Thursday, 2/24/05
On our way to Punta Arenas to catch a catamaran out to a secluded island beach. On the Calypso catamaran the crew was all dressed in Caribbean-formal whites, and served us pineapple, papaya, and watermelon fruit, and drinks to our hearts' content

still Thurs, 2/24/05
They dropped us off at Punta Coral, and then took the rest of the passengers on to Isla de Tortuga. Punta Coral was gorgeous! It had sea kayaking equipment, snorkeling equipment, hammocks in the shade, lounges in the sun, an outside bar built like a Mexican Palapa, a beautiful restaurant, lovely gardens, and a nature walk. We first went on the nature walk (where we saw a bunch of howler monkeys).

still Thurs, 2/24/05
Then, in the Palapa, they served us a fantastically good mahi-mahi ceviche and a drink of our choice. More resting in the hammocks, and then luch was served. It was amazing! Mahi-mahi cooked to perfection with a light breading and sauced with a creamy wine and mushroom sauce, dotted with Macadamia nuts. Wow! There was also a yummy green salad, some squash-like vegetables, and, of course, rice. For dessert there was a chocolate-and-coconut brownie on strawberry sauce and smothered with whipped cream.

still Thurs, 2/24/05
While we were finishing our lunch, we were given a marimba concert by “Abuelo” Cristino Alemán Morillo, a 93-year-old native of Punta Arenas. He played on a marimba he made himself using carved out wood slats for keys and pvc pipe for the resonating cavities underneath. The keys were suspended by threading a rope through them, help up between each key with an eyelet-ended nail. He told us that he was not a musician, but his music came from God and entered his heart. And when he played for people that appreciated the music God enters their hearts as well and he gets younger. He had 18 children (by the same wife, now dead) and countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife died about 15 years ago, and he's remarried, “a girl who takes care of me.”

still Thurs, 2/24/05
After lunch a short rest, and then some of us went snorkeling and others tried out the kayaks. The snorkeling wasn't great, but if you went near the rocks you could find fish. I saw schools of tiny silver fish, one real puffer fish, 2 other puffer-like yellowish fish, and a small gar-like fish.

After the snorkeling we rested and waited for the Calypso to pick us up around 4pm. Eva Auchincloss and her family were on the boat, complete with bags of dead coral from Tortuga. I took some photos of her and her family and will send them to her. After we disembarked, we drove through the town of Punta Arenas. Now it is a very large town that goes on for blocks and blocks. Back when Abuelo was born, in 1911, there were only 5 families in town!

still Thurs, 2/24/05
It took us about 1.5 hours to get back to Villa Lajas where we were due for dinner at 6:30pm. At Alejandro's urging, the hotel gave us another 30 minutes to shower and get to dinner, and a terrific folkloric show. Through some beautiful dances it took us from the Columbian Indian times through the Conquistadores, through the Catholic Church, through Spanish and then Costa Rican times. There was also a dance of three birds, beautifully done, and one of a jellyfish in the sea. The dancers were good and the choreography very imaginative - not at all shlocky like I expected. I was sitting with Lynn right in front of the dance floor, so I could get some good pictures. The best male dancer danced over to me in one dance number and gently kissed me on the forehead! I was struck dumb - Juana Boba - and only managed to whisper Gracias. It was a super show.

I had collected some sticks over on Punta Coral, and sewed 14 more Costa Rican flags to give to Alejandro to give out to everyone. Olman has one mounted on the bus windowshade.