Sail Away Gang - in living Colour - a photo review

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See the girl in the blue skirt? Her traditional dress includes the cross which is the brightly coloured fabric on her skirt.

 

 

After the four dances the children came into the group to invite us to dance. Since I use a cane they took DH and DD and left me to take pictures.

 

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A few of us noticed this as we found a stool to sit on to watch the dances. We thought that the children must all share.

 

 

My dentist in Toronto offered supplies for the school and her supplies generously donated over 150 tubes of toothpaste, the same number of toothbrushes along with toothbrush covers and child flossers (hopefully I am remembering everything). She said her suppliers are always looking to get supplies to people who really need them but they have trouble with authorities if they mail them. So by us offering to bring them down they were very generous. They would even have donated dental equipment if we had of been going to a clinic.

 

After the dances the HAL blue bags were opened and there were tears everywhere!

 

I will never forget the look on the children's faces...or that of the teacher:

 

 

 

Remember this little boy? DD have him the crocodile pencil case which, ironically, was the first one I made. Another member of the roll call sent me a picture of him opening it surrounded by his friends. He went right back to DD and wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly and said "gracias" over and over. I hope I spelled that correctly!

 

 

What a wonderful experience! It was clearly overwhilming for some of the older children. One girl didn't want to take a pencil case, I thought because she though we would take it back. I pulled out one covered in hearts and her face lit up and she motioned to herself. I took that to mean that she was asking if she could really have it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrapnana brought a large ziplock baggie of stickers. The children went wild over them and started trading them immediately. did you know that toothbrush covers are a wonderful place to put stickers? Well you do now!

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I had gone through all my children's toys and taken out all the small things they never played with anymore. A few cars, small dolls and balls, some figurines from movies, toy binaculars and magnifying glass or example. These were all in the blue bags too and I just imagine the surprise when they were opened after we left.

 

 

 

Remember these children would not have gone to school. The children who do get to go to school in with region only do so until they learn to count to make change and to barter then their education is over. Many of the girls are married by 14.

 

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The children gathered in little groups to look at their new treasures.

 

 

DD was overwhelmed by the experience and was able to communicate all this to her class once we got home. DS too as his teacher told us this is all he talks about and how lucky we are.

 

 

The teacher brought out baskets to hold it all

 

 

As we left I noticed this group of girls. The fire where they cook is at the bottom of this picture

 

 

It was a different world when we left. We all were touched by their spirt and enthusiasm.

 

 

 

 

 

Time to get back to the Westerdam. It sure was much warmer in the port than it was in the mountains.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures with the children.

[ger_77]

Oh my goodness, I'm getting weepy just looking at the photos - I can imagine how emotional it was for everyone there!

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry

[CowPrincess]

Thank you for letting me know you like the pictures!

 

We were on our way out of the cathedral ruins when I saw the beautiful flowering bush:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tile floor

 

 

 

B

 

I see quilt inspiration :D

 

1of4 thanks so much for taking the time to do this. Your pictures and narrative are wonderful.

[Lizzie68]

I can think of no finer education for your children than this experience.

[crusinpsychRN]

Thank you for your review. You have a beautiful family.

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PHEW! Wasn't that a great day? I was in bed before DD and DS came back from Club Hal at 10:00 with DH. But the next day I was up watching the sun rise and it was a beauty! The sea was like glass.

 

 

Believe it or not, I did not edit these pictures. This is actually the colours of the sunrise as we made our way into the first Mexican port of this voyage, Puerto Chiapas

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sunset was just as nice but I don't have access to those pictures yet.

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I see quilt inspiration :D

 

1of4 thanks so much for taking the time to do this. Your pictures and narrative are wonderful.

 

Oh yes! See, I am not the only one that can see quilts in-the making! Now if I could just find the time! :eek: :D :)

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Now I have to admit, I was not happy about having this port on the itinerary. I had heard that it wasn't the nicest place and DH has a client with a very bad story that happened in this port 20 years earlier. Now I know 2 decades is a long time but considering the violence of the event it is not something to forget. So DD and I decided to stay in the port area and DH and DS signed up for a HAL excursion. We figured this was the best way to go.

 

It was a calm morning when we started to enter the port area. Still humid. It was just after 8 when we docked.

 

 

 

 

We were watched in every Mexican port by the military. This started to bother DS and after the second port he no longer wanted to get off the ship because of the guns pointed in our direction.

 

 

There was a nice welcome waiting for us.

 

 

[Lizzie68]

Oh my goodness, such a shame as you missed some beautiful ports. We only saw guns in Huatulco and the were not pointed at us. Just part of the job and uniform I think,. I hope you went ashore in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta as I would love to see your photos of those places!

[Himself]

Those pictures of the children were very moving!

[1of4]

Oh my goodness, such a shame as you missed some beautiful ports. We only saw guns in Huatulco and the were not pointed at us. Just part of the job and uniform I think,. I hope you went ashore in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta as I would love to see your photos of those places!

 

DS had a bad experience in Huatulco where he was delayed being allowed back on the pier. Because of that we only stayed around the port in PV. DH took DD out to collect her free loot from Diamonds International after lunch. She gave her friends the free tanzanite earrings. :)

 

We tried to take a tour from the port but he was getting very stressed so we just got back on the ship after walking around the flea market.

 

We got off in Cabo and we did take a tour so just wait...those pictures are fantastic (if I say so myself)

[Mumsysailor]

So sorry to hear that this was your experience. I'm not sure I recall seeing any guns. Perhaps I just ignore them when they're part of Military Uniform. Apart from the incident at Huatulco I was unaware of your DS's tension, bless him. I hope it didn't spoil things too much for you all.

 

 

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So sorry to hear that this was your experience. I'm not sure I recall seeing any guns. Perhaps I just ignore them when they're part of Military Uniform. Apart from the incident at Huatulco I was unaware of your DS's tension, bless him. I hope it didn't spoil things too much for you all.

 

 

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Glad you didn't notice. DS has a very strong memory of his last hospital admission (he had 4 in 5 years) where it was really touch and go if he would live. He gets very anxious about health and I had drummed it into his head to wash hands on the ship and not touch his mouth, eyes, nose or ears. He still has asthma. Each Mexican port had military in some form and all had guns. We were on the port side and coming in Puerto Chiapas they saw DS on the balcony and they did point the guns in his direction. Was this intentional...we will never know. I can only deal with DS's interpretation of that action.

 

Since DS knew that DH had a client whose father was murdered on a tourist bus in this port he became very frightened once we discovered that the ship was delayed departing because one of the HAL tour buses was delayed by a demonstration.

 

In Huatulco the Mexican military had a ship on the other side of the pier and there were 2 or 3 soldiers on the bow with huge machine guns and they watched everyone. This really scared DS. So when the helicopter and military ship were present in PV that was it for DS.

 

He is okay and enjoyed Cabo very much and it was he that said he wanted to go on the boat tour we took. If he didn't want to go we wouldn't have gone as he has to know we would not put him in a position where he thought his safety was in question.

 

I have spoken to our family doctor and we have a referral to a therapist that specializes in children. Hopefully this will not be an issue next cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you are going to take your son to see a specialist.

He would have been terrified if he had cruised for the first couple of years after 9/11. We had many boats guarding all the ships as they approached all ports and stayed on duty all until we left. It was a very scary time for a while. The patrol boats wouldn't let any boat near the cruise ships. They were there for our protection.

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<snip>

The patrol boats wouldn't let any boat near the cruise ships. They were there for our protection.

 

Thank you for telling me this KK! I really do appreciate it as I never thought of that interpretation. DS will feel much better when I tell him when he gets home from school. He wasn't born in 2001 (DD was 6 weeks old and I had my post partum appointment that day) but given what was starting to happen in Puerto Vallarta it makes a lot of sense.

[Mumsysailor]

Gail, give DS a big hug from me. [emoji2]

 

 

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Gail, give DS a big hug from me. [emoji2]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

He will LOVE it! :) :)

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DD and I stopped to enjoy the dancing when we were on the dock:

 

 

We only left the ship after we saw DH, DS and Vict0riann's DH leave for their tour. We knew we wouldn't be leaving the immediate vicinity of the ship so we were in no hurry.

 

 

It was still hot but the oppressive humidity was not present. Good job too as there was absolutely no breeze:

 

 

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been to Puerto Chiapas several times and always enjoy the way they welcome us to their port -- dancers and music.

[summer slope]

Wonderful pictures. I love being taken on a cruise.

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I am still here...just! :( I have been hit harder than ever by Menieres condition. I have never been this sick for this long. Totally debilitating.

 

I will put up the rest of the pictures when my new patch kicks in.