Journal from Isla Baru

March 30th 2008 . Sunday p.m.

We are now on the Isla Baru at the Sport Baru resort leaving a pleasant boat ride from Cartagena. Waves were about 4ft rollers in the end but the boat was made for them making it pretty smooth. There is no internet here because it is very rustic & tropically remote. It also is very beautiful & relaxing. The set up is very laid back here with the small staff, in fact we are the only ones here at the time! So… we have the whole place to our selves with all 20 hammocks, ping pong table, kayak, futons w/ cushy pillows, chaise lounges, quaint decks w/ look outs etc.
Upon arrival we first packed a bag & boarded another boat to ride across the bay to a beach on another bay with a little more surf. The guys that brought us over there were kind of pestering to buy goods so we gave them each some drinks from the cooler so we could have alone time…and they loved it! In the end we ended up buying a few necklaces & bracelets. : )
Came back an hour or so later & the cook made an awesome fish plate consisting of Pargo Roho (red salt water fish), coconut rice & plantane's (fried bananas)… a typical Caribbean lunch, it was delicious! Our dinner was another kind of fish topped w/capers which was awesome too!
….Later after lunch two local island girls (the massage therapist's) came in by small boat & Marie & I each had a massage on the beach where they had a table under a cabana, Paradise..! Tomorrow is Marie's Birthday! What a nice way to spend a birthday, on an Island. The gift I bought her has no wrapping so I will use some palm leaves & put some fresh flowers from the grounds on it for a ribbon. Adios! Amy

March 31st 2008 . Monday

I awoke early this morning around 6am to the sound of a Rooster, but didn’t get up until 7ish. It was neat~ like we’re at a small Caribbean farm of some sort. I picked flowers & palms from the ground's & wrapped Marie's present & asked for a vase for the breakfast table. They had fresh fruit & juice for breakfast w/ fresh eggs scrambled w/ tomatoes, onions, cheese & toast. After breakfast we were dropped off by boat to really nice beach on some private property (no one was there) w/ our cooler of Colombian beer & water. This was near where we were yesterday...It was quiet & beautiful. Our boat driver came back to pick us up for lunch ... When we arrived we ate fish steaks & coconut rice (mmmm!) We were asked if we wanted shrimp for Marie's Birthday dinner, which she was very happy to say Si Si Si !!! Needless to say she had a wonderful Birthday on the Isla of Baru….
That evening we sat on the dock & stargazed....A

April 1st 2008 . Tuesday afternoon

After the Rooster pleasantly woke me up again I fell back to sleep & got up around 7ish (repeat of yesterday morning). This time I went to the boat dock & did some yoga… which felt great afterwards. Had some café’ w/ leche’ (milk) & azucar (sugar) asked if I could have some fresh papaya & read my book. For breakfast we ate a traditional Colombian dish~ Arepa's (eggs filled in a round corn based crust) & more fruit. An abundance of fruit is here in Colombia, such as pina (pineapple), mango, papaya & watermelon.
Today we leave to go back to the mainland around 3ish (Caribbean time probably 4ish). We just finished kayaking over to a nice beach w/ a lot of locals hanging around waiting for the Cruise ship people to arrive on some speed boats. They were catching crab & lobsters which they will probably sell to the cruisers….Marie wanted to swim back (a mile or more) so Chris & I stayed close w/ the kayaks. The wind picked up & caused a wake that it made it a little harder to swim but she persevered & proudly made it!!!
Lunch time….!
Just returned from lunch which consisted of a chicken filet, french fries (like America!) & a coconut crusted flan type dessert. On our way back to the mainland we will be on a tour boat that apparently stops at a beach for an hour or so. Marie is water logged from her swim so she doesn't want to swim any more today... Adios! ……Amy

Tuesday p.m.

We are now back at Chris’s place after 2 adventurous boat rides! Chris called it "Adventure Travel" ...The first boat was small & waves were again 4 ft or so & really BUMPY for a small boat going fast! We finally got to where the tour boat was anchored at a beach which was our next ride. This boat is open with a canopy & seats about 25-30 people & they warned us it while be rough….When we reached open water all the people in the back got really soaked. Guess where our seats were…? In the back of course….Poor Marie got it the worse having the outside seat. So much for being water logged…! We are going to relax tonight because Marie & Chris have to get up early and go to school for 7am. I will meet them later when school gets out @ 2:30pm. I may wander into Old town & ck things out…..Adios! Amy