmare Àn pÄ lÀnge och att det nog hade varit bÀttre att ha biminin uppe
hela tiden. Nu var vi tokvarma, solbrÀnda och trötta men glada att allt gÄtt
bra trots att mycket inte hade gĂ„tt som vi hade tĂ€nkt đ.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Efter sista slussen, vid Balboa hamn, vinkade vi av alla vĂ„ra gĂ€ster och styrde
Anastacia mot marinan La Playita pÄ Stilla havssidan, tacksamma över att ha
haft sÄ duktig och trevlig besÀttning med oss. Jodi och Magnus ville vara med
för att fÄ lite erfarenhet innan de sjÀlva skall ta sin bÄt genom kanalen.
Charles hade stÀllt upp som linehandler förut och hade redan en del erfarenhet
men tyckte att det var kul att fÄ vara med en gÄng till. Han skall ocksÄ sjÀlv
ta sig över kanalen med sin bÄt om nÄgon vecka. Tusen tack till er! Stort tack
ocksÄ till vÄra erfarna lotsar som bÄda var lugna, pedagogiska och inte tog
nÄgra risker.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nu ligger vi i hamn och skall strax klarera ut frÄn Panama.
Vi behöver ordna med nÄgra dokument och intyg för att sedan kunna ge oss av pÄ
en dryg veckas segling till Galapagos. Vi har aktiverat vÄr satellittelefon
igen som kommer att uppdatera Anastacias position pÄ bloggens förstasida varje
timme. Familjen Ă€r underrĂ€ttad och⊠Stilla havet, hĂ€r kommer vi! đ</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2048" data-original-height="1536" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/IMG-20241210-WA0008.jpg?1733858863?1733858863" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <br><em>Photo credit to Magnus Andersson</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><br></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241207_211918.jpg?1733859598?1733859598" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img 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480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084706.jpg?1733859598 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084706.jpg?1733859598?1733859598" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_084750.jpg?1733859598?1733859598" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_093707.jpg?1733859598?1733859598" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama Canal/20241208_133807.jpg?1733859598" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panama%20Canal/20241208_133807.jpg?1733859598 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Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/december-2024/crossing-the-panama-canal
/blog/december-2024/crossing-the-panama-canal
-
Panamarina and Panama City
Malin
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Panamarina is a really nice marina run by a
French couple. There are good opportunities here to fix your boat on land with
do-it-yourself workshops and tools for hire. If you want help, there are
several craftsmen you can hire. However, our budget did not allow for anything
other than doing the work ourselves. The marina also has a small but
well-stocked ships chandlery with reasonable prices where you can write down
what you take and pay at the end of your stay. Very smart by the owners and
handy for us sailors who don't plan everything from the start but suddenly
realize that a brush, scraper or epoxy may be needed. The restaurant serves
good food and drinks at reasonable sailorâs prices. The marina is located by a
mangrove swamp and well protected from the wind, so all boat owners are
tyrannized by the colossal number of gnats that run rampant there! We had our
fair share, even inside the boat as they managed to get through our mosquito
nets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you want to get to the nearest town, Linton,
you just have to take the dinghy through the so-called tunnel of love, a small
shortcut through the mangrove swamp. Then you have to zig-zag your way through
the underwater reef to the village. In Linton there is another marina and many
boats moored outside. Unfortunately, there are also an unusually large number
of sailboat wrecks that have been lying here for various reasons. The
authorities have difficulty regulating the dumping and scrapping of boats and
the wrecks are now there in the bay, for various reasons. Some owners have
died, others have been shipwrecked and complications with the insurance mean
that the boats cannot be moved. A few more are dumped as the owners do not want
to pay for salvage and scrapping. Sad to see but unfortunately not unusual âč A little further out in the bay are also some
strange creations. They are floating, ultra-modern houses, so-called Seapods
with all possible smart technology and use of the "internet of
things", almost self-sufficient in electricity and water and... immensely expensive.
Cool to look at though đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After two days and a cheerful Halloween
celebration in Panamarina with decorations, costumes and not least live music
with a drum-playing owner, we set off to the modern capital of Panama City for
a short tour and a visit to the Miraflores Visitor's Center. Miraflores is
located right at the canal locks to the Pacific Ocean. Here we learned more
about the canal, which already in the 16th century germinated as an idea with
the Spaniards who wanted to be able to easily get to the western part of South
America. Only at the end of the 19th century did the French make a first, less
successful attempt to build the canal. They had intended to dig the canal by an
existing river but the project had to be abandoned as it proved too difficult
to carry out. Slaves had been used for the construction and thousands succumbed
to mosquito-borne diseases and large landslides. The United States later
offered Panama independence from Colombia in exchange for canal rights in the
country. They managed to overcome the diseases that ravaged the canal could be
completed in 1914. Instead of just digging through the canal stretch, they had
chosen to also dam high-lying areas and create artificial lakes and thus be
able to complete the water passage more easily. Despite this, even then, many
people died due to accidents and in total it is estimated that 27,500 workers
succumbed, during the long period when the canal was being built. On December
31, 1999, the United States handed the canal over to Panama.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The highest point of the canal is 26 m above
sea level and there are a total of 6 locks to pass through on the 77 km long
stretch. As a curiosity, it can be mentioned that the locks were built with 8 m
long and 910 kg heavy screws that were manufactured in TrollhÀttan in Sweden by
TrollhÀttan's Mekaniska Verkstad (later NOHAB). The large lathe machine that was used
to manufacture the screws is said to have been called the "Panamas lathe " and was located in building No. 60 in the Nohab area. During our
visit to the Miraflores Locks, we got to see a large catamaran pass through the
locks followed by a giant freighter that made the 60-foot catamaran look like a
dinghy in comparison.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a two-week stay in Sweden, we were able
to continue our work with scraping, washing and hull-painting Anastacia in the
boatyard at the marina. With the help of the crew of our boat neighbor, we
installed the wind rudder and have sealed all the small damages the boat
received during the storm in Colombia. Anchor box, anchor and chain got a
"makeover" and since the spray markings we made on the chain every 10
meters were completely worn away, we now try instead to mark the lengths with
pieces of red cotton tape (to avoid plastic). It will be interesting to see how
long it lasts. We will get a little Christmas feeling as a bonus, every time we
anchor đ. Bimini, sprayhood and lazybag (bag
for the mainsail) are cleaned and fixed but the fabric is starting to become
brittle from all the sunlight. Where zippers have come loose, we have sewn on
reinforcements and we hope that it will last until Polynesia or hopefully even
longer... Speaking of sunlight, we also noticed that it, in combination with
the heat, it causes plastic to shrink. My (Malin's) newly purchased black
flip-flops had shrunk at least two sizes (!) during the time they were lying on
deck in the sunlight, when we were away from the boat. New ones had to be
bought in. The old ones will hopefully suit some younger kid... Digital as well
as physical charts for the Pacific and Indian Oceans have been acquired.
Christer also mounted an extra GPS antenna which he plugged in to our plotter to get better signal with
more satellites and thus better positioning precision.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During our time working on the boat, we made
many friends at the marina and would often meet in the restaurant for a beer or
two and discuss the various boat projects going on. French, Spanish and English
was heard everywhere! Among other things, a complete renovation of a
German-built catamaran is underway with a group of enthusiastic young people
from different countries who work with the boat in various ways and realize
the dream of being able to go out to sea one day. The renovation has been going
on for a year and they are (only) halfway there but there is nothing wrong with
their enthusiasm and the young captain aka the owner, is constantly chasing new
money to be able to keep the project alive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On November 29th we were able to launch
Anastacia and after refueling in Linton we motored to the mouth of the Panama
Canal outside Shelter Bay where we are now at anchor. We had an extra pleasant
first Advent (pre-Christmas period) surprise when we opened the secret gift we
had received from Christer's brother Lennart, and his wife Tinne. Many thanks!
đ We celebrated with some Advent
coffee in the evening together with our friends Jodi and Magnus from sailboat Lulu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are booked for canal-transfer on Saturday
7th December and are doing our best to prepare ourselves for the crossing.
Lulu's crew will be linehandlers on Anastacia together with me and another sailor
who also volunteered. We have received information about when and where ropes
and fenders are to be picked up, as well as how the procedure is done with the Advisor
from the canal authority who will accompany us and pilot Christer, the Captain, through
the canal transit. Either we will get to go through the entire canal in one
day, which means starting at four in the morning and ending late that evening
or, we will get an afternoon time with two half-day passages with an overnight
stay in the artificial GatĂșn lake. We are now preparing the boat for overnight
guests and try to figure out what meals we will serve our guests and crew. But,
more about the Canal in the next blog post!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Panamarina Àr en riktigt trevlig
marina som drivs av ett franskt par. HÀr finns bra möjligheter för att fixa med
sin bÄt pÄ land med gör-det-sjÀlv-verkstÀder och verktyg att hyra. Vill man ha
hjÀlp finns flera hantverkare man kan anlita. VÄr budget tillÀt dock inte nÄgot
annat Àn att göra jobbet sjÀlva. Marinan har ocksÄ en liten men vÀlsorterad
bÄttillbehörsbutik med rimliga priser dÀr man kan skriva upp det man hÀmtar och
betala i slutet av vistelsen. VÀldigt smart av Àgarna och behÀndigt för oss seglare
som inte planerar allt frÄn början utan plötsligt kommer pÄ att en pensel, skrapa
eller epoxy kan behövas. Restaurangen serverar god mat och dryck till rimliga
seglarpriser. Marinan ligger vid ett mangrovetrÀsk och vÀl skyddat för vinden
sÄ alla bÄtÀgare tyranniseras av den kolossala mÀngd knott som hÀrjar dÀr! Vi
fick vÄr beskÀrda del, Àven inne i bÄten dÄ de lyckades ta sig igenom vÄra
myggnÀt. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vill man ta sig till nÀrmaste
ort, Linton, Àr det bara att ta dingen genom kÀrlekstunneln, en liten genvÀg
genom mangrovetrÀsket. Sedan fÄr man sick-sacka sig genom undervattensreven fram
till byn. I Linton finns ytterligare en marina och mÄnga bÄtar som ligger för
ankar utanför. TyvÀrr Àven ovanligt mÄnga segelbÄtsvrak som av olika
anledningar blivit liggande hÀr. Myndigheterna har svÄrt att reglera dumpningen
och skrotningen av bÄtar och vraken ligger nu dÀr i viken, av olika
anledningar. Vissa Àgare har dött, andra har förlist och krÄngel med
försÀkringen gör att bÄtarna inte kan hÀmtas. Ytterligare nÄgra ligger dumpade för
att Àgarna inte lÀngre vill kÀnnas vid dem dÄ de inte vill betala för bÀrgning
och skrotning. TrĂ„kigt att se men tyvĂ€rr inte ovanligt âč. Lite
lÀngre ut i viken ligger ocksÄ nÄgra mÀrkliga skapelser. Det Àr flytande,
supermoderna hus, s.k. Seapods med all tÀnkbar smart teknik och nyttjande av
âsakernas internetâ, nĂ€stintill sjĂ€lvförsörjande pĂ„ el och vatten ochâŠ
snordyra. Dock coola att titta pĂ„ đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efter tvÄ dagar och ett glatt
halloweenfirande i Panamarina med pynt, utklÀdnader och inte minst livemusik
med trumspelande Àgare, gav vi oss ivÀg till den moderna huvudstaden Panama
City för en kort rundtur samt besök pÄ Miraflores Visitor's Center. Miraflores
ligger precis vid kanalslussarna mot Stilla havet. HÀr fick vi lÀra oss mer om kanalen
som redan pÄ 1500-talet grodde som en idé hos spanjorerna som ville kunna ta
sig till vÀstra delen av Sydamerika pÄ ett enkelt sÀtt. Först i slutet av
1800-talet gjorde fransmÀnnen ett första, mindre lyckat försök att bygga
kanalen. De hade föresatt sig att grÀva kanalen vid en befintlig flod men
projektet fick överges dÄ det visade sig för svÄrt att genomföra. Slavar hade
anvÀnts för bygget och tusentals dukade under av myggburna sjukdomar och stora
jordskred. USA erbjöd senare Panama sjÀlvstÀndighet frÄn Colombia i utbyte mot
att fÄ kanalrÀttigheterna i landet. Sjukdomarna som hÀrjat lyckades man fÄ bukt
med och kanalen kunde fÀrdigstÀllas 1914. IstÀllet för att bara grÀva sig
igenom kanalstrÀckan hade man valt att ocksÄ dÀmma upp höglÀnta omrÄden och
skapa konstgjorda sjöar och pÄ sÄ sÀtt enklare kunna fÀrdigstÀlla vattenpassagen.
Trots detta dog Àven dÄ mÄnga mÀnniskor pÄ grund av olyckor och totalt rÀknar
man med att 27 500 arbetare dukade under, under den lÄnga period
kanalbyggandet pÄgick. Den 31 december 1999 överlÀmnade USA kanalen till
Panama.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kanalens högsta punkt ligger 26
m över havsnivÄn och det Àr totalt 6 slussar att passera pÄ den 77 km lÄnga
strÀckan. Som kuriosa kan nÀmnas att slussarna bl a byggdes med 8 m lÄnga och
910 kg tunga skruvar som tillverkades i TrollhÀttan av TrollhÀttans Mekaniska
Verkstad (senare NOHAB). Den stora svarven som anvÀndes för att tillverka
skruvarna lĂ€r ha kallats âPanamasvarvenâ och fanns i byggnad 60 pĂ„
NohabomrÄdet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under vÄrt besök vid
Mirafloresslusarna fick vi se en stor katamaran passera i slussarna följd av
ett gigantiskt fraktfartyg som fick den 60 fot lÄnga katamaranen att se ut som
en jolle i jÀmförelse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efter tvÄ veckors vistelse i
Sverige kunde vi fortsÀtta vÄrt arbete med att skrapa, tvÀtta och bottenmÄla
Anastacia pÄ bÄtgÄrden i marinan. Vi fick med bÄtgrannens hjÀlp monterat
vindrodret och har tÀtat alla smÄ skador som bÄten fick under stormen i
Colombia. Ankarbox, ankare och kĂ€tting fick sig en âmakeoverâ och eftersom de
spraymarkeringar vi gjort pÄ kÀttingen var 10:e meter nötts bort helt, provar
vi nu istÀllet att markera lÀngderna med bitar av röda bomullsband (för att
undvika plast). Det blir spÀnnande att se hur lÀnge det hÄller. Lite julkÀnsla
kommer vi att fĂ„ pĂ„ köpet, varje gĂ„ng vi ankrar đ. Bimini, sparayhood och lazybag (sĂ€ck till
storseglet) Àr rengjorda och fixade men tyget börjar bli skört av allt solljus.
DÀr dragkedjor lossnat har vi sytt pÄ förstÀrkningar och vi hoppas att det
skall hÄlla fram till Polynesien eller förhoppningsvis Ànnu lÀngre⊠ApropÄ
solljus sÄ mÀrkte vi ocksÄ att den, i kombination med vÀrmen, fÄr plast att
krympa. Mina (Malins) nyinköpta svarta Flip-flops hade blivit minst tvÄ
storlekar mindre (!) under tiden de legat pÄ dÀck i solljuset, nÀr vi varit
borta frÄn bÄten. Nya fick köpas in. De gamla passar förhoppningsvis nÄgon
yngre förmÄga⊠Sjökort för Stilla havet och Indiska oceanen har införskaffats i
digital och fysisk form. Christer monterade en extra GPS-antenn som han
kopplade in för att fÄ bÀttre mottagning med fler satelliter och dÀrmed bÀttre
precision för positioneringen för vÄr plotter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under tiden vi arbetade med
bÄten fick vi mÄnga vÀnner pÄ marinan och trÀffades ofta i restaurangen för en
öl eller tvÄ och diskuterade de olika bÄtprojekten som pÄgick. Franskan, spanskan
och engelskan flödade! Bl a pÄgÄr en helrenovering av en tyskbyggd katamaran
med ett gÀng entusiastiska ungdomar frÄn olika lÀnder som pÄ olika sÀtt arbetar
med bÄten och nÀr drömmen att en vacker dag kunna ge sig ut pÄ havet.
Renoveringen har pÄgÄtt i ett Är och de har (bara) kommit halvvÀgs men
entusiasmen Àr det inget fel pÄ och den unge kaptenen tillika Àgaren jagar hela
tiden nya pengar för att kunna hÄlla projektet vid liv.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Den 29:e november kunde vi
sjösÀtta Anastacia och efter tankning i Linton körde vi henne till
Panamakanalens mynning utanför Shelter Bay dÀr vi nu ligger för ankar. Extra trevlig
första adventsöverraskning fick vi, nÀr vi öppnade den hemliga present vi fÄtt
med oss frĂ„n Christers bror, Lennart med fru Tinne. Tusen tack! đVi
firade med lite adventsfika pÄ kvÀllen tillsammans vÄra bÄtvÀnner Jodi och
Magnus frÄn bÄten Lulu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi Àr bokade för kanalöverfart
lördagen den 7:e december och hÄller som bÀst pÄ att förbereda oss inför
överfarten. Luluâs besĂ€ttning stĂ€ller upp som âlinehandlersâ pĂ„ Anastacia
tillsammans med mig och en annan seglare som ocksÄ stÀller upp. Vi har fÄtt
besked om nÀr och var linor och fendrar skall hÀmtas upp liksom hur
kanalmyndigheten gör med den kanalanstÀllde rÄdgivare (Advisor) som skall följa
med oss och lotsa kapen Christer genom kanalfÀrden. Antingen kommer vi att fÄ
gÄ igenom hela kanalen pÄ en dag, vilket innebÀr start vid fyratiden pÄ
morgonen och slut sent samma kvÀll eller, sÄ fÄr vi en eftermiddagstid med tvÄ
halvdagars passage med övernattning i den konstgjorda GatĂșnsjön. Vi förbereder
bÄten för övernattande gÀster och besÀttning och funderar som bÀst pÄ vilken
mat som vi skall servera. Men, mer om kanalen i nÀsta blogginlÀgg!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Panamarina, Halloween and boatwork</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_200956.jpg?1733251341?1733251341" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_212735.jpg?1733251341?1733251341" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213550.jpg?1733251341?1733251341" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241031_213904.jpg?1733251341?1733251341" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241117_090402.jpg?1733253854?1733253854" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101300.jpg?1733253854?1733253854" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241121_101342.jpg?1733253854?1733253854" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_101712.jpg?1733253854?1733253854" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_112858.jpg?1733253854" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_112858.jpg?1733253854 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_112858.jpg?1733253854 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_112858.jpg?1733253854 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241123_112858.jpg?1733253854?1733253854" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4S1vJ-O8Vpg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><br></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Linton bay</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241125_132524.jpg?1733254925?1733254925" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094333.jpg?1733254925?1733254925" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094349.jpg?1733254925?1733254925" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241130_094355.jpg?1733254925?1733254925" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Panama City and Miraflores locks</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_095736.jpg?1733255149?1733255149" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_100527.jpg?1733255149" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_100527.jpg?1733255149 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_100527.jpg?1733255149 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_100527.jpg?1733255149 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_100527.jpg?1733255149?1733255149" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_111534.jpg?1733260953?1733260953" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_135054.jpg?1733261002?1733261002" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_141200.jpg?1733261033" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_141200.jpg?1733261033 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_141200.jpg?1733261033 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_141200.jpg?1733261033 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_141200.jpg?1733261033?1733261033" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_142042.jpg?1733261128?1733261128" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/20241102_152320.jpg?1733261129?1733261129" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Screws for the Panama Canal locks at NOHAB in 1912. 8m long and 910kg each, photo from Innovatum's image archive.</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar Innovatums bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2048" data-original-height="1661" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar%20Innovatums%20bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar%20Innovatums%20bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar%20Innovatums%20bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar%20Innovatums%20bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Panamarina/Panamaskruvar%20Innovatums%20bildarkiv.jpg?1733242531?1733242531" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
</div>
Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/december-2024/panamarina-and-panama-city
/blog/december-2024/panamarina-and-panama-city
-
Marina Turtle Cay, Panama
Malin
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sailing to Panama was probably the most
uneventful sailing we have had in a long time. The wind was so weak that we
only made 3 knots. So that it wouldn't take too long, we had to motorsail the
two days it took to get to the San Blas or Guna Yala archipelago, as the
archipelago is now called. Not even a thunderstorm came our way, despite the
area being known for its storms at this time of year. With such a calm and
uneventful sailing, it was all the more fun that we had a fantastically clear
sky. One morning, in the east just before sunrise, we caught sight of what we
first thought was an airplane with a trail of icy smoke. Then we realized it
was a comet as it wasn't moving forward. We had no idea that there would be any
comet visible this fall, but once we consulted the eminent mobile app Star Walk
2, it turned out that it was probably the comet with the exciting name C/2023
A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) that we had seen. Cool, we thought, and felt very
unique. Now, in retrospect, we understand that half the world probably also saw
the comet and quite a few in Scandinavia also had an incredibly beautiful
autumn with lots of northern lights, so we were definitely not particularly
unique in terms of celestial phenomena, but the feeling was in any case genuine
in the moment đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In San Blas the plan was to just get our
passports stamped by the migration authority at the tiny airport in Porvenir
(today Gaigirgordub). The population on the islands almost all belong to the
indigenous Guna people and it is their name on the islands that is now the
official one. In the sailing community, however, the old names live on. The
islands turned out to be pure paradise. A mistake of ours not to give these
islands more time! Now we had a berth booked in Turtle Cay on the mainland and
it was too late to change plans. On the way to Porvenir we passed several large
reefs. Later we learned that these reefs until just a few years ago were
islands. The warmer climate with melting ice makes the sea level rise so much
that the islands are slowly washed away, one by oneâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we arrived at Porvenir we were immediately
greeted by two canoes full of women in colorful clothes. They belonged to the
Guna people and wanted to sell some tourist-friendly handicrafts. After a lot
of nagging, we finally bought a colorful bracelet. We would have preferred to
buy their beautiful fabrics but that was not the kind of craft they sold.
However, they wanted us to also buy one of their two flags that we could have
had as a courtesy flag on the boat. Now, we were only going to stay one night
so there was no flag purchased, but we were surprised that one flag had an
inverted swastika as a symbol. That flag had been created in 1925 as a symbol
of the indigenous people's revolution against Spanish rule. The swastika is an
ancient symbol for both the Guna people and many other cultures and there are
many different interpretations of what it represents depending on the culture
and the direction of the four arms (clockwise or counterclockwise). We have
read that it symbolizes everything from the sun and the winds, to representing
the octopus that created the earth and all living things, according to a
legend... In the case of the Guna people, it symbolizes a medicinal plant which
is said to give increased knowledge and which seems to grow towards the four
cardinal points. Unfortunately, the revolutionary flag soon became associated
with the Nazi symbol and attempts were therefore made to modify it. Another new
flag was produced in 2010 with 8 stars and two arms holding a bow and arrow.
The newer flag is used in official contexts and is hoisted together with the
Panamanian flag. Both flags are used and we saw both flags flying on the
flagpoles at the airport where we were to check in. If you are interested, we
can recommend a good page in Spanish (Google translate works well đ) about the Guna people, the San Blas
Archipelago and the history of the flags at: <a href="https://www.gunayala.org.pa/">https://www.gunayala.org.pa/</a> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a night at anchor outside Porvenir, we
steered the boat towards Turtle Cay marina where we had booked a berth.
Although Turtle Cay is quite isolated, far from any citiy, the marina is
basically full of boats. Most boats do not have residents on board as many take
the opportunity to leave the boat here during the rainy and thunder season. The
marina is well protected, but we see the nocturnal thunderstorms passing by here
and there. Now we have been here for two weeks and got to know other sailors
who also have their boats here. We try to meet once a week and have dinner at
the restaurant close to the marina. Thereâs always lots of boat-fix talk and
you can ask and give each other advice about everything possible. Just like in
most places we sailed to, there is also an online group here, which you can
participate in via WhatsApp, where you give each other advice and help. There can
be posted questions such as; In which part of the bay is it safest to anchor?
Where can you buy fruit and vegetables? Does anyone have a type X tool I can
borrow? Does anyone want to take over my old dinghy? Whose are these socks I
found left behind in the marina laundry room today? Etc. đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turtle Cay is located by a nature reserve and
apart from sea turtles that sometimes visit the beaches here, there is a very
varied nature with lots of different animals and plants right next to the
marina. We hear the howler monkeys calling daily and, with the help of Shawn on
the boat Miet who has been here a long time and knows the area, we were finally
able to see two tamarin monkeys jumping between the trees close to the marina.
We have started walking longer tours on the trails in the area and hope to
catch a glimpse of more animals. Here, for example, there will be sloths and
anteaters, and we have already seen lots of different butterflies and birds,
many of which we recognize from Colombia. On the boat we are sometimes visited
by small gecko lizards and between the boats at night we can sometimes see the
fish-catching bats that we recognize from the Caribbean islands. The restaurant
owner here had to take care of a little sloth who lost his mother. A very cute toddler
that she raises and that we got to take pictures of. Otherwise, it has been
difficult to take pictures of the animals. They move way too fast. Much easier
with the plants đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the boats at our dock unfortunately had
an accident last week that could have ended very badly. The couple living on
the boat wanted to charge the lithium battery for their AC they have in the
boat. They had put the battery on charge overnight and at 11 o'clock in the
evening they woke up to a bang. The battery had exploded and caught fire. The
whole boat quickly filled with smoke but they managed to get out. Together with
the closest boat neighbors, they were finally able to put out the fire with the
help of several fire extinguishers, but only after the battery burned out.
Luckily, there was no wind so the flames that shot up from the boat never moved
towards the neighboring boats but the devastation in the sailboat was very
great even though the hull is still intact and the engine seems to be working.
It is still unclear whether the boat can be saved or whether it must be
scrapped. The couple managed with minor burns and some lung problems, which
are, however, temporary. We were all horrified by the incident and have tried
to help them in various ways as most of their possessions have burned up or
been smoke damaged. They have also shared their experiences regarding the fire
itself and what you can think about if the accident were to happen. Luckily the
fire didn't spread to the gas cylinders or fuel tanks! What we, for our part,
were concerned about was that we never woke up from the tumult that arose on
the dock. One conclusion that was drawn was that it is important to make sure
that everyone on the dock is alerted if something like this were to happen.
Anastacia is two boats away from the stricken sailboat and normally we should
have heard something. We (especially Christer) usually wake up at the slightest
deviation from "normal" sounds, but no! We had had two fans humming
in the cabinet where we sleep which probably drowned out all other noise that
night. Now we have arranged the fans a little differently so that we wake up
more easily if something unusual happens. We have now also looked over the fire
extinguishers in the boat and a few other things we got tips about that might
be good to have documented vis-a-visthe insurance company should the accident
occur. We've stopped charging our phones and other gadgets overnight and
disconnect the shore power when we don't need it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We will remain here in Turtle Cay until the end
of October, then unfortunately we will have to change harbor to get the boat
ashore as the marina here does not have a working lift and it does not look
like it will be repaired in time - despite we had booked it long time ago. We
have been tipped off by some boating neighbors about a small boat yard further
west, closer to the canal, called Panamarina. There they have confirmed that
they can haul the boat up so we can scrape and paint the hull. There we will
also be able to repair the scratches and small holes in the stern that arose at
the marina in Colombia after the storm there. The wind rudder will be
reassembled with the new parts that we received + other maintenance that can
only be done when the boat is on âthe hardâ. Between the 4th and the 15th of
November, we will visit the family in Sweden and greet as many friends as we
can. We look forward to that! Who knows. If it's a nice evening, maybe we'll
also see some northern lights! đ Until we leave Turtle Cay, we
dedicate ourselves to renewing our food supplies and cleaning inside Anastacia so
she will be sparkling clean and beautiful, ready to face the Galapagos in
December!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seglingen till Panama var
troligen den mest hÀndelselösa seglingen vi haft pÄ lÀnge. Vinden var sÄ svag
att vi bara gjorde 3 knops fart. För att det inte skulle ta alldeles för lÄng
tid fick vi motorsegla de tvÄ dygn det tog att ta sig till ögruppen San Blas
eller Guna Yala som arkipelagen numera heter. Inte ens ÄskvÀder kom i vÄr vÀg,
trots att omrÄdet Àr kÀnt för sina ovÀder den hÀr tiden pÄ Äret. Med en sÄ lugn
och hÀndelsefattig seglats var det desto roligare att v fick en fantastiskt
klar himmel. En morgon, i öster precis innan soluppgÄngen, fick vi syn pÄ vad
vi först trodde var ett flygplan med en isröksvans efter sig. Sedan insÄg vi
att det rörde sig om en komet eftersom det inte rörde sig framÄt. Vi hade ingen
aning om att det skulle finnas nÄgon komet synlig i höst men nÀr vi vÀl fick
konsulterat den eminenta mobilappen Star Walk 2 visade det sig att det troligen
var kometen med det upphetsande namnet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) som vi
sett. HÀftigt, tyckte vi, och kÀnde oss malligt unika. Nu, i efterhand förstÄr
vi att halva vÀrlden sÀkert ocksÄ sett kometen och rÀtt mÄnga i Skandinavien
dessutom har haft en otroligt vacker höst med massor av norrsken sÄ sÀrskilt
unika vad gÀller himlafenomen var vi definitivt inte, men kÀnslan var i alla
fall Ă€kta i stunden đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I San Blas var planen att bara
fÄ vÄra pass stÀmplade av migrationsmyndigheten pÄ den pyttelilla flygplatsen i
Porvenir (idag Gaigirgordub). Befolkningen pÄ öarna tillhör nÀstan alla
ursprungsfolket Guna och det Àr deras benÀmning pÄ öarna som nu Àr de
officiella. I seglarkretsar lever dock de gamla namnen kvar. Ăarna visade sig
vara ett rent paradis. Ett misstag av oss att inte ge dessa öar mer tid! Nu
hade vi en hamnplats bokad i Turtle Cay pÄ fastlandet och det var för sent att
Àndra planerna. PÄ vÀgen till Porvenir passerade vi flera stora rev. Senare
fick vi veta att dessa rev till bara för nÄgra Är sedan var öar. Det varmare
klimatet med smÀltande isar gör att havsnivÄn höjer sig sÄ pass mycket sÄ att
öarna sakta sköljs bort, en efter enâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NĂ€r vi kom fram till Porvenir blev
vi genast hÀlsade av tvÄ kanoter fulla med kvinnor i fÀrgglada klÀder. De
tillhörde Gunafolket och ville sÀlja lite turistanpassat hantverk. Efter mycket
tjat köpte vi till slut ett fÀrggrant armband. Vi hade gÀrna hellre köpt deras vackra
tyger men det var inte den sortens hantverk de sÄlde. DÀremot ville de att vi ocksÄ
skulle köpa nÄgon av deras tvÄ flaggor som vi hade kunnat ha som gÀstflagga pÄ
bÄten. Nu skulle vi ju bara stanna en natt sÄ det blev inget flaggköp men vi
var förvÄnade över att den ena flaggan hade en omvÀnd svastika som symbol. Den
flaggan hade tagits fram 1925 som en symbol för ursprungsbefolkningens
revolution mot den spanska överhögheten. Svastikan Àr en urgammal symbol för bÄde
Gunafolket och mÄnga andra kulturer och det finns mÄnga olika tolkningar kring
vad den förestÀller beroende pÄ kultur och riktning pÄ de fyra armarna (medsols
eller motsols). Vi har lÀst att den symboliserar allt frÄn solen och vindarna, till
att representera blÀckfisken som skapade jorden och allt levande, enligt en
annan legend... I Gunafolkets fall lÀr det symbolisera en medicinalvÀxt som sÀgs
ge ökad kunskap och som ser ut att vÀxa mot de fyra vÀderstrecken. TyvÀrr blev
revolutionsflaggan snart förknippad med nazisternas symbol och försök gjordes dÀrför
att modifiera den. Ytterligare ny flagga togs fram 2010 med 8 stjÀrnor samt tvÄ
armar hÄllandes en pilbÄge och en pil. Den nyare flaggan anvÀnds i officiella
sammanhang och hissas tillsammans med den panamanska flaggan. BĂ„da flaggorna
anvÀnds och vi sÄg bÄda flaggorna vaja pÄ flaggstÀngerna vid flygplatsen dÀr vi
skulle klarera in. Ăr man intresserad kan vi tipsa om en bra sida pĂ„ spanska
(Google translate funkar bra đ) om Gunafolket, San Blasarkipelagen och
flaggornas historia pÄ: <a href="https://www.gunayala.org.pa/">https://www.gunayala.org.pa/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efter en natt pÄ ankar utanför
Porvenir styrde vi kosan mot Turtle Cay marina dĂ€r vi bokat plats. Ăven om
Turtle Cay ligger ensligt, lÄngt frÄn större orter, sÄ Àr marinan i princip
full med bÄtar. De flesta bÄtar har inga boende ombord dÄ mÄnga passar pÄ att lÀmna
bÄten hÀr under regn- och ÄsksÀsongen. Marinan ligger vÀl skyddad men vi ser de
nattliga ÄskvÀdren dra förbi pÄ hÄll. Nu har vi legat hÀr i tvÄ veckor och
bekantat oss med andra seglare som ocksÄ har sina bÄtar hÀr. Vi försöker
trÀffas en gÄng i veckan och Àta middag pÄ restaurangen intill. Det blir mycket
bÄtfix-snack och man frÄgar och ger varandra rÄd om allt möjligt. Precis som pÄ
de flesta platser vi seglat till finns det Àven hÀr en onlinegrupp, som man kan
delta i via WhatsApp, dÀr man tipsar varandra och hjÀlps Ät. Det stÀlls frÄgor
som; I vilken del av viken Àr det sÀkrast att ankra? Var kan man köpa frukt och
grönt? Har nĂ„gon ett verktyg av typen X jag kan fĂ„ lĂ„na? Ăr det nĂ„gon som vill
ta över min gamla gummibÄt? Vems Àr dessa strumpor jag hittade kvarglömda i
marinans tvĂ€ttstuga idag? Etc. đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turtle Cay ligger vid ett
naturreservat och förutom havssköldpaddor som ibland besöker strÀnderna hÀr sÄ
finns det en vÀldigt varierad natur med massor av olika djur och vÀxter
alldeles intill marinan. Vi hör dagligen vrÄlaporna ropa och, med hjÀlp av
Shawn pÄ bÄten Miet som varit hÀr lÀnge och kÀnner till omrÄdet, kunde vi till
slut fÄ se tvÄ tamarinapor hoppa mellan trÀden pÄ marinaomrÄdet. Vi har börjat
promenera lÀngre turer pÄ stigarna i omrÄdet och hoppas kunna fÄ en skymt av
fler djur. HÀr skall det till exempel finnas sengÄngare och myrslokar och vi
har redan fÄtt se massor av olika fjÀrilar och fÄglar, varav mÄnga vi kÀnner
igen frÄn Colombia. PÄ bÄten fÄr vi ibland besök av smÄ geckoödlor och mellan
bÄtarna kan vi nattetid ibland se de fiskfÄngande fladdermössen som vi kÀnner
igen frÄn de karibiska öarna. RestaurangÀgaren hÀr fick ta hand om en liten
sengÄngare som mist sin mamma. En jÀttesöt unge som hon föder upp och som vi
fick ta kort pÄ. I övrigt har det varit svÄrt att ta bilder pÄ djuren. De rör
sig alldeles för snabbt. Mycket enklare med vĂ€xterna đ.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">En av bÄtarna vid vÄr brygga rÄkade
tyvÀrr ut för en olycka förra veckan som kunde slutat mycket illa. Paret som
bor pÄ bÄten skulle ladda litiumbatteriet till sin AC som de har i bÄten. De
hade satt batteriet pÄ laddning över natten och vid 11-tiden pÄ kvÀllen vaknade
de av en smÀll. Batteriet hade exploderat och fattat eld. Hela bÄten rökfylldes
snabbt men de lyckades ta sig ut. Tillsammans med nÀrmaste bÄtgrannarna fick de,
med hjÀlp av flera brandslÀckare, till slut slÀckt elden men först efter att
batteriet brunnit ut. Som tur var, var det helt vindstilla sÄ lÄgorna som slog
upp frÄn bÄten rörde sig aldrig mot grannbÄtarna men förödelsen i segelbÄten blev
mycket stor Àven om skrovet fortfarande Àr intakt och motorn verkar fungera. Det
Àr fortfarande oklart om bÄten gÄr att rÀdda eller om den mÄste skrotas. Paret
klarade sig med lindrigare brÀnnsÄr och lite lungproblem som dock Àr
övergÄende. Vi blev alla förskrÀckta över hÀndelsen och har försökt hjÀlpa dem
pÄ olika sÀtt dÄ det mesta de Àgde har brunnit upp eller blivit rökskadat. De
har ocksÄ delat med sig av sina erfarenheter kring sjÀlva branden och vad man
kan tÀnka pÄ om olyckan skulle vara framme. Tur i oturen att elden inte spred
sig till gasflaskorna eller brÀnsletankarna! Vad vi, för egen del, blev bekymrade
över, var att vi aldrig vaknade av det tumult som uppstod pÄ bryggan. En
slutsats som drogs var att det Àr viktigt att se till att alla pÄ bryggan larmas
om nÄgot liknande skulle hÀnda. Anastacia ligger tvÄ bÄtar frÄn den
olycksdrabbade segelbÄten och i vanliga fall borde vi ha hört nÄgot. Vi
(sĂ€rskilt Christer) brukar vakna av minsta avvikelse frĂ„n ânormalaâ ljud, men
icke! Vi hade haft tvÄ flÀktar brummandes i ruffen dÀr vi sover som antagligen överröstade
allt annat ljud den natten. Nu har vi arrangerat flÀktarna lite annorlunda sÄ
vi lÀttare vaknar ifall nÄgot ovanligt hÀnder. Vi har nu ocksÄ sett över
brandslÀckarna i bÄten och lite annat vi fÄtt tips om som kan vara bra att ha
dokumenterat gentemot försÀkringsbolag om olyckan skulle vara framme. Vi har
slutat ladda vÄra telefoner och andra prylar under natten och kopplar ur
landströmmen nÀr vi inte behöver den.</p>
</div>
<p>Vi kommer att ligga kvar hÀr i Turtle Cay fram till slutet
av oktober, sedan mÄste vi tyvÀrr byta hamn för att fÄ upp bÄten pÄ land dÄ
marinan hÀr inte har en fungerande lyft och den ser inte heller ut att bli
reparerad i tid -trots att vi hade bokat den sedan lÀnge. Av nÄgra bÄtgrannar
har vi fÄtt tips pÄ en liten hamn lÀngre vÀsterut, nÀrmare kanalen, som heter Panamarina. DÀr har de bekrÀftat att de kan lyfta upp bÄten och stÀlla den pÄ land sÄ
vi kan skrapa och bottenmÄla den. DÀr kommer vi ocksÄ kunna laga de skav och
smÄ hÄl i aktern som uppstod pÄ marinan i Colombia efter stormen dÀr. Vindrodret
kommer att monteras upp igen med de nya delarna som vi fÄtt levererat + lite
ordna med annat underhÄll som bara kan göras nÀr bÄten ligger pÄ land. Mellan
den 4:e och den 15:e november kommer vi att besöka familjen i Sverige och hÀlsa
pÄ sÄ mÄnga vÀnner vi hinner. Det ser vi fram emot! Vem vet. Blir det nÄgon fin
kvĂ€ll kanske vi ocksĂ„ fĂ„r se lite norrsken! đ Fram tills vi lĂ€mnar Turtle Cay Ă€gnar vi oss Ă„t att
förnya vÄra matförrÄd och rengöra Anastacia invÀndigt sÄ hon blir skinande ren
och glittrande vacker, fÀrdig att möta Galapagos i december!</p><p><br></p><p><em>San Blas (Guna Yala) and Porvenir
(Gaigirgordub)</em></p><p> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="3024" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_163710.jpg?1729461528?1729461528" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><iframe width="490px" height="240px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOoojOm_KTs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br><p><br></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_124644.jpg?1729461528?1729461528" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241002_130359.jpg?1729461528?1729461528" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p><br></p><p>Turtle Cay marina and surroundings</p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PmlUs1rh_F8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p><br></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241004_105715.jpg?1729461742?1729461742" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241018_083741.jpg?1729461742" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1960" data-original-height="4032" 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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jO_Tjh8i0FQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><p><br></p><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DyzCXi6SQ7I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br><p><br></p><p><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241016_093503.jpg?1729461742" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_093503.jpg?1729461742 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_093503.jpg?1729461742 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_093503.jpg?1729461742 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href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle cay/20241016_201823.jpg?1729461742" loading="lazy" data-original-width="4032" data-original-height="1960" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_201823.jpg?1729461742 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_201823.jpg?1729461742 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_201823.jpg?1729461742 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Turtle%20cay/20241016_201823.jpg?1729461742 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Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/october-2024/marina-turtle-cay-panama
/blog/october-2024/marina-turtle-cay-panama
-
MedellĂn
Malin
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">MedellĂn is Colombia's second largest city. It
actually consists of 10 municipalities that basically grew together, with the
municipality of MedellĂn being the dominant one that also gave the city its
name. The 10 municipalities are in turn divided into a total of 16
"Comunas" which can be equated with city districts. MedellĂn is a
large industrial city with several different industries. The largest are the
textile industry, the chemical-technical industry and the food industry. The
air in the city is therefore also more polluted.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As with BogotĂĄ, flying was the only reasonable
way to get to MedellĂn from Barranquilla. During the flight we experienced an
unusual amount of turbulence. So much so that the flight attendants could not push
their serving carts. We could see how we ended up in the middle of a large
thunderstorm but didn't really think much of it and the flight captain calmly
noted that there was a little more turbulence than usual. We have also gotten
used to thunderstorms almost every evening/night on the coast towards the
Caribbean Sea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since we didn't book a hotel for more than
three nights, we had to focus on a few places to visit. We started with a
guided tour in the footsteps of Pablo Escobar. Mostly to understand the history
and how the drug cartels affected society when it was at its most violent.
During the tour, we got to visit InflexiĂłn Memorial Park, which is where Pablo
Escobar and his family, bodyguards and closest friends lived. Here we are not
talking about an ordinary residence, but a luxurious high-rise in the middle of
the city. However, this was only one of the many properties he owned. He was
also often at his 20 square kilometer hacienda located between BogotĂĄ and MedellĂn
with a mansion. a private zoo, six pools, etc. The entire high-rise in MedellĂn
was demolished after his death and instead a memorial site has been built for
the victims of the drug war. It's a beautiful little park with an impressive black
stone monument. It is estimated that the MedellĂn Cartel and Pablo Escobar,
until his death in 1993, were directly responsible for 4,000 murders of
civilians, politicians, prosecutors, judges and other officials as well as
police but that figure can be taken fifty times if you look at all those
murdered because of the drug war in Colombia since 1960. Many believe that
there was a civil war going on in Colombia until Escobar was shot to death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The MedellĂn cartel was by far the largest drug
cartel and during its "heyday" in the 1980s it was counted as the
world's largest with around 750,000 employees. Our guide Daniel pointed out
that Escobar was unusually ruthless in that he could cold-bloodedly shoot
anyone he suspected of being against him. It did not concern him if innocents
also fell victim. The famous expression "Plata o Plomo" i.e. silver (money/bribe)
or lead (get shot) meant that people often had no choice but to go on his
errands. Escobar had even announced a bounty on police officers. If you could
show a police badge from a slain policeman, you got a thousand-dollar reward,
no questions asked. Everyone lived in terror!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel said that the description of Pablo
Escobar being seen as a kind of Robin Hood figure by the poor in MedellĂn is
quite exaggerated. However, Pablo liked to cultivate that self-image and also
built, for example, residential areas and soccer fields for the population
in poorer neighborhoods and saw himself as a benefactor of the less fortunate.
He himself claimed that he came from poor circumstances, but in fact he came
from a well-to-do middle-class family and lived in good conditions as a young man.
However, he started a criminal career early on by stealing cars and selling the
parts and soon he discovered the lucrative cocaine business that brought quick
money. Many of those who received a share of his charity were also in debt for
life and could at any time be forced to perform services for him. In addition,
Escobar used his position as a "philanthropist" to be able to make a
political career when, amazingly, he also aimed to become the president of
Colombia!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the guided tour, we also got to visit
what is commonly known as Pablo Escobar's prison, which he had built for
himself in the municipality of Envigado. When he understood that it was only a
matter of time before he would be arrested, he agreed with the Colombian
government that he would be kept in isolation, but with the condition that he
would not be extradited to the United States and that he would be allowed to
build his own prison. This "prison", which he called La Catedral, was
secluded, a little way up in the mountains, with a fantastic view of the city.
Here he had built a fenced villa and several other buildings, a soccer field, a
parking lot, a helipad and a church! Escobar was very religious and prayed and
went to confession often, and he wanted to be able to continue doing that
during his so-called prison time. Of course, he could continue to run the drug
cartel from his new residence where security was minimal as the guards were
employed by himself.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pablo Escobar was killed after intensive
intelligence work in December 1993. All his property and belongings were
confiscated. Buildings were looted and demolished so there is not much left of
these today. Nothing remains of the so-called prison, but a reconstruction
partially shows what it looked like. A home for the elderly is now operated in
one of the buildings on the site.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Escobar is buried at Cementerio Jardines
Montesacro, which we also visited during the tour. Daniel told us that cocaine
is not something that Colombians themselves use, but something that foreigners
and tourists use. The drug is so associated with the violent period in the
country's history that ordinary people want nothing to do with it. He further
said that drug cartels still exist in the country, mainly in the south-west but
are being fought by the government. Colombia now has very restrictive gun laws,
but unfortunately many illegal weapons still abound. The residents want to get
away from their reputation from the drug wars and the future looks bright, he
said. MedellĂn is nowadays like any other tourist town. However, you can still
see a lot of shopping centers here. Unusually many in a small area. They are
private shopping centers built by drug syndicates where the real purpose is
money laundering. The same applied to several fancy restaurants in the city.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the guided tour, we walked in the
neighborhoods of the El Poblado where our hotel was located. The district is
popular with tourists and is full of restaurants and fancy bars. Just the ones
the guide talked about đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During our visit we also managed to visit the
museum "Casa de la Memoria". There is an exhibition that focuses more
on how the ordinary citizen was affected by the violence during the drug war.
Here we not only got an insight into how the drug cartels gained power by using
brutal violence that affected the civilian population, but also an insight into
the Marxist-Leninist FARC guerrillas. From the beginning, during the 60s formed
by farmers who opposed the right-wing government which in turn was supported by
paramilitary groups. However, the FARC soon transformed into a group that
financed increasingly violent activities through cocaine trafficking. In the
midst of all this, civilians suffered badly. Through interviews and life
stories, visitors to the museum gained a much better understanding of what
individual people had to go through. The museum is not big but we left there
impressed. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in that part of
history. One cannot help but draw parallels to how criminal networks, mafia,
terrorist groups, paramilitary groups, or whatever you call them depending on
their location in the world, act and finance their activities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last but not least, we visited Plaza Botero
with many Botero sculptures and a beautiful cultural center with exhibits
interspersed among the office spaces where the employees work. A pleasant and
relaxing experience in contrast to everything else we had to experience during
our visit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had to take taxis between the different
neighborhoods to the places we wanted to visit. The taxi rides themselves were
also an experience. Somehow it was noticed that the city has an industrial
history. Several blocks could have a theme. For example, we rode through a
street several hundred meters long where it was full of small bicycle shops and
workshops on both sides of the road. Some sold new bikes, others sold used.
Some were repair shops, others sold parts... In another block they traded sofas
and beds in every imaginable shape, size and condition. In a third block there
was garden furniture. In a fourth there were refrigerators and freezers where
new and used appliances were sold, as well as repairs could be carried out.
Also, it seemed that they reused what went from end-of-life machines. In
several places, refrigerators were being taken apart for the various
components. Here, there is a different attitude to used gadgets than what we
are used to. Most things can be repaired and used for a while longerâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In MedellĂn we also tried to sort out some
health-related questions. We have taken all the vaccinations before the trip
that were recommended by doctors, but now we needed to protect ourselves
against dengue fever and malaria. Both plagues are spread via mosquitoes and
protecting oneself against mosquito bites has been more difficult than we
originally thought. Despite mosquito nets and mosquito repellent, we get bitten
by mosquitoes daily, especially if we lie with the boat in a harbor where there
is not much wind. Being fully clothed, as the locals are, would of course have
been the best protection but we can't do it in the 35-degree heat. We therefore
needed to talk to a doctor about being prescribed malaria tablets and the
possibility of vaccination against dengue fever. We found an online service for
expats in Colombia that was in English and through this excellent paid service
we were able to talk to a doctor, who in a video call, took all our information
and medical history and finally gave us each a prescription for malaria tablets
with instructions on how to take them, possible side effects and at which
pharmacies in the city we could most easily get hold of them. However, she
could not help us with the vaccination if we did not stay in the country for a
longer period of time because the vaccine must be given in two rounds of three
months interval and she was not allowed to send us the vaccine for the second
shot so that we could have solved it in another country. Even though we knew
that other sailors solved it that way in other countries in the Caribbean, the
rules were stricter in Colombia. The same vaccine as the one you get in
Colombia is also not available in the countries we are going to visit, so we
simply have to trust that we will not be affected. After all, Dengue fever is
still not as common as malaria đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With such a short time in MedellĂn, you can't
say we did the city justice. There are lots of things to experience and see.
What we didn't have time for a visit to Comuna 13. A neighborhood that was
previously considered one of the world's poorest, but which, with the help of
various social projects and improved infrastructure, has been transformed into
an attractive part of MedellĂn with lots of cultural activities. The district
has become a real tourist attraction. In addition, there are several
interesting museums and a little outside of MedellĂn you can visit coffee
plantations that show what the entire process from cultivation to finished
coffee beans looks like.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we got back to the boat, we were
unfortunately met with the news that the turbulence we experienced on the
flight from Barranquilla turned out to be due to a storm that had swept over
the area, including the marina where Anastacia is located. Some had their
houses destroyed, roofs were blown off shops in Barranquilla and trees had
fallen over power poles leaving large areas without power. The wind had been so
strong that the Anastacia, which was moored âstern toâ, had been pushed against
the jetty. The long bow mooring lines provided by the marina are fastened in
large chunks of concrete on the seabed. These had probably moved so the boat
came too close to the jetty and the equipment we had mounted in the stern was
gone. In addition, the extra protective plastic that was on the stern had been
torn off, but the hull was intact, so the protective plastic had still
fulfilled its purpose, to protect the stern from impacts! The wind rudder and
hydrogenerator were on the jetty where the marine personnel had put them when
they tried to salvage what was left after the storm. Some other boats had also
sustained damage and some jetty sections were completely missing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When we looked through the damage to Anastacia,
we were still relieved that the most important parts of the rudder were intact
and that it was "only" the fasteners that came off. We can order them
from the supplier. However, the hydrogenerator was completely destroyed. We had
bought it used, so it wasn't a great value either, but sad as we can't charge
the boat's batteries using hydropower anymore. Buying a new one will be too
costly. However, we still have solar panels and wind generator left. Now we
have unscrewed all the fasteners and sealed all the screw holes in the stern so
that we can handle a sailing to Panama where we still planned to haul out for
review and bottom painting. Then we can also repair the damage a little better.
We negotiated an agreement with the marina manager so that we don't have to pay
part of the marina fee as compensation for part of the damage. He has been
really good to deal with and even though this type of incident is legally
outside the marinaâs responsibility, he thought it was important that we get
some compensation. We are very grateful for that!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have stayed two months in Colombia and the
time has really flown by. We have spent the last few days getting the boat
ready for sailing again and on the 30th of September we will sail to Panama
where we will stay with the boat for two months before crossing the channel to
the Pacific Ocean. The actual sailing to Panama should take two days and we
hope for good winds. Right now, however, the forecast looks a bit bleak... đ. We will also try to fly to Sweden for a few
days in November to hug the family, as we will not be able to see each other
over Christmas and New Year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MedellĂn Ă€r Colombias nĂ€st
största stad. Den bestÄr egentligen av 10 kommuner som i princip vuxit samman
dĂ€r kommunen MedellĂn varit den dominerande som ocksĂ„ fĂ„tt ge staden dess namn.
De 10 kommunerna Ă€r i sin tur uppdelade i totalt 16 âComunasâ som kan likstĂ€llas
med stadsdelar. MedellĂn Ă€r en stor industristad med flera olika nĂ€ringar.
Störst Àr textilindustrin, kem-teknisk industri samt livsmedelsindustrin.
Luften i staden Àr dÀrför ocksÄ mer förorenad.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Precis som till BogotĂĄ var
flyget enda rimliga sĂ€ttet att ta sig till MedellĂn frĂ„n Barranquilla. Under
flygturen upplevde vi ovanligt mycket turbulens. SĂ„ pass mycket att
flygvÀrdarna inte kunde köra med sina serveringsvagnar. Vi kunde se hur vi
hamnat mitt i ett stort ÄskvÀder men tÀnkte egentligen inte sÄ mycket pÄ det
och flygkaptenen konstaterade lugnt att det var lite mer turbulens Àn vanligt.
Vi har ocksÄ vant oss vid att det Äskar nÀstan varje kvÀll/natt pÄ kusten mot
Karibiska havet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eftersom vi inte bokat hotell
för mer Àn tre nÀtter sÄ fick vi rikta in oss pÄ ett fÄtal platser att besöka.
Vi började med en guidad tur i Pablo Escobars fotspÄr. Mest för att förstÄ
historien och hur drogkartellerna pÄverkade samhÀllet nÀr det var som mest
vÄldsamt. Under turen fick vi besöka Inflexión Memorial Park som ligger dÀr
Pablo Escobar med familj, livvakter och nÀrmaste vÀnner bodde. HÀr pratar vi inte
om en vanlig bostad utan ett lyxigt höghus mitt i staden. Detta var dock bara
ett av de mÄnga fastigheter han Àgde. Han var ocksÄ ofta pÄ sin 20
kvadratkilometer stora hacienda som lĂ„g mellan BogotĂĄ och MedellĂn med
herrgĂ„rd. en privat djurpark, sex pooler m m. Hela höghuset i MedellĂn revs
efter hans död och istÀllet har man byggt upp en minnesplats för offren frÄn drogkriget.
En vacker liten park med ett imponerande monument i svart sten. Man rÀknar med
att MedellĂnkartellen och Pablo Escobar, fram till sin död 1993, var direkt
skyldiga till 4 000 mord pÄ civila, politiker, Äklagare, domare och andra
ÀmbetsmÀn liksom poliser men den siffran kan man ta gÄnger femtio om man ser
till alla som mördats pÄ grund av drogkriget i Colombia sedan 1960. MÄnga menar
att det pÄgick ett inbördeskrig i Colombia fram till att Escobar sköts till
döds. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MedellĂnkartellen var den
absolut största drogkartellen och under sin âstorhetstidâ pĂ„ 1980-talet
rÀknades den som vÀrldens största med runt 750 000 anstÀllda. Guiden
Daniel pÄpekade att Escobar var sÀllsynt hÀnsynslös i det att han kallblodigt kunde
skjuta vem som helst som han misstÀnkte var emot honom. Det bekymrade honom
inte om oskyldiga ocksÄ föll offer. Det berömda uttrycket "Plata o Plomo"
d v s silver (pengar/mutor) eller bly (bli skjuten) innebar att mÀnniskor ofta
inte hade nÄgot annat val Àn att gÄ hans Àrenden. Escobar hade t o m utlyst
skottpengar pÄ poliser. Kunde man visa upp en polisbricka frÄn en dödad polis
fick man tusen dollar i belöning, inga frÄgor stÀlldes. Alla levde i skrÀck!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel berÀttade att beskrivningen
om att Pablo Escobar sĂ„gs som en slags Robin Hood-gestalt av de fattiga i MedellĂn
Àr ganska överdriven. Pablo odlade dock gÀrna den sjÀlvbilden och byggde ocksÄ
exempelvis bostadsomrÄden och fotbollsplaner för befolkningen i fattigare
stadsdelar och sÄg sig som en vÀlgörare för de mindre bemedlade. Han hÀvdade
sjÀlv att han kom frÄn fattiga förhÄllanden men egentligen kom han frÄn en
vÀlbÀrgad medelklassfamilj och hade goda förutsÀttningar som ung. Han började dock
tidigt en kriminell bana genom att stjÀla bilar och sÀlja delarna och snart
upptÀckte han den lukrativa kokainbranschen som gav snabba pengar. MÄnga av dem
som fick ta del av hans vÀlgörenhet stod ocksÄ i livstids skuld och kunde
nÀrsomhelst tvingas utföra tjÀnster Ät honom. Dessutom utnyttjade Escobar sin
stĂ€llning som âvĂ€lgörareâ för att kunna göra politisk karriĂ€r dĂ„ han, otroligt
nog, Àven siktade pÄ att bli Colombias president!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under den guidade turen fick vi
ocksÄ besöka det som brukar kallas Pablo Escobars fÀngelse som han hade lÄtit
bygga Ät sig sjÀlv i kommunen Envigado. NÀr han förstod att det bara var en
tidsfrÄga innan han skulle gripas kom han nÀmligen överens med Colombias
regering om att han skulle hÄllas isolerad, dock med villkoret att inte
utlÀmnas till USA samt att han sjÀlv skulle fÄ bygga sitt fÀngelse. Detta
âfĂ€ngelseâ som han kallade La Catedral lĂ„g avskilt, en bit upp i bergen, med en
fantastisk utsikt över staden. HÀr hade han lÄtit bygga en inhÀgnad villa och
flera andra byggnader, fotbollsplan, parkering, helikopterplatta och en kyrka!
Escobar var nÀmligen mycket religiös och bad och biktade sig ofta och det ville
han kunna fortsÀtta med under sin sÄ kallade fÀngelsetid. Naturligtvis kunde
han fortsÀtta styra drogkartellen frÄn sin nya bostad dÀr bevakningen var
minimal dÄ vakterna var anstÀllda av honom sjÀlv.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pablo Escobar dödades efter intensivt
spaningsarbete i december 1993. Alla hans egendomar och tillhörigheter
konfiskerades. Byggnader plundrades och revs sÄ det finns inte mycket kvar av
dessa idag. Av det sÄ kallade fÀngelset finns inget kvar men en rekonstruktion
visar delvis hur det har sett ut. I en av byggnaderna pÄ platsen drivs numera
ett Àldreboende.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Escobar ligger begravd pÄ Cementerio
Jardines Montesacro som vi ocksÄ besökte under turen. Daniel berÀttade att
kokain inte Àr nÄgot som colombianerna sjÀlva nyttjar utan nÄgot som
utlÀnningar och turister anvÀnder. Drogen Àr sÄ förknippad med den vÄldsamma
perioden i landets historia att vanliga mÀnniskor inte vill ha med den att
göra. Han berÀttade vidare att drogkarteller fortfarande finns i landet, frÀmst
i de sydvÀstra delarna men bekÀmpas av regeringen. Colombia har numera vÀldigt
restriktiva vapenlagar men tyvÀrr florerar fortfarande mÄnga illegala vapen.
InvÄnarna vill komma ifrÄn sitt rykte frÄn drogkrigen och framtiden ser ljus ut,
menade han. MedellĂn Ă€r numera som vilken turiststad som helst. Dock kan man
fortfarande se vÀldigt mÄnga köpcentra hÀr. Ovanligt mÄnga inom litet omrÄde.
Det Àr privata köpcentra som byggts av drogsyndikat dÀr det egentliga syftet Àr
penningtvÀtt. Detsamma gÀllde för flera flotta innekrogar i staden.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Efter den guidade turen promenerade
vi i kvarteren i stadsdelen El Poblado dÀr vÄrt hotell lÄg. Stadsdelen Àr populÀr
bland turister och det finns fullt med restauranger och tjusiga innestÀllen.
Precis sĂ„dana som guiden pratat om đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under vÄrt besök hann vi Àven
med museet âCasa de la Memoriaâ. DĂ€r finns en utstĂ€llning som Ă€r mer inriktad
pÄ hur den vanlige medborgaren drabbades av vÄldet under drogkriget. HÀr fick
vi inte bara en inblick i hur drogkartellerna skaffade sig makt genom att
anvÀnda brutalt vÄld som drabbade civilbefolkningen utan Àven en inblick i den marxist-leninistiska
FARC-gerillan. FrÄn början, under 60-talet bildad av jordbrukare som opponerade
sig mot högerregeringen som i sin tur stöddes av paramilitÀra grupper. FARC
förvandlades dock snart till en grupp som finansierade en alltmer vÄldsam
verksamhet genom kokainhandel. Mitt i allt detta drabbades civila svÄrt. Genom
intervjuer och livsberÀttelser fick man som besökare pÄ museet en mycket bÀttre
förstÄelse för vad enskilda mÀnniskor fick genomlida. Museet Àr inte stort men
vi gick ut dÀrifrÄn berörda. Absolut rekommenderat för den som Àr intresserad
av den delen av historien. Man kan inte lÄta bli att dra paralleller till hur
kriminella nÀtverk, maffia, terroristgrupper, paramilitÀra grupper, eller vad man
kallar dem beroende pÄ plats i vÀrlden, agerar och finansierar sina
verksamheter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sist, men inte minst, besökte vi
Plaza Botero med mÄnga Botero-skulpturer och ett vackert kulturhus med
utstÀllningar insprÀngda bland kontorsutrymmena dÀr de anstÀllda arbetar. En
trevlig och avkopplande upplevelse som kontrast till allt annat vi fick uppleva
under vÄrt besök.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi var tvungna att Ă„ka taxi
mellan de olika stadsdelarna till de platser vi ville besöka. Taxiturerna i sig
var ocksÄ en upplevelse. PÄ nÄgot sÀtt mÀrktes det att staden har en
industrihistoria. Flera kvarter kunde ha ett tema. T ex Ă„kte vi genom en flera
hundra meter lÄng gata dÀr det var fullt med smÄ cykelbutiker och -verkstÀder
pÄ bÀgge sidor om vÀgen. NÄgra sÄlde nya cyklar, andra sÄlde begagnade, Vissa var
reparationsverkstÀder andra sÄlde delar⊠I ett annat kvarter handlades det med soffor
och sÀngar i alla upptÀnkliga former, storlekar och skick, I ett tredje kvarter
var det trÀdgÄrdsmöbler, I ett fjÀrde var det kyl- och frysvaror dÀr nya och
begagnade maskiner sÄldes, liksom reparationer kunde utföras Dessutom verkade
det som man ÄteranvÀnde det som gick frÄn uttjÀnta maskiner. PÄ flera stÀllen
höll man pÄ att plocka isÀr kylskÄp till de olika bestÄndsdelarna. HÀr rÄder en
annan instÀllning till begagnade prylar Àn vad vi Àr vana vid. Det mesta gÄr
att reparera och anvĂ€nda ett tag tillâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I MedellĂn försökte vi ocksĂ„
reda ut nÄgra hÀlsorelaterade frÄgor. Vi har tagit alla vaccinationer inför
resan som rekommenderades av lÀkare men nu behövde vi skydda oss mot
denguefebern och malaria. BĂ„da farsoterna sprids via myggor och att skydda sig
mot myggbett har varit svÄrare Àn vi trott frÄn början. Trots myggnÀt och
myggmedel blir vi myggbitna dagligen, sÀrskilt om vi ligger med bÄten i hamn
dÀr det inte blÄser sÄ mycket. Att vara fullt pÄklÀdd, som lokalbefolkningen Àr,
hade naturligtvis varit bÀsta skyddet men vi klarar det inte i den 35-gradiga
vÀrmen. Vi behövde dÀrför prata med en lÀkare om att fÄ utskrivet malariatabletter
och möjlighet till vaccination mot denguefebern. Vi hittade en onlinetjÀnst för
expats i Colombia som var pÄ engelska och fick via denna utmÀrkta betaltjÀnsten
prata med en lÀkare, som i videosamtal, tog alla vÄra uppgifter och
sjukdomshistorik och till slut gav oss varsitt recept pÄ malariatabletter med
anvisningar om hur de skulle tas, ev biverkningar och pÄ vilka apotek i staden
vi lÀttast kunde fÄ tag i dem. Dock kunde hon inte hjÀlpa oss med vaccinationen
om vi inte stannade i landet en lÀngre tid eftersom vaccinet skall ges i tvÄ
omgÄngar med tre mÄnaders mellanrum och hon fick inte lov att skicka med oss vaccinet
för den andra sprutan sÄ att vi hade kunnat lösa det i nÄgot annat land. Trots att
vi visste att andra seglare löst det pÄ det sÀttet i andra lÀnder i Karibien sÄ
var reglerna hÄrdare i Colombia. Samma vaccin som det som man fÄr i Colombia finns
inte heller i de lÀnder vi skall besöka sÄ vi fÄr helt enkelt lita pÄ att vi
inte blir drabbade. Trots allt Àr Denguefebern fortfarande inte lika vanlig som
malarian đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Med sĂ„ kort tid i MedellĂn sĂ„ kan
man inte sÀga att vi gjort staden rÀttvisa. Det finns massor av saker att
uppleva och se. Det vi inte hann med var exempelvis ett besök i Comuna 13. En
stadsdel som tidigare rÀknades som en av vÀrldens fattigaste men som med hjÀlp
av olika samhÀllsprojekt och förbÀttrad infrastruktur omvandlats till en
attraktiv del av MedellĂn med massor av kulturaktiviteter. Stadsdelen har blivit
en riktig turistattraktion. Dessutom finns flera intressanta museer och lite utanför
MedellĂn kan man besöka kaffeplantager som visar hur hela processen frĂ„n odling
till fÀrdiga kaffebönor ser ut.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NÀr vi kom tillbaks till bÄten
möttes vi tyvÀrr av nyheten att den turbulens vi upplevt pÄ flyget frÄn
Barranquilla visat sig bero pÄ en storm som dragit över omrÄdet, inklusive
marinan dÀr Anastacia ligger. Vissa hade fÄtt sina hus förstörda, tak var
bortblÄsta frÄn butiker i Barranquilla och trÀd hade fallit över elstolpar sÄ
stora omrÄden hade varit utan ström. Vinden hade varit sÄ stark sÄ att
Anastacia, som var akterförtöjd, hade tryckts mot bryggan. De lÄnga
förtöjningslinorna i fören som marinan tillhandahÄller sitter i stora
betongklumpar pÄ havsbotten. Dessa hade troligen flyttat sig sÄ bÄten kommit
för nÀra bryggan och den utrustning som vi hade monterat i aktern var borta. Dessutom
hade den extra skyddsplasten som satt pÄ akterspegeln slitits av men skrovet
var intakt sÄ skyddsplasten hade ÀndÄ fyllt sitt syfte, att skydda aktern mot
stötar! Vindrodret och hydrogeneratorn lÄg pÄ bryggan dÀr marinapersonalen lagt
dem nÀr de försökt rÀdda det som gick efter stormen. Vissa andra bÄtar hade
ocksÄ fÄtt skador och nÄgra bryggsektioner saknades helt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NÀr vi tittade igenom skadorna pÄ
Anastacia var vi ÀndÄ lÀttade över att vindrodrets viktigaste delar var intakta
och att det âbaraâ var fĂ€stena som gĂ„tt av. Dem kan vi bestĂ€lla frĂ„n
leverantören. Hydrogeneratorn var dock helt sönderslagen. Den hade vi köpt
begagnad sÄ det var heller inget jÀttestort vÀrde men trÄkigt dÄ vi nu inte kan
ladda bÄtens batterier med hjÀlp av vattenkraft lÀngre. Att köpa en ny blir för
kostsamt. Vi har dock fortfarande solpaneler och vindgenerator kvar. Nu har vi
skruvat loss alla fÀsten och tÀtat alla skruvhÄl i aktern sÄ att vi kan klara
en segling till Panama dÀr vi ÀndÄ planerat att ta upp bÄten för genomgÄng och
bottenmÄlning. DÄ kan vi ocksÄ laga skadorna lite bÀttre. Vi förhandlade oss till
en överenskommelse med marinchefen sÄ att vi slipper betala en del av hamnavgiften
som kompensation för en del av skadorna. Han har varit riktigt bra att ha att
göra med och trots att den hÀr typen av hÀndelser rent juridiskt gÄr utanför
marinans ansvar sÄ tyckte han det var viktigt att vi fick lite kompensation.
Det Àr vi jÀttetacksamma för!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi har vistats tvÄ mÄnader i
Colombia och tiden har verkligen flugit ivÀg. De sista dagarna har vi Àgnat Ät
att göra bÄten klar för segling igen och den 30:e september seglar vi till Panama
dÀr vi kommer att ligga med bÄten i tvÄ mÄnader innan överfarten genom kanalen
till Stilla havet. SjÀlva seglingen till Panama bör ta tvÄ dygn och vi hoppas
pĂ„ bra vind. Just nu ser dock prognosen lite klen ut⊠đ.
Vi kommer ocksÄ att försöka flyga till Sverige under nÄgra dagar i november för
att krama om familjen, dÄ vi inte kommer att kunna ses över jul och nyÄr.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Inflexión Memorial Park</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095210.jpg?1727618595?1727618595" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095350.jpg?1727618595?1727618595" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_095530.jpg?1727618595?1727618595" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_100900.jpg?1727618595?1727618595" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>La Catedral and Pablo Escobars escape route</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111747.jpg?1727618750?1727618750" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111318.jpg?1727618750?1727618750" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111140.jpg?1727618750" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111140.jpg?1727618750 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111140.jpg?1727618750 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111140.jpg?1727618750 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111140.jpg?1727618750?1727618750" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111537.jpg?1727618750?1727618750" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111215.jpg?1727618750" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111215.jpg?1727618750 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111215.jpg?1727618750 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111215.jpg?1727618750 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_111215.jpg?1727618750?1727618750" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Escobar family vault. Cementerio
Jardines Montesacro</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122146.jpg?1727618878?1727618878" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240917_122205.jpg?1727618878?1727618878" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Plaza Botero and cultural center</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101954.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100734.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100734.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100734.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100734.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100734.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100202.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100202.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100202.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100202.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_100202.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_095837.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_095837.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_095837.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_095837.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_095837.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101219.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101219.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101219.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101219.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101219.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101327.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101327.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101327.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101327.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101327.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101348.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101348.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101348.jpg?1727618972 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101348.jpg?1727618972 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101348.jpg?1727618972?1727618972" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101818.jpg?1727618972" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101818.jpg?1727618972 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Medellin/20240918_101818.jpg?1727618972 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</div>
Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/september-2024/medellin
/blog/september-2024/medellin
-
BogotĂĄ, Colombia
Malin
<p class="MsoNormal">By bus it
takes 15 to 20 hours to travel from Barranquilla to BogotĂĄ and the railway is only
partially built up in Colombia as the topography is extremely varied. In
addition, it seems that the railway network was primarily built to facilitate
the transport of the mining industry and not so focused on passenger transport.
To get to BogotĂĄ we therefore had to take the flight which was what the
residents here also told us was the best.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">BogotĂĄ is
at an altitude of over 2,600 m, which we felt when we arrived. For one thing,
the temperature (for us) was much more pleasant and similar to what we are used
to from Sweden, but both Christer and I (Malin) also got a slight headache when
we landed. Probably because we moved so quickly to higher altitude. We are used
to constantly being at sea level đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had
booked a room at a slightly out of the ordinary hotel, Hotel Casa de la Luz.
The hotel is located in an old large colonial house with a very mixed and
personal interior that went from the sacred to the burlesque - with some
political elements... There was certainly a bit to be desired in terms of cleaning
and everything maybe didn't work as it should but the charm outweighed all
that! Here there were lots of small rooms and winding stairs in the most
unexpected places. The house had been owned by a wealthy French family for many
years before it was sold and turned into a hotel. We enjoyed ourselves very
well but had to change rooms after the first night, the bed lacked a mattress
topper and became far too hard and our backs couldn't really handle it. You do feel
like you've gotten a little older... đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The hotel
is located in the historic district of BogotĂĄ, La Candelaria. The only reason
we chose to stay here was that Christer found a good travel blog with tips on
places to visit. We are happy to promote this one which covers several
countries worldwide: https://www.dreambigtravelfarblog.com/</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">La
Candelaria turned out to be an incredibly beautiful neighborhood with many
museums within walking distance as well as Plaza BolivĂĄr with a large cathedral
and the presidential palace right next door. Fantastic graffiti paintings were
on many buildings throughout the district. In the streets around the hotel, there
was one jeweler's shop next to the other. Several hundred within the same
block! We don't understand how they can survive with such fierce competition.
However, we also saw that they had many customers who bought jewelry and
watches. Colombia has large emerald findings and the quality is said to be the
best in the world so that might explain the tradeâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">About nine
million people live in BogotĂĄ and we spent three whole days in the city, which
of course is far too little for a city of that size. There are so many sights
and beautiful places to visit that you would need several weeks to get an
overview. Our visit was therefore only a small selection. The first day we took
the opportunity to take a tour with a hop on hop off bus. The guide Sebastian,
spoke Spanish and good English. Excited to meet someone who didn't just speak
Spanish, we bombarded him with questions. Poor thing, he had to toil but did it
with gusto! He told us that BogotĂĄ is jokingly called the refrigerator. Here,
the temperature varies between 10 and 25 degrees during one and the same day.
The sun can shine one moment and then be followed by cold rain during the next.
Much like opening and closing the refrigerator door. Or as Sebastian also put
it "wax on wax off" to cite the karate kid movies. One moment you
pull down the zipper on your jacket because it's too hot, and the next you pull
it up again because it's too cold.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had it
explained to us how the streets are named in BogotĂĄ and other cities. The
streets do not have their own names as we are used to in Europe. Here we are
talking about road intersections, Carrera run parallel to each other and
usually go in a north-south direction and are numbered from east to west. The
streets Calle run in an east-west direction and are numbered from south to
north. Now this is only approximately correct. The streets tend to meander in
different directions, but the system gave us an explanation as to why the taxi
drivers we went with in both Medellin and Santa Marta would rather know the
street numbers for Calle and Carrera than just the place we wanted to go.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The hop on
hop off tour turned out to be a tour where you also got to visit places walking
where the guide told us about the areas we stopped at. Sebastian showed us,
among other things, the oldest part of the city where it was founded in 1538 in the neighborhood La Candelaria. Of
course, the indigenous population already lived here a few thousand years before
that, but we are now talking about the colonial era. The site, which originally
consisted of 12 houses, a well and a church, remains. This is also the only
place in BogotĂĄ where the streets have their own names. Here there were lots of
small shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and here you could buy the slightly
alcoholic, yellowish drink Chicha, which is a kind of corn beer made from
fermented corn gruel. The drink is originally a drink that the indigenous
people brewed and is found in different varieties throughout Latin America.
Actually, it is banned in Colombia but nobody seems to care. You could quickly
tell who was drinking Chicha because the bottles were sold with a brown paper
bag around them - probably to hide the contents đ. Of course we tasted! It was good
too! The taste was reminiscent of a mixture of sweet beer and kombucha.
However, we didn't dare buy a bottle...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The tour in
the bus then went on to the wealthier neighborhoods in the north. Here it was
immediately noticeable from both the style of clothing and the shops that lined
the streets that the more affluent stayed here. Sebastian told us that there
are 7 different social classes in Colombia and social classes 1 and 2 in BogotĂĄ
were mostly in the northern part of the city. Graffiti painting was also
prohibited here. We thought this part of the city looked like any modern city.
Here we made a lunch stop and ate a good (and expensive) fish dish at a nice
fish restaurant where some of the couples were dressed up in costumes or
evening dress with matching chic handbags. Perhaps needless to say that we did
not quite match the style in terms of clothing and it was clearly visible that
we were tourists. But the occasional guest also wore regular jeans, so we were
still in good company. At least we knew how to behave ourselves!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the way
back to La Candelaria, we passed two small "reserves" in the form of
smaller parks. One was dedicated to LGBTQ people who were allowed to stay in
the area without (hopefully) having to fear harassment. The site was marked by
a large Pride flag. The other park was called "hippies park" and here
you could smoke marijuana freely. Normally, drug use is prohibited in Colombia,
but possession of a maximum of one gram is permitted.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the
afternoon we visited the Gold Museum, which, like its counterpart in Santa
Marta, displayed many archaeological finds from Colombia's first settlers in
pre-colonial times. Colombia has had several hundred different indigenous
groups. The indigenous people who lived (and partly still live) around BogotĂĄ
are called Muisca. Like the Tairona people, they were skilled in working gold
and other metals as well as precious stones such as emeralds. In addition to
colonization, the indigenous population has experienced other threats in modern
times where they were forced to grow coca plants by the drug cartels who then
bought the âraw materialâ from them. Now, when many of the cartels have been
fought by the Colombian police, the authorities have burned the coca fields and
the population has lost their livelihood. When we visited BogotĂĄ, several
hundred families from, among others, the Muisca, demonstrated by setting up
tents in one of the city's parks and occupying it in protest against, as we
understood, that they had not been offered any compensation or help by the
Colombian state to be able to feed themselves in other ways. The population has
also experienced that land has been taken from them as new mineral discoveries
have been made and the mining companies have forced them away by various means.
Unfortunately, we could not update ourselves on the issue and we received
different answers depending on who we asked about the conflict. What is clear
is that the indigenous people are having a hard time coping when their territory
shrinks. When they instead look for the cities, they find it difficult to get a
job and are ill-equipped to live life in a city. Education and lifestyles are
so different. Unfortunately, many, both children and adults, end up as beggars
on the streets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next
day we took the opportunity to take the cable car up to Monserrate where there
is a small church and a restaurant and café. The place is actually best known
for the beautiful view down towards the city and you can clearly see how BogotĂĄ
is located in a depression between the mountains which are one of the northern
extensions of the Andes Mountain range. A nice trip but with a lot of waiting
in the long queue for the cable car.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also had
time to visit museums where we first, and mostly by chance, ended up in the
Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara. A small, beautifully ornate baroque museum in a
former chapel for Franciscan nuns. On the walls hung art from the 17th and 18th
centuries, and you could also take part in an exhibition that addressed
important female figures in Christianity. Contemporary artists also exhibited
works of art in the form of installations that were both a tribute to women and
a representation of the violence against women that is still relatively common
in the country.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We passed
BolivĂĄr Square where it was full of Sunday activity. The cathedral was open and
the sermon had just begun. At the same time, in the square, the indigenous
people had gathered with representatives from different groups for a joint
meeting "Indigenous People's Sixth District Meeting" to discuss
common issues. We ended up in the middle of the opening ceremony where the
religious leaders blessed everyone in the square including us "little
brothers" gathered in a big ring. The rhythmic drumming from the
inauguration was mixed with the preaching from the cathedral, right next door. An
incredibly strange experience!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Later we
also made the mandatory visit to the National Museum where we could see several
works by the Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. You quickly
recognize his style with everyday motifs where both humans and animals are represented
with large round shapes. Otherwise, the museum was just like other national
museums. Here, art from different eras of Colombian history and prehistory was
displayed. At this point we were so museum-weary that we couldn't go through
all the exhibits and instead went out into the bustle of the streets and looked
at what the street vendors had to offer. Every Sunday, a long street in the
city is closed for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists. It is very much
appreciated and sellers naturally take the opportunity to display their
products there.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last
day in BogotĂĄ was devoted to the matter which was really the main reason for
our visit to the city. Christer would finally get his new driver's license! A
few months ago, he had applied for the renewal of his old and nearly expired
driver's license at the Swedish consulate in Grenada. From there, the
application had been forwarded to the Stockholm Caribbean Embassy in Sweden for
further processing by the Swedish Transport Agency, which then sent the new
driver's license to the Swedish Embassy in BogotĂĄ. Apart from the fact that the
whole process took a month or so due to slow mail (in Sweden?), everything had
gone as planned. He had made an appointment with the embassy staff and now it
was time! Once at the embassy building in BogotĂĄ (the northern part, of course!
đ) it took a good while before we were understood and then admitted.
Unfortunately, we didn't find anyone who could speak English or Swedish, but with
our poor Spanish and with Google translate it all worked out and Christer
finally got to pick up the driver's license from a secretary who,
unfortunately, could only speak Spanish. Happy that everything went so well, we
celebrated the last night at a cozy little restaurant, a block from our hotel.
The staff happily cheered in recognition as we ate there three days in a row
and we once again enjoyed a really good dinner. The next day we flew
back to the boat.</p>
<div>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Med buss tar det 15 till 20 timmar att Äka frÄn Barranquilla till
Bogotå och jÀrnvÀgen Àr bara delvis utbyggd i Colombia dÄ topografin Àr ytterst
varierad. Dessutom verkar det som att jÀrnvÀgsnÀtet i första hand byggts för
att underlÀtta för gruvnÀringens transporter och inte sÄ inriktat pÄ persontransporter.
För att ta sig till Bogotå blev vi dÀrför tvungna att ta flyget vilket var vad
de boende hÀr ocksÄ sa till oss var det bÀsta.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bogotå ligger pÄ över 2 600 m höjd vilket kÀndes nÀr vi
kom fram. Dels var temperaturen (för oss) mycket behagligare och liknade den vi
Àr vana vid frÄn Sverige men bÄde Christer och jag (Malin) fick ocksÄ lite lÀtt
huvudvÀrk nÀr vi landade. Troligen pÄ grund av att vi förflyttat oss sÄ snabbt
till högre höjd. Vi Ă€r ju vana vid att stĂ€ndigt befinna oss pĂ„ havsnivĂ„ đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi hade bokat rum pÄ ett lite annorlunda hotell, Hotel Casa
de la Luz. Hotellet ligger i ett gammalt stort kolonialhus med mycket blandad
och personlig inredning som gick frÄn det sakrala till det burleska -med vissa
politiska inslag⊠Det fanns visserligen lite att önska vad gÀller stÀdning och
allt fungerade kanske inte som det skulle men charmen övervÀgde allt sÄdant!
HÀr fanns massor med smÄ rum och vindlande trappor pÄ de mest ovÀntade stÀllen.
Huset hade Àgts av en rik fransk familj under mÄnga Är innan den sÄldes och
gjordes om till hotell. Vi trivdes vÀldigt bra men blev tvungna att byta rum
efter första natten, sÀngen saknade bÀddmadrass och blev alldeles för hÄrd och
vÄra ryggar klarade inte riktigt av det. Man kÀnner av att man blivit lite
Ă€ldre⊠đ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hotellet ligger i den historiska stadsdelen La Candelaria.
Enda anledningen till att vi valde att bo hÀr, var att Christer hittat en bra
reseblogg med tips om stÀllen att besöka. Vi gör gÀrna reklam för den hÀr som
tar upp flera lÀnder, vÀrlden över: <a href="https://www.dreambigtravelfarblog.com/">https://www.dreambigtravelfarblog.com/</a>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">La Candelaria visade sig vara en otroligt vacker stadsdel
med mÄnga museer inom gÄngavstÄnd samt Plaza Bolivår med en stor katedral och
presidentpalatset alldeles intill. Fantastiska graffitimÄlningar fanns pÄ mÄnga
byggnader i hela stadsdelen. PÄ gatorna runt hotellet avlöste den ena juvelerarbutiken
den andra. Flera hundra inom samma kvarter! Vi förstÄr inte hur de kan överleva
med sÄ hÄrd konkurrens. Vi sÄg dock ocksÄ att de hade mÄnga kunder som handlade
smycken och klockor. Colombia har stora smaragdfyndigheter och kvaliteten sÀgs
vara vÀrldens bÀsta sÄ det kan nog förklara handeln⊠</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ca nio miljoner mÀnniskor bor i Bogotå och vi tillbringade
tre hela dagar i staden vilket förstÄs Àr alldeles för lite för en stad i den
storleken. Det finns sÄ mÄnga sevÀrdheter och vackra platser att besöka att man
skulle behöva flera veckor för att fÄ en överblick. VÄrt besök blev dÀrför bara
ett litet nedslag. Första dagen passade vi pÄ att ta en rundtur med en hop on
hop off-buss. Guiden Sebastian, talade spanska och god engelska. Upprymda över
att trÀffa nÄgon som inte bara pratade spanska bombarderade vi honom med
frÄgor. Stackaren, han fick slita men gjorde det med bravur! Han berÀttade att
Bogotå skÀmtsamt brukar kallas för kylskÄpet. HÀr varierar temperaturen mellan
10 och 25 grader under ett och samma dygn. Solen kan skina ena student för att
sedan följas av kallt regn under nÀsta. UngefÀr som att öppna och stÀnga
kylskĂ„psdörren. Eller som Sebastian ocksĂ„ uttryckte det âwax on wax offâ för
att citera karate kid-filmerna. Ena stunden drar man ner dragkedjan pÄ jackan
för att det Àr för varmt för att i nÀsta dra upp den igen för att det Àr för
kallt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi fick förklarat för oss hur gatorna namnges i Bogotå och
andra stÀder. Gatorna har inte egna namn som vi Àr vana vid i Europa. HÀr
pratar man om vÀgkorsningar, Carrera löper parallellt med varandra och gÄr
oftast i nord-sydlig riktning och numreras frÄn öst till vÀst. I öst-vÀstlig
riktning löper gatorna Calle (Uttalas kajje pÄ svenska) som numreras frÄn syd
till nord. Nu stÀmmer detta bara pÄ ett ungefÀr. Gatorna slingar sig gÀrna Ät
olika hÄll men systemet gav oss en förklaring till varför taxichaufförerna vi
Äkt med i bÄde Medellin och Santa Marta hellre ville veta gatunumren för Calle
och Carrera Àn bara platsen vi ville Äka till. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hop on hop off-turen visade sig vara en tur dÀr man ocksÄ
fick besöka platser till fots dÀr guiden berÀttade om omrÄdena vi stannade till
pÄ. Sebastian visade oss bl a den Àldsta delen av staden dÀr den s a s
grundades 1538 i stadsdelen Candelaria. HÀr bodde sÄklart redan ursprungsbefolkningen sedan nÄgra tusen Är
tillbaka men vi pratar nu om kolonialtiden. Platsen som frÄn början bestod av
12 hus, en brunn och en kyrka finns kvar. HÀr Àr ocksÄ det enda stÀllet i Bogotå
dÀr gatorna har egna namn. HÀr fanns fullt av smÄ butiker, caféer, barer och
restauranger och hÀr kunde man köpa den lÀtt alkoholhaltiga, gulaktiga drycken
Chicha som Àr ett slags majsöl som görs av fermenterad majsvÀlling. Drycken Àr
frÄn början en dryck som urbefolkningen bryggde och finns i olika varianter i
hela Latinamerika. Egentligen Àr den förbjuden i Colombia men ingen verkar bry
sig om det. Man kunde snabbt urskilja vilka som drack Chicha eftersom flaskorna
sĂ„ldes med en brun pappĂ„se runt -troligen för att dölja innehĂ„llet đ.
SjÀlvklart smakade vi! Gott var det ocksÄ! Smaken pÄminde om en blandning av
söt öl och kombucha. NĂ„gon flaska vĂ„gade vi dock inte köpaâŠ</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FĂ€rden i bussen gick sedan vidare till de rikare kvarteren i
norr. HÀr mÀrktes genast pÄ bÄde klÀdstil och butikerna som kantade gatorna att
de mer vÀlbÀrgade vistades hÀr. Sebastian berÀttade att man rÀknar med 7 olika
samhÀllsklasser i Colombia och samhÀllsklass 1 och 2 i Bogotå höll mest till i
den norra delen av staden. HÀr var ocksÄ graffitimÄlningar förbjudna Vi tyckte
att den hÀr delen av staden sÄg ut som vilken modern stad som helst. HÀr gjorde
vi ett lunchstopp och Ät en god (och dyr) fiskrÀtt pÄ en fin fiskrestaurang dÀr
vissa av paren var festklÀdda med kostym resp. aftonklÀnning med matchande piffiga
handvÀskor. Kanske onödigt att sÀga att vi inte riktigt matchade stilen vad
gĂ€ller klĂ€dsel och det lyste verkligen âturistâ om oss. Men, en och annan gĂ€st
gick Àven i vanliga jeans sÄ vi var ÀndÄ i gott sÀllskap. Vi kunde i alla fall
uppföra oss fint!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PÄ vÀgen tillbaka till La Candelaria passerade vi tvÄ smÄ
âreservatâ i form av mindre parker. Det ena var vigt Ă„t HBTQ-personer som fick
vistas pÄ omrÄdet utan att (förhoppningsvis) behöva vara rÀdda för
trakasserier. Platsen markerades av en stor Pride-flagga. Den andra parken
kallades för âhippies parkâ och hĂ€r kunde man röka marijuana fritt. Normalt Ă€r
droganvÀndning förbjuden i Colombia men innehav av max ett gram Àr tillÄten.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PÄ eftermiddagen besökte vi Guldmuseet, som liksom sin
motsvarighet i Santa Marta visade upp mÄnga arkeologiska fynd frÄn Colombias
första bosÀttare under förkolonial tid. Colombia har haft flera hundra olika
ursprungsgrupper. Urbefolkningen som bodde (och delvis fortfarande bor kvar)
runt BogotĂĄ kallas Muisca. Liksom Taironafolket var de duktiga i att bearbeta
guld och andra metaller liksom Àdelstenar som smaragder. Ursprungsbefolkningen
har förutom under kolonisationen upplevt andra hot i modern tid dÀr de tvingats
odla kokaplantor av knarkkartellerna som sedan köpt rÄvaran av dem. Nu, nÀr
mÄnga av kartellerna bekÀmpats av den colombianska polisen, har myndigheterna
brÀnt kokafÀlten och befolkningen har förlorat sin utkomst. NÀr vi besökte
Bogotå demonstrerade flera hundra familjer frÄn bl a Muisca som satt upp tÀlt i
en av stadens parker och s a s ockuperade den i protest mot, som vi förstÄtt
det, att de inte erbjudits nÄgon kompensation eller hjÀlp av den colombianska
staten för att kunna livnÀra sig pÄ andra sÀtt. Befolkningen har ocksÄ upplevt
att mark tagits frÄn dem i takt med att nya mineralfyndigheter gjorts och
gruvbolagen har med olika medel tvingat bort dem. TyvÀrr kunde vi inte
uppdatera oss i frÄgan och vi fick olika svar beroende vem vi frÄgade om konflikten.
Helt klart Àr att ursprungsbefolkningen har svÄrt att klara sig nÀr deras
livsmiljö krymper. NÀr de dÄ istÀllet söker sig till stÀderna har de svÄrt att
fÄ jobb och Àr illa rustade att leva livet i en stad. Utbildning och
levnadsvanor Àr sÄ annorlunda. TyvÀrr hamnar vÀldigt mÄnga, bÄde barn och
vuxna, till slut som tiggare pÄ gatorna.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NÀsta dag passade vi pÄ att ta linbanan upp till Monserrate dÀr
det stÄr en liten kyrka samt en restaurang och café. Platsen Àr egentligen mest
kÀnd för den vackra utsikten ner mot staden och man kan tydligt se hur Bogotå
ligger i en sÀnka mellan bergen som Àr en av de nordliga förlÀngningarna av Andernas
bergskedja. En trevlig tur men med mycket vÀntan i den lÄnga kön till linbanan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi hann ocksÄ med museibesök dÀr vi först, och mest av en
slump, hamnade i Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara. Ett litet vackert utsmyckat museum
i barockstil i ett tidigare kapell för nunnor av Franciskanorden. PÄ vÀggarna
hÀngde konst frÄn 1600 och 1700-talen och man kunde ocksÄ ta del av en
utstÀllning som tog upp viktiga kvinnogestalter i kristendomen. Nutida
konstnÀrer stÀllde ocksÄ ut konstverk i form av installationer som bÄde var en
hyllning till kvinnan och en representation av det vÄld mot kvinnor som
fortfarande Àr relativt vanligt förekommande i landet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vi passerade Bolivår-torget dÀr det var full söndagsaktivitet.
Katedralen var öppen och predikan hade precis börjat. Samtidigt, pÄ torget, hade
ursprungsbefolkningen samlats med representanter frÄn olika grupper inför ett
gemensamt möte "urbefolkningens sjÀtte distriktsmöte" dÀr man skulle diskuterade
gemensamma frÄgor. Vi hamnade mitt i invigningsceremonin dÀr de religiösa
ledarna vĂ€lsignade alla pĂ„ torget inklusive oss âsmĂ„bröderâ som samlats i en
stor ring. Det taktfasta trummandet frÄn invigningen blandades med mÀssande
frÄn katedralen, strax intill. En otroligt mÀrklig upplevelse!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Senare gjorde vi ocksÄ det obligatoriska besöket pÄ nationalmuseet
dÀr vi kunde se flera verk av den colombianske konstnÀren och skulptören Fernando
Botero. Man kÀnner snabbt igen hans stil med vardagsmotiv dÀr bÄde mÀnniskor
och djur har stora runda former. I övrigt var museet precis som andra
nationalmuseer. HÀr visades det upp konst frÄn olika epoker av Colombias
historia och förhistoria. Vid det hÀr laget var vi sÄ museitrötta sÄ vi orkade
inte gÄ igenom alla utstÀllningar utan gick istÀllet ut i gatuvimlet och
tittade pÄ vad gatuförsÀljarna hade att erbjuda. Varje söndag stÀngs en lÄng
gata av i staden till förmÄn för gÄende och cyklister. Det Àr mycket uppskattat
och försÀljare passar sÄklart pÄ att visa upp sina produkter dÀr.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sista dagen i Bogotå vigdes Ät det Àrende som egentligen var
den största anledningen till vÄrt besök i staden. Christer skulle Àntligen fÄ
sitt nya körkort! För nÄgra mÄnader sedan hade han ansökt om förnyelse av sitt
gamla och nÀstan utgÄngna körkort, pÄ svenska konsulatet i Grenada. DÀrifrÄn
hade ansökan skickats vidare till Karibiens Stockholmsambassad i Sverige för
vidare handlÀggning av Transportstyrelsen som sedan skickat det nya körkortet
till svenska ambassaden i Bogotå. Förutom att hela processen tagit nÄgon mÄnad
pÄ grund av lÄngsam postgÄng (i Sverige?) sÄ hade allt gÄtt som planerat. Han
hade fÄtt en tid hos ambassadpersonalen och nu var det dags! VÀl vid
ambassadbyggnaden i BogotĂĄ (norra delen, sĂ„klart! đ)
tog det en bra stund innan vi blev förstÄdda och sedan inslÀppta. TyvÀrr
hittade vi ingen som kunde prata engelska eller svenska men vÄr knaggliga
spanska och med Google translate löste sig det hela och Christer fick till slut
hÀmta ut körkortet hos en sekreterare som ocksÄ, tyvÀrr, bara kunde prata
spanska. Glada Ät att allt gÄtt sÄ bra firade vi sista kvÀllen pÄ en mysig
liten restaurang, ett kvarter frÄn vÄrt hotell. Personalen hejade glatt
igenkÀnnande dÄ vi Àtit dÀr tre dagar i rad och vi njöt Äterigen av en riktigt
god middag. Dagen efter flög vi tillbaks till bÄten.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Hotel Casa de la Luz</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_084821.jpg?1727213044" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_084821.jpg?1727213044 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_084821.jpg?1727213044 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_084821.jpg?1727213044 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_084821.jpg?1727213044?1727213044" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_155214.jpg?1727213044?1727213044" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113747.jpg?1727213340" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113747.jpg?1727213340 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113747.jpg?1727213340 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113747.jpg?1727213340 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113747.jpg?1727213340?1727213340" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113806.jpg?1727213340" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113806.jpg?1727213340 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113806.jpg?1727213340 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113806.jpg?1727213340 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_113806.jpg?1727213340?1727213340" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>La Candelaria, old town</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110758.jpg?1727213415?1727213415" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110928.jpg?1727213415" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110928.jpg?1727213415 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110928.jpg?1727213415 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110928.jpg?1727213415 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_110928.jpg?1727213415?1727213415" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111656.jpg?1727213415?1727213415" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111658.jpg?1727213414?1727213414" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111704.jpg?1727213414" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111704.jpg?1727213414 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111704.jpg?1727213414 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111704.jpg?1727213414 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111704.jpg?1727213414?1727213414" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Gold museum</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_165925.jpg?1727213521" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_165925.jpg?1727213521 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_165925.jpg?1727213521 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_165925.jpg?1727213521 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_165925.jpg?1727213521?1727213521" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171518.jpg?1727213521" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171518.jpg?1727213521 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171518.jpg?1727213521 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171518.jpg?1727213521 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171518.jpg?1727213521?1727213521" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172101.jpg?1727213521" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172101.jpg?1727213521 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172101.jpg?1727213521 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172101.jpg?1727213521 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172101.jpg?1727213521?1727213521" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172131.jpg?1727213521" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172131.jpg?1727213521 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172131.jpg?1727213521 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172131.jpg?1727213521 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_172131.jpg?1727213521?1727213521" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171757.jpg?1727213649" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171757.jpg?1727213649 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171757.jpg?1727213649 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171757.jpg?1727213649 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_171757.jpg?1727213649?1727213649" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara (Christer tries the confessional)</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094011.jpg?1727213848" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094011.jpg?1727213848 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094011.jpg?1727213848 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094011.jpg?1727213848 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094011.jpg?1727213848?1727213848" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_092105.jpg?1727213848?1727213848" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094835.jpg?1727213848" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094835.jpg?1727213848 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094835.jpg?1727213848 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094835.jpg?1727213848 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_094835.jpg?1727213848?1727213848" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_095856.jpg?1727213848" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_095856.jpg?1727213848 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_095856.jpg?1727213848 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_095856.jpg?1727213848 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_095856.jpg?1727213848?1727213848" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal">Plaza Bolivår</p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240906_174520.jpg?1727214017?1727214017" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_090056.jpg?1727214016?1727214016" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_102332.jpg?1727214016" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_102332.jpg?1727214016 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_102332.jpg?1727214016 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_102332.jpg?1727214016 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_102332.jpg?1727214016?1727214016" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe width="490" height="240" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVblfOshRAk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Botero paintings at the National museum</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142157.jpg?1727214270?1727214270" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_142042.jpg?1727214446?1727214446" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_141641.jpg?1727214270" loading="lazy" data-original-width="1458" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_141641.jpg?1727214270 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_141641.jpg?1727214270 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_141641.jpg?1727214270 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_141641.jpg?1727214270?1727214270" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Bogotå</em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_111634.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="2250" data-original-height="3000" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115136.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="250" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240908_115326.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_115409.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240909_135000.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"> <img class="sbfancy" data-fancybox="gallery" rel="gallery" href="/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551" loading="lazy" data-original-width="3000" data-original-height="1458" srcset="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_2100/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551 2100w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_1500/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551 1500w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551 760w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_480/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551 480w,https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_320/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551 320w," src="https://www.skipperblogs.com/media/cache/resolve/content_th_760/content/b7bb0d43-7467-5cb2-9c84-56809f9e648f//userfiles/Bogota/20240907_114335.jpg?1727214551?1727214551" width="350" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px"></p>
Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000
/blog/september-2024/bogota-colombia
/blog/september-2024/bogota-colombia