Friday, September 15, 1995 - Curaco

It's dead calm again. Every time there's a hurricane up north, it slurps up all the wind for hundreds of miles around. The calm would be ok if it weren't for the mosquitoes. When the wind's blowing, they can't reach the boat, but as soon as it calms, here come the wretched, abominable, voracious monsters. We spray, we smear on repellent, we burn smudgepots, but they devour us anyway. The only thing that seems to really help is to have an electric fan blowing directly on us. But with no wind to turn the wind generator, the batteries run down. In addition to the mosquitoes, there are hundreds of teensy weensy, almost invisible flies that seem to bite also. At best, they're annoying. We'll sure be glad when the hurricane season's over. So will a lot of other people, of course, although for different reasons. Went down to the post office expecting to get my mail, but to my disappointment, it wasn't here. We had hoped to leave Tuesday, but we can't leave until the mail gets here. I spent the rest of the day riding buses around to see some of the island. Took a bus to Rooi Santu and Fuik. Turned out to be in back of Spanish Water. I got to see the far side of Phosphate Mountain. When I got back to Punda, I ate lunch at McDonald's, picked up the newspapers at the Tourist Information Office, and rode a minibus around the "Ring". That's the set of streets that goes around the inner harbor. I was amazed by the size of the refinery here. It's a lot bigger than the one in San Nicolas on Aruba. It must be as big as the Chevron refinery in Richmond. It just goes on and on. I was hoping to take a bus that went along the coast, but I didn't know which one, so I got on the first bus to leave. It headed inland, but after a few miles, it turned towards the coast. When I saw water, I stupidly got off, thinking it was a bay, but it was nothing but a big pond. I walked down the road for two or three miles, looking for the sea. I knew it had to be out there someplace, but all I could see were hills and trees and bushes and cactus. Then I finally got to the top of a hill and saw the sea in front of me. I expected to find beaches and refreshment stands, but there weren't any. The coast all around the bay consisted of steep cliffs, so I gave up and returned to the bus stop. Got there just in time to catch a bus into town. Got off at the Super Jumbo Colon Market and bought some chicken. Since I was very thirsty, I also bought a pint of orange-pineapple juice. When I got to the bus terminal, I began drinking the juice while waiting for my bus. To my amazement and disgust, two beggars came up and asked for a drink of my juice! Being asked for money is bad enough, but to be asked for my juice! I couldn't believe it. The bus took me over the high bridge. What a terrific view! Got to Spanish Water before 6:30, so I was able to get home before it was pitch dark. Roy had taken the pump back to the store and exchanged it for another new one. I sure hope this one works.