Friday, October 23, 2009

Canal Zone to Lima

After a weeks wait in the Canal Zone, I embarked on the ‘Santa Eliza’ bound for Valparaiso. Our first port of call was Buenaventura, in Colombia. The name means ‘good adventure’ but its appearance suggested just the opposite. In striking contrast to the Canal Zone, it was the dirtiest place I had ever seen.  Many of the houses were constructed on stilts or piles and at high tide could be reached only by canoe. Four days sailing brought us to Talara,  a petroleum port in northern Peru. From here south the coast was completely rainless. Not a blade of grass was to be seen anywhere. To accentuate the impression of barrenness the national flag of red and white was to be seen fluttering from every house, for it was the national anniversary. How I longed for something more reminiscent of the verdure of New Zealand! Four days after leaving the Canal Zone we anchored off Callao.

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