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October 11, 2004

Mahna Mahna

7

Aye de mi! Tengo un dolor de cabeza muy, muy grande!

My Spanish is coming along fine, thank you, or at least certain parts of it.

For the first time since my travels began, I am actually able to sleep past 6 AM. Its about 8:30, actually, and I stagger around for a while as I try to recall certain details about the previous day. Then I notice all of the little red welts on my arms and legs. Sandflies. Lots and lots of them bit me. Lots.

I have no plans for the day. I needed a break from diving as it was, and the night before simply forces me to take that break. I grab some tasty baleadas at ¨Mamita´s Place¨ and they seem to do a noble job of soaking up the remaining alcohol in my stomache. I then spend much of the morning working on the ¨Journal,¨ which needed some overdue attention, regardless of the camera situation.

At BICD, I spend some time asking the instructors about other courses I can take in my remaining time on Utila and how long they had been diving before they decided to become certified PADI DiveMasters. They´re very generous with advice and information: in case there is any doubt, I am very impressed with the place and the people who work there. If you plan to dive in Utila, do it with BICD.

That evening, BICD has a slide show on its roof. Pietro, the school´s underwater photography specialist, spent the previous day taking photos of ¨Sunday Funday,¨both above and below the water. Most of the people from the day before return (conspicuously and thankfully absent... the Major), but before the main event begins, Pietro shows slides of Eric (one of the instructors) and a few other divers diving in the Mexican Cenotes. For a taste of what this looks like, see http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pnoel/pages%20yucatan/cenote04.htm. However, Pietro´s photos are spectacular are far more varied than those on the link provided. The photos of Sunday are of the highest quality as well, and set to a great soundtrack. Before he packs the laptop away, however, Pietro plays a short video clip of the Muppets ¨Mahna Mahna¨ song (http://www.poppyfields.net/poppy/mahna.html), which was apparently a big hit at one time in the late 70´s. In our various states, between recently hungover, still hungover and hungover headed back to drunk again, this was certainly a hit for the group. There is more beer, singing. Singing, then beer.

Everybody then heads for the bar, Tranquila, singing ¨Mahna Mahna¨ at the top of their lungs. I should know better than to stay out again, but go anyway. However, this time we pack it in at midnight. As I walk off from the rest of the group, I blurt out ¨quiero baleadas!¨to nobody in particular. I´m hungry and a little frustrated that there is absolutely no place to get food on Utila after 11 PM.

¨You wanna buy some cocaine?¨asks a guy on bicycle?

¨Quiero baleadas,¨I mumble, and keep walking. Some enormous sand crabs, with bodies the size of my fist, scurry away down the pavement as I pass. I think about building a fire and having a midnight roast. But in the end I just go to bed dreaming of baleadas and ready to dive again the next day.

Posted by Joshua on October 11, 2004 08:10 PM
Category: Honduras: Utila
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