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We (who am I kidding), someone else told me we'd been in Cascais for over a month - and let me tell you: it really felt like it. Myself, and the rest of the crew, had their own little stomping grounds around town. We found our favorite restaurants, internet hotspots, and pay phones for calling friends and family.
During all this time on the dock, we finished quite a bit of ship's work as well. A new coat of paint, coats of varnish, and rust busting has been done on most everything on deck. Amistad really does look amazing, and I feel like we're ready to head to warmer, more intense sunshine. The evenings and nights have been brisk, so it will be wonderful to head south to warmer climates.
We have had our own little challenges, but those challenges have opened new doors, as they always do. Seems to me that, although the vibe around the boat is different, the air buzzes with excitement. The reality of Africa is upon us.
On the boat, I'm the second biggest puker when it comes to bad weather. I was happy to learn from our navigation session the other day that historically this leg of the voyage gets NE trade winds, which happen to be on our back the whole way. This makes for smooth sailing, and a following sea (less nausea, more fun). Now that you're reading these blogs, and imagining how romantic it must be sailing under the stars to far away places you've never been to before; well, it is just that. Tonight, after an easy sunset, we had phosphorescent dolphins around the bow, the soft glow of our green starboard running light, and the lights of Cascais and Lisbon growing dimmer behind us. The trail of phosphorescence the dolphins would leave around our bow wave sorta looked like some kid with a spray can hosing the water around the front of the boat - except a dolphin would jump out of it now and again. It was wicked.
The crew and students have been doing a stellar job of learning the ropes, and getting to be more comfortable with each other and the personality of Amistad as a living ship. It was tough to come aboard the boat with a crew that had very little experience together, and students with zero experience. With less than favorable conditions (of course it could've been much much worse) it made the first half seem like a real job or something. Pffaw to that! I hope and feel that this second half of our leg will be a much more pleasant boat ride.
So, smooth sailing to us, I hope your days goes as well.
Mr drew
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