Man Boobs, Speed Boat and New Friendship

Today we had become conscious of time as we had to be at the wharf at 8:30am for our day trip to the Rosario Islands. This meant an earl rise and equally early breakfast.

The breakfast was served by the staff who now felt like they were part of our family. As they performed their tasks with such honesty and genuine friendliness. We made it to the wharf and soon we were boarding our speed boat.

Life jackets on, we putted away from the old city and modern Cartagena began to emerge on either side of the harbour banks. Just like in many harbour cities, high rise apartments dotted the harbour foreshore. We left the the old and the new city far behind and it was now time for the boat to show us some speed. The engines started to churn and churn and churn!! and then there was nothing. More spluttering could be heard from the rear of the boat as I tried to position myself away from the direct rays of the sun( as I had fears of transforming into a rock lobster like I did in Rio 5 years ago) Then the one thing you do not want to experience when on any kind of moving vessel, Silence!!. The engines had come to a complete stop and could not be awakened. The passengers began to stir.

Chug chug chug still no luck. The passengers became anxious and worried. Most of the people on board were from Brazil and other latin countries. In fact I thought we were only native english speakers on board(I was soon to be proved wrong on this assumption) Suddenly a man jumped up and demanded to be taken back to shore.

The man appeared to be of Brazilian natyionality whith a German heritage.(not a combination to be taken lightly when fired up) He yelled at the crew as the rest of the passengers were also becoming very agitated and more vocal.

My main priority became sun avoidance . As I slapped on another dollop of 50+ sunblock from head to toe. Still the motors could not be brought to life and the passengers were becoming very angry. Were we going to have our own "Mutiny on the Bounty" in the seas of Cartagena.

Finally the crew made an announcement( of course only in spanish) That it would take a little while to be on our way. A woman who must have seen the confused look on my face then translated to me in perfect english with a slight accent what was being said. We began to chat . Turns out she is a peruvian Australian living in Ballarat Victoria

She was there on the boat with her husband and daughter. The daughter just happened to be sitting next to Michael( It almost amazes me how many interesting people you meet when travelling).

Out of a boat load of nearly 60 people its strange that the five Australians were sitting in close proximity to each other . We started chatting with the daughter who was in her late 20's and quickly realised we had a lot in common( I am one of those people who believe that everyone who crosses your pathway even if only briefly in life does so for a reason) While many of the other passengers were getting angry with the lack of movement from the boat, the three of us sat chatting and quietly laughing at the behaviour of the people, The Aussie "no worries" attitude.

Finally the boat was motioned from stillness into full throttle and we were on our way to the Rosario Isand. The sea was quite choppy. The boat slicing through it with precision. Never having been the best sea traveller  in the world I started to feel sick about 3/4 of the way into the trip.

Michael ( always the bearer of good news ) told me " I looked green"( If only he knew I felt more like baby poo brown)to be continued:..........