Two fellow sailors passed by in their dinghy and read the text on ‘Ya’: ”Hey, fossilfreearoundtheworld.org, that sounds interesting!” They stepped on board the ‘Ya’. They are Andries Bik and Jip, better known as Bik and Jip.
We gave them an introduction on how we live fossil fuel free and they filmed it. Peter with his enthousiasm and Bik’s reactions with his spontaneity, delivered a flash introduction to fossil free living and sailing.
This film is the result.
Comments? Like to sail on Ya? mail to info@fossilfreearoundtheworld.org
When we arrived in Columbia, we were planning to sail on the Canal del Dique. We could enter the Canal near Cartagena. Would the bridges would be high enough for Ya to pass through? Would the Canal be deep enough for Ya? The more we read about the Canal, the more intrigued we got.
Open CPN screenshot tugboats on Canal del Dique, May 2022
The first agent we consulted, said it would be better not to sail the Canal. It was before the presidential elections and “the levee channel is a little bit disturbed”. “Too little depth and too much vegetation” said the second one. Our third agent said she “sent our questions to the maritime officers and that it should not be a problem”. So, when we had the chance to ask local sailors, we did. We were lucky to be at the champions’ table after the Regatta. “Canal del Dique?” Laughter and unbelief. “Let me know how it goes, call me!” And they explained.
June 2022, the water levels at Rio Magdalena and Canal del Dique reached their highest levels.
There had been severe rain in the headwaters of the Rio Magdalena. So, there would be lots of current. Also, the vegetation in the river (waterhyacint) and logs would make sailing difficult. Heavily motorized boats can do this. Ya had better not.
But, we got curious about the Canal anyhow. In the Naval Museum we found its history.
The canal was necessary because it was impossible to sail in the mouth of the Magdalena River was virtually impenetrable, and Colombia’s two main colonial ports (Cartagena and Santa Marta) had no access to the river. It was built by the Spanish in 1582 and was rebuilt in 1650. However, by 1821 it was again completely blocked. Trade moved from from Cartagena to Santa Marta. By 1831 traders in the city began to lobby for the canal’s reopening, but repeated efforts to redredge the channel failed and by the end of the 19th century a railroad had replaced it.In 1923 and 1952, the canal was improved, but again undone by increased sedimentation of the Magdalena River. Currently, a modernization of the channel is being considered in order to boost trade in the port of Cartagena.
Within a few years, the Canal will be undergoing major works in the years to come. These works will be assigned three days before the new president starts his term. The work is supposed to create over 60.000 jobs, construct two locks, a control gate and interconnection works between swamp and canal. The works will be done along the Canal del Dique from the Magdalena River to the delta of the Caribbean Sea.
The project intends to regulate the flows and floods, sediments, salt water influx and enable scenario’s for adaptation to climate change.
Wetlands near Cartagena
The government organized over 100 meetings, yet there are some who question if these have reached those who need to know. For cargo, the importance of the Canal is immense; 67% of all river transportation is on Canal del Dique. And through the Canal, 92% of the liquid cargo of petroleum products is transported.
However, Colombia’s total petroleum and other liquids production fell considerably in recent years. This was the result of COVID, but also of social protests and attacks by guerilla groups. The protests were targeted against the social inequalities and the environmental damage of the oil industry.
We understand a bit better our first agent when we learn about Gustavo Petro. This newly elected president of Colombia promises to keep fossil fuels in the ground.
We like Colombia. And we wish Colombia and the new President a flourishing fossil fuel free future!
In Mompox, we first saw the cows and afterwards ate ‘carne a la plancha’, lovingly prepared by Davide. He even shares his secret recipe for the marinade!
Is eating meat part of a sustainable lifestyle? Not when we eat lots of it. And also not when the animals are raised without respect.
But especially in parts of the world where agriculture is difficult, herding some cattle is necessary.
Emission of greenhouse gasses is not the only thing to take into consideration when discussing cattle. Also the use of fossil fuels and chemicals can play a role.
And so, we think that eating some meat can be part of a sustainable lifestyle. As long as you know where it comes from, prepare it with love and eat it with respect.
What is sweeter than sweets? When you are in the tropics, like here in Columbia, it is easy. But come to think of it, it was also easy in the Netherlands. If you don’t eat or drink sugar, fruit is the sweetest thing on earth. Especially when you eat it in the season, nearby to where you can pick it. No plastics, no chemicals. Enjoy!
Inge asks the young street vendor about the unknown fruit
We had a young guest in Cartagena, Columbia. An amazing 8 years old girl. She wants to be an environmental scientist when she grows up, ‘just like Peter!’. And, she politely refused the ‘juice’ we had brought with us from Suriname. ‘This one is not too bad, but some drinks have only water with sugar and colorants’. She was right. And it made us think.
When we are working on our computers it is easy to eat sweets, like these:
Appealing? yes, but… plastic bag, plastic coatings, plastic straws and no fruit other than the ones on the image.
We will enjoy these artificial sweets as a ‘guilty pleasure’ and dispose of the plastic responsibly. But, we certainly will eat less of them, especially now we are in Columbia where you can buy incredible fruit from the street vendors!
A selection:
Genip
A little gem. You can slice the peel of or just crack the shell with your teeth and suck out what is inside. That may take a while but it is sweet and a little acid closer to the pit. When you feel like binge eating, it is a great alternative for peanuts.
Yellow Dragon Fruit
This exotic fruit is believed to originally come from Colombia. The pitahaya generally has yellow or red skin with white flesh and black seeds. You can only eat the inside.
Chop of the head and you easily spoon the inside out in one move. It tastes nice, refreshing and sweet. The seeds are not hard but crunchy.
As beautiful as it is, it’s not known to be a love potion, but it is supposed to be good for your bowels.
Tomate de árbol
This fruit has a smooth skin that is orange and red when ripe. You cut it in half. You can eat it out with a spoon, or just take a bite out, mold it a bit, take a bite again, till you hit the skin. The intense orange pulp is fleshy. It tastes a bit like a tomato and is rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as iron, potassium and magnesium.
Guava
Guava is used for the most exquisite pink drinks. You can also eat them; peel and slice or spoon it out. They also make all kinds of jams and jellies, but then the colour turns into a slightly dull brownish orange.
The flavor of guava is complex and rich. Despite the hard seeds, it is definitely worth a try. It is fruity, but it is not very sweet. But you can also taste hints of flowers and spices.
Mamey
The sweetest fruit we met so far. It looks a bit like a kiwi, but bigger. We cut it in half around and were surprised to find a big pit. Take it out. Mamey has a custardy texture with a flavor reminiscent of sweet potato, mango, and papaya.
Papaya
You can find Papaya anywhere in Middle-America. It is well known for its specific taste and a good source of vitamin A and C. You cut it over the length and take the seeds out. The taste of this fruit is very specific and kind of heavy. When you also eat a coincidental seed, there is a pepperish addition to it.
We like to eat Papaya with something else, like with some yoghurt and muesli in the morning. The combination with lime adds freshness.
They don’t keep really well. So, if you get a big one (which is not uncommon here) you can easily make lots of jam or ‘dulce‘.
Lime
Lime is indispensable. You can buy them everywhere, in large quantities, and cheap. They keep long if they’re not in the sun. Even if they turn yellow or brown on the outside, they are still fresh and green when you slice them open. They are served with every dish. Rich in vitamin C and less sour than lemons, they have become our favorite addition to afternoon tea.
So, you can imagine that this sweeter than sweet fruit has drastically reduced our bad taste for artificial flavours and plastic wrapped ‘sweets’.
Here in Cartagena, Colombia, we see, as simple Western people, what we have lost on fossil free solutions. One of these solutions is definitely the flexible and cheap and accessible means of transport. Look what we’ve found!
There’s noisy cars, vans and taxis everywhere. But also… other vehicles, without engines!
Colombia has the advantage here. All variations of fossil free transport are still present. In Western cities we gave them all way to the bigger means, “for safety reasons”. And indeed, all smaller transport is pushed to the margins and the big cars and trucks have that much space, they can’t do harm anymore. Now, with much pain and difficulties, planners and traffic planners are experimenting, like in a Paris area around schools, where they forbid all cars. Or like in Amsterdam, where they stimulate the bikes again. Well, reluctantly, not too much, because the Amsterdam county needs ‘her’ parking fees. Better do it as in Cartagena, where still all is possible. And in the mean while, many people have a proud living from it.
Looking for the ‘spirit of the Caribbean’ we found the beautiful beach of Bayahibe, and we found the colorful market in Barahona, but we also found Larimar. This pectolite can only be found near Barahona, Dominican Republic. We talked to David of Casa de Larimar. What makes Larimar so special?
Davide Bolques tells us all about Larimar, and more!
It is not all roses. One day after we went to Casa de Larimar, the New York Times published an in-depth article on Larimar. Two miners had died in April, so, the government had shut down the mine. Let’s hope the improvements come fast; the artisans need the income from Larimar. They benefit most if you buy Larimar jewelry that is produced in the Dominican Republic itself. So, if you are in Santo Domingo: visit the museum and the museum shop. And if you are in Barahona: visit Casa de Larimar!
Do you want to know more about these treasures of the Dominican Republic?
Just anything, as long as you can transport it by moped or motorbike, you will find it on the market of Barahona. There are so many people living from it.
This is another loud call from us to buy local, and don’t buy the stuff from the supermarket (mostly cooled vegetables, because of the long voyages from other continents in cool ships so an enormous use of fossil fuels). Just use your senses, including the common one, what products to buy.
We are at Isla Beata. The beach is incredible. We thought it would be very crowded. But, we saw only fishermen’s boats. After a short swim, we were received by the ‘commandante’ of the village. 20 people live here, all fishermen and their wives. Sometimes, when all the fishermen are here, the population is up to 60 persons.
Ya at Isla Beata
The commandante offered us to use his internet to solve our problem. This is why we can send you this newsletter. Not the one we had intended, but the one we can. Have a great day!
We were curious about the relation between sun blockers and the coral reef. How much sun blocker gets into the reef? How much harm does that do? Or does it not? So, we dived in. Watch and see what we calculated.
And having seen that, what can you do?
Protect yourself from the sun by taking simple measures. Protect the reef by avoiding harmful chemicals, especially Oxybenzone. And as you can see, this also goes for marine life other than the coral reefs!
And use your consumer power.
Perhaps these brands look nice, but please avoid them because they are toxic for marine lifeUse brands like these instead of the ones that harm marine life
We went snorkelling at Las Palmillas, in the South East of the Dominican Republic. And in 5 minutes we saw 2 starfish and 1 small manta ray, but also lots and lots of very dead seagrass. So, we wondered: what is the state of Coral Reefs in the Dominican Republic? We asked Luca, the owner of Coral Point, one of the biggest diving centres in the Dominican Republic.
Inge asks Luca (Coral Point) about the coral reef in Bayahibe
Luca came to the Dominican Republic 20 years ago. The coral reef was much more colourful then. He is hopeful. A short while ago they saw seahorses. There is still hope. But, the sewage system has to improve. Big resorts and towns drain their waste water through the sewers without treatment.
Also, dangerous sunscreens, especially the ones containing Oxybenzone, have to stop. Read our next blogs to know more.
Do you want to know more? Sail with us? Let us know on info@fossilfreearoundtheworld.org
