October 22-31, 2001 -- Work and Play

After having played off and on for a week, we finally settled down to pay attention to a number of small projects and maintenance items that we needed to get caught up on. Of course, this didn't mean that we didn't have fun as well. For this evening, we went to dinner with Couss and Martha from Orca and John and Jerry from Stargazer. We had heard quite a bit about a restaurant and bar called Cheers. So, we decided to go there for dinner. We arrived around 7:00 PM. The dining room wasn't even open yet! So we started the evening with a few cocktails at the bar before we were seated. The food was excellent though the service wasn't spectacular. It was Monday night and early at that. However, the company was fantastic and it was an enjoyable evening. On October 24 and 25, we stayed aboard the boat again doing minor chores, maintenance and projects. On October 26, we spent the day completing odds and ends of several long running projects. In the evening, we decided that we would go to Jaks for dinner. After finishing dinner, we joined Robert from Iwi, Ron from Sula, Richard and Wes from a boat at the Hilton marina, and Mark and Winni from another boat for drinks. We closed Jaks, and then went over to the Pescador to watch the live entertainment. Over all, it was a fun evening. Though I have to wonder what it is about the Spanish speaking islands that love bad Canadian lounge singers! On October 27, we spent a quiet day and then headed to Blind Date for dinner. It was a wonderful evening. On October 28, we spent the morning cleaning the boat, and the afternoon playing dominoes. On October 29, Windom showed up, coming in from Trinidad with a stop over in the Testegos. Mike and Patty from Galadrial came over from Peurto La Crus, where their boat is on the hard with the bottom drying out. When they had to return to the U.S. Ashley and Carol volunteered to cat sit for them. They planned to pick the cat back up after their boat went back in the water. Since it was still on the hard, they hadn't picked the cat up in 3 months! So ostensibly, they were coming to visit the cat! We all went to Jaks for dinner and drinks and had a great evening. On October 30, we went into town to wander a little bit and do a bit of shopping. Now, this may not sound like a big deal; however, it is more complicated than it sounds. To do a major grocery shopping can take all day. Take a simple grocery list that contains cough syrup, aspirin, isopropyl alcohol, lettuce, tomatoes, and assorted salad fixings, milk, bacon, bread, eggs, tortillas and shredded cheese. It is a fairly simple list right? Well, here in Margarita, to get the aspirin, and cough syrup, you have to go to the pharmacy. To get the alcohol, milk, bacon and bread is one grocery store, the eggs, tortillas and shredded cheese is a second grocery store on the other side of town, and the lettuce, tomatoes and salad fixings are at a third grocery store, unless you go early in the morning in which case you can get them at the rabbit market. Considering that the average temperature here is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, cold things must be taken to the boat after purchase. Shopping is an all day affair! On October 31, we puttered around on the boat before going to Jaks for dinner and her Halloween party. It was a fun evening