Dominican Republic

the sail to Dominican was long and annoying we went up wind the whole way so we couldn't set any sail. we had to motor at 6 knots the whole way there and the seas were quite rough. the ship was rolling and nodding through the waves the sail seemed to take forever. but we eventually got nearer and nearer until we docked in Samana. We docked on this lonely little fishing dock 10 minutes drive away from the town of Samana. there was nothing where we were docked and we had to take taxis into town. Samana was a little village at the seaside not very touristy really nice and simple. We had home-stays in dominican. My family was a Russian family which lived in a complex with some of there other relatives. The complex was really cool it had a small pool in the middle and houses around it four in total we were in the biggest house a two story stone/clay house like what you would see in a resort. our home-stays let us be free too which was great. I was staying with Sophie and Adriana two girls from the ship we went out both nights and didn't get back until the early hours of the morning. was great not to have a curfew. In the mornings we got up at 7:30 and then met at a local community club to muster so we could get distributed to the different projects that we were doing for the community. some people were painting houses, some building a garden, others building a scale model humpback whale exhibit for a local elementary school and the last group was painting a mural at a school. I was in one of four house painting groups we painted two houses one concrete and one wood house. they turned out great we had a lot of fun and the families were very happy after we had finished. At nights we had activities like pizza dinners and dancing shows that we all met up to see. the dominican for me has bee the best port so far. I had an amazing time here and will remember it for the rest of my life. next up cuba and Mum and Dad for the parent Port I'm excited to see them again and get caught up on everything thats happened.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was a really great port we didn't dock in this port only anchored and took the tenders into port. the port in Costa Rica was very very secure. Two turn-stile bar gate things which I thought were a bit much but i guess they must have been necessary. Peurto Limon was a bit of a dive but Costa Rica in General was absolutely beautiful. Costa rica is a very hilly mountainous country and has greenery everywhere. Many exotic animals and plant species live in Costa rica and its a great place for nature lovers to go and see. Costa rica offers lots of fun activities to do as well zip lining, white water rafting, horseback riding, ATVing, nature hikes through jungles. I really loved it there we had a lot of fun in Costa Rica. Our port program was probably the best one we have had this year so far. We went white water rafting down the Pacuare river. Rafting is really cool its amazing how the raft jsut moves with the water around the boulders our guide was steering us also but the river did most of the work. I got pulled out of the raft by my paddle when it got stuck in a rock and lost my shoes in the process. I was back in the raft within seconds though. Going down the rapids not in a raft would be very painful though because I got a few bumps in the seconds that I was in. We brought food with us down the river and had lunch at the side in this little camping area then went back to rafting for the remaining hour of our four hour trek downriver. The day after the port program a few of us went to the jungle to see sloths. we didn't have too much luck we saw one but it was very high in a tree we did however see monkeys, raccoons, crabs, spiders, and birds. We only saw a sloth close up on our last day in Costa Rica. Sloths are a protected animal in Costa Rica so they are pretty much everywhere one was hanging in a park tree just outside our port. it was only 12-15 feet off the ground too so we got a good look at it. sloths take 30  days to digest their food then come down from their tree and relieve themselves. our time was soon finished in Costa Rica and it was time to head to the Dominican Republic. we actually left a day early because the wind was against us the whole way to Dominican so we had to motor all the way there which means going slow.

Columbia

The sail to Columbia was very windy and rough water because the trade winds that blow east to west hook around the top of south america and speed up. we broke quite a few plates and bowls. Other than the rocking it was a very nice short fast sail to Columbia. We arrived and docked at this really nice little dock which had peoples private yachts and fishing boats. Old town was just a short drive away or you could walk it in 20 minutes. Old town was surrounded by a big wall and hard century old buildings inside it. my group and I took a Carriage ride throughout the old part of the city and our guide told us about some of its history. We saw all the cannon holes in the wall which fought off pirates hundreds of years ago. Our port program in Columbia was a trip to a a mud volcano. A mud volcano which you could go inside of, basically you climbed down a ladder into the much and because it was so dense you floated there. A very strange feeling mud almost the consistency of a thick custard covering your body. it was difficult to move as well it didn't react the same as water no propulsion at all. After the port program we had one last day of shore leave until we set sail for Costa Rica.

Curaçao

Curacao was our first port of the second semester we were docked in this canal which had a walking bridge which opened and closed whenever a ship needed to come in. The buildings in Curacao were all dutch style architecture and were all painted in beautiful colours. The area of Curacao that we were in was a cruise ship terminal so it was quite touristy. Our port program this port was a tour of an aquarium and a dolphin show. We took a bus to the aquarium and got shown around we learned about what they study at the aquarium. they were studying the progressive decay of the reefs surrounding Curacao which are one of the best reefs in the world to snorkel and dive at. Next was the dolphin showing, there were 8 dolphins which performed for us. they did synchronized flips in the air swam with their trainers and threw their trainers into the air for a finally. Dolphins are truly amazing creatures, incredibly smart and have a strong connection with their trainers. In the days that followed we walked around Willemstad some more and we took a taxi to a popular cliff jumping spot on the island. Two people jumped but it was too high and starting to get dark so the rest of us decided not to. That exciting day concluded our stay in Curacao we left and sailed away to our next port Cartagena, Columbia.

Christmas Break

My christmas Break started off nice, flying home was excellent the flights were smooth and I got a row to myself on both flights. We got into Toronto and only had an hour to catch our flights both the Calgary people and I. We still had security immigration and baggage claim to go through so time was ticking! a girl was leaving the program and it was the last time we were going to see her so we had a short sad goodbye in the lines for immigration then had to quickly get to our gates. we both made it I made it by minutes to my gate and the others were tight for time also. I got home into Winnipeg and was greeted by a nice -50 degrees Celsius just what I needed -_-  the cold was a bit of a shock but I felt fine for the first few days. we got home and I saw the dogs Luna was a wee bit afraid of me and wasn't quite sure who I was I don't think Chippy was just as she always was happy to see anyone. first day or two I just relaxed and enjoyed not doing anything for once. it was the first time in 4- 5 months that I hadn't gotten up at 7 30 in the morning had breakfast and then cleaned for an hour. I unfortunately got sick I think with the 80 degree change in temperature my muscles in my back tensed up terribly and I was in a fair bit of pain just couldn't get comfortable. I was starting to miss the ship at this point. I got much needed  rest for the next few days and then in the last few days went and saw people that I needed to see. Caught up with friends in Canada and family back in Scotland. By the time everything was done it was time for me to leave and go back to the ship. Mum flew with me to Toronto and made sure I got onto the plane safely. we were the last flight to make it out of Toronto due to a snow storm mum was marooned in Toronto for 3 or 4 days after I had left. Once in Barbados again we taxi'd back to the ship and then had shore leave time until everyone made it back flights were cancelled because of the weather. everyone returned eventually and we set sail for Curacao.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde was our last port on the eastern shores of the Atlantic we managed to dock under sail with no help from the engine the engine was only used for the powered winches aboard which pulled us onto dock there was quite a strong onshore breeze which was pushing the ship away from the dock. We eventually got in and safely moored. Cape Verde had a beautiful new and very large port I guess it’s the last stop before crossing the Atlantic three cruise ship came and left during our stay which was only 4 days. Priai the capital was separated into two parts the main plateau where all the shops were and the residential and business level below. We took taxis everyday into town because the walk was too far. Too much wasted time, which is essential in ports. The Island was very nice full of lush greenery but still dessert like from my perspective like Africa it wasn’t like the normal tropical humid atmosphere that you find in the Caribbean Islands still quite a dry heat. Our port program was a crew barbeque on the beach. We launched the tenders and loaded up everyone and went to a beach slightly down the coast anchored and then all swam into shore. We made sand art, played soccer, through a Frisbee around, body surfed and snorkeled. Most of the maritime crew attended the Captain, First Mate, Bosun, Cook, an AB, and an OS all came with us. We stayed there until sundown and took the tenders back at dusk. The next day we had an all crew meeting to wrap up our semester together some of us were leaving in Barbados and this was our last port before they left. Everyone shared an accomplishment that they had made during the year so far and shared something they wanted to leave behind on that side of the Atlantic. After the meeting we took up mooring lines and set sail for Barbados again we managed with no engine We sailed straight off the dock. the sail to Barbados was great one tack for most of it averaging 8 knots all the way nearly. we anchored outside of Barbados for Christmas. everyone was given a secret santa and we all made gifts for one another. some gifts were better than others but everyone was very pleased with what they got. I made and iphone case for my secret santa and I got a handmade model of a Scottish tall ship. We had christmas dinner all together in the Banjer and got to sleep in on Christmas day. Shawn or bosun tied knots in a line attached to the end of the fore course yard ( bottom of the fore mast ) and made it into a rope swing we had swim calls, watched movies and had activities on deck. A strange but nice christmas my first one from home. We all flew on the 27th so after christmas was just pacing and cleaning of the ship. We were all driven to the airport and said our goodbyes and since we weren't with Class Afloat anymore went straight to the bar. 

senegal photos

 preying mantis

 french anti ship guns used in world war 2 took down a british ship off the coast of senegal

 Goree Island used to hold slaves before they were shipped to the west

 the door of no return where slaves went out to get on the ships

Johan and I with our home-stay host in Senegal

 streets of Dakar

 Marlin on the beach

 Home-stay house our bedroom

 shower / toilet

 senegal busses

boy selling water on the street