Location: 4° 27.5 S, 55° 27.5 E
Saturday 12:00, 12.16.2006

This will be the last Schooner Maggie B update until the first week of the New Year, when we will reconvene here in Port Victoria, Mahe, the Seychelles. The Maggie B is well settled at a mooring in the inner harbor. I dove on the mooring this morning (yes, yuck) to be sure of it. The mooring is about 100 pounds of granite plus some unknown piece of machinery about the size of 1/2 of a Volkswagen Beetle. I added a few ropes and a shackle and we should be fine. I have paid up my Seychelles Yacht Club dues, hired a local boatman to look after her (for a new pair of Oakleys from the US) plus made friends with nearby Aussie yachties.

I have posted a few new photos from the market here, that should be interesting for those of you that just know Whole Foods.

One insight that I’ve had being here for the run-up to Christmas, is that a “traditional” Christmas, with Santa Claus and pine trees and wreaths is far from the weather at that moment in Palestine when the Christian era started. Palm trees like here make much more sense.

Our favorite menu experience here in the Seychelles was last Sunday at La Digue at a Restaurant called Chez Marcel. The specials were listed on a big board. 1) Squid Curry; 2) Squid in garlic and butter; 3) Deep fried Squid; 4) Squid pasta. After these specials was CALAMARI! in excited capitals. It reminded us of the great “Spam, spam, spam” Monty Python sketch.

Finally, for you birders out there wanting to learn local names in other languages, you should be thrilled to know that in Seychelles Creole, the beautiful Long-tailed Tropic bird is called “Paille en cul” or “Straw up the butt.” Somehow a bit lacking in romance.

We’ll be back live about January 8, 2007. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Crew of the Schooner Maggie B.

All is well.