Hello, friends and family,
Sept 25 2010
We have been slack about updating the blog because we do not get online so often. We are still here in Panama on the east coast south of the canal, the the islands of the Kuna Indians, called Kuna yala.
The islands are low and covered by coconut trees. They are surrounded by reef on three sides. We are anchoring in 60 feet of water 100 feet from the shore. The reefs are spectacular in part because they do not have hurricanes here to tear them up. In one swim/snorkel one minute its only 3 ft deep and the next its 50. Their is every consivable kind of coral on the reef. Lobster are small and large fish are scarce.
The kuna people are small, actually they are said to be the smalest non pigmy people on the planit. The live to a ripe old age. Old enough to be studied as to why. I thing is's less stress. Most of the men are fishermen. They work from there dug out log canous, which are paddled or sailed sometimes even with a jib. Some of the small islands of 30 acres have huts of cane and thatch that vertually cover 90% of the island. The most populus of these islands has 1300 people living on it, still only 30 or 40 acres.
The mountains on the mainland are in the background, mostley vergin jungle with tucans and white faced monkies. There society is different, matriarcle (women rule) only women can own land and can will it to the daughters or gay sons. Gays are fully accepted. There are a few rastas.
We get an irrigular weekly veggy boat with frozen chicken and fruits and veggies even milk and eggs at very good prices. Dayley we get the fischerman stopping by to sell live lobster from one or two dollars apiece for the small ones to fifteen bucks for the giants like 8 pounds. Conch we buy for 2 bucks apiece cleaned and skinned Every new anchorage we go to we get several canoes with women selling molas which are stiched pictorgraphs, very well done wiuth the tiniest of fine hand stiching.
We got another solor poanal and can bring in nearly what we use to make water, turn it to ice in the frezer and keep the lights on. We also got a phone that connects to the internet when the signel is strong. Even when it is strong it is not strong enough to tosend a photo. If you are trying to reach us use my regular e address, Captwinyerkes@hotmail and cc to WDF4730@sailmail.com just remember it takes a long time to get an e mail over the ssb radio so dont send attachments or photos to the sailmail address.
October 1,2010
Well the boys did there first day of school with the Kuns kids at school. We arrived just before 7;00 to a beach and walked across the island to the school. Everyone lined up in grades and the boys were put in 1st and 2nd at two and four years old but much taller than the short kuna kids. The director spoke to the kids for five minutes in spanish or kuna we were't sure. The abruptly broke up and came each one of the 40 to great the boys and then us. We shook each one's hand. The Boys were starteled a bit by the overwhelming greeting. Then they all lined back up and went into the various class rooms. Christy and I tried to hide for a while. Just in front of the school was a large cement dock with a colombian freighter some 70 ft long. There were giving the kuna ladies credit for groceries which would be paid on the freighters return trip in a week, the had potatoes and bannanas, clothing and even movies. Christy and I walked over to the freighter and the kids must have seen us. All the kids were given some kind of hot cerial drink to start their day. Gillan and Matthew were prepaired with their, cup and bowel in their packs with there paper and pencil. Since the kids saw us at the freighter they got antsy. Gillia was moved to a different teacher. Within two hours both the boys walked out asking for mom. We spoke to the teacher a minute and they will go down to kendergarden and first on monday. Next try mom and dad will drive away in the dingy in front of the kids, so they will stay put. The kuna are among the most devoted to children in the world, and are said to not disaplin them.
After our part day at school we fired up the boat and went to a nearby outisland for the weekend. At the moment we are anchored in 40 feet of water about 50 feet from the beach where
Gillan plays with some kuna kids in sight of us from the boat.
We are meetiing lots of other boat people some returning from their circumnavigation of the globe. One has a great website, go to it and see what we have ahead of us www.thevoyageofbluesky.com
that's it for today, we have lots of photos but need fast internet to send them in
Win, Christy, Gillan and Matthew send love to all
