07/26/07 Isla Margarita

Early in the morning we went for a walk along the beautiful beach all the way to the sand spit, how peaceful. We then headed around to the other side but it was littered with sargassa grass and lots and lots of trash, what a pity. We headed back and explored the hotel on the beach, of course we had to as the name was "Paradise", really nice place with two incredible inviting pools (for BS 25 000 a day we could have used the hotel facility, maybe next time). On the hotel grounds we saw several macaws
wandering around, one kept attacking me and tried to bite my toes. In one of the trees was a beautiful Cockatoo, incredible. After we indulged in he beautiful scenery at the hotel we had lunch in a small beach restaurant, pargo pan fried crispy with home made fries and a cabbage and carrot slaw with two beer and it came to 12 bucks, not bad. Today was a holiday Simon Bolivar's BD and so the beach and anchorage was packed, so we headed back to the lonely boat and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon,
other than dinghy into San Pedro to get ice for our cocktails and found our usual rum for just 1.45 a bottle, coke or water costs more then the rum.
The wind never died down, not even during the night but at least by morning it wasn't howling anymore, so we pulled the main up, the anchor up and headed out of Coche and motor sailed to Porlamar in Isla Margarita. The wind again was right on the nose and very light so we motor sailed into it. The last 5 miles into the anchorage was finally sailable with 2.9 knots, but then the sea picked up as a tropical waves was underway, so we turned the iron jib back on and motored the last mile into the anchorage.
We're pretty much anchored at the same spot as we did almost a year ago. The anchorage is a bit on the rolly side so we hooked up the flopper stoppers and we were nice and calm compared to all the other boast in the anchorage rolling from side to side.
Porlamar is the largest and busiest town in Margarita. It is very modern with lots of high rise buildings and incredible shopping. This is a shoppers paradise and I got my shopping fix today, well one of many to come. Sid and I took a taxi to the Sumbill Mall which is an incredible big mal with pretty much anything in it. First store we went to we spent almost all the money in our pockets but are set again with some cool Colombia shorts. Sigo the grocery store is still as incredible as I remember
it, it has anything gourmet you can imagine. We're back on the boat enjoying the nice breeze and crystal clear water. In a few minutes we'll go ashore to get some water for out sun shower, ice for our cuba libre and around 4.30 we should be noodeling in the cool water. Beno on Diesel Duck is coming over for dinner, his wife Marlene is in Germany for two weeks so we'll keep him some company.