Roberto

Reunited in Mazatlan are four other Nordhavns. Three boats became customers of Roberto’s, a wash here and a wax there. Hard work. When we left La Paz he told me that he came on board with no money at all so the much needed income allowed him to lodge mother and son in a hotel for five days so he could see his son, he would work until three and see his son until evening. It was bittersweet to see how happy he was playing with his son and to know how short lived this visit was going to be. 

 But that's just it, Roberto knows how to do what I find very difficult; he finds joy in the moment, a moment that is preceded and followed by trials and difficulties. He takes the gift with full gratitude and smiles. "I can't understand why people aren't in awe of Christo, He provides..." he says.

An exhausted daddy Roberto preferred the hard floor to the bed in the pilot house claiming it is better for his back. Notice his pillow; his bible. Little Fernando came to the boat for an afternoon and sat at the counter like a good little boy and watched daddy prepare a meal for him. Bill and Kay came over to see Fernando and gave him a truck and three books. Fernando’s favorite?  The two page Toy Story book. Adorable!

 

Roberto took care of his son and I would take care of Roberto, cooking, washing his clothes and chatting with him. Ironically, one night he peeks in the door at 10:30 pm and says: Hi Mom, I’m home! I smiled.

Mazatlan - I found the city lively, and the taxi drivers were exceptionally kind and friendly, selling me the idea that violence in Mazatlan had been eradicated with the election of the new President. Another would explain to me that the mafia and the local government work hand in hand to insure that tourism is not affected!?! Regardless, we felt very safe walking the streets of the Old historic Mazatlan.  

Pulmonia - unique to Mazatlan, these taxis are windowless Volkswagon chassis with a fiberglass body. The doors are low and thin, it was scary in the curves at high speed - american music blasting, drivers like to race each other when taking two groups of boaters, a little margarita happy back to the marina. Locals claimed that one can catch a pneumonia when riding, ergo the name "Pulmonia".

Restaurants at night and repairs during the day. One more major victory! SpringDay’s fresh water pump was cured of her incessant cycling and stoppage.  Skipper spent hours every day in the tight hot forward compartment, finally detecting two tiny vacuum leaks on the suction side. Bingo! One more dark stain off of SpringDay’s history.

TTG (TimeTo Go) I got up at 4 am to make sure I could send one more blogging session before losing internet, Skipper’s alarm clock sounded at 5 am. Roberto had cleaned our teak deck at midnight! We leave him on the dock at dawn with his bag and some of Don's clothes (shhh! Don does not know he's missing a few shirts) money for his return, a goodbye and a God bless you. "Mom" made sure he also had a bag full of food and drinks for his last day of boat cleaning before returning to La Paz. Soul fed. Mine.

Thinking of you...