Le voyage

Mon Papa celebre ses 92 ans et moi mes 62 ans. Visiting my 92 year old Dad, family and friends and celebrating my 62th birthday

2010-11-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

Bocas del Toro islands in Panama in the Caribbean /Les iles de Bocas del Toro au Panama dans les Caraibes

2010-02-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

Big trucks crossing the precarious bridge that separates Costa Rica from Panama on the Eastern border is a sight I'll remember! But the destination of the voyage is worth the long bus ride with a crazy driver who runs his derelict bus like a sport car, the assault of the taxi drivers trying to make a dollar, the boat ride through the poor shacks surrounded with garbage built over the water, the children managing their dugout canoes with dexterity and asking for a little bit of money. The several islands situated in northern Panama in the carabbean are beautiful. We stayed on Isla Colon and Isla Carenero, swam in the wonderful clear and warm waters of the caribbean seas, met interesting people and as usual when we travel for the few days our passport runs demand felt like we were on a honey moon.
Je me rappelerai des gros camions qui traversent le pont a moitie effondre separant Costa Rica du Panama! Mais la destination en vaud la peine en depit du long voyage en bus conduit par un chauffeur fou qui prend son transport en commun pour une voiture de sport, les chauffeurs de taxi qui prennent d'assaut les touristes, la traversee en bateau a travers les taudis sur pilotis entoures de poubelles et les enfants qui manient avec dexterite leur canots creuses dans un tronc d arbre et qui mendient quelques sous. Nous sommes restes sur l'ile Colon et l'ile Carenero. On s'est baigne dans les belles eaux chaudes et claires de la mer des Caraibes et on a rencontre des gens interessants. Comme d'habitude quand on voyage ces quelques jours pour faire renouveler nos visas, c'est une autre lune de miel pour Domi et moi.

Carmen and Stephane's wedding:preparations/ Le mariage de Carmen et Stephane: les preparations

2009-11-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

Carmen and Stephane's wedding: the next day/ Ghislaine's birthday/ Le mariage de Carmen et de Stephane: le lendemain/anniversaire de Ghislaine

2009-11-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

The party is not finished! Time to open the wedding gifts and celebrate my birthday while everybody is still here.
La partie n'est pas finie! C'est l'heure d'ouvrir les cadeaux de mariage et de celebrer mon anniversaire pendant que tout le monde est encore la.

Carmen and Stephane's wedding: the big day/ le mariage de Carmen et Stephane: le grand jour

2009-11-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Our older son, Gael, shared some beautiful words at the ceremony which reflect very well the spirit of that moment.
A la ceremonie, notre fils aine, Gael, a partage ces tres beaux mots qui refletent bien l'esprit du moment.

(Domi plays his guitar while Carmen walks down the trail to the beach and Stephane waits).
Gael speaks.

We are brought together today to celebrate the love of Carmen and Stephane.
I am now going to recite a few words that they have given me to speak on their behalf.

Every one of you has been a shinning light in our lives. You have always given us guidance and accepted us for who we are. Now as a couple, we feel the love and support grow to far greater strengths than we could have ever imagined. Knowing that we have so many people in our hearts is a comfort that cannot be described. Between friendship, love, laughter and even a shoulder to cry on, we can never thank you enough. We are truly fortunate to have all of you in our lives. Thank you.

Now on a personal note, I would also like to thank you all for being witnesses to this event and to thank Carmen and Stephane personally. I know that all of us are here today because we have been selectively chosen by you both to attend and in that regard I find it to be an extremely high honot that we can all share this wondrous moment between you two.

And thinking about why we are here led me to contemplate this mariage, this ceremony and the interesting dynamic of it all. I was thinking about how communal this gathering of people is as all weddings tend to be, but usually the norm in many weddings is that you get your invitation, you dress up, you show up and you celebrate for a few hours and that's it. But here, and I believe that it is a testament to how all of us feel about you two, we have been in celebration for several days, and not just in celebration but in organizing, building, gathering, cleaning and preparing for this precise moment. To be honest, I don't know how many people, how many friends and family members would be so willing to chop down coconuts, sweeps up leaves from the yard, build makeshift beach bars, lend their house and property, cut down palm leaves, cook, tend bar, waitress, assemble tents and run around doing all kind of errands up and down the costa Rican Coast, but here we all are and this is what we have done and we have done it because that is a testament to Stephane and Carmen's love, and its ability to bring us all together. I truly believe that we all feel as passionately about them as they do for each other. Because with them, we see precisely what love is all about, about sharing, without ego, and giving to them what they have given to us and as they continually give to each other.

When Stephane and Carmen asked me to witness this ceremony, I had no idea why as I felt that I knew them less as a couple than any of you present here today, but it took me only seconds to realize that this community is exactly what true love is all about. This union between all of us is a direct reflection on the incredible and radiant love that is Carmen and Stephane. We love you guys and I am so proud of you both.

Now, as a further continuation of this communal gathering and as a small surprise, I would like to call upon the parents, Rose, Dave, Dominique and Ghislaine to come up and share some words directly with Carmen and Stephane as they continue to embark on this new path forged together.

Parents say their speeches.

Carmen and Sephane will now share their vows.
Carmen says vows/Stephane says vows.
Ceremony of rings.
Carmen, do you take Stephane to be your husband?
Stephane, do you take Carmen to be your wife?
Friends and family, I now officially present to you Mr and Mrs Geneau.
You may both now seal the deal with a kiss!!!

Back in Europe/De retour en Europe

2009-10-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Domi finishes his work at the Santa Ana's store before going back to the boat while I fly to France. My Dad, 91, is still enjoying riding his bike, cutting the lawn, trimming the trees, playing tarot and petanque, taking very good care of himself and the house. We enjoy each other's company while I do my best to share his interests and his no-salt-diet!
On my way to the East of France to visit Domi's parents, brother and sister, I meet my dear american friend Suzanne and hubby Randy in Paris where they are staying for a couple of days on their way to Ireland and they treat me with a lovely lunch between two trains. As usual, I am received with so much kindness and generosity by Domi's family and I am delighted to find them all in good spirits.
Then I take the train to Austria to spend a couple of days with my dear friend Dietmar, lovely wife Bettina and adorable little Sarah. I love the fresh smell of the Alps, the invigorating dip in a beautiful creek but above all their delightful little girl.
Back to my father for another two weeks with lots of invitations for "aperitifs", visit of my old university friends, Martine and Michel in their limousine farm,visit of Daniele and Gerard who abandons for a day their old Bergerie in Donzenac where they have settled down after years of cruising then on the train again to Tours where Karim, Laila receive me in their beautiful remodelled kitchen. Celine's parents cook a somptouos feast for us.
In Paris, my old friend Marie-France takes me to see her pregnant daughter and grandchild while Pierre is following the transat where their son, Simon is competing.
And back on the plane to Costa Rica for Stephane and Carmen's wedding. Gael arrives from Mexico and the excitment is mounting as friends arrive from Canada and the last details for the ceremony are taking care off.

Domi finit son travail au magasin de Santa Ana et rejoint le bateau pendant que je m'envole vers la France. Mon papa qui a maintenant 91 ans continuent a faire de la bicyclette, a couper son gazon, a elaguer les arbres, a jouer au tarot et a la petanque et en general prend bien soin de lui et de sa maison.
Nous sommes heureux de profiter de ces moments et je fais de mon mieux de partager ses interets et sa diete sans sel.
En chemin vers l'Est pour rendre visite aux parents, frere et soeur de Domi, je m'arrete a Paris pour retrouver ma chere amie americaine Suzanne et son ami Randy qui sont la pour une couple de jours avant de rejoindre l'Irlande et ils m'offrent un bon dejeuner entre deux trains.
Comme d'habitude, la famille Geneau me recoit avec beaucoup de gentillesse et de generosite et je suis heureuse de les trouver en bonne forme.
Puis je prend le train pour l'Autriche afin de passer une couple de jours avec mon ami Dietmar, sa charmante femme Bettina et leur adorable petite Sarah. J'aime la fraicheur des Alpes, un plongeon rejunevateur dans un torrent mais surtout leur fascinante petite fille.
De retour en France chez mon pere pour deux autres semaines, aperitifs, une visite chez ma copine d'universite Martine et epoux Michel dans leur ferme Limousine, visite de Daniele et Gerard qui ont abandonne pour une journee leur vieille bergerie de Donzenac ou ils se sont installes apres des annees de vagabondage en bateau et je suis a nouveau dans le train pour Tours ou Karim et Laila me recoivent dans leur belle cuisine renovee. Les parents de Celine nous preparent un festin somptueux et le train m'amene a Paris ou Marie-france me recoit et m'amene visiter sa fille enceinte et son petit fils pendant que Pierre suit son fils Simon qui fait la Transat.
Et de retour a Costa Rica pour le mariage de Stephane et Carmen. Gael arrive du Mexique et l'excitement grandit alors que les amis arrivent du Canada et que les derniers details pour la ceremoniesont regles.

The new store is opened and kicking! / Le nouveau magasin est ouvert et en plein boum!

2009-09-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Our 4th honeymoon in Nicaragua, San Juan del Sol/Notre 4ieme lune de miel au Nicaragua, San Juan del Sol

2009-08-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Our stay in San Juan del Sol, a big village on the pacific in south Nicaragua reminds us of our childhood hollydays in a french resort in the fifties. We enjoy the view from the balcony of a very funky pink hotel right on the busy street, (especially at night!) along the beach and the many signs provided by the Flor de Cana compagny, the local rhum!

Notre sejour a San Juan del Sol, gros village au bord de l'ocean Pacifique au sud du Nicaragua nous rappelle les vacances de notre jeunesse dans une station balneaires des annees 50. Nous apprecions la vue depuis le balcon de notre hotel rose et veillot situe sur la rue tres passante( surtout pendant la nuit!) qui suit la plage et les nombreux panneaux dont a fait don la compagnie Flor de Cana qui produit le rhum local!

The making of the new fish market in Santa Ana-San/Jose/La construction de la nouvelle poissonnerie a Santa Ana-San Jose

2009-08-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Located in Santa Ana, 20 minutes from downtown San Jose, the chosen space was occupied by real estate offices but Demian worked his magic again, with the financial help of the two investors, Norman and Sergio and envisionned a beautiful store/restaurant on the front and in the back, a spacious fish processing plant. The location is superb, 5minutes drive from our appartment and two blocks away from the new freeway going to the coast, where the fresh fish is, a 45 minutes drive instead of the 3 hours of bad mountain road. While Domi and Demian work 12 hours a day to meet the dead line for the opening, Stephane handles alone the store in Malpais and Samy passes with 107% an exam, in spanish, to become a personal trainer in Pilate and I make sure there is food on the table and that the laundry is done which leaves me plenty of time to enjoy the swimming pool and the lovely weather here.

Situe a Santa Ana, a 20 minutes du centre de San Jose, l'espace choisi etait occupe par des bureaux d'une compagnie immobiliere mais Damien , avec l'aide financiere des deux investisseurs, Norman et Sergio, a transforme, avec sa vision et sa magie coutumiere, la partie qui donne sur la rue en un magnifique magasin/restaurant et l'arriere, spacieux, est reserve pour la preparation du poisson. La location est superbe, a 5 minutes de notre appartement et a deux coins de rue de la nouvelles autoroutes qui permettra d'atteindre la cote, ou le poisson frais est, en 45 minutes au lieu des trois heures de mauvaise route de montagne. Pendant que Domi et Damien travaillent 12 heures par jour afin d'ouvrir comme prevu, Stephane s'occupe tout seul du magasin de Malpais et Samy vient d'etre recue avec 107% a son examen pour devenir un entraineur prive de Pilate et je m'assure que les repas sont sur la table et la lessive est faite ce qui me donne encore beaucoup de temps libre pour profiter de la piscine et de la belle temperature d'ici.

Visit of the Scotto and high tide combined with big waves in Malpais/Visite des Scotto et grande maree avec grosses vagues a Malpais

2009-08-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

A quick trip to Seattle and Canada/ Une visite rapide a Seattle et au Canada

2009-07-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Swagman2 recent haul out/ La toute recente mise en carene de Swaggi

2009-06-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

When the diver changed one of the zincs, he poked a hole in the hull Knowing the crocodiles abound in this estuary, we really can't be mad at him! The pump started to work and we could hear the water rushing inside the boat. Panic! Domi figured out right away what was the problem as the diver didn't have a clue that the screw he was using to put the zinc in place was too long and they stopped the flow! But it was the kick on the butt we needed to get the boat out of the water and check the hull.

The holes were repaired at Sam Manley, a very professional Puntarenas boat yard. The boss, Sam, an english man whose father came to work on the railway is a sweet 82 years old man, still vibrant and passionate about his boatyard and the big machinery in his shop. We found that the work on the fiber glass that was done on the hull in Mexico, Guayamas, was poorly done and will need attention so we did a quick clean up, painting and back in the water the next day as we need a very high tide to do this kind of operations, (deep keel on the boat and channel filling up with sand). Domi and I have been putting a lot of work on the boat and Swaggi looks good.

Quand le plongeur a change les zincs, il a perce un trou dans la coque. Comme on sait que l'estuaire ici est plein de crocodiles, on ne peut pas vraiment se facher! La pompe de cale s'est mise en route et on pouvait entendre l'eau qui rentrait a flot. Panique a bord! Domi a realise tout de suite quel etait le probleme car le plongeur n'avait pas la moindre idee que la vis qu'il utilisait pour poser le zinc etait trop longue et ils ont arrete l'inondation. Mais c'etait le coup de pied dans le derriere dont on avait besoin pour sortir le bateau de l'eau et verifier la coque.

Les trous ont ete repare au chantier naval de Sam Manley de Puntarenas, tres professionnel. Le patron, Sam, un anglais de 82 ans dont le pere etait venu a Costa Rica pour travailler sur le chemin de fer est un homme encore vibrant et passionne par son chantier et son atelier pleins de machines. On a decouvert que le travail de fibre de verre fait a Guyamas, au Mexique sur la coque n'avait pas ete bien fait and demandera des soins. Alors cette fois ci, on a fait juste un nettoyage et une peinture et on etait de retour a l'eau le jour suivant car on a besoin d'une grande maree pour ce genre d'operations ( quille profonde du bateau et enssablement de l'estuaire) . Domi et moi travaillons dur sur le bateau et il a l'air tres beau.

Ometepe in Nicaragua

2009-05-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

One of the two volcanoes of the little islands of Ometepe, the Nahualts, on lake Nicaragua, an ocean of fresh water, is said to erupt every 50 years. So it is due anyday now! But lucky us, it didn't while we were there! It's peaceful, feels like 50 years ago, with people taking care of business either on horse back or bicycle. The cows travel on the dirt road at a leisurely pace. The volcanic spring, the oro de agua, amongst the trees is soothing and fresh. Women use a big volcanic rock to put their laundry on top while they wash, standing up, in the lake or the rivers. Not so hard on the back! We enjoyed the relaxed pace, the cheap local restaurants and a nice bicycle ride.

On dit que l'un des deux volcans des petites iles d'Ometepe, les Nahualts, sur le lac Nicaragua, un ocean d'eau fraiche, se reveille tous les 50 ans. Cela pourrait arriver n'importe quel jour maintenant mais, quelle chance, ce n'est pas arrive pendant qu'on y etait! C'est un endroit paisible qui nous a ramene 50 ans en arriere, ou les gens s'occupent de leurs affaires soit a dos de cheval soit a bicyclette. La source volcanique, l'oeil d'eau, au milieu des arbres est rafraichissante et calmante. Les femmes font leur lessive sur une grosse roche volcannique en se tenant debout dans le lac ou les rivieres, moins dur sur le dos! Nous avons apprecie la relaxation, les restaurants locaux bon marche et une belle promenade a bicyclette.

Fall in Costa Rica/Automne a Costa Rica

2009-05-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

We have been waiting for the first rain, so soothing. In two days, the pachote trees don't look like squeletons any longer, the grass is green, everything looks fresh and clean, so beautiful. Meanwhile, we are going from Malpais where the seafood store is, to San Jose a l'appartement, to Puntarenas where we work on the boat and we enjoy the visit of family and friends. Domi regains his strength slowly but surely.

And I do yoga with Snika!

On a attendu avec impatience les premieres pluies, si douces. En deux jours, les arbres pachotes ont perdu leurs allures de squelettes, l'herbe est a nouveau verte, tout est frais et propre, tres beau. Nous voyageons de Malpais ou est la poissonnerie a san Jose a l'apparttement et a Puntarenas ou nous travaillons sur le bateau et nous avons le plaisir de recevoir la visite de la famille et des amis. Domi retrouve ses forces doucement mais surement.

Et je fais du yoga avec Snika!

Recovery in San Jose: out of the hospital/ Convalescence a San Jose: enfin sorti de l'hopital

2008-11-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

Domi can't travel so we rent a house in Escazu, San Jose, for a month where he learns to walk again. After three weeks, his big accomplishment is to climb upstairs for a wonderful bath with jets to relax his aching body.

Domi ne peut pas encore voyager alors on loue une maison a Escazu, San Jose, pour un mois. Il y re-apprend a marcher. Apres trois semaines, son plus grand accomplissement est de monter les escaliers pour prendre un bon bain tourbillon qui l'aide a relaxer son corps douloureux.

Recovery in San Jose: the new appartment/ Convalescence a San Jose: le nouvel appartement

2008-11-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

We have moved into our new appartment in Santa Ana, close to San Jose, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, at the Avalon country club. Lovely swimming pool, hot tubs, gym, lap pool, tennis courts, mini golf, soccer field still in construction.

The swimming does wonders for Domi who works hard on regaining strength and flexibility. We love the weather, sunny and hot in the mornings, cloudy and stormy in the afternoons, the view on the mountains, cows and horses, waking up with the song of the local roosters and tropical birds. It is peaceful and relaxing after the last three months of intense anxiety. To watch Domi climbing the little hill to the swimming pool and enjoying himself in the water makes me happy. We still take it one day at a time and we are content to do just so.

On a demenage dans notre nouvel appartement de Santa Ana, pres de San Jose, deux chambres, deux salles de bain, au country club Avalon. La piscine est magnifique, bains tourbillons, gymnase, piscine pour faire des longueurs, mini golf, terrain de foot et tennis encore en construction.

La natation aide beaucoup Domi qui travaille dur pour retrouver ses forces et sa flexibilite. On aime beaucoup le climat ici, chaud et ensoleille le matin, nuageux et orageux l' apres midi, la vue sur la montagne, vaches et chevaux. On aime se reveiller avec le chant des coqs locaux et des oiseaux tropicaux. C'est paisible et relaxant apres les trois derniers mois d'anxiete intense. Regarder Domi grimper la petite colline jusqu'a la piscine et le voir s'amuser dans l'eau me rend heureuse. On continue a vivre une journee a la fois et nous nous en contentons pleinement.

The making of the family store:Grand Opening,july 14th/ Realisation du magasin familial: celebration de l'ouverture, 14 juillet 2008

2008-10-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

The making of the family store: building!/ Realisation du magasin familial:construction

2008-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

The making of the family store: planning!/ Realisation du magasin familial:planification

2008-10-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

The making of the family store...but life had other plans/ Realisation du magasin familial...mais la vie avait d'autres plans.

2008-10-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post " The making of the family store" pictures a long time ago but Life had other plans...Dominique is recovering slowly but surely from the agressive bacteria that attacked his lungs, his white cells count went down to 700, his kidneys fell, and kept him sedated for three weeks at the hospital Mexico in San Jose, Costa Rica. We almost lost him but thanks to the good care of the doctors and intensive care staff in the hospital, the prayers and positive energy of friends, family, even perfect strangers, coming from all over, the love of his family and his will to live, he survived, with a total loss of muscles, weakness and a long journey ahead of him to recover. Gael, Demian, Samy and Stephane and I gathered our energies in San Jose in order to be constantly with him. Domi is now starting to walk again. We live in San Jose and the kids go back and forth from the beach to here. No plans for now as it will take a while for Domi to be able to travel again.

J'avais prevu de mettre les photos de"La realisation du magasin familial" il y a quelques temps deja mais la vie avait d'autres plans...Domi se remet tranquillement mais surement d'une bacterie agressive qui a attaque ses poumons et l'a garde dans un coma artificiel pendant trois semaines a l'hopital Mexico de San Jose, Costa Rica. Nous l'avons presque perdu, son compte de cellules blanches est tombe a 700, ses reins ont lache, mais grace aux bons soins des docteurs et du personnel des soins intensifs de l'hopital, les prieres et l'energie positive des amis, de la famille et meme d'etrangers, qui nous sont parvenues de partout, l'amour de sa famille et son desir de vivre, il a survecu avec la perte totale de l'usage de ses muscles, une grande faibless et une longue convalescence devant lui . Gael, Demian, Samy, Stephane et moi-meme ont rassemble nos energies a San Jose afin d'etre constamment a ses cotes. Domi recommence maintenant a marcher. Nous demeurons a San Jose et les enfants font l'aller-retour de la plage a ici. Pas de plans pour l'instant car Domi ne va pas pouvoir voyager pendant un bon moment.

In Nicaragua again.

2008-02-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

We stay by a lake, the crater of a volcano, up the mountain at Susan's beautiful house.

The visit of the alcoholic gecko

2008-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Our little friend enjoy licking the top of our glass of rhum! Which reminds me of this movie"Animal are beautiful people" (that's the title I believe) where animals, girafes, elephants, monkeys...wait for the fruit of a special tree to rippen and ferment so they can get drunk!

New Year with a pig roast a la Hawaienne

2008-01-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Dig a big hole by the beach, build a fire inside the pit with drift wood. When you have a good heap of coals, wrap the pig in banana leaves, put it on a rack made of banana tree branches, cover it with banana leaves,then put back the earth so no air gets in , let it cook while you drink beers and rum and eat a tender and tasty pig few hours later! Happy New Year everybody et Bonne Annee!

Puntarenas is pretty good!

2008-01-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

Swaggie is tucked in a little corner of the estuary and between sanding and painting, we relax at the swimming pool of the yacht club. When we are not on the boat, we are in Santa Teresa enjoying life with the kids...

And back in Costa Rica.

2007-12-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

Swagman is waiting for us at the yacht club of Puntarenas, safe and sound but filthy, moldy and full of cucarachas. We scrape and clean 12 hours a day for 1o days and talk a little hollyday at Demian's paradise to visit the kids in Malpais. Then we take an oyster delivering trip to Tamarindo, meet some great french chefs and stay at a beautiful bed and breakfast, spanish style. We decide to get the Costa Rican flag so we still are at the marina, waiting to see what comes next.

Then to France for three months.

2007-12-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

First Besancon with Domi's family, Besancon chez les Geneau, then I went camping on a beautiful island in the middle of the Loire with "Les Crecerelles", famille Hanouda and friends, une merveilleuse semaine sur une petite ile au milieu de la Loire avec les amis de Touraine, then Chalus with my Dad et mon village natale avec Papa et bien sur les parties de petanque. The 4 kids arrived in september. Une agreable surprise a l'aeroport. Mon cousin Sylvestre debarque de l'avion en provenance de Detroit quelques minutes avant l'arrivee les enfants! Reunion familiale au milieu de l'aeroport puis chacun part de son cote. At the airport, a wonderful surprise. My cousin Sylvestre arriving from Detroit appears at the door we are waiting at, a few minutes before the children. Totally unexpected! Big family reunion in the middle of Charles De Gaulle!
We have the most fun family vacation, les plus belles vacances de famille de notre vie, visiting friends and family, avec la famille et les amis a explorer les vignobles et a gouter les bons vins, ceux de notre ami Pierre par exemple, exploring and tasting the wines, especially the excellent wines of our friend, Pierre, Jura, Alsace, Burgandy, Provence, Bordeaux, a memorable visit of the Mouton Rotschild vinyard with Francoise, les vins de la Loire. We meet our canadian friend, Evangelo, in Signes, at Francoise and Samuel, Domi's sister and nephew's new home and go karting. On regarde la competition mondiale de surf a Hossegor et Demian and Stephane qui ont amene leur planche de surf ont la chance d'essayer quelques vagues le lendemain puis ils iront au Maroc faire le tour des plages a surf. On grimpe la dune du Pila, on visite Pierre en Bretagne, les vieux amis de Cherbourg and the musee d'Orsay in Paris where we stay with our good friends Pierre and Marie-France. On fait une ballade sur la Loire sur le bateau traditionnel, la Toux Cabanee de Pascal avec Karim et les enfants, on s'arrete sur une ile pour deguster quelques merguez cuites sur un petit feu de camp, repas arrose par un Chinon et suivi d'une sieste au soleil, on mange le bon couscous de Leila en regardant la finale mondiale de rugby avant de visiter le chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, le magnifique chateau d'Usse. We drive to northern germany to visit our good friends Hedel and Herold, who are still sailing in the northern seas. 10 kilos later and mucho less dinero, we go back to Canada... to work for 2 weeks and it's still cold!

Back to work in Canada

2007-12-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

So we have been traveling since the end of april. In Canada for three months, Domi fishing prawns and me substituying at the french school. It was great to eat prawns, see friends, go sailing with Dan off gibsons and with Ryan up Vancouver island, share Clea's birthday and take care of things, like income tax, banking and so on...but so cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Demian's paradise...and snakes.

2007-04-19T00:08:00.000-07:00

We were told there is a snake in paradise. Well, on Demian's new property, there were three (actually five, with the two babies)! It's a beautiful park on the beach, snorkeling and surfing right there, monkeys, parrots, exotic birds, iguanas, mangos, star fruit, plantain, sweet bananas etc...and snakes. While cleaning the surroundings of the house, the gardeners found two boas, one digesting a big iguana and the deadly coral snake that kills you in 20 or 40 minutes, depending where it strikes! We put the snakes in a cooler and released them in the national reserve park at the end of the road. I understand why Demian wants his yard cleaned!

We are leaving Costa Rica by plane next week for Canada where Domi is going to fish prawns with Andre. Then we will fly to France to visit our families. It's not easy to leave the kids, this beautiful country and Noel and Rosie on their boat Enez. They are leaving for Ecuador, Galapagos and Chile. That's the part of cruising life that I don't like too much!

The boat is in Puntarenas, Costa Rica Yacht Club. a lovely place with nice, professional people and a swimming pool as we avoid swimming around the boat...because of the crocodiles passing by! Thought the boat sits on its keel at low tide, nicely dry, we feel Swagman will be safe here. There is security 24/7 and our friend Enrico and the kids will come and check off and on. So here we come again, springtime in Canada!

Granada in Nicaragua

2007-03-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

We hopped in Nicaragua for few days to renew our papers. We loved Granada, built in the 152o's by the spaniards, the oldest town in Central America. No many cars, a leisurely pace, a vibrant mercado, it reminded us of the life of a village in the 50's. Domi and I had a second honeymoon (the first one was in 1971 when we hitchicked to the french west coast and slept in a ditch because by 2AM nobody had picked us up...but that was fine too), alone, at Suzanne's beautiful house. Swimming pool, antique furniture, plants and flowers, luxurious rooms. What a treat! We played tourist and had a tour of the many islands scattered on the humongous nicaraguan lake.

Still in costa Rica and loving it.

2007-03-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

The tree on the rocks is called "The Jesus Tree" by the locals and they go there to pray for their loved ones. It's a nice walk along the beach of the bay. We refresh in the river, hoping the crocodiles won't show up!

Parties de petanque, snorkeling, soiree flamenco a Floblanca avec des navigateurs de passage, Richard et Andrea, en route vers l'Espagne, rencontres inoubliables avec Jeanne et Claude. Les hirondelles perchees sur les filieres du bateau nous reveillent chaque matin ainsi que les singes"howlers", les poissons me grignotent, ce que je n'apprecie pas toujours, lors de mes sceances de natation quotidiennes. Les enfants testent leur rapidite a echapper aux cornes des taureaux pendant le rodeo local de Cobano, les vaches se promenent en liberte dans la foret et ressemblent a des lapins avec leurs grands yeux et leurs oreilles pendantes...Nous sommes heureux ici avec les enfants.

The pictures we like

2007-01-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Anchored in Tambor, Bahia Ballena

2007-01-19T08:51:00.000-08:00

We are enjoying the peaceful bay, swimmimng, working on the boat finishing all those little projects, writing, socializing with the local people and visiting old friends, relaxing. There is a wonderful organic market on saturday morning, fresh fish everyday at the fisherman pier and the kids in the neighbourhood. We just love it here, even when the papagayos, strong wind from the land, makes our sleep bouncy.

Life with the kids

2006-12-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

Demian introduces his new menu to his staff and we got to try it that night. Wonderful!

And the most popular activity...

2006-12-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

...SLEEP! Ah! Qu'il est doux de ne rien faire quand tout s'agite autour de vous!

What do we do at sea?

2006-12-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

What happened to Puerto Escondido...

2006-12-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

...the surfers'paradise? Well, Zephyr HAD to surf, of courses, and we wanted to visit our old friend Dan from the Sunshine Coast who has built a little paradise, a sweet hotel, on the mountain over the beautiful beach of Puerto Escondido. But the anchorage was so bad, too close to the beach for confort, big surf, rocks, numerous pongas, an underwater deep canyon right to the beach, salsa dancing all night, thunderstorm, fire works...that we left the next day though the weather predictions were rather bad and we got tossed around, washing machine effect, allnight long until we reached Huatulco. NN! (Not Nice). On the way, we passed many little birds hitchiking a ride on the backs of big sea turtles. Rather cute. Oh! The big fish is a marlin.

We do, REALLY, enjoy Marina Barillas!

2006-12-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

Libertad, El Salvador

2006-12-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

With the people in El Salvador

2006-12-19T17:27:00.000-08:00

Oups! I erased Acapulco and its famous Quebrada!

2006-12-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

We wait under the rain to see what the hurricane Sergio is up to.

Monkeys and birds

2006-12-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

This family of spider monkeys has 16 females and babies under the surveillance of Poncho, the male. They climb on us to reach the bananas offered by a farmer of the neighboroud. One night I dream of small birds landing on the boat and few days later, three swallows arrive one stormy night and sleep on my head for few hours. What a delight!

Pierre's fabulous pictures of Isla Isabella

2006-12-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

Retrouvailles at 09 38' 50N and 085 11' 005W

2006-12-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

The kids, Demian, Stephane, Samantha, Spencer, Marty and Zephyr's mom, meet us in front of Florblanca. They paddle on their surf boards to come and share breakfast with us. We leave them to go around Capo Blanco and anchor in Bahia Ballena, an hour drive from their houses. They all come over for super. It's wonderful to be with the kids again and to have accomplished the first leg of the journey.

Here we are, Costa Rica.

2006-12-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

Again with a gusty wind in the nose, we reach Bahia de Coco where we are well taken care of by a sweet local who gets the immigration officer in, though it is sunday, for Ryan has to be able to leave the country to go back to Canada. She is a real sweetheart, gives us all warm hugs and Ryan is legally allowed to leave the country after a good last shopping! We rest a couple of days, fuel, shopping. Now we are excited to know that the next leg will take us to the rendez-vous with our children and for Zephyr with her mom.

A paradise in El Salvador

2006-12-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

The wind is either somewhere else or blowing in the wrong direction and we are getting tired of the 30 knots in the nose but the reward is there, at Marina Barillas. We have to say good bye to Pierre who catches a plane to go back to Paris. We are sad to leave him. He has been a wonderful compagnon.

Last port in Mexico: Puerto Madero

2006-12-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

Though we are boarded twice by the Armada with their sniffing dogs ( one dog was very interested in a bottle of french poirette I was hiding for Xmas surprise and we had to take it away from him so he could resume his drugs-sniffing-duties) and guns, we have a fond memory of the nice people there, including the Armada and their dogs!

Oh! Tuhantepec! Your bad reputation, well deserved it is!

2006-12-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

...and I would hate to see you on a storm warning! Now don't ask me how it was with 45 knots of wind, my watch was over and I slept through the whole thing...but I heard the others got drenched, tossed around, slammed and more... but you'll have to ask them! And the pictures, well, they seem to have disappeared!

A stop in Huatulco before the fearsome Golfo de Tuhantepec

2006-12-08T21:23:00.000-08:00

Huatulco surprises us. Its clean, pretty, green and welcoming and the airport roofs are palapas! The authorities deliver our Zarpe and we are ready to tackle the Golfo after waiting for a window in the weather SO WE LEAVE WITH A GALE WARNING. And we got another big dorado after a marlin or sailfish, probably HUMONGOUS, swallowed two of our most precious lures.

On the way to Acapulco

2006-11-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

We pass a bunch of sea tutles and sea snakes. Strange! Sergio, the new hurricane is moving we still don't know in which direction so we will wait in Acapulco before heading south.

Great Xmas shopping in Zihuatanejo

2006-11-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

The bargaining is good and the prizes are right. A great little touristy town with the mexicans still leaving and working there!

Bahia de Navidad and Manzanillo

2006-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

An interesting town, Manzanillo. We are anchored in the middle of a busy harbor and thousands of little birds come to feed on the corn brought by the containers. At night they cover a couple of buildings in the centro.

More on the life onboard

2006-11-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

La vie a bord s'organise

2006-11-16T22:36:00.000-08:00

Sans commentaires....

Party in Puerto Vallarta

2006-11-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

Music and ceviche at Odile's house. Pierre au piano, Domi a la guitare, Marlin au sax et piano, Diego aux tablas and the wonderful voice of Odile sharing french, brezilian, mexican and cuban songs. Surrounded with friends, Puerto Vallarta at our feet, it's an evening to remember . We leave with the desire to come back.

Chacala and its pretty boys!

2006-11-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

More on Isla Isabela

2006-11-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Isla Isabela

2006-11-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

The boys shop too!

2006-11-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

Suspens and shopping in Mazatlan on Ghislaine's birthday

2006-11-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Back in La Paz

2006-10-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

A hurricane warning sends us to hide in marina Palmira in La Paz instead of crossing to Mazatlan as we had planned to. But we are happy to ride our bicycles in beautiful La Paz once again and the hurricane stays away. Good!

La magnifique Mer de Cortez

2006-10-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

Every night a different bay to anchor, beautiful white sand beaches, fascinating snorkling, lagoons to explore, full of birds, dolphins travelling with Swagman, sun and warm water, sushi, ceviche and fish soup with the 8kgs dorado who knocked itself on our hook! And almost nobody in those dream anchorages. Can't complain! Oh! I forgot! We did hit a rock on the north part of Islas San Marcos and the boat came to a full stop but it seems that there is no too much damage.

Back in the water in Guyamas!

2006-10-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

As the travel lift turns to back us down into the water, a heavy shower turns the dusty road into a river of mud and the wheel gets stuck. There we are, up there, swinging back and forth and sideways for 5 hours while the mexican workers scratch their heads to figure out how to move our 4o tons boat. We end up spending the night between two big shrimpers, waiting for the tide the next day. We almost get stuck in the narrow, shallow channel in Guaymas but finally we are on our way for more exploration of the magnificent Sea of Cortez.
Nous voila de retour sur l eau apres bien du suspens!

Back to Tucson

2006-09-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Une visite en Touraine avec les amis des Crecelles and another stop in beautiful Arizona desert where Alain and Mary receives us like king and queen.

Mon beau limousin

2006-09-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

En France, Limoges et mon village, Chalus. After Tucson we stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to visit my cousin, Sylvestre, his french wife, Cat and daughter, Marion, and our friend Brett who just move there to study, we spend a month in France with family and friends.

A stop in Tucson

2006-08-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

We visit Alain and Mary of Blue Moon in their beautiful home in the Arizona-Sonora desert.

At work in Guaymas

2006-08-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

Now that we have decided to go together in France, we hauled out the boat in Guaymas and attacked the blisters on the hull!

Party in San Carlos and surgery

2006-06-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Gael and his friends stayed with us for a week and we explored around. Our son golden retriever, Duko, got hit by a car and Dominique performed his first surgery.

More pictures

2006-06-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Y viva el mar de cortez!

2006-06-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

We love the beautiful Sea of Cortez, the small isolated bays with a fishing community, the warm water, the daily visit of dolphins, pilot whales, manta rays, the friendly welcoming people. Here are some pictures of Bahia Aqua Verde, Punta Evaristo, Partida island and yours truely enjoying her evening dip!

Viva el Swagman!

2006-06-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Swagman with her new look!

Kisses from La Paz

2006-05-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

More pictures

2006-05-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

Pictures from
Turtle Bay taken by David and Candi from their sailing vesselEndeavor and Dominique trying a Porta Bote, the folding dinghy in La Paz. The work on Swagman II is going well and we should be back on the water by the end of the week.

La Paz is great!

2006-05-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Abaroa boat yard is a happy place and we love this beautiful little city.

My Hero!

2006-05-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

I am just sneaking few pictures of my heroes, Captans, Sailors, fishermen and Chefs!

From Mag Bay to La Paz

2006-05-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful sailing voyage on the west coast of Baja California and though it was cold, we loved the isolated, desertic coast. The reward is turning the cape to Cabo San Lucas and it is hot! Hot! Hot! Off go the winter clothes. Nothing like sailing under a full moon, half naked! After reeling in a poisonous sea snake and a blue shark, Domi finally got us a tuna that was transformed immediatly into sushi. We tried to wash it down with a bottle of home made sake from 1986 but the ocean drank it instead of us for it was totally undrinkable and it was a nice way to celebrate the second crossing of the Tropic of Cancer! And then we watched the manta rays flying over the ultramarine blue water. La Paz is a beautiful little city, flowers, small beaches, fishermen pongas on the shore, la promenade des anglais, french riviera style where we ride our bicycles. We will be hauling the boat for maintenance and bottom paint at the" sympatico" Abaroa boat yard in business for 120 years or more...We will be staying in La Paz, may be... for two weeks...

Few pictures from France, Canada, Costa Rica, Turtle Bay, Mag Bay.

2006-05-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Holla again, long time no see...

2006-05-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since our last entry. We spent xmas and new year in France with family and friends, mostly in the snow...then came back to Ensenada and flew to Canada for a month to work...in snow again...then came back to Ensenada and flew to Costa Rica see the kids for a month...in the sun this time...and came back to Ensenada to get ready to sail south! After three days at sea, we are now in Turtle Bay, half way south on the west coast of Baja California. We have been enjoying this little, dusty, friendly mexican fishing village, at the end of a dirt road crossing the desertic Baja, for more than a week as we had some sail repairs to do. On our trip from Ensenada to Turtle Bay, we had a wonderful wind and for the first time since we left Canada, have been able to sail, sail, sail... but a little too much wind for the genoa! We are getting ready to leave on sunday, may 7th, for La Paz, the boat being in dire need of paint job above and below waterline.

Info

2005-11-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

By the way if you click on the pictures, they become bigger( as I am computer ignorant, I didn't know that)!...And you can add comments too! Wouah! Those computers! Ghislaine

Ensenada... on

2005-11-24T23:13:00.000-08:00

Correction: It was not 5 months but 3 months after they pitchpoled that it took for Barry and Toni, who was several month in her pregnancy, to reach Winter Harbor on Vancouver Island.

Ensenada

2005-11-24T22:40:00.000-08:00

We see the huge mexican flag(100 ft by 50 ft) flying at the top of an amazingly tall post way before we reach the entrance of Ensenada harbor which inspires Domi's comment:" That would make a great spinnaker". We meet "Deja too" on its way out and exchange greetings. As we crawl into the crowded harbor, Manuel on his "ponga" signals us to follow him to the well named marina " The Bandidos". He leads us into a tight corner washed by a tremendous surge, too late to turn back, but Super-Skipper-Domi manages the boat skillfully to its new home, helped by Gail and Garth. Nice to be welcomed by friends. It is very warm and sunny and we take off for a mexican meal in a little town bustling with excitement as everybody is preparing for the departure of the famous international Baja 1000 off road race. Ensenada being our first port of entry in Mexico, we go through the paper work with "no problema". We like Ensenda, find a place to leave the boat for a month and get a flight to spend Christmas in France. 50000 people assist at the departure of the race and we are amongst the crowd at 6 am to watch 200 dirt bikes, quads, dune buggies, trucks flying above the man made dirt ramp that marks the beginning of the race and go back to the boat to discover in town another 200 vehicles ready to go! After that, we stay quietly aboard! The evenings here are quite the same than in Sechelt. People around the table sharing Ghislaine's couscous and wine but the stories are incredible sailing stories like the one of Toni and Barry on "Nutshell" who were lost at sea for 5 months after their boat pitch poled.

More pictures and San Diego

2005-11-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

We found a place at the transient dock for 10 days and meet some wonderful people, Gail, Garth and Nick on "Simplicity", David and Judith on" Deja Too", Terry and Gary on "Eshi" and the ones we call the kids, three young men from Seattle, Jeff, Matt, Casey on their way around the world on "Sohcahtoa". Iain and I visit the magnificent zoo and Domi goes on repairing. Good place to shop but in our opinion, not cruiser friendly. As we cannot find a marina that will take our ununsured boat, I cancel my trip for France to visit my father and Iain decides to go back to Canada. We stay for the cruiser's party offered by Downwind marine store and its welcoming, helpful staff. We leave at night after a bottle of champagne offered and shared by the kids and we set off for a night of fog on our first leg alone (Domi and Guilou). Mexico, here we come!
(Note: the pink blanket over the boom is our computer room)

More pictures

2005-11-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Five more .......

Monterrey and Santa Barbara

2005-11-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

The trip to Monterrey was uneventful with the regular cold and swell, did we forget to mention fog? Except for a nasty, short, and very high swell as we pass Point Conception, that keeps our deck awash and forces salt water through the piping all the way from the stern to the foc'sle on our way to Santa Barbara . In Monterrey, the usual welcome committee of sea lions is now supported by the Coast Guards, both committees happy and noisy! It is warm and sunny and there is a lovely market. It is time for Ryan to leave us and we are sorry that he does have to go back to work, sorry for him... and for us as we are going to miss a wonderful friend and great navigator. Santa Barbara reminds us of the french riviera and we get a taste of the warmth waiting for us farther south. Lucky Ghislaine has a wonderful birthday dinner at the Brothys Brothers, a rather reputable little restaurant on the harbor and a sunny birthday sail, one of the first of the trip, alas not for too long as the wind dies down again. We are still visited here and there by the dolphins and the funny little "potatoe" birds, pedaling above the water like if they were on a trampoline.

Oups... forgot the pictures...

2005-11-24T21:30:00.000-08:00

The pictures!

Along the Washington, Oregon and Northern California coast

2005-11-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

Gone is the idea of sailing 100 miles off shore straight down to San Diego. We are hopping from harbor to harbor when the nasty bar let us in or out...Grays harbor is a delightful fishing village with a strong flavor of the fifties. We recover, eat, drink, rest and fix things and fix things and fix more things. More moonlight ride, dolphins shimmering along the boat, visit of a humpback whale across our stern, tuna following us and more fog and cold and waves and the frustration of seeing the last hour to reach Coos Bay changing into three hours due to an unexpected 30 knots wind in the nose. On the radio, as we are passing an impressive and restricted bar for smaller boats, "Nutshell" from Nanaimo is asking for assistance due to loss of power. The local Coast Guards manage to make it look like child play as they pass the bar on their way out. And there we are in Coos Bay for another "Deja vu": eat, drink, rest and repair, repair, repair...
Three day later, the bar lets us out again for Mendocino. We make a quick stop for refuelling in Crescent city where now the familiar concert of sea lions welcomes us. A local fisherman has told us about a way close to shore between the rocks. We go for it and have a magnificent sunrise after the fog lifts up and sight Cape Mendecino with a whale in the background. By now Ghislaine has discovered the best spot in the cockpit that she will hog until the weather warms up and everybody share the watches...and tries to steal her cozy blanket when she is not looking.
A rather potent storm west of B.C and south of Alaska is now sending us 19 feet swells which makes the arrival in Bodega Bay quite spectacular. The sound of the breakers reaches us through the fog before we can discover the eerie sight of the swells crashing on either side of the bay. The pelicans are the welcome committee now as we enter Bodega Bay channel through the foaming, turbulent water. Another well deserved break in a safe harbor.

Victoria, B.C

2005-11-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

After a night in Pender Island (Gulf islands) and a morning in the hot tub of the marina in Bedwell Bay we set off for Victoria and have our first encouter with a group of porpoises to the delight of Mia who exclaims: " I didn't know they were for real!"
In Victoria, we meet frederique et Francois, a french couple who sailed "Croque Pomme" from French Polynesia and have been cruising B.C and Alaska for a year or so. Francois helps us to get the email through the ham radio working. We celebrate Thanksgiving in front of the parliament building. Renee and Dan fly back to Sechelt. Lily and Mia stay one more day and bus back to the Coast. Time to leave Canada...and the comfort zone! After passing Niah Bay, the open ocean grabs us and..... two down. Ghislaine and Domi are out while Ryan and Iain share the watches. it is cold, wet, rolling from side to side... plainly uncomfortable. However, the sight of dolphins, whales, birds, the magic of a night in the middle of the ocean and the knowledge that every mile southward gets us closer to the warm weather make it worthwhile.

Secret Cove

2005-11-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

First stop for another evening of fun and to pick up Iain and Dan. In the morning, the weather is so lovely and the mood for a good time still with us, Lily, Mia and Renee decide to come for the first leg of the journey to Victoria. More visitors, Lorne, Iain's mom and Bronia for the last good bye. Andre and his daughter Alexia follow us in Marianna III prawn fishing boat to Thormanby Islands and in the distance, in Reception point, Denise waves her handkerchief as we set sails.

Leaving Sechelt B.C. Canada

2005-11-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

On october 6th, three days after coming back from France for the funeral of Guilou's mother, we leave our home of one year and half with Ryan Shellborn on board. He will stay with us until we reach Monterrey, California. Despite the rainy cold early morning, friends have gathered with books, chai tea and gifts to see us off. The sound of Maria's drum and the song of an eagle accompany us and flowers are thrown in the wake of the boat as we leave Porpoise bay, heading for Secret Cove via the Skookumchuck rapids. (Don't miss the slack time as this body of water runs in excess of 12 knots during spring tides).

Swagman II in Sechelt inlet

2005-11-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Swagman II prior to and at time of departure. Beautiful and super natural Sechelt inlet in British Columbia, Canada.