27 November 2006
The Sea of Cortez
By Frank, captain on the Esperanza
Sunrise in the Sea of Cortez
© Greenpeace/Alez Hofford
Sometimes when the ship is at sea with nothing around the answer to the question is easy: Yes - I love being at sea. When the ship is in port with all the silly things us humans find important or at sea where people left their footprint one way or another it is often more difficult to enjoy being a sailor.
The last few days have been different. We just sailed from La Paz to a small town called San Felipe. The trip took us 3 days and all the time we could see the mainland or islands. For 3 days we saw the beauty of the sea and the land together as if it had been the same here since ever and ever.
This is about the first time I remember seeing land exactly the same way as the first explorers and the people who lived here a long time before that saw it.
Can you imagine travelling for 3 days along a coast and between islands and there is nothing you can see made by man? Even the navigational lights we were supposed to see according the charts were not there. All we saw was stunning mountains with lots of big birds of prey high in the sky, flat calm seas with tails of sperm whales sticking out of it, and the most unbelievable sunsets.
After 25 years at sea I still enjoy being a sailor. It's just that sometimes I wish I was a sailor 500 years ago - Cortez must have been a happy man.
Comments
How I wish I was there with you guys!
I miss you all!
Mary Ann
Posted by: Mary Ann at November 28, 2006 4:49 AM
captivating....
Posted by: beelo at November 28, 2006 4:59 AM
As a cyberactivist for Greenpeace, it was strange that no one contacted me to let me know about the Esperanza¨arrival to La Paz. I think it would be benefitial for everybody to exchange information. I am sorry I couldn´t see you guys. Job well done. Godspeed.Patricia
Posted by: patricia at December 1, 2006 6:23 PM
I have been very active in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon ., Mexico. making enviromental counciousnes against urbanization of protected areas in the sierra madre as well as the fencing and wallings of federal rivers by private people who bought land inside of Parque Nacional Cumbres. after a year of activism, with the support of friends in the media we made a good job exposing powerfull corrupted interest's. but last week I recived a call to my cell phone where I was "sentenced to death" and been ordered to disapear. Obiously I'am very nervous. and had to escape to the USA. But would love to volunteer and feel honored to be part of your team on board your ship. I'am a 1 star scuba diver., studied a year of biological sciences, Love mother nature. & consider my self a guardian of planet earth. Please, if possible, consider my offer on making me part of your team.
Posted by: Roberto Woodin at December 13, 2006 3:19 AM
Ola, estimados amigos, es un enorme gusto que ustedes se hayan interesado por estas tierras hermosas de Baja California. Yo soy un nativo de este lugar y cada vez que me siento triste o deprimdo, observo las bellezas de esta naturaleza me inspiro y sigo adelante.
Que bueno que ustedes tambien apresiaron lo mismo, y con su presencia reanimaron la conciencia de muchos pobladores de San Felipe y de Baja California.
Desde que se planeo la creacion del corredor maritimo del mar de cortez, lo primero que pense fue en el daño ecologio que produciria la construccion de puertos de descanso para las enbarcaciones y la contaminacion maritma que las enbarcaciones dejan debido a su constante trafico de las mismas por las aguas, eso sin mencionar la caza deportiva, la cual disminuiria en gran medida la vida marina.
Al saber de su presencia por estos lugares, me di cuenta que no estaba solo y que no era el unico que se habia preocupado por esa cuestion.
Los Felicito enormemente por su valor y entrega a las causas nobles como la denfensa de la madre tierra.
Posted by: Marco Fabela at January 15, 2007 6:46 PM
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