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Emmett's Adventures
Alright folks,
Well it has come to me (Em) to write the postcard for Isla de Margarita. Due to the visa situation with me and Colombia we had to look for something to do for two weeks while the rest of the tour group went into Colombia. We were going to spend more time in Merida but as it was still the dry season the activities that we wanted to do were off and we were able to squeeze the ones that we wanted to do into three days. We looked into going to Aruba, which looked great other than the very high prices. So we decided to look closer to Venezuela. Isla de Margarita is just 40 minutes by plane away and was half the cost of Aruba.
Lots of activities were on offer and I decided to do a scuba diving course - PADI Open Water Diver. As I have never been that relaxed when it came to the water this was going to be a bit difficult for me. I wanted to do it as there seems to be loads going on down there and I did not like just watching BBC2 documentaries to see it. I also thought by doing it I would feel far more relaxed in the water as I would know that Jaws was not about to get me!!
After looking around and comparing what was offered by the many tour agents I decided to do a five day course. The outline was to spend half a day in a pool getting used to the equipment and breathing underwater (a bit weird at first), half a day in the classroom (nice mental situlation), two days in open water (that's the sea to you and me), and one day watching American training videos (very exaggerated acting). On the fifth day I had to take an exam for which I had to read a book on my evenings to be able to pass. If this sounds very busy - it was. Apart from all the new skills I had to remember while underwater I had to read 50 pages a night. Now that does not sound much to read, if it was a novel no prob's but when it is stuff that will keep you alive and all very new to you it takes a while as you sure as hell don't want to miss anything.
During all of this Sharlene was being incredibly supportive and kept me calm when I was getting a bit stressed. Unfortunately the place where we staying was miles away from where she could go kit surfing and windsurfing and was $30 return to get there. Because of this we tried to plan and spend the second week where she could do some cool stuff but that also turns out to be the most expensive accommodation on the island. So we decided to go to the main town on the island for the second week and do some other touristy things. Sharlene has checked out these activities for NZ and they are in abundance. Everyday I learn that NZ must be a really cool place!
The first place we stayed in was quite nice, one of those places with "loads of potential"! We were the only people there, which was good and bad. It meant that the place was very quite and like our own hotel, but because of this the water was not on all the time and we had to ask everytime we wanted some water. Believe me it gets frustrating when you get up and want to have a shower and have to go wake someone to turn the water on. Just try washing your hands or flushing the toilet other than the morning and see what happens. The place was about 20 minutes from the beach and was secure, clean, and cheap. So it was not really all that bad.
When we went to the major town it was a bit weird. For 8 days we had not seen that many people around, and the ones we had we got very friendly with. Than all of a sudden you are surrounded by dirt, noise, and very weird smells. We don't know what it is about South America, but they seem to have the market corned on weird smells. The hotel was again clean and secure. But best of all it had running water and also a hot tap in the shower - heaven. It also had cable (veggie time)! We found a Mall and went to the movies a couple of times (go see The Inside Man if you can) and got some nice food in the food court. All in all the food was very good in Margarita, a bit pricey, but very tasty. We did the usual city stuff - internet, website, postcards (first time for me), laundry, and practicing our vegetable impressions in front of American cable channels.
One of the days we went on an island tour. It was an all day tour and covered most of the island. When it was described to us it sounded good. However we spent more time in the jeep than anywhere else. We were meant o visit the capital city which turned out to be a drive through. The off road bit was less exciting than it sounds and was like driving on Bolivian roads again (wow, we are so well traveled). We spent a few hours at a nice beach and than headed for a place on the other side of the island to try a Coco Loco. It is a drink made of Coconut milk, Coconut water, and sugar. For the loco part you add rum. Our drink was called a Coco "Mas" Loco due to the amount of rum in it. Well the bottle of rum was nearly empty so we thought it would be rude to send it back! Not a back drink but we decided that either some chocolate or some fruit flavouring would enhance it that bit more. From there we went to see the sunset which turned out to be amazing, but only after we left. I tried to get pics of it from the jeep but my batteries took too long and all I got was pics of trees and lap posts.
So now we have a couple of days left and have nothing planned to do. We fly out on Thursday evening to Caracas and stay the night by the airport and fly out to Quito the next day. We will than meet back up with the tour for a few days. I can not say I have missed the group one bit but it is only for a few days and I am sure we can avoid them most of the time. It has been really nice just traveling on our own and confirmed that neither one of us like traveling in a group.
From Quito, Sharlene flys back to the UK for a few days to organize our stuff to be shipped to NZ. Than she flys home for her birthday on the 16th. She is really looking forward to getting home - not to get away from me by the way. Well I hope not anyway!! I will miss her loads but it is only three months and hopefully it will fly by.
From Quito, I am heading for Panama to travel up through Central America for two months. I am planning on doing loads of outdoor activities and maybe even learning a bit more Spanish. I will end up in Cancun in Mexico and will than fly to Miami (I think) and travel across to LA taking 6/7 weeks to see the sites and than head for NZ on the 11th of August. I will touch down in NZ on the morning of the 13th of August and be reunited with my baby. Something to keep me smiling. Anyway, that's all for now.
Until next time E &S.
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