The "French Cuban Dream"

To start off, I rented a bike on my Quebec trip and was pulled over within the first 3 mins on my own. Turns out they take “Distracted Biking” (wearing headphones and using my cell as a map while biking), VERY SERIOUS and its a 120$ fine as a ticket. The cop I ran into in the tourist town, didnt seem to understand “Je ne pas parler Francais”, BUT understood “Ridiculous”, and shot back “Ridiculous?”. “OUI, RIDICULOUS”. Had I talked to a cop like this at home (shrugging shoulders cutting him off saying I dont understand, saying “Translator” in different stylized ways), he would have taken me to the station for further questioning. “No ticket” was the ultimate end response. And Im thankful. “Ignorant English Tourist” was probably my title when he told his cohorts the encounter. Then I continued to the target.

Noticed while walking with my Mom, this marina (on an island that you have to pay 5$ per head to access, and the ticket lasts all day.), the all wood boat is somehting I have never seen. ALL WOOD. Books of carribean ports, and had I pulled out the charts, it looks like charts of the waters in and around cuba from the 60s or 70s. The boat sank at some point that seems not all that long ago. Or mostly sank. While scoping the area and having a smoke, I was suddenly unsure if there was a person there or not, cause all of the sudden, water started coming out of the hose hanging off the boat. Beyond dangerous, there are a few places that the floor is gone and a board is in its place. Looks to be a hole letting water into the area where the ballasts are, as that seems to be the area with water in it that shouldnt have water. Been outside a bit. Plants are growing on it. You can see the marks of the water level when the sump kicked off, then started again. 

It would have been stoopid luxury, and its slowly drying. I think it is a restoration. Id like to go back next year and see it somewhere here all shiny. But it seems like a hella project. Air smells like motor oils and mineral oils with a touch of mold. It rained the day before, and the absorbant mats inside the boat were fresh. I left footprints. It leads me to believe the owner of this FINE vessel visits once a day perhaps.  At least 6-8 people saw me on my exit. None yelled at me. Thats good, as the cop demonstrated how little I understand. Id also like to note, that I was in Quebec, and all the signage on that boat was English……