Leaving Antigua Redux

I don´t like my last post. I really only wrote it because I haven´t been keeping up with this, and it was rushed because I was using a communal computer in a hostel. I´d rather write well than punctual. I should have just coppied from my written journal like I´ll do here:

Fri. 1/23: It´s my last day in Antigua and I´m excited. It feels like the end of the first phase of my trip. My first ending here. My first triumph?

Black Cat has been an interesting experience. I´ve had the chance to meet a cast of fellow, international wanderers, a couple of whom have become something of friends, such as Marie, a French-Canadian. But it´s a rotating cast of characters here with little consistencey of mood and atmosphere. At times, the behavior of my fell gringos (most of whom are Australian, Israeli, German, and a few N. Americans) is embarrasing with thier loud, boisterous partying in stark contrast to the conservative, traditional, local culture. But there is also much camaraderie, mutual adventurous spirits. Fellow fishes out of water. Fellow fish out of water.

And then there´s the locals. I wish I had a stronger impression of them. But what can I expect with such language and cultural barriers.