I picked up the pilot at 04.00. to enable a docking of 05.30 so the tour could leave by 6 am. For the locals it was winter time. Not in the last 20 years had it been so cold. They were even afraid about fog at the airport. That did not materialize but the noon time temperatures were about 12oF below the regular norm for the time of the year and thus it was cold for the locals. For those coming from the cold north it was a really pleasant temperature with very little to complain about. The cold front did however bring a bit of drizzle in the late afternoon and when we sailed it just looked like an autumn evening in Vancouver. (The dark days before Christmas……..) instead of a tropical nightfall.
Today we again donated materials to two institutions. Blankets to an old folks home in Livingston (that is just north of Santo Tomas) and clothing and school supplies to a village called La Pintada. This town can only be accessed via boat as there are no roads through the jungle. As a result it is a very isolated community deprived from a lot of things we take for granted.
This a real open plan kitchen
The school has around 70 students from the 1st to 7th grade but only has two classrooms with very few chairs. Today we donated 120 pounds of clothing from the crew, 40 blankets from the ship, 3 VCR’s for training and school supplies for 70 children. We have much more material waiting onboard, also materials donated by guests, but we can only get so much through customs each time and we have to find institutions to donate it to. Customs will not allow the sponsoring of private families. The reason for this is that materials donated last year by the Silver Shadow ended up on the market for resale. Thus in order to remain on good standing with the Guatemalan authorities we carefully select where the donations are going.
Veendam crew carries blankets ashore in Livingston
An emotional gift
At the old folks home
I say we, but the brunt of the work is done by my chief house keeper Nelly who has managed to enthuse all the crew (and also guests) into donating and she maintains the close contacts with the shore side. We will continue to do this charity work all through the coming season and I hope that next year the Ryndam will pick up where the Veendam stopped, as the Veendam is scheduled for South America and both Nelly and I are transferring to the Prinsendam.
Supplies arriving at the School
The class room, one of two
School supplies and very hard to get in Guatemala
Chief Housekeeper Nelly as School teacher
Christmas came early this year. Something to write and something to eat.
Tomorrow we will be in Costa Maya and we will be all by ourselves, so I can pick the dock that I want. The weather remains strange. Tonight we will pass through several small weather fronts that should bring rain and wind. Only the chief officer will be happy about that as it will wash the salt from the decks. In Costa Maya there should be little wind but whether the sun will come through, remains to be seen. This is turning into one very, very strange season.
December 5, 2008 at 7:37 pm
From your photos it looks like there may be more need than at Boca da Valeria. Will there be opportunities for donating as the ship travels the Pacific coast of Central America to and from Alaska and also down to South America?
What will happen to all the old materials when the ship is in dry dock? Hopefully they will not go to landfill.
Who will be the new Veendam captain? And will Captain Russell-Dunford remain with the ship?
Thanks again for a great Amazon cruise.
December 8, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Have you been in Vancouver during the dark days before Christmas, Captain? I testify, they can’t be as dark as in the high north . . .
Always very commendable when individuals and companies alike give to those in need. I’m trying to recognize the little Indonesians who are the happy deliverers of the goods. But, they are most likely from the Housekeeping department and not from the Hotel department. But, it is a fact, that the poor will always be with us. Thus, there is also an education in place in this country where the poor [and the rich] are learning “how to fish” so that they can feed themselves for a lifetime . . .