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Swimming at Sunset, Costeno Work Ethic, and Reflections on Amor de Lejos.

Every day, I swim at sunset, and fall in love with this glorious country once again.

When I first started going I had to convince the easy-going maintenance guy to let me swim after hours, as it was obvious that the big yellow beauty in the sky was going to turn me into Dona Tomate, and he, being easy going was happy to oblige. I love that pool, and swimming there alone (well with the friendly Doberman guard-dogs for company: I don't know they seem real sweethearts to me).

The pool was a bit of a mess: clean enough, but the compound was a disaster. Lots of space, for people to dump their rubbish and graze their geese and have their chickens free-range. I almost expected to see the geese IN the pool a few times. There was no shower before you went in to bathe. The hurricane last September partially took the roof off the changing-room building and it hadn't been replaced. The pool is on top of a hill and as you swim you watch the sunset over Barranquilla.

Then Señor Hector shows up one day. Introducing himself, he tells me he is a lifeguard trainer, and is now going to be working there. With a kind of tireless energy Hector, off his own bat, has made a sand volleyball pitch, installed a shower and is in the process of single-handedly fixing the roof of the changing rooms. He also teaches everyone who cant swim (or who needs to improve, like me) how to. Then the flock of geese was replaced, most evenings by a flock of other lifeguards doing their “compulsory swimming mileage”, and students etc. ( I must admit, the view is even better now). Hector oversees their training. Hector, every day, is transforming the whole place. Bogatanos told me that costenos had no work ethic This is completely untrue. All the costenos I know work their butts off, and do it with joy.

Still, some days of the week, I get my solitary (or nearly solitary swim) at sunset: the perfect balm to the day. There is something special about floating there, under the rising moon, watching the last rays dip over the horizon, just before the mosquitos come out and eat you alive.

Today, I got the pool to myself for a while, when one of the new crowd joined me. Nothing if not respectful (maybe thats because I know the dobermans and he doesn't). He kept to his side of the pool, with big eyes and a bigger smile just daring me to swim over to his side, or perhaps looking for a signal to swim over to mine. Big eyes, full of sweet intentions, as the first star of the evening appeared.

Ah yes.

Right moment. Lord, was that the right moment.

The absolutely bloody perfect moment.

Wrong man.

By CaritadeAngel on May 23, 2007, 18:40 in Friendly Talkzone.

elreydelostrolls says on May 23, 2007, 21:54:

Damm tempting to take a few cheap shots but I'm feeling benevolent.

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goin_south says on May 23, 2007, 22:08:

I'm pretty good with new names, if you need some help... like... sientosdebenevolencia

“ I would rather be a conservative nut job rather than a liberal with no nuts and no job.”

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goin_south says on May 23, 2007, 22:09:

...volenciadelrey. .

“ I would rather be a conservative nut job rather than a liberal with no nuts and no job.”

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CaritadeAngel says on May 23, 2007, 22:13:

That's very charitable of you Rey You becoming a reformed character?

"Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem."

"I hope I never say anything worth quoting".

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goin_south says on May 23, 2007, 22:22:

I've told ya before, Americans (north, of course!) are the Most charitable people on the face of the earth, when it comes to fund raisin. Now as for a 'Character de Reformaccione'.... he's no Martin Luther.

(So, what ever possessed MLK's parents to name him after Martin Luther, anyway? tomtom, any ideas?)

“ I would rather be a conservative nut job rather than a liberal with no nuts and no job.”

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elreydelostrolls says on May 23, 2007, 22:24:

No I am a complete reprobate and normally I would be up for some villainy. The original post just seemed to be a sad commentary that was pathetic enough without my adding to it by kicking you in the balls.

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CaritadeAngel says on May 23, 2007, 22:25:

I don't have balls But the sunsets here are beautiful, don't you think?

"Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem."

"I hope I never say anything worth quoting".

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elreydelostrolls says on May 23, 2007, 22:26:

Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a ball breaker.

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CaritadeAngel says on May 23, 2007, 23:29:

Or a head banger. By Rey, been nice talking to you. "Nolite id cogere, cape malleum majorem."

"I hope I never say anything worth quoting".

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kalder says on May 24, 2007, 02:54:

That was a lovely vignette of day-to-day life in Colombia. I enjoyed it. We need more of the same.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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