We’re back!!!  After a 7 week hiatus to the States, we are finally back on Alegria.  We had a great time but boy did we miss the warm weather.  Our trip back was surprisingly great!  We must have had our guardian angels working overtime.  First, we flew Air Jamaica which allows you to have 2 checked bags A PIECE.  You do the math; that’s 8 checked bags!  We maxed out the weight too, 50 lbs per bags; a total of 400 pounds.  That’s just the checked bags.  Dan carried on a backpack, Tessa a rolling piece of luggage, Tristan had big backpack inside a large shopping back holding other stuff, and I carried a small duffel bag.  Our flight left ONTIME from Chicago and EARLY from our connection in Jamaica.  Dan was worried as we stood in line at customs in Curacao.  The customs officers were going through the bags with a fine tooth comb.  They went through every CD this one lady had.  Dan was afraid they would charge us duty on all the stuff we brought, but not to worry.   They asked us if we were on vacation and we said yes.   They X rayed our bags and waved us right through. What a relief!

Back at the boat, there were a few problems.  Before we left the refrigerator had stopped working.  When we got back. the freezer died as well.  We had left it running because we needed something to drain the energy the solar panels were producing, ans because we wanted some cold beers when we got back.  I’m not sure when it quit but it left quite the mess for me!!  Other than that, and dirt in the cockpit, we had no mold issues.  (Thanks Kathleen on Ulliad who gave me some great tips!!).  It will be awhile before we get unpacked.  The refrigeration guy comes tomorrow.  We are anxious to get back in the water and try out the watermaker, the engine and everything else we can’t check being on the hard. 

We learned a lot on our trip back to the States.  It was quite  eye opening and I will talk about that later.  Right now. I will finish my rum and coke, look at the much missed moon, and count my blessings!

 The Best Laid Plans…………

 

Our plan was to contiune to Columbia, find a place to leave the boat and head home for Christmas.  When we realized there wouldn’t be a marina, nor a marina yard to leave ALegria until after the holidays, that was still ok, we would fly back to the States after Christmas.  Unfortunately, I received word of my Mom’s health and we needed to be home for Christmas.  Fortunately, Curacao has an excellent haulout facility. 

Checking into Curacao is a real pain.  It is a 20 minute bus ride from the harbor to customs, then another half hour walk to immigration.  Luckily we missed the bus the first time and a lady gave us a ride in her van.   Curacao is an industrial city, and a cruise ship destination.  The downtown in really pretty, and we enjoyed going to the movies with Salt and Light.  We had a lot of work to do to get ALegria ready to go on the hard.  We weren’t sure how long we would be gone so we needed to clean and pack up everything. 

 To make it to the boatyard we had to head to downtown Willemstad, where a footbridge had to be opened to allow us through.  We felt like celebrities as everyone snapped pictures or took videos of the bridge stopping traffic and opening up for us to bring Alegria through.  It was one of the coolest things we have done!!!! Alegria will forever be etched in peoples memories!!!

The haulout went fine.  Here they use a trailer to pull Alegria versus the sling method used at other boatyards.  It took them awhile to get the trailer lined up and we were worried they wouldn’t be able to do it, but they did.  We stayed in the yard that night.  The next day, Dan had to head back to immigration with a letter from the boatyard saying our boat was staying there, and showing that we were leaving.  (in Curacao, boats can stay for 6 months, US citizens 14 days).  We called a taxi to take us to the airport.  This was the same taxi driver Dan and Tristan had used earlier that morning to go to immigration.  On the way to the airport HE FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING!!!!!!!  He swerved in the other lane and Dan had to yell and wake him up.  We nearly had a head on collision!!!!!  Not a good way to start our trip!!!

 

The flight on Air Jamaica wasn’t bad, but we got into O’Hare (Chicago) at 10:30 pm and were greeted with a snowstorm.  It it wasn’t snowing it was sleeting!!  Need I say it was COLD???   Anyway, we made it safely to my parents house for the start of our Christmas Holiday!!

  The footbridge that needs to open.

 

  Bridge starts to open

  Haulout

 

 

    

The yard is really clean, being paved instead of the usual mud and gravel.  We did have mosquitos though!!!  We also caught up with Cloud Nine.  Last time we knew they were heading to Cartegna with Dawn Dancer.   They decided they needed to get their bottom painted now and head to Columbia later.  Maybe we can make the crossing together??

  Climbing the hill outside of Grand Roques to the lighthouse

 

  On the way we passed fields of Turks cacti.  The pink flowers turn into fruit.

 

 When the fruit is ripe, it pops up.  It’s great to eat and really quenches your thirst!