I guess I should warn you
dear reader...
this is going to be a lengthy post...
so you might want to get that libation and snack
before you get too comfortably settled in..
as I share the last of my travelogue photos with you...
A cruise is supposed to be
relaxing...
peaceful..
quiet..
kinda boring...
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| Water color sketch, titled Rain, Caterina Giglio |
but our cruise was rather exciting...
the first day at sea,
we were waiting for room service to
bring us coffee...
sitting on our veranda
we noticed that we were sailing in the wrong direction...
well, one of us noticed...
I was blissfully unaware...
until he told me...
disconcerting right?
 |
| Watercolor sketch, Sea, Caterina Giglio |
we had no message from the Captain..
also disconcerting...
we were traveling east and we should have been sailing south...
suddenly we heard shouting..
the other passengers on their verandas were shouting
and waving at something in the sea...
 |
| Watercolor sketch Waterside II, Caterina Giglio |
we could vaguely make out
a brown speck in the vast blue water..
but with our binoculars we could see...
a raft like vessel..
with people in the boat..
and some appeared to be in the water and holding on to the sides of
the raft..
It was hard to make out the details,
but there were several people...
and it was clear that either a boat had sunk
or these were Cubans
who were trying to get to
Key West
and the current was taking them in the wrong direction...
 |
| Shimmer, watercolor, Caterina Giglio |
Soon we heard from the Captain
that we were obligated by duty to rescue anyone stranded
at sea and they had been following the "raft" since
5 am that morning...
The United States Coast Guard had been notified...
and the Captain was awaiting their orders...
eventually we scooped them up out of the sea...
 |
| Clouds, watercolor sketch, Caterina Giglio |
we heard from our Maitre'D
Igor that evening at dinner, that there were
12 Cubans crammed into plastic rafts..
he said they looked like toy rafts, tied together
with a board...
 |
| Watercolor sketch, Flow, Caterina Giglio |
there wasn't enough room for everyone in the raft
so some had to get in the water
and hold on...
taking their chances with the sharks...
Igor said that the refugees
asked for asylum as they were brought aboard.
all their belongings, food and clothing were soaked
with sea water..
Igor had tears in his eyes as he told us about the pitiful sight..
this Maitre'D who works everyday
for 6 months at a time before he sees
his family again...
felt so thankful
for his beautiful life...
He put his hand on his heart,
and said
"We are so blessed"
Oh
Yes,
WE are..
I will leave you to have a beautiful week...
and I will return after the holiday...
I give thanks for all of you..
dear readers, gentle followers...
kind collectors, fellow friends and
artists...
Ciao, Ciao!
