San Andres Island

Cocaine Princess here. I hope everyone had a happy and safe Easter. I'm back home. I came back yesterday afternoon, God knows why since the weather is even more colder than I left and because it's still snowing. It's officially spring now but I don't think the snow is ever going to end! Mother Nature is showing no mercy this year.

As I wrote in my last entry San Andres is a very small island, 12km by 3km. It's more or less a gigantic sandbox. The sand is so white that it's almost blinding to the eye and if you stand at a higher elevation you can actually count and see the seven different shades of blue in the water. Being Easter the island was jam-packed. I believe everyone from South America descended upon there. Many Canadians were there too. I know this because a group of tourists not far from where Valentina and I were sitting had a medium sized Canadian flag dug into the sand in front of their beach chairs. They will do this often and it's not really a good idea. I say that only because as soon as the vendors find out foreigners are on the beach they swoop in at them like vultures compelling them to buy whatever it is they're selling, they know you will be paying in US currency. They sell everything from pocket knives to jewelery to even giving you a massage to preparing you a fresh fruit bowl. Most of the time security guards from the local hotels are watching and if they see a vendor on the beach they will be fined or be given a warning. Over the years tourists have complained to their tour operators about the vendors constantly bothering them on the beach prompting the tourism department to crack down hard on the vendors. Some vendors didn't listen and they lost their license. Others simply don't care and will risk it to make a sale. As Valentina was applying her sunblock she was also complaining. 'Out of all the places in the world she had to hold a dinner party here on Easter Sunday. She couldn't have picked next week.' 'Then it wouldn't be Easter dinner,' I replied. But I understood what Valentina meant. Easter weekend is a lot like spring break in Latin America. It's a very big deal and a big holiday. Families go away for the week in particular to the beach. It was crazy! You often read about over-crowding in schools and in prisons well there's also over-crowding on beaches. Have you ever been in an elevator and it's just filled to the capacity? You're standing there shoved in a corner. Everyone is feeling uncomfortable and everyone can hear the other person breathing. When the elevator door dings open to your floor you politely try to maneuver your way out by saying excuse me, pardon me while hoping not to bump into anyone or spill the coffee they maybe holding. This was what being on the beach was like. On top of all this many people were smoking. It was +34C without the humidity. I guess it wasn't hot enough for them without a cigarette. They might as well have built a fire on the beach and stood in front of it. I suppose to truly understand this I would have to be addicted to nicotine. I must admit when I do sometimes watch smokers they look very relaxed. Watching them inhale and the pleasure they receive upon exhaling, always closing their eyes as endless rings of smoke are released, perhaps the rings represent stress being blown away and disappearing in the far, far distance. The 'she' person whom Valentina was complaining about was the host of the dinner party. Her husband has known Valentina's daddy for years through business. This particular couple I wrote about in my entries titled The Drug Kingpin and his Mistress. They don't live on San Andres Island, they only have a villa on the island near Valentina's and the dinner party was held there. I know both wife and husband and the mistress quite well. The wife is quite known among the social circuit. 'Is 'L' going to be there?' I asked. 'L' being the Kingpin's mistress. 'Yeah,' Valentina answered. 'She emailed and asked if you and I were coming.' 'I haven't seen her since your last party,' I said. 'She contacted me near Christmas when he took her skiing. Do you know what he got her for Christmas?' 'It wasn't an engagement ring,' Valentina answered. 'Although I'm sure that's what she was hoping for. He bought her a pearl and diamond necklace from H. Stern.' 'So basically he'll give her every kind of jewelery except for a ring?' I questioned. Valentina nodded. 'I don't know how she can stand it or for that matter why she does it?.' 'We love who we love,' I stated. 'Love is blind, it doesn't necessarily care or see if we're married or not. If she's happy why should we complain.' As we continued talking we got up to take a dip so we could cool off. At one point I remember saying 'it's too hot' but then quickly took it back. It was probably the heat that made me say such a strange thing. As far as the eye could see were beach umbrellas and tourists lying on their stomachs sunbathing. It doesn't take long to get tanned only minutes because of the degree of distance between the island and the equator. It was like an obstacle course trying to actually get to the water. Valentina and I were tip toeing very carefully trying not to step on anyone. We had our beach sandals on. It was impossible to go barefoot, the sand was burning. 'Should I tell one of the bodyguards to shoot their gun in the air? The beach would clear out just like that,' said Valentina. I stopped and looked at her. 'Don't worry I'm just joking,' she then said. Honestly there are times when I don't know if she really is joking or if she's being serious. There's no telling with her. We made it finally to the water without tripping or even stepping on anyone. It was quite an accomplishment if I do so say myself. If ever this becomes an Olympic sport I would get a gold medal hands down! To no surprise the water was just as crowded not just with swimmers but jet skiers. I don't know how many times the life guard kept blowing his whistle and yelling through the megaphone to a jet skier who was too close to the shore. When he wouldn't listen the life guard got on his jet ski and hauled the other jet skier in. In the distance we would see the yacht where Valentina's daddy and the husband of the host along with some other people were. 'That's where we should be,' Valentina commented. 'Do you want to leave?' I asked her. 'Not yet,' she replied. 'I read your blog about 'A's' Easter party and all those little kids. You know what it reminded me of, my 5th birthday party. Do you remember?' 'How can I forget,' I said back to her. Valentina's 5th birthday was an Alice In Wonderland theme party. It was and still is her favorite childhood story. Her entire backyard had been transformed into The Queen's Croquet Party with Valentina's mom dressed as the Queen of Hearts and someone who I can't quite remember was The Mad Hatter who hosted the tea party. By the palm tree was a huge stuffed caterpillar smoking a hookah pipe just like in the book. It freaked a few of the kids so one of the staff moved it to inside of the house. And dressed as Alice in a white pinafore and blue dress was Valentina who instead of wearing the black headband opted for a tiara. One of the gifts she received was an actual white rabbit she called Alice. She let everyone have a turn holding Alice. Each child who was invited came not just with a present but with their bodyguard. There are many memories that have remained in my heart but then there are those unforgettable memories that just stand out and Valentina's 5th birthday is one of them.

We didn't stay very long at the beach since the party was going to be in a few hours. Valentina wanted to take a siesta and I wanted to do some writing.

The Drug Kingpin, his wife and his mistress together present at the same time at the same place along with a few other surprises proved quite to be the Easter dinner party. To be continued....


XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess