Ok, what and where are the Testigos.  Testigos means “Witnesses” and are located north of Venezuela mainland.  The islands are inhabited by about 160 people, mostly fishermen. 

We were moving a little slow the next morning.  After a late breakfast, the kids started in on their schoolwork.  Around 11:00, a small dinghy came up to our boat.  It was a man, two women and a little boy.  I brushed off my rusty Spanish, smiled, and called out “Hola!”  He smiled back, and handed me a card advertising their restaurant “La Casa Verde”.  The card was printed in 3 languages, Spanish, English and French.  How smart!!  It read in Spanish “Se puede comer y Beber” (You can eat and drink)  Pescado y Langosta (Fish and Spiny Lobster).  Wonderful!!  I reached back into the depths of my brain for another Spanish phrase “Que Hora?”  He was impressed.  He held up his fingers to indicate 12.  Fabulous!!!!  Then they made their way to Salt and Light’s boat.  The card was such a great idea as it made communication so much easier.  Another thing he did that I liked, was bringing his wife and child with him.  I am sure they have heard how nervous (possibly paranoid) US cruisers have become in Venezuela, and bringing his family along was a nice nonthreatening way to greet our boat.  Much appreciated!!

 

We had a great lunch and afterwards headed toward the sand dunes on the windward side of the island.  The owner’s of the restaurant let their  6 year old son, Miguel, go with us.  Interesting.  Cruisers are so paranoid of Venezuela, but these people trusted us, who don’t speak Spanish, to take their 6 year old son, (who doesn’t speak English)  in a dinghy, around the island, up over the dunes, and watch out for him as he and our kids played in the surf.  Imagine allowing  your child to do that.

 

The hike up the dunes was murder.  The sand is so thick and the dune straight up, our legs were burning!!  The pain was worth it though as on the other side was a huge white sand beach with big, powerful waves crashing on the shore.  The surge was strong and we really had to keep an eye on the kids.  We stayed for awhile.  Miguel wanted to take us to another “Playa” but it was well past 4:00 so we told him maybe “manyana” and headed back to the restaurant to drop him off and have a few cold beers.  Later that night, Salt and Light came over and we had the rest of the tuna.  Rennie seared hers while I made a ceviche with mine.  Both turned out well.  I hope we have the same luck fishing when we head to Margarita. 

 

  Miguel, Liam and Tessa

  The sand dunes.  Those little specks off in the distance are the kids!