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Part 2
We float around the jungle for a few minutes – then back into another cave. This one was LONG! Around the corner, gently drifting. Junior is WALKING along side. Obviously the water is not terribly deep. Stalagmites – Stalactites – all kinds of natural formations. Use a little imagination – what do you see? Water dripping from the ceiling – purified through layers and layers of sandstone. An occasional glimpse of a bat or two. A little paddle left, a little paddle right. Water is refreshing. No sarcasm there! I hear water flowing…We drift towards an interior waterfall – it appears that part of a large tavern/opening has caved in – bright light shines through the small opening. Reminds me of something I’d see in an Indiana Jones movie! Soon, we see the cave opening, and we are out in the bright daylight again.
People everywhere! I guess this is where some of the other tubing companies get in. What a shame – we’ve been in the water for 30 minutes already and through 2 caves! The last cave is long, has a corner in it. They say it’s pretty deep here. Outside, floating and winding through the jungle, I wish I’d had my sunglasses. Oh well. We look desperately for primates hanging from the magnificent trees. Not this trip, darn it! Soon, we reach our initial swimming hole. And it’s over. We get out of our tubes, carry them back to Home base, turn in our headlights and change into dry clothes. I took my underwater camera, but forgot to take any pictures! The one thing I wish I’d brought – a bottle of water! I was parched after wards…and we still had the bus ride back to town. Snooze time!
As we reach the confines of port, we are told about some of the vendors outside the complex. The best rice and beans you will ever have! And one guy that peels and cracks a coconut and you pour your own rum into it – a genuine coconut shell! We venture into the “outside” area to find many poor vendors. Lots of people willing to braid your hair – Some very interesting knick-knacks, a little jewelry. The rice and beans are FANTASTIC although dh said the chicken did not look like chicken…??? Oh well. A couple packs of fried plantains – TO DIE FOR THEY ARE SO GOOD! And back we go into the Port fortress. I did not have ANY problem with pushy vendors. A simple no thank you worked fine. We catch one of the last tenders back to the ship, and I sigh – what a magical area – full of mystery and mythology; full of beauty and a touch of heaven. There is still evidence of damage from storms past, and the poverty is everywhere. But this is certainly a port I will plan on revisiting. Soon. As for Major Tom – personal service; professionalism; area knowledge; personality; unsurpassed comfort level. You cannot go wrong with MAJOR TOM!
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