Port Antonio

The morning was filled with heavy rain, and with this rain came an uneasy day.

I went over to visit John and Annie at about 10:30. We had some coffee and talked for a few hours before we all headed to town. I made a few calls and tried to secure some work for the summer. A few of the local beggars approached John and I, and were very persistent in asking for money. We did not give any, smiled, and politely tried to ignore them. They followed us around for an hour or so. We bought some patties for lunch, and found a place to sit looking over the harbor. They appeared again and persisted to ask, almost demand money while we ate. Annie snapped “please leave us alone!”, she bellowed. They continued to follow us and ask for another 20 minutes. I got a bit fed up, turned around to face them again “It’s not going to happen, leave us alone!”. The larger of the two reached into his pocked and produced an empty beer bottle, he held it like a weapon, a new look in his eye. I reached in my pocket and produced a tear gas/pepper spray canister. I think he thought it was a knife as he was squinting to see what was in my hand. The smaller one took a few steps back. I looked him in the eye, “It’s time for you to leave…, NOW!” I was as firm as I could possibly be. John and Annie didn’t notice the second confrontation and continued o walk down the street. I stood my ground “NOW!!!”, the men faded into the busy street.

We did a bit of local shopping and ended back at the pool for cocktails at 17:00.

A Spanish sail boat pulled in this morning in route for Cartagena. We met them at the club house, and invited them to join us for drinks.

One always hears piracy stories 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, hand. This couple was boarded by pirates off Trinidad last year. They had a shotgun on board, but no time to reach it. They were quickly boarded by six pirates who appeared as fisherman. Julio (the captain) was pistol whipped to his knees, his head covered by a black bag, and a pistol pressed to his temple. His wife was sent below to gather money & valuables. “I thought it was all over, I feared for my wife” He held his fingers to his head mimicking his assailer’s pistol, his wife added details in Spanish.

Julio also told us of a recent incident 200 miles off of the western Panamanian coast. A Japanese sailing vessel in route for the Galapagos had recently been boarded by pirates also appearing as fisherman, their boat was completely stripped. The Pirates even took the vessels compass, leaving the crew no real means of navigation, “That’s just wrong” I said. After the ordeal was over, they managed their way east and followed the coast back to Panama.

John and Annie have been cursing for thirty years and this was the first time they heard a story like this first hand. They seemed a bit shook up. We tried to make sense of the world as we shared some Jamaican Rum.

I often sit at a table or bar with sailors from all over the world. Tonight I discussed current affairs with the French, British, and Spanish.

I can tell you that the Canadian, French, Spanish, English and Australian sailors are much more welcome as travelers when visiting other countries by sea, I see it all the time.

I’m not going to get into politics, or push my political views on you, but some questions are keeping me up late this night.

How can I be free if I’m not welcome in other countries?

Why am I not as welcome?

How would I be treated by Pirates, as a solo American sailor?

Might I end up a tragic story?

What does the world treat Americans this way?

As far as the incident in town today, I felt it was no big deal. After graduating college I moved to Los Angeles in 1992. During my first 14 months in LA, I had 3 gun incidents. I still feel that the larger cities in the States are more dangerous then any where else I’ve traveled.