To never forget: Cruise #3 | Portugal – Panamá

*Note: clearly, all the used nicknames are nothing but sweet, cute, little generalizations with not a pixel of bad intentions. Only L.O.V.E. for the Russians, the gays, our Jesus Guy and all other stereotyping!

                                                                               

What happens when you put a hot gay couple, three Russian-ish guys, a missionary of Jesus Christ and a bunch of colorful traveling birds on a cheap, all-inclusive cruise and let them set sail to Central America? A 24/7 playground full of love and laughter and new experiences. An unforgettable journey that, without a doubt, has left a trail of smiles and special memories on many, if not all, of the hearts involved.

Worlds apart

The differences between us, all with our own ideas, standards, dreams, pasts and purposes were sometimes gigantic. And already for that reason alone, the trip started off as a rollercoaster in Lisbon harbor and ended without anyone wanting to disembark at arrival in the locks of the Panamá canal.

It took a day or two to settle in, to find each other and connect either on the dance floor, the dining table or at the pool, getting introduced through the friends that we already had since yesterday. Not always like minded in every way possible, but more or less ‘like aged’, our gang grew and spread over the decks like a giant, happy and sticky oil slick.

Drinking life like a Piña Colada

The 13 days on the ocean were pure magic. Cruising has that effect, I know by now, but this one was something else again. Most of us would probably never have met each other back home; no mutual backgrounds, religions or cultures in many cases. The boat put us all on the same spot and we couldn’t get away – even if we had wanted too. That, plus all the time in the world, made us open up, really listen and empathize with each other. Slurping up the exciting stuff to be found in all those exotic creatures, like we did the free piña coladas.

It wasn’t rare to see one of the Russians meditating with a Buddhist guy, sometimes opening an eye to check out the Latin babe working her ‘small tits, big booty’ in the gym in the background. The gays were sometimes found praying around with Jesus if not drinking gin-tonics, sunbathing, fumigating the room with kilos of deodorant, smoking the e-cigarette or doing an almost daily session of staying pretty in the gym.

The Jesus movie: new and improved

Our personal Jesus Guy turned out to be a sublime director, leading a serious production of the new and slightly more explicit version of the movie he uses to spread the word during his mission. Under the influence of the free bar (with a lot of Coca Cola for the director), we made our own Jesus movie, starring some of us on a wet and stormy pool deck.

There was the cripple, who actually had some trouble walking, because of some miraculous injury he got earlier on. Then the evil devil bullied him for limping, laughing like a maniac, doing back flips on the piled up sun chairs. But luckily there was Jesus, or his stand-in if #1 was too busy drinking beer, to exorcise this child of Satan.

The whore, because of her many sins, committed suicide by jumping off the boat after chugging another glass of cava. Strangely enough, she was alive again in the next scene, but who cares, really? What mattered, was that we were all healed in Jesus’ name in the end. So we ordered another round of free cocktails and told the miracles that Jesus made happen to our new friends; happy cruise people, printed life-size with a drink in their hands on the wall paper. The last detail needed for before the release date is the soundtrack, recorded on a drum computer.

Today

Months later, while most of us are not in the same place anymore, there is still quite a bit of contact between many of us. Sometimes the same cruise next year pops up as a reunion idea. But even when it’s quiet on WhatsApp or Facebook, there’s an invisible line of inerasable connection. I know for sure we’re all smiling this special grin thinking back of the many crazy, intense moments, of which I only know the part that I was attending. So many stories..!

The cuddling pile of people for example; lying across each other, hand in hand under the shooting stars on the runner’s deck, me as some sort of center pillar in the middle. Or the midnight basketball games, where no one knew who was with whom and therefore had more similarities to wrestling. The rumours about a possible orgy whispering in different corners on the ship, the epic wake up session, running through the corridors to wake up the birthday boy and take him to the bar. And the 5.00AM plan of how to take over the ship and live there forever on our drifting and self sustainable dream world.

Me might or we might not meet again, in this or another formation. Either way, I’m sure it has been a life enhancing experience for some of us. It sure has been for me and I’m truly happy to have had the chance to live this insane trip.

This blog is dedicated to never forget this crazy and loving happening, to all your faces, to friendship and of course to Dr. Bob; who will hopefully find love soon after spreading so much of it himself.

Amen.

A Dutch break

As if I’ve never left; that’s how it felt, sitting in one of the comfy seats in the Fragata piano bar of the Monarch cruiser again. Some of the crew members recognize me from a few months ago and make me feel extra at home, which puts me even more in a cheesy, slightly melancholic mood. Especially today, as I realize that the next part of my unbelievably fortunate travel (and a little bit of work) lifestyle is actually happening again!

Old-school full agenda

To say that my Dutch summer break was slightly packed, is somewhat of an understatement. Catching up with mi familia and home boys and girls was unbelievably good. Them going out of their way to see me regardless of their busy work and family schedules was so sweet. Getting so much love and acceptance for my choice to live slightly different and far away from all of them, leaves me with nothing but an extremely thankful glow for my friends being such loyal friends. No matter how far or how long I’m gone, they prove to be there no matter what. And regardless of how many months it has been, it always feels like yesterday.

Indian Summer in Portugal

The break was also a bit of a work trip. I almost forgot what it was like to work more than 40 hours in an office and trying to keep an intensive social calendar ‘on the side’. Even though it was good fun with cool colleagues, it wasn’t hard to say goodbye to that rhythm after a few weeks. I stepped out of the office as if I had wings and flew back into the great, wide open of Portugal, spending Indian summer with existing friends and new additions to the book of Wonderful People I know, before setting sail to Latin America again.

So while Lisbon gets smaller and smaller, a ‘see you later’ whispered into the air and taken by the wind, the butterflies inside my belly are getting outrageously excited. But first I’m happy to glide into me-time mode and cherishing the silence of the seemingly never ending ocean. For as long as it will last. Experience tells me that interesting people and experiences never wait too long to show themselves to me.

Smooth Portuguese transitions

And then, all of a sudden, I’m hiding in the local snack bar of the town where I grew up, waiting to see my mom get home, so I can surprise her on her door step, one day earlier than she thinks she’s going to pick me up at the airport.

Staying in Portugal was the greatest idea to make a smooth transfer from Brazil & Colombia’s hot weather and slow paced life before taking a break from that easy way of living, refill the savings depot and upload some TLC from friends and family in Dutchlandia. Portugal made missing Brazil less stingy. It’s strange to feel a sense of aching, like missing a limb, when you leave a place that you only know for some months, but came to love so rapidly. Some places simply steal a piece of your heart from the moment you set foot on land, to never be returned.

Lust for life

All the new things that were felt and enjoyed, lessons that were learnt in the first part of this new lifestyle, were the perfect start. Simpler life and Brazil’s tranquil pace made me relax and enjoy daily life tremendously. Just thinking of the music, the effect of nature close to me, and the people, vibrant and so full of lust for life and willingness to share, even when they didn’t have much, make my heart glow.

And although I haven’t seen streets with people randomly dancing to music so loud that windows are about to break; Portugal definitely has that Latin ‘thing’. They looooove to party and guess who arrived right into the yearly month of festas? Not to mention being around to see the national team winning the EuroCup. Regarding timing I did not bad at all.

Hearing that sexy, singing language, covered with honey, has become very dear to my ear. Even though the first few weeks I thought I had arrived in Russia. By the way they looked at me when I tried to say something in the Brazilian Portuguese I’ve learnt, I think they felt the same about me. Food is fresh, authentic and kindly priced. The long stretches of beach felt South American, although they did forget to turn on the hot water on the European side of the bath tub. Surfing requires wetsuits and going for a dip, even in summer, takes courage.  

Eye candy

The people are heart warming and welcoming though, just a tiny bit less straightforward maybe. Arriving in Lisbon had the same exact same effect on me as when I first saw Bahia’s eye candy; I had to be careful not to walk into parked cars while busy staring at the mostly dark haired and light eyed pretty people. And for sure that tuk tuk companies do some sort of cuteness selection when choosing their drivers.

Having Portuguese friends made me see less visited parts of this amazing country, feel their good vibes and the warmth of sharing and living with them. It is something that Southern Europeans seem to do much more than ‘us’ Northerners; inviting people you’ve just met to come and stay in their house whenever you want. 

So from the sofa of one of these great fresh friends, I salute you, Holanda, and all that is so great about you and your summer too. I had a sneak peak week with my Best Friend, visiting me in Portugal. So, I'm ready for a break from Latin life & and a lot of catch-up hugs with my other home boys and girls!