Another day of beautiful sun and nothing to do. Unfortunately, I was so busy yesterday that I made a second trip to Cee’s grocery warehouse and walked back with a bag in each hand, weighted down with a big jug of water. Thought I’d lift them up and down to exercise my biceps or some such stupid idea. Anyway, I woke up Friday morning with real back pain (not the last issue, a new one!). That, plus feeling like I was coming down with a sinus cold led to two fairly lost days of sleeping, keeping my back flat, and sucking on airborne immunity tablets (yes, Matt, I also ate some raw garlic). Feeling much better by Sunday morning.
Main method of transportation is either my two sturdy gams or a fairly nice little (no gear) road bike that comes with the house. It’s fun to toodle through town on them and of course I think I am so much cooler than the tourists that come pouring off the cruise ships each day (thank you Saturday – none in port). They ride little trams around the island while listening to their tour guide share history of the island. More stories for you now:
I walked up the beach on Thursday to check out my “neighbors” and introduced myself to individuals working in the snorkel shack and the bar immediately next to me. The bar accounts for the thumping beat I often hear from my back porch. I decided to swim out to the nearby buoy to see what the snorkeling is like here, and Chet, a biiiiig buy from the snorkel shack, kept yelling and motioning me over. I had no intention of walking back out and over to him, so i continued to walk over the low-tide detritus and out to a minimal depth where I could finally flop into the water and swim. I was halfway out when I popped my head up, and there he was in the water behind me. He had brought out two seadoo thingies that pulled a snorkeler through the water. It was fun to use it to cruise around, and I could hold it well below me with my arms straight out and pretend I was holding a plank position. Workout and fun all at the same time! (this probably contributed to my back issue as well). He was a really nice guy and handed me a conch shell and starfish (long dead) as souvenirs. I added them to the dozens that are already lined up around the house.
So, the two days later, when my back is hurting, I decide to get in the water with my bcd inflated for some ambulatory therapy (pretty much jogging in the water while standing upright and being held up by a floating device of some kind). I see the fisherman in their spot as I start to get in the water, so I first trudge up (yes, skinsuit, BCD and all – i feel like the creature from the Black Lagoon) to ask if they have any lobster. Check out those guys over there getting ready to leave, they all point. I do, and they have, but I say I need to walk back to my house for money. They are cool with that, and I walk down the road (yes, all suited up and sweating) and of course they have bolted by the time I return. I squawk a bit and the guys laugh, and tell me just to watch for another boat coming up. I go out and jog around for a while, and another boat comes in. I get the high sign, and walk out of the water, and some guys standing around an overturned skiff up on planks call me over. I notice they have a black metal barrel but in half and sitting on a grate over a fire. A really big guy invites me over to share their lobster – evidently the fisherman sell only the tails (caribbean lobster do not have big claws like main lobsta) and these guys have boiled up a bunch of very large bodies. He tosses me one and I dig into cracking legs and sucking meat out of the joint. You taught me well, mommy! We are talking and laughing and I am looking out at the water and thinking that it’s moments like this that make a whole day, wonderful memories, and stories that tourists do not get a chance to tell. Big bitch (yes, that’s how he introduces himself) tells me I walked out of the water and up just like I lived there. I’m glowing. Then another man comes up with what looks like a water bottle filled with water, but it’s only moments before I am informed that it’s moonshine – would I like some? Only one answer to that questions: yes indeed! We all take swigs and laugh and eat more lobster. I tell them that next time I will bring some cold beer; they inform me that Bud’s their favorite.
Time to ask about lobster, or I will have no room left in my tummy! I bargain with Derek, who tries to sell me a 3 pound tail (at $12 per), and I tell him smaller, smaller. I take my prize home:
and boil the tail. I have to freeze most of it, because, well, only Jefe can eat that much lobsta! I sautee the rest with a(nother) head of garlic, pasta and a little cream. MMmmmmmmm good! I could get used to this for sure.
All of this and no responsibility too. Just what the doctor ordered. Going to drop my gear off at the dive shop tomorrow (load into two equally-weighted bags, hang from handle bars, then pedal down there) and sign up for a Tuesday morning dive. Then some blogging, meditation, reading, and basting twenty minutes on each side. Before I know it, it will be time for lunch. Something like this:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s81BQcJI0cw