Padre Mickey's Excellent Bocas del Toro Adventure! Day 3

Friday, February 5.

When we got in Thursday evening, I noticed that the battery in my travel alarm clock had died, so I spent some time figuring out how to set the alarm on the iTouch. I was successful, and the alarm went off at 6:20 am. The water came on during the night, and, while I was in the ice cold shower, the contingent from the Interior arrived. We had breakfast (Johnny cake, slice of individually wrapped American cheese [or is that "cheeze?"] which had been out of the fridge for more than forty seconds, rendering it quite difficult to unwrap, and a salchicha). Just after breakfast Padre Eladio informed me that Padre Milciades was scheduled to lead Oración Matutina (Morning Prayer), but since he was still traveling he requested that I lead it, so I did.

The first workshop started after Matutina. It was very difficult to work in the hall as the acoustics were less than desirable and all the people talking at once resulted in a terrible cacophony. The group with whom I was working went outside, where things were better. Meanwhile, the management of Hotel Waddaya Want for $5.00? turned of the water in the bathrooms again. After the workshop we had lunch (fried rice which, though the food was brown in color, indicating that shoyu or soy sauce had been used, was totally devoid of umami, the fifth taste which is always activated by shoyu) and then free time. I was annoyed because I couldn't brush my teeth. After lunch the ECW performed their drama: "The Women of the Bible" with a cast of thousands dozens. It was an interesting production, to say the least. Then another workshop, followed by a free evening (still no water!). A large group of us took a water taxi to Isla Carenero, where my good friend Milford Peynado has a little resort, Doña Mara. We had a good time and a wonderful dinner (I had calamari al ajio with double salad). Milford's son is the chef and he is incredible! We returned to Isla Colón, where I saw the parish treasurer, Roberto Murdock, standing out on the street. He had just got in and was wondering where everyone was. Roberto, Guillermo, Luther Atkinson and I decided to have a taste, so we went to Toro Loco and had a few. We had a bet on whether there would be salchicas (hot dogs) in the breakfast the next day. Everyone agreed that there would be. When we returned to Centro Augustino, there was STILL no water. I called the Lovely Mona and had a very nice conversation, as usual. Then I went to bed in a sullen, unwashed mood. Another interesting day!

Photos!

Breakfast


Bishop Murray leading the first work shop


Our group


Sara ate my candy for me. Such sacrifice!


The Women of the Bible
There were about six million many women of the Bible, and, while I took many photos of all of them, I'm not posting them all
Sarah, the Mother of Nations


Abraham's servant (who had been with him the longest) meets Rebekah


Salome with John the Baptist's head!


The Blessed Virgin Mary


All the Women of the Bible follow the BVM


The Cast


Doña Mara