Friday 12th February 2016
By Lorna Hill
La Vida en la Laguna
The new group brought with them a new weather pattern and
moon cycle. The cold, gusty winds were replaced by calm, sunny days and the new
moon meant high, swollen tides. The water would come right into the camp and
created a shallow swimming pool, great for the curlews and dowishers. However,
the tide soon went out again and the leftover water was soon evaporated by the
hot, Mexican sun.
As with many things here at the lagoon, this changing
weather meant we had to rely on the locals for information as to what normally
happens, which led me to ponder more about the local community and how it
survives. I find myself relating it back to the inhabited islands, off the west
coast of Ireland. These islands aren’t very big, smaller than the lagoon in
fact and usually consist of a community between 300-600 people. These small
communities sometimes have to face a whole range of trials and tribulations,
especially when it comes to the weather therefore it is necessary for the
community to work together, otherwise chaos prevails. It is like this here, at
San Ignacio Lagoon. The people of the Lagoon work together to protect and
preserve this unique place, with the abundant wildlife and flora and fauna and,
of course, the whales. They also need to work together in order to share this
with us, in a sustainable and ethical way. Like the islanders, they are real
family people, looking after each other and enjoy working together and spending
time together every day, and they are also the nicest bunch of people! I enjoy
getting up every day to greet the people staying here but also to see the rest
of camp and boat crew, who always, without fail, have happy smiles on their
faces. And why wouldn’t they!? They do, after all, live in paradise. There are
two young grandchildren who live here and they just have the best playground –
playing every day on the beach or in the fields or getting to go out in the
boats to see the whales. The education they are getting from such a young age is worth its weight in gold.
I feel so privileged to be here, working in such a special
place, with great people and learning so much about the nature around us. I,
too, seem to have a constant smile on my face. Must be something in the air!
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| Camp Cook: Catalina |
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| Guide: Maria-Teresa Solomons |
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