| Transcript |
Immediately alter wc locai-sd
our- '*>hio, picturesquely named
•MO?. "KYISTA' (OTHERSWERE
\AMED MKR VISTA, THE HILTON
THE ANNEX,etc.), WEexchanged
me money for beads - those
iittie snap-apart plastic ones -
which we used in place of money.
Four for a dollar. For example,
beer - three beads; cigarettes
- two beads; mixed drinks - five
beads. That may sound high, but
ice, liquor, etc., had to be flown
in daily at a charter price each
day of $126.00 plus the basic cost
of the item.
After the swim we were ready
for our first cocktail hour. Oh
yes, we did dress -- beads, short
shorts, and bare feet. We were
getting to know our fellow tour
members better by now and found
them to be from many areas in
eluding South Africa, Tangiers,
Canada, australia, France, Brazil,
Mexico, HOUTON, L.A.
DDDAt dinner, so many messkits
were not there that we ate on the
china provided by management.
The rest of the week we ate out
of our kits and washed them each
use.
The food was tasteful but the
tours were the main attraction.
We caught several tours where
we visited Achutupu and Ailigandi
where we viewed pre-Columbian
culture; the Cunas are becoming
recognized as the makers of molas
- a reverse applique design in
brightly colored cottons. In the
States, Neiman-Marcus sells them
for $50. to $175.00 each, depend
ing on the quality of workmanship.
In the islands of course, they sell
for a pittance. Of course there IS
THE AIR FARE
DDDThe jungle safari was offered
daily in the mornings (no guns) and
we walked about 4 - 5 miles in
and back. A breath-taking exper
ience. No, Dorothy, no lions, or
tigers....they were way out back
in the jungle. We saw one little
It didn't move. We did!
All types of tropical fruits were
on hand. No Comment. Limes,
oranges, bananas, coconuts, along
with mangos, papaya, and cocoa
beans. We could pick them, but
did not. Except each was able to
taste the pulp from the cocoa pod.
VERY SWEET. The beans are
too bitter to be eaten raw.
The climax of our safari was
a skinny dip. The river, which we
crossed several times on its meandering way tin search of the sea
is spring fed, cold, and delicious.
No tropical germs. You know what
cold water does to you. it was
strictly 'little me' aftder my first
plunge.
The scheduling for lunch, etc.,
is routine and th meals are light.
Naturally, one may swim and
sunbathe at any time during the
day. He must be mindful of the
little sea urchins which dot the
lagoon floor, and always of the
coral. Other than that, splash a-
way! One may also grab a 'quickie' in his bohio if roomates ar<~
on tour or just out for awhile.
Most of the time it wouldn't matter anyway. free-for-all!
DDDSeveral teenage boys came ove)
Several teenage boys came
over from Ailigandi village to play
volley-ball with the gringos. They
are a very athletic people. The
Americans may be taller, but,
baby, they have lovely things going
for them.
There is also fishing and skin
diving. You can look for shells
and two ancient Spanish Galleons
sunk close by. Treasure?Who is
to know? Erron brought up an old
jug from one of the ships.
Since our island has two smaller uninhabited islands within a
few yeards there was traffic. Privacy-seekers for nude sunning and
swimming. Another island about
a mile south is also deserted. OP-
correction CORRECTIO N CORR#
a mile south is also deserted,
opportunity to run around bare-
assed abounds. We didn;t until
late evening on our island because
we felt it might offend the indians
who cooked for us. NOONE EVER
TOLD US DIFFERENT.
One may borrow the cayucas
and sail or paddle around to the
other little islands. Just don't run
aground on a coral reef. Ii can be
treacherous. Coral can cut your
feet and legs to ribbons if you
fall in it.
By five, the siestas are over
as are baths in the cold-water
bohio stalls and so everyone gathers in the cantina for happy hour
presided over by Garcia, our in-
dian bartender. Dinner was served
up by an ex-naval chef, with a
real knack for cooking delicious
dishes. One night we thought we
were dining on chicken and later
found we had eated IGUANA.
DDDAbout Dennis Barton, our host
he has a fascinating background
and is wonderful with people. He
knows the legends, stories of the
area and patiently tells all. he hai
in the year about our group and
was aware we were Gay. He had
had some misgivings before meet
ing us, but one night confessed
we were yhe most interesting,
wao^Aiai
intelligent group of people he had
met. F;attery, maybe. But we believe he was telling the truth.
He was still thinking about the
old myth regarding Gays, and we
weren't what he really expected.
Our group throoughly overwhelmed
from him head.
Drinking after dinner put us
in the mood for other things, and ,
strolling the beach by moonlight
is a delicious way to spend an
evening. The beach is a trippy
place after dark. For those who
have had their fill, there is the
quiet rustle of the palms and the
sizzle of the waves to induce
sleep. Many personss conversed
on the beach into the night...
every night. At least that's what
they SAID they did. Despite what
some claimed, it is a BIT difficult to 'CARRY ON' IN A HAMMOCK!
FINAL REFLECTIONS:
'The ROOM With A View*. I have
a lovely picture of a blond friend
peeched on it. ROOM IS A TWO-
HOLE PRIVY ON STILTS OVER
THE WATER AT ONE END OF
THE ISLAND, open on two sides
to the sea - - private to the island. No Glory-hole. Marvelous
place to meditate. Private accomodations in the bohios.
I have never see a group of
relative strangers, especially Gay
ones become a cohesive community with such speed and grace.
We ate together, slept together,
shit, showered and shaved togeth-
coral cuts, etc., but most importantly, we laughed and played together. We laughed at each other
and at ourselves. That's a rare
quality we have forgotten in today's mad rat-race.
For those of you who are waiting your turn for peace and love,
you may obtain information on the
COULTOURSto Isla de Oro from:
The Colt Studio, P.O. Box 187
VILLAGE STATION
NEW YORK CITY.N.Y. 10014.
ADJUNCT FOR THE PRECEDING
The tour these people have gone
on, is only one of many available
in the country. Many people have
the erroneous idea that such trips
are reserved only for the wealthy
or have be a package already in
existence. This is not only not
the case, but it saddens one to think
of the many wasted times, people
have missed; the golden opportunities awaiting those who have
the time to arrange their OWN
tours.
For example, a good travel a-
gent, can, without much trouble,
advise you how to combine a tour
of your own that can be cheap,
easy to manage, and where you
can go at a fraction of the cost.
If such travelling interest you,
select an agency that does this for
its professional living, and then
find out from it what it can package for you. And plan ahead now,
for a spring or Fall camping tour.
It's easier than you know. And
to prove, simply start using your
phone to get the agencies interested in you. True, you'll have
I to gather up a group, but it'll work
Poge 17
|
