2005-5-20 to 5-21 - Trinidad & boarding AMAZING GRACE

In January, 2005, BLUE MAX was "on the hard" in Key West initially to have the bottom & hull painted.

2005 - On the 'hard' in Key West

We calculated that the work would be completed in 1-2 months so we made arrangements to go on a 13-day repositioning cruise in May on the Amazing Grace, a freighter belonging to the Windjammer cruise line. Different & unusual? yes, that's what we like. Somehow, like most projects we agree to, plans change & it winds up having a life of its' own. You can see what happened in my blog under the archives: '2005 - Blue Max Refit-bulbous bow & aft extension'. The boat never left the yard until February, 2006!
I decided to create this blog because the trip was so unusual & delightful. Since it was long ago & my memory bank isn't as good as it used to be, there will be many pictures...hopefully not too wordy. 

We flew into Trinidad on 5/20/05  and stayed one night at Alicia's house. Quaint & clean.

 From the web About Trinidad:
"Arawak and Carib Indians prospered here on the island the Amerindians called Ieri, land of the Humming Bird, until Columbus spotted the island he named for the Holy Trinity. When the Spaniards discovered no precious metals on Trinidad, the Amerindians were enslaved and shipped off to work on other Caribbean settlements.
Nearly a century would pass before Spain established Trinidad's first European community, San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph), which was sacked and burnt by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595. Sir Walter Raleigh was also said to have discovered the Pitch Lake, from which he used material to caulk his leaking ship.
Trinidad remained a Spanish possession from the 15th Century and the Cedula of Population in 1783, allowed French planters and their slaves to emigrate from the French colonies to the island. The British would capture Trinidad in 1797 and negotiate an amicable treaty of rule with the Spanish.
In the following years, enslaved Africans were brought in to work on sugar plantations and in 1802, the island became a British colony. After slavery was abolished by Britain, landowners imported thousands of indentured labourers from India, China and the Middle East.
In 1889, Britain joined the smaller Tobago to Trinidad as an administrative ward. The islands achieved independence from England in 1962 and became the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 1976."
We had no idea where to go or what to see. We did walk around town but soon realized it probably wasn't a neighborhood we should be in. 

Trinidad Government building

We took a crazy cab ride - to?? remembering some sort of mall. After the taxi ride, I couldn't remember much. 

Inside the taxi

On 5/21, we boarded AMAZING GRACE and were greated by smiling faces from the crew & staff alike.

Captain Jorge is 2nd from the right

                                                                   The incredibly talented staff - That's Dario our photographer

                                                                         Some of the Crew

Check out the very old, but neat handrail

 

El Capitan Jorge in the wheel house. Notice the older instruments

AMAZING GRACE  was built in the 50's in Scotland to be a light-house tender. She carries about 94 passengers - we had about 75 onboard. She has a canoe stern. She's wonderfully basic with none of the showy amenities as other cruise ships have, that's why we liked her. She's now used to resupply the company's five sailing vessels: Flying Cloud, Polynesia, Mandalay, Legacy, and Yankee Clipper. Without frequent visits by the Amazing Grace, these smaller ships lack sufficient storage space to carry their food, fuel, and spare parts. 

Unloading supplies in Granada to a tall ship in the fleet

Many of the cabins below decks share bathrooms & showers. There were about 8 cabins "on the rail" that had their own bathroom - we chose one of those. (instead of a balcony that cruise ships have, this cabin opened out to an upper walkway)

All up on deck for the mandatory life boat drill

Do you think his wife made him take the trip??

Everyday at 5 PM, before dinner, there's Swizzles (rum & more rum) & Snax up on deck - wine & beer is on the house for dinner. 

 

It's rum time - uh Swizzle time (that's me-on the left in the back checking out the assortment)

Our 1st of many delicious meals on board

The food is fresh & made from scratch for every meal. The dining room is a fairly good size but still cozy. Large round booths that are not cramped & allows for socializing &, later, playing games.

That's me playing Texas Holdem with the big boys

Serve yourself in the dining room for breakfast & lunch in which the food is in no short supply. It amazed me how a small staff in a small galley can possibly make so much food??!!

The bar area was aft, sandwiched between decks, making the entire area open but protected & cool. Yet another great place to socialize &, yes, play more games.

The bar is round like the back of the boat

The next set of pictures are for the men - & to women who might be interested in the 'antiquated' engine room.

Remember these in movies?? "All ahead full sir"

Well...enough of that! 

I never did take a picture of our small cabin but it had bunk beds & a small bathroom. Some time during our travels, the air conditioning stopped. YIKES! Unable to fix it soon, they gave us fans - which BTW & thankfully, we were used to.  Unfortunately, for the others in our same predicament, life was not as easy & they were very upset. (wussies!)

 We left Trinidad before sunset - Next stop, Grenada