La Paz
Taking advantage of an unusual gap in itineraries, the MV Sea Lion began preparations for a very special day of cruising—with a very different set of guests—departing from the port city of La Paz near the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. At 8:30 a.m. vans began to arrive and many, many children began to pour onto the dock. Our guests for the day were 77 children from the La Ciudad de los Ninos y Ninas de La Paz, A.C., an orphanage that takes in children without families and homes, and also provides room and board for kids attending the school attached to the orphanage. The entire complex is part of the Santuario church run by Father Juan Victor Gamino Trejo. The six teachers and volunteers from the school also joined us, as did two members of local conservation organizations: Ana Karina Pelaez from Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONAPO) and Vicente Bracho from Observadores de America.
Our day aboard the Sea Lion had two purposes. The first was to bring this group of children out to an island in the Gulf of California near La Paz for a day of cruising, long beach walks, swimming, and lunch. We would then incorporate our second purpose with help from the children: cleaning one of the well-used beaches, Punta Despensa, located on the southern tip of Isla del Espiritu Santo, the island closest to the town of La Paz.
As the Sea Lion pulled away from the dock in La Paz the sound of many tiny feet could be heard through out the vessel, taking full advantage of the opportunity to investigate a brand new environment! Stationed in various locations were crew, natural history staff, teachers, volunteers, and all available adults to help keep watch over the children. We could not help but be enchanted by all the excitement and joy expressed in their faces.
Upon arrival at Punta Despensa the crew fitted the youngsters with life jackets. As soon as the Zodiacs were ready, the natural history staff went ashore and prepared to greet the incoming children, who could not get ashore fast enough to remove life jackets, long pants, shoes and shirts and dive into the inviting waters of the Gulf of California. Once everyone was ashore, our expedition staff and crew hit the beach with large garbage bags to collect garbage. Because of the position of the island and recent stormy weather, we were able to do some serious cleaning!
Towards the middle of the day, several Zodiacs arrived from the Sea Lion with the galley staff and a pizza lunch to eat on shore. As soon as the trays were uncovered, the table was swarmed with hungry kids. There was a momentary lull while pizza trays and pasta salad bowls were removed… but then the brownies were brought out… and lasted mere moments.
After more garbage collecting and Zodiac rides, it was soon time to return to the Sea Lion and begin the late afternoon cruise south to La Paz. Ana Karina Pelaez walked the kids through the identification of many island inhabitants and the necessary task of keeping the islands clean. From our brief time ashore at Punta Despensa the crew and natural history staff estimated that at least twenty bags of garbage were collected.
As the Sea Lion entered the protected harbor that leads towards the city of La Paz, announcements were made for all kids to adjourn to the upper deck. Meanwhile, in crew cabin 912 there was a special uniform adjustment in progress—from La Perla, the local department store, a Santa Claus suit had been delivered! A crewmember “of the most dignified” stature and height was necessary to fill an important task for this evening. Rick Brewer, the first mate, was assisted by one redheaded elf, better known as “Pilk” the boatswain. Once again the children lined up, girls on one side, boys on the other. Santa listened to their requests and handed out small bags of presents and as many hugs as he could possibly give! After Santa, the children waited in line for t-shirts…they opened their gifts from Santa and immediately began sharing the candy bars, passing pieces out to each other and to any crew and staff who were standing nearby, behaving in a way the crew and staff had observed through out the entire day—one of taking care of each other.
This holiday season, the expedition staff and crew of the Sea Lion had a new perspective on just how much could be shared, and how little it takes to make a connection with people, across culture and lifestyle. Soon we were pulling up along side the central dock in La Paz, and our 77 guests and their companions prepared to return home. Small faces radiated up at each of us, sharing special handshakes, hugs and fond farewells as thundering little feet ran down the decks and across the gangway onto the dock and into waiting vans…..waving from windows, many small voices echoing the refrain, “Feliz Navidad!”
Taking advantage of an unusual gap in itineraries, the MV Sea Lion began preparations for a very special day of cruising—with a very different set of guests—departing from the port city of La Paz near the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. At 8:30 a.m. vans began to arrive and many, many children began to pour onto the dock. Our guests for the day were 77 children from the La Ciudad de los Ninos y Ninas de La Paz, A.C., an orphanage that takes in children without families and homes, and also provides room and board for kids attending the school attached to the orphanage. The entire complex is part of the Santuario church run by Father Juan Victor Gamino Trejo. The six teachers and volunteers from the school also joined us, as did two members of local conservation organizations: Ana Karina Pelaez from Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONAPO) and Vicente Bracho from Observadores de America.
Our day aboard the Sea Lion had two purposes. The first was to bring this group of children out to an island in the Gulf of California near La Paz for a day of cruising, long beach walks, swimming, and lunch. We would then incorporate our second purpose with help from the children: cleaning one of the well-used beaches, Punta Despensa, located on the southern tip of Isla del Espiritu Santo, the island closest to the town of La Paz.
As the Sea Lion pulled away from the dock in La Paz the sound of many tiny feet could be heard through out the vessel, taking full advantage of the opportunity to investigate a brand new environment! Stationed in various locations were crew, natural history staff, teachers, volunteers, and all available adults to help keep watch over the children. We could not help but be enchanted by all the excitement and joy expressed in their faces.
Upon arrival at Punta Despensa the crew fitted the youngsters with life jackets. As soon as the Zodiacs were ready, the natural history staff went ashore and prepared to greet the incoming children, who could not get ashore fast enough to remove life jackets, long pants, shoes and shirts and dive into the inviting waters of the Gulf of California. Once everyone was ashore, our expedition staff and crew hit the beach with large garbage bags to collect garbage. Because of the position of the island and recent stormy weather, we were able to do some serious cleaning!
Towards the middle of the day, several Zodiacs arrived from the Sea Lion with the galley staff and a pizza lunch to eat on shore. As soon as the trays were uncovered, the table was swarmed with hungry kids. There was a momentary lull while pizza trays and pasta salad bowls were removed… but then the brownies were brought out… and lasted mere moments.
After more garbage collecting and Zodiac rides, it was soon time to return to the Sea Lion and begin the late afternoon cruise south to La Paz. Ana Karina Pelaez walked the kids through the identification of many island inhabitants and the necessary task of keeping the islands clean. From our brief time ashore at Punta Despensa the crew and natural history staff estimated that at least twenty bags of garbage were collected.
As the Sea Lion entered the protected harbor that leads towards the city of La Paz, announcements were made for all kids to adjourn to the upper deck. Meanwhile, in crew cabin 912 there was a special uniform adjustment in progress—from La Perla, the local department store, a Santa Claus suit had been delivered! A crewmember “of the most dignified” stature and height was necessary to fill an important task for this evening. Rick Brewer, the first mate, was assisted by one redheaded elf, better known as “Pilk” the boatswain. Once again the children lined up, girls on one side, boys on the other. Santa listened to their requests and handed out small bags of presents and as many hugs as he could possibly give! After Santa, the children waited in line for t-shirts…they opened their gifts from Santa and immediately began sharing the candy bars, passing pieces out to each other and to any crew and staff who were standing nearby, behaving in a way the crew and staff had observed through out the entire day—one of taking care of each other.
This holiday season, the expedition staff and crew of the Sea Lion had a new perspective on just how much could be shared, and how little it takes to make a connection with people, across culture and lifestyle. Soon we were pulling up along side the central dock in La Paz, and our 77 guests and their companions prepared to return home. Small faces radiated up at each of us, sharing special handshakes, hugs and fond farewells as thundering little feet ran down the decks and across the gangway onto the dock and into waiting vans…..waving from windows, many small voices echoing the refrain, “Feliz Navidad!”
