March 25th, 2024 I don’t have a religion but follow certain traditions from Catholic culture. One is eating fanesca during holy week. Fanesca was originally a fish soup, made with potatoes and salted-dry codfish. Over time it evolved to include a variety of grains, corn, peanuts, squash, and pumpkin. It is served with a slice … Continue reading Bangkok: Fanesca, an arrival, and the red monster
March 13, 2024 I'm late with this update, couldn’t get to write it down. And not because something bad happened in Cartagena. On the contrary, overall, things went well. I was finally able to sail BEHEMOTH, and what a wonderful sailboat she is. It happened on Tuesday, February 27th. Three crew came along: Hector, BEHEMOTH’s … Continue reading Bangkok: Cartagena’s epilog, LDL down, Dorian Gray, genes vs. chance
February 24, 2024 I arrived at Marina Club de Pesca in Cartagena, where BEHEMOTH resides, seven days ago. Even though this is not a sailing vacation, I have enjoyed my time here. During the day, BEHEMOTH has usually several people on board involved in different jobs; engine, generator, electricity, refrigeration to name a few. I … Continue reading Cartagena: BEHEMOTH’s whereabouts
February 16, 2024 Again, a short visit, but I did have a great time in the company of my daughter Sofia. Yesterday we went for a long walk that took us to Montmartre. There, at the Maison Rose we sat to have a drink (in her case non-alcoholic) and I discovered L'Entropie, a French gin. … Continue reading Paris: Gin, Harry and Sally, Rotkho, Delays
January 16, 2024 The room has a view over the Nile but in the three days I haven’t been here I didn’t see much. Up at 4:30am to prepare for the day, I was out before sunrise and back after sunset. I used to come here several times a year between 2005 and 2010; before … Continue reading Cairo: GEM, Picasso, Rothko
February 9, 2023 I am writing from Suvarnabhumi international airport while waiting for my flight to Paris; it’s delayed. Almost one month has elapsed since I came back from Ecuador and, other than a short trip to Hua Hin (see last post), I've stayed put in Bangkok. My mobility has been even more limited; I haven't … Continue reading Bangkok: on my way; diet; updates from BEHEMOTH; Depardieu, Rumpf and Labatut
January 16, 2024 Updates about my stay in Cartagena and BEHEMOTH’s preparations were interrupted abruptly. The main reason, there wasn’t much to report, only my frustration with the whole situation. The boatyard had almost a year to complete a series or jobs, the most important fixing BEHEMOTH engine. Before I took the plane to Cartagena … Continue reading Bangkok: Cartagena’s epilog, Casa Blanca, and new developments with the blue monster
December 8, 2024 Still at the boat yard under a scorching sun; it’s 90 degrees (32 C) outside. Not sure what is the temperature inside the cabin, but it remains manageable thanks to the Vornado. I may be the only one left here. Today is Little Candles Day or Immaculate Conception Eve, an observed religious … Continue reading Cartagena: reconnecting with BEHEMOTH, days 3-5 (+ Determined and White Holes)
December 6, 2023 Slow progress, the engine didn’t start yesterday. It seems that the fuel pump needs to be replaced. They ordered a new one yesterday that is coming from Barranquilla and it is supposed to arrive today. From my side, I spent the day checking things around, adding items to the to-do list, and … Continue reading Cartagena: preparing BEHEMOTH, day 2
December 5, 2023 I made it here yesterday afternoon after a long journey from Paris, bringing wit me a computer bag, a carry-on, a 100L duffel bag with presents for BEHEMOTH, and a 40-pounds box carrying the Starlink. My flight from Paris on the 3rd was to Bogota where I spent the night in a … Continue reading Cartagena: reconnecting with BEHEMOTH
Sailing to the Pacific 