BootsnAll Travel Community

Kcweimer!

october is getting closer. Have you already planned something?

Paul,

It looks like plans may change and delay our trip.to Providencia. Several factors. 1. We have already suffered several close calls with hurricanes this year - Dennis, Katrina and Rita. Rita had 100 mph winds blowing steadily just 6 miles off the coast of Key West. That's a long explination about why we don't want to leave town until the hurricane season is well past. 2. Brian, the marine biologist we intend to come down with has a new engagement on the gulf coast of Florida that is keeping him busy. 3. I have to travel up to Tampa for some business several times and the schedule is up in the air. Anyway, we have to put off our trip to paradise. Will let you know when we have definate plans.

Keep the good info coming!

Kent

Kent,

I understand your situation and I am totally simpathetic with it! My family has also been touched by this, since some of our relatives live in Florida. I have some friends in Florida and Texas too, and they have suffered. But beyond that, I believe it should touch everyone who has feelings.

I hope that your house, your family and your friends have luck and I certainly hope that the hurricane season ends fast and calmed.

I'll be lloking forward to hearing from you!

Paul

Thanks for the kind thoughts. The other good news is tourist season is coming which means people in this paradise tourist town can start earning a living again. July - September is tough.

Hope that tourist season gets spirits up as well. I know things are hard, and I can't tell you I've been through that ever, because I haven't, but its at times like this when you think about how fragile we all are, and how tight we all oughta be!

Please keep me posted!

Keep us all posted!

Paul

Well,

I guess it's time I kept you guys posted on the Beta/OP situation. Yeap. After 43 years a hurricane got to the island again... It decided to park itself less than 15 Km of the northeastern shore with winds of over 125km per hour, for around 14 hours, turning from tropical strom to hurricane class one... I have not heard about my family there since last thursday, when we got a final communication at around 10pm Central time. My wife and I have been trying to reach the island, but so far every effort is useless.

Yesterday some friends of ours traveled to San Andres, hoping they can reach Old Providence today, and then try to contact us.

Although the official reports don't show any dead, and only two people with minor injuries, which is a Miracle!!!!, there is a lot of devastation and I have already heard of friends of mine who have lost their houses.

Now, for all those who are currently reading this and read my previous post, one thing remains: no matter what hits us, we will remain tight. That is the Colombian way, and I am proud to say right now that, although tragedy has struck the Island, this paradise had a shinning sun yesterday in the news, and you could already see the people cleaning up and working hard to reestablish things.

They do it because its their town, their island... They do it because they know that although time passes slowly there, there's no time to lose... they do it because they still want to share this little piece of land with everyone who wishes to visit it!

Everyone will face hard times, but it's in the way you face them and how you act upon them, that you will only find your true being...

Bravo for all the islanders of Old Providence... for hard working people that will get their island back in no time...

This should only be an invitation for all of you to go and visit this wonderful place, filled with wonderful people, like those in Cancun, or New Orleans, or Florida... The ones that will never give up!!!

And we shall never give up on them...

how did the hurricane affect providencia? did the tourist infrastructure get badly damaged?

what is the time frame to reapir the bridge?

Hi There!

Well basically Old Providence suffered a lot in its infrastructure. The roofs and some walls just flew... The Basketball colliseum felw too! But things turned out in a very weird way. Several houses that were in the beach remained intact, while others that were next to the road sufferd tremendously. The Freshwater Bay Area (where most of the hotels are located) as well as the Southwest Bay area got the worst of the Hurricane. Several houses were severly damaged and now all they have is patience while the government works with them to get things back.

The President, who is actually a very hard working man, promised that the Government would not only help reconstruct the Island, but also imporve it, and he said the deadline would be december 15, time in which the High Season starts for the Islands.

The Bridge was rebuilt about two to three years ago, by a very good friend of mine, Ethalson Brian. He did a marvelous job and although it suffered, it is still standing. Invias, that is the entity responsible for hte roads in Colombia, will take care of the fixing.

Thanks for your concern, and I certainly hope to see you there. It is a must, this island!

An auntie of my wife came to Bogota yesterday. She had some really encouraging stories.

I never believed that a third world country could actually develop a strategy that would result in keeping all people alive in Old Providence.

She said that since Wilma had threatened the Islands before Beta, there was already some materials and lots of stuff to live through the hurricane, and although no one expected the Tropical Storm become a hurricane and get to Old providence, they did follow the Government's recommendations given through the Disasters Prevention Commitee.

Some people went to shelters, others moved in with their neighbors, who had stout houses. None of them risked their lives and those who had to ran out in the middle of the hurricane, did so because that was the only option.

For those of us who don't know what it is to survive a hurricane, there is a lot of curiosity, but now, I believe that I'm not curious anymore.

There is a little Island in the Caribbean named Old Providence, where Pirate Morgan once settled and planned the conquering of Panama city. A place with a unique culture, that was entirely threatened with nature's strength... and after the storm, the sun came out again, and these Islanders are already working to get on with their lives.

THe daughter of my wife's auntie woke up on saturday morning wishing a Happy Halloween to everyone. And that got contagious. There were no tricks nor treats but one: Beta, and yet everyone got back their spirits. their Islander's spirits.

I wish I was there to be able to help them, and give them strength... I will be travelling shortly to the Islands.

But the invitiation Still stands: Go to Old Providence. The Island will be ready for you from December 2005 and on!

Glad things were not as bad as they might have been. We certainly plan to visit and put some tourist dollars in the economy when we are able. First we have to overcome the aftermath of Wilma. The people of Providence sound a bit like those of us in Key West. We had no looting, no fights at gas lines, no drunken brawls - just everyone helping there neighbor get back on their feet, working to clean up the town and getting houses cleaned out from the dramatic flooding (70% of the island was underwater).

Thanks for the Message Kent. I was wondering how were you doing with Wilma. Thank God things were not as dramatic as the outcome of eralier hurricanes this year.

I believe that the only way to overcome situations like these ones is by getting together and working as a team. I guess that when you live by the ocean in the Caribbean, you have to acknoledge the fact that things like this may happen.

the important thing is to be able to stand up again and rebuild your things. I know I will be building my House in Old Providence with my wife, and eentually we will move to the Island and live very smooth lifes.

I will be traveling by the end of January to Old Providence with my wife. It would definately be great if you guys could come. I hope by then things are rebuilt. THe government set the date for everything to be up and running again: December 15-2005. I wish I was there to be able to help, but I have to tend my own responsibilites with my wife and we can't abandon our jobs.

I hope to her from you soon, and maybe, who knows, you'll tell me that your coming in January...

Old Providence is currently nder repair. Things are working out fine for the Islanders, and it´s expected that the Island is ready for December 15. This means 2006 will be ready to take all you guys in!

Just a reminder:

Great diving.
Unique culture.
Get in touch with nature.
superb food.
Different Plans.

Let me know who´s interested in order to provide specific information!

Paul

paul,

plans to arrive sometime the 2nd week on january. probably about the 8th or so. do you think there will be a decrease in the # of visitors due to damaged infrastructure? i know that things will be repaired... do you think i will have any challenge finding an inexpensive lodging?

side question, do they sell kerosene on providencia? i am a juggler, and sometimeas travel with fire toys, but i need kerosene, diesel or petrol wont work...

cant wait to see and feel fish all around me, looking forward to some good diving, and meeting some nice local folks.

austin

Hi Austin!

I will satrt aking about inexpensive accomodation for you in the Island. My wife says the Island is ok, things are working out around there.

Please provide details: are you traveling to Bogota first? How much time are you planning to stay? are you going by yourself? etc... be specific so I can organize things for you. Remember, this is not for extra cash, I definately feel that all of you should go and visit and get wondered by this island.

I´ll contact my friend Bongoosh to get his boat totally available for you. I´ll talk to Felipe for the diving and Maybe even try to get a native house for you if that´s alright.

Let me know and keep in touch!

paul,

i repeat, do they have kerosene in providencia? and do you think it will be at all challenging to find inexpensive lodging mid january? roughly how much do the places go for a night in aguadulce?

thank you for your intentions, but your help in finding lodging, a boat, and diving contacts is not what i am looking for.

just some advice, that's all.

i specifically prefer to not have lodging lined up. i never ever ever make reservations. i am a backpacker, and appreciate the joy and mystery and adventure. thanks again for your help ad good intentions, again just want info....

peace from just a bit further south than colombia.
austin

You will have no problem in finding a place to stay in mid January. Kerosene can definately be found in the Island.

Paul

Hey guys, just as promised by the Government, the Island has been under reconstruction, and things are already looking good for Islanders. Nature knows how to do its things, and the REef was left untouched. Green is the color in the Island again, and people are already receiving visitors.

This morning, a Major TV Broadcast Company (Caracol) started its early editions broadcasting directly from the Islands. The Island is slwly getting its rythm back, so waht are you waiting for?

come visit now!

Paul

Hi BnA community!

My wife is here with me and she just wanted to extend an invitation to her Island.

Feel free to ask all questions about it. My wife and I can gladly answer them for you!

Paul and Becky

Last was an Image I got from the Internet taken from Fort Warwick and overlooking the main Catalina Bay. My wife will be travelling next week to Old Providence and she will be taking several pictures that I hope I can upload here to everyones delight! I will be uploading some other pictures that show how magnificent this island is!

Paul