Wednesday 30 September
The marina is just about full. About every other day a boat arrives
or leaves. A week or so ago a British boat came in. Until then I had not
seen even one native-english-speaking boat. Many people speak english,
and I can communicate, but I have difficulty with spontaneous
conversation. I was sorry to have them leave. They were going up to
Santa Cruz, whee I first went, to be hauled out while they went home for
a month. Not only are there not many British boats, but I haven't seen a
US boat since New Bedford. I am somewhat of a, not celebrity, but a
person of interest, not only with the other boat people, but with the
tourists and vacationers. The Marina is in a vacation resort, Golf. I am
alongside the marina breakwater, and there is a roadway along the top
going out to a restaurant/bar looking out over the ocean. In the
evenings I sit on the foredeck with my drink and book (POB) and exchange
greetings with the tourists/vacationers walking out to the end. The
greeting in "hola", a Spanish greeting. About one in ten will see the US
flag and say,"hello", and occasionally someone will stop and talk. On
the stern is, "ADVENT II" - "Washington NC". One man asked me the
difference between Washington NC, and Washington DC. But I do have a
language problem. I left with only two pairs of pants. I want to buy
some more shorts. It is really hard to not get sent to the local "beach"
shop, and then I can't understand the directions, etc. I wonder where I
can buy some kahkai shorts?
Since this is my home for now I figured it was time to find a
church. It could be Catholic, of anything as long as it was Christian.
Asking where a church is, another language problem. have driven around
looking, found one but the doors were locked on Sunday morning. Then
last week I looked on the internet, and lo 'n behold, an Anglican
congregation. The problem was that it is up at the top end of the
island, maybe 40 miles, on the other side of Santa Cruz. Well, the next
Sunday morning intrepid Bill started driving north. As a general rule
the roads here are really good, wide, good smooth pavement, well marked.
And, there is an interstate highway going from north to south. How hard
can that be? everything was fine until I missed the turnoff from
Interstate-1 to Interstate-2. Interstate-1 goes into downtown Santa Cruz
and dissipates. And there I was, lost in downtown Santa Cruz. The good
thing was that it was Sunday morning and there was not much traffic. And
I wandered, and I wondered. Something to keep in mind is that most
people who get lost, eventually get back. I started driving up, and
eventually I found the highway, and I found the town where the church
is, and I found the church. And there, on a semi-desert Spanish island,
nestled in a lush comfortable garden, is a traditional English church! Wednesday 30 September - Some answers
The marina is just about full. About every other day a boat arrives
or leaves. A week or so ago a British boat came in. Until then I had not
seen even one native-english-speaking boat. Many people speak english,
and I can communicate, but I have difficulty with spontaneous
conversation. I was sorry to have them leave. They were going up to
Santa Cruz, whee I first went, to be hauled out while they went home for
a month. Not only are there not many British boats, but I haven't seen a
US boat since New Bedford. I am somewhat of a, not celebrity, but a
person of interest, not only with the other boat people, but with the
tourists and vacationers. The Marina is in a vacation resort, Golf. I am
alongside the marina breakwater, and there is a roadway along the top
going out to a restaurant/bar looking out over the ocean. In the
evenings I sit on the foredeck with my drink and book (POB) and exchange
greetings with the tourists/vacationers walking out to the end. The
greeting in "hola", a Spanish greeting. About one in ten will see the US
flag and say,"hello", and occasionally someone will stop and talk. On
the stern is, "ADVENT II" - "Washington NC". One man asked me the
difference between Washington NC, and Washington DC. But I do have a
language problem. I left with only two pairs of pants. I want to buy
some more shorts. It is really hard to not get sent to the local "beach"
shop, and then I can't understand the directions, etc. I wonder where I
can buy some kahkai shorts?
Since this is my home for now I figured it was time to find a
church. It could be Catholic, of anything as long as it was Christian.
Asking where a church is, another language problem. have driven around
looking, found one but the doors were locked on Sunday morning. Then
last week I looked on the internet, and lo 'n behold, an Anglican
congregation. The problem was that it is up at the top end of the
island, maybe 40 miles, on the other side of Santa Cruz. Well, the next
Sunday morning intrepid Bill started driving north. As a general rule
the roads here are really good, wide, good smooth pavement, well marked.
And, there is an interstate highway going from north to south. How hard
can that be? everything was fine until I missed the turnoff from
Interstate-1 to Interstate-2. Interstate-1 goes into downtown Santa Cruz
and dissipates. And there I was, lost in downtown Santa Cruz. The good
thing was that it was Sunday morning and there was not much traffic. And
I wandered, and I wondered. Something to keep in mind is that most
people who get lost, eventually get back. I started driving up, and
eventually I found the highway, and I found the town where the church
is, and I found the church. And there, on a semi-desert Spanish island,
nestled in a lush comfortable garden, is a traditional English church!
Everything about it made me feel at home. The liturgy, the music, the
architecture, even the language. And the nicest things happen when you
go to church: I found people who understand my questions, and I can
understand the answers! I will continue to attempt one new Spanish word
a day, but now I don't have to wonder about everything; I have people I
can ask. They live here and know what is going on. It is such a relief.
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II
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