February 4, 2024
I have figured out that if I don’t highlight the link to these posts on Facebook, nobody actually looks at the posts. Which is fine because I am doing this mostly to remember all of the wonderful things that happen (they come fast and furious when you move as much as we do). When my readers come along, that’s even better. In any case, this will be a short post because it has been kind of a boring week all things considered.
I am taking Spanish lessons which is eating up a lot of my time. Lessons, then extra work on my part, some cycling and a few boat projects here and there. It’s busy, but boring.
Since my last post I have done about 330km on the bike (which really isn’t that much for me), but with the heat people here start at 5am. I have tried to keep up with that as well, but only made a single 5 am start. Most of the time it is 6 am and then stay off the bike in the sun and heat. Notably all three of the photos in this post were taken while riding down the road at 30+ kph, so not always the best framing or the clearest images.
During the week I took more Spanish and am learning as much as I can as fast as I can. I have serious recall issues. I recognize words, but it’s like I am a mute that can’t form words when it is my turn to say something. I simply can’t find the words. Crazy. Anyway, I will keep going, probably moving to private lessons so I can spend more time talking and less time listening (sounds familiar to those who know me I suppose).
One treat has been getting to know the people in the classes. Mostly younger people, and hanging out with them has been nice. They are all young and cheerful and seeing the world, like Megan. (Venya and Paulo, Fabian and Lori (?), Anika, Danielle, and Adriana, there are others from the classes as well, Dave & Merideth and their kids, Barbara, Doris and Harry and a few others whose names I don’t recall right now.) Almost all of them are from Germany or Switzerland, perhaps because one of the owners of the school is from Germany.
I’m still not able to communicate in Spanish in any real way, but it is getting better, and I think a couple more weeks of effort will dramatically improve my abilities. I will keep going and hopefully things in Panama will be easier than here. For context, few people here speak English, so communicating in any meaningful way with others requires me to adapt. I am perfectly fine with that, and working hard to adapt.
The boat is getting just enough attention. The winds here brings a fine dust/sand and deposits it neatly on the boat day in and day out. Washing the boat this week was surprising as the brown film washed off. Luckily there isn’t that much to do on the boat so I can focus on riding and Spanish.
Soon I have to think about my path to Panama, but I think two more weeks here will be appropriate first. Then hopefully I have a good weather window to cross over. I am still very happy here. The cycling here isn’t amazing, but it isn’t bad either and the people are generally very nice and helpful. The only downside to this place (and it’s Cartagena and the coastal areas specifically), is that it is so very, very hot. For a Canadian it is like being put in an oven for six hours a day.
