English Speaking Colombia

Saturday 27 September 2009 - Isla de Providencia, Colombia

Santa Catalina Island is connected to the much large Providencia Island by a wildly colored unstable foot bridge. We landed on the larger island after an equally wild (but safe, the ever patronizing Cruise Director/Expedition Leader said) Zodiac ride of 3 miles. Since Providencia is owned by (not settled or particularly desired by the English speaking locals) Colombia, this is my country number 128, the only new "bagged country" of this cruise (but who's counting).

The onboard docents conducted a morning guided walk of a couple of miles on Santa Catalina to a namesake's statue and old fort. The naturalists pointed out crabs, lizards, more crabs, more lizards, and a couple of birds. Some of us saw iguanas, but the docents didn't. Very loud toads were heard but unseen, really heard, and we observed a number of homes built no doubt by the builders of the foot bridge. Everyone seemed happy, thought, so who am I to say.

After lunch, we joined the "4 hour snorkel trip". Noodles (not for lunch but for flotation, make of that what you will) were provided to those who needed them, and a good time was had by mostly all. We snorkeled over the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world, which means that the water was very deep off the boat with live coral heads coming almost to the surface. Lots of fish and all sorts of coral forms were observed, even my those with 41 year old cracked (but prescription) masks. Maybe I should have used the ship's modern (but not prescription) equipment. On the way back we stopped at a local bar for a "Redds" cider beer, a most refreshing beverage. The cervaza here is of the apple cider variety. Travel is wonderful.No drug cartels were noted.

We sailed away towards Puerto Limon, Costa Rica after recovering the Zodiacs with a big hook. The "Study of Beef" entree was delightful with the Chianti.