In conversation with Alisa a while back, I expressed the idea that we Galactics might have already had enough experience of delightful deserted tropical islands to last us a double lifetime. Maybe it was time for us to put in some city time, to have more in-depth interaction with either Colombian or Cuban culture.
Well. That idea lasted through about four days of contact with an actual Cuban city.
Which is not to say that we didn't love Cienfuegos. It's just that, with Christmas approaching, we started to feel the draw of being off somewhere idyllic, far from the maddening crowd.
Which is where we are today, on this Christmas 2016. To be specific, we are anchored off one of the cayos that dot the south coast of Cuba. This place isn't so obvious in its delights that it attracts any number of visiting yachts. Aside from a few fruitful interactions with local fishermen, we are on our own.
The water here is blue. The beach is a long dinghy ride to get to, but the sand is all ours once we're there. Just us and the shorebirds and the pelicans plunge-diving inside the reef.
Santa Claus found us, as he has found us every year, wherever we are. It has been endearing to see how the boys were slipping into Santa disbelief over recent months, based no doubt on their social interactions in the wider world, but how completely they have suspended that disbelief for the actual event.
And while we were eating deviled seabird eggs for Christmas last year in the Falklands, and Christmas geese shot by our friend Leiv, this holiday finds us feasting on snapper and lobster provided by said fishermen. As I write this, the boys are playing with some new toys in the aft cabin, while the main cabin is filling with the delightful smell of Alisa's famous fish cakes. Lunch is going to be good.
So, that's us on this holiday. Cross us off your list of people to worry about.
And, if you have been following us on the blog this last year, let me take the opportunity to thank you for your interest, and to wish you and yours the full promise of a holiday of peace and redemption, and the celebration of light at the darkest moment, if you have the good fortune to be passing the day somewhere in the farther reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, where the original spirit of the pagan holiday is so well served by scene of wintry dark and cold.
While we are finally back in the Northern Hemisphere after eight Christmases in a row in the Southern, we are still suffering in a latitude where clothing and activities poorly match the spirit of the holiday. Shirts optional, shoes not to be contemplated, a serious bout of family free diving expected to break out presently.
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This post was sent via our high-frequency radio as we're far from internet range. Pictures to follow when we reach internet again. We can't respond to comments for now, though we do see them all!
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