The docks of Corinto are located on the river and that river ends in the sea south of the town. So the port is nice and sheltered but you first have to get there. The town straddles a sort of peninsula with the sea on one side and the river on the other side. And that sea can be tricky sometimes, if there is a long ocean swell running. Then the main thrust of that swell is under water as the energy amplitude of the wave system continues under water and stays there as long as the water is deep. When the water gets shallower and shallower the wave is “lifted or pushed” up and up and forced to disperse all its energy at the water’s surface. That causes high and short waves and can make a ship roll as a pig in the mud. Except the pig will like it, the people on the ship don’t. Corinto is approached through a channel with about a mile of very shallow water on each side and that can cause very nasty waves. Sometimes so nasty, that the call at Corinto has to be cancelled.
The Corinto pilot boat: the ms Taiwan. How (un) local can you get??
Yesterday I observed that there was little swell at Punta Arenas due to the calm weather in the North Pacific and today that weather continued and also here there was very little swell. So we were in business, the captain made his safety announcement urging everybody to sit down and in we went. The pilot has a new pilot boat since the last time I was here and this work boat is named Taiwan. Peculiar name for a Spanish speaking country. My hunch is that it must have been a gift from one of the container companies calling here.
The statue of the national poet Ruben Darrio. Why not name the local pilot boat after him ??
When coming in, the ship has to make a sharp turn around an island on which top there is a white lighthouse. Right behind it on a pedestal stands a statue of Ruben Dario. He is the founding father of Nicaragua and the national hero. It is not often that a poet is considered the man to look up to but here in Corinto it is the case. His name is Ruben Dario and the main elementary school in Corinto is named after him.
I have to use a photo from last year as a big tanker was standing in front of the school. But it still looks the same. The Holland America paint is holding very well.
By 10 am. we were docked in front of a container ship and guests could stream ashore for what turned out to be a very warm day. No wind and no clouds. I followed the stream of guests as I was going to have a look at the school. It being Saturday is was closed of course but the head teacher lives next door so hopefully she was at home. She was not and I had an awkward conversation with another lady who was very suspicious about me ringing the bell. (Or better said, hollering for attention as there was no bell) Sometimes it pays off to be world famous (at least in Corinto) as suddenly a bright smile appeared on her face as she recognized me from a photo in the sitting room.
This is the cover page of their Face Book page. The school is to the left, nicely in blue and white.
Being world famous in Corinto, means you are also rich and I was directed to the little shop around the corner, where I once bought the corrugated roof plates and was pointed to the dry-erasers again. So I bought them all; $ 52, — covered the whole inventory, and they will get to the head teacher somehow. Dry erasers seem to be a big issue in Corinto schools. The school is now going in recess as high summer approaches. I could not get in as the keys where with somebody else in charge. But I learned a new thing from her, one of the Statendam crewmembers had put the whole paint thing on You tube at the time. The lady knew but I did not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcGJwTjgMTw
So the little effort by Team Statendam in 2012 still lingers on and is not forgotten by the locals. If we could do it again remains the question as it gets more and more difficult to do things without having to go through a lot of red tape. Not just here but everywhere. If I ever get back here, courtesy of my schedule not changing at the last minute, then I will try for dry erasers again.
Tonight we sail at 18.00 hrs. and then tomorrow we are in Puerto Quetzal. Weather is going to be hot, sunny and humid again: 89oF / 32oC. Not good for this poor man as I have to go down in the tender with my sailor class to teach them tender maneuvering. Today I had the whole ship running around because of an un-expected fire drill. More about that tomorrow.
October 29, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Dear Capt. Albert:
We are so fortunate to have met you.
We watched to video of the little school.
It is things like this that make the world a better place and renews our faith in humanity.
Thank you so much for all you do,
Susan & Bennett Gottlieb
October 29, 2016 at 11:47 pm
Thank you for the update on Corinto’s school. I expect to be visiting Corinto in April onboard MS Nieuw Amsterdam. I would like to take school supplies, perhaps including markers and dry erasers. Would there be a way to deliver them or have them delivered to the school? I think this is a wonderful outreach program and hope that Holland America Line has continued to follow the example set by you and the crew of the Statendam. (by the way, MS Statendam was my very first cruise ship experience in 1993, although my acquaintance with HAL goes back to SS Groote Beer in September 1960 when she carried a shipload of students home from summer travels in Europe.)
October 30, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Thank you for your interest in the school. By April the school should be open again.
If you want to take something dry erasers are the hot item. Most other stuff, which is also more bulky would draw the suspicion of customs if you try to walk it out of the gate. The best thing to do, is to contact the GRM a few days in advance and ask them to contact the agent, and ask if he/she will take you to the school. The schools name is Ruben Darrio and is on the 3rd street on the left from the central square.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
October 30, 2016 at 8:42 am
It was great to see the video of the wonderful work you and your staff did at the school. HAL and its employees are “second to none”. Thank you for your postings on your activities. We really look forward to reading them. They give a good insight into the operation of the ship. After 35 HAL cruises, we especially enjoy these “blogs”.
Thank you very much for your hard work.
Dave and Ardele Bond
October 30, 2016 at 9:12 pm
Thank you for the information. I’ll keep this in mind. Just making sure what you mean by dry erasers. Are they the felted blocks to rub out writings on white marker boards in the classrooms? I think you are not speaking of rubber erasers to remove pencil marks. If they use dry erasers, can I assume that dry erase markers for white boards are also needed? What other classroom supplies have been requested in the past?
October 31, 2016 at 10:07 am
yes in indeed.
You write with it on a white board and then you can wipe it off again with a brush. Other items which went down well (apart from everything……..) spiral note books, blue pens, colored pens, multi colored post it notes. To avoid carrying too much weight, I would stick to light items which have a high turn over.
Thank you for your help and consideration for the school. Much appreciated.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 1, 2016 at 1:18 am
Thank you again for your information. I’ll keep it in mind.