Originally Posted by
TYDETHEGOD
PART 1:
Back in the early 1990’s I was employed by an international shipping company known as “Crowley American Transport” on a 5 month contract aboard the MV Sea Wolf. Crowley is still in business but now they run a fleet of tugs and got out of the deep sea cargo business. My title was ‘Chief Steward’ which meant I was responsible for ordering provisions, menu planning etc, managing a crew of 12, for all intents and purposes an acting ‘Hotel Manager’ aboard a 900 foot container ship.
I was fresh out of an 18 months training course at our unions maritime training academy in Southern Maryland, and hit the jackpot landing a semi-permanent department head position bound for South America not even two days after I graduated the final course in culinary management. This was a truly dream come true. The money was fantastic, and I had always wanted to go to South America. It all fell in my lap so seamlessly it was as if God himself was smiling down upon me. Jumping in my jet black RX7 with a **** eating grin from ear to ear, I sped off for Philadelphia to join the Sea Wolf and embark on a new chapter in my life as a merchant marine.
We sailed out of Philadelphia on a balmy Fall Saturday afternoon headed down the Eastern coastline. The route was a 42 day round trip heading down the East Coast from Philly, on to Norfolk Virginia, then Jacksonville Florida and finally leaving Port Everglades headed for Venezuela. We had five scheduled stops down the Brazilan coast and then made a u-turn in Buenos Aires, heading back to Philly on a 12 day straight shot through the frigid Atlantic waters.
I’d already done extensive traveling at this point in my life. Five years in Hawaii, a year in Australia and all over the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia, but South America always held a certain undeniable mystique, so suddenly my excitement and sense of anticipation was flowing like a river as we sailed out of South Florida en route to Venezuela and beyond.
After three short days on a calm Atlantic sea, we pulled into ‘Puerto Cabello’ for our first scheduled ‘overnighter’ of the trip. Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in the state of Carabobo about 50 miles West of Caracas. The city has a population of around 200,000 people and is home to the largest port in the country.
As the Sea Wolf was tying up at the dock, I quickly changed into my summer gear climbing into the first taxicab into town, eager to enjoy the sights and sounds (and women) of this new and exciting place. Getting to know the crew of the Sea Wolf after leaving Port Everglades, we had all talked about all the ‘perks’ of Venezuela and Brazil, or specifically the gorgeous women and raw night life and other surprises that lay in store. There were a few regulars on board, but the majority of the crew of 35 had never laid eyes on South America, and we were all pumped up to make the best of our short time in this exotic port.
When our driver pulled his rusted out late 70’s Cadillac into the club parking lot, we couldn’t help but notice all the hot latina bar bunnies all turning their heads, much like a flock of birds changing course in mid air with perfect synchronized movement. Imagine if you will, the hottest bleach blonde bimbette you can possibly imagine, with enormous breasts on a petite hourglass frame, strutting into a sports bar packed full of recent parolees. Well, that’s the type of reaction beautiful Venezuelan mamacita’s tend to give to visiting American merchant marines with cold hard cash burning a hole in their pocket.
The time passed so quickly. The women were absolutely beautiful and and the ice cold beer flowed into the night. The streets of the city were alive with activity as the sun set, and it was quickly obvious we were all in for the time of our lives with gorgeous Venezuelan girls all over the place and cold beer flowing. The music was festive and there was something really special about being in a foreign country surrounded by so many amazing girls. It was a magical night in so many ways and we all just lost ourselves in the experience
Carmen caught my eye as she got off of a taxicab. Wearing a skimpy black dress that barely covered her slender physique, she moved across the street like a panther on the prowl with flowing jet black hair when suddenly she glanced my way and our eyes locked. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish nor did she understand English, but one of the other girls interpreted some small talk for a while, and we quickly agreed to find a hotel room. Carmen led me out of the bar hand in hand to a taxi that seemed to be waiting for us, and we were whisked off into the Venezuelan night.
Now, I am not naïve enough to think that there was anything more to this encounter than what it was. I was a merchant marine making a lot of money and she was a bar girl in a South American country. Nevertheless, we spent the entire night in a shabby 3rd world hotel room but it might as well have been the Four Seasons. I kissed her goodbye as the sun was coming up and explained that I would be back in 6 weeks, then headed back to the Sea Wolf with only a few minutes to spare before we sailed for Recife’ , Brazil.
PART 2:
When we sailed out of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, I was on top of the world. We had 4 days at sea before we hit Recife' , Brazil and visions of Carmen were still fresh in my mind. My short time with her was surreal and unexpected and you couldn't pry the smile off my face with a crowbar if you tried.
Even in late December, the sun was blazing as we sailed South to the Eastern tip of Brazil approaching the equator. The crew was buzzing with talk of Recife' and what lay in store for us when we tied up in our next port and there was an excitement in the air that words can't do justice.
With a few hours to go, the entire crew was buzzing and gearing up to make the most of our short 8 hour stay in one of the most exciting cities in South America.
We pulled in to port as at dusk, and the eager Brazilian cabbies were frothing at the mouth as we all filed off the gangway. Opportunity knocking for so many that night. Recife' is a coastal port town and all the hustlers came out to play with their game faces on, like they did every time an American flagged deep sea cargo ship rolled into town.
A half dozen of us packed into the first cab in the que' for the short ride to Boa Viagem and the coldest beer in town, all of us wide eyed and ready to soak in everything about this amazing place.
It's been the better part of 15 years now, but I will never forget as long as I live, the moment I laid eyes on Brena Neriane' at club 'Chatatak'.
Walking past me with jet black wet hair fresh out of the shower, wearing a white blouse and barely glancing at me. Making enough eye contact for a split second, just enough time to tell me in that instant everything she wanted me to know about her, teasing me and yet coaxing me. A fleeting moment of raw attraction that I will never forget as long as I live.
Portuguese is such a mesmerizing language and soothing to the ears. Not quite Spanish, not quite French, but a distinctive blend of both that flows off the lips of beautiful Brazilian women like the sweetest sound you've ever heard.
The next thing I remember was kicking back on the beach listening to the waves of Boa Viagem sipping cheap Brazilian champagne with Brena, and abruptly jolting upright realizing that the Sea Wolf was sailing at midnight for 'Santos'.
Despite being immersed in a state of euphoria being with such an amazing girl on an exotic beach under the moonlight, it still hit me
like a rude slap in the face.
The Sea Wolf had sailed without me.
At first I didn't realize the scope of just how badly I had screwed up. Not only did I choke on the biggest career opportunity of my life, but I was stuck in a Brazilian port town with no passport and only a few hundred dollars. I knew there was going to be a hefty price to pay, and I would probably be fired from my contract, but somehow none of it mattered. I laid my head back on the sand of Boa Viagem and let it all wash away and let Brena take me back to her apartment a few blocks away.
That night I will always keep sacred because it was too good to be true, but the next morning Brena and I took a quick swim in the ocean at sunrise and then caught a cab to visit the local port 'chandler' so I could contact Captain Sica on the Sea Wolf and let him know what I'm sure he already knew.
Looking back in retrospect, I suppose the most defining aspect of missing the ship sailing that night wasn't the fact that I had to be escorted 600 miles away via taxi to the next port of Santos, or that the entire crew knew I had been seduced and was laying back on the beach as the ship sailed off into the night.
What really stung was being stuck in a five star beachfront hotel room for 6 days with the most beautiful girl you can imagine in your wildest dreams.
It was decided that I would remain in Recife' for 4 days and then be driven to Santos to rejoin the Sea Wolf after Christmas.
All expenses paid.
Certainly there would be a price to pay for my lapse in good judgment and quite honestly I fully expected to be terminated and sent back to the United States , but when the port chandler finally coordinated the logistics of my unscheduled vacation, I settled in very nicely for quite possibly the most glorious 96 hours of my life.
Brena and I checked in to a suite at the Mar Hotel on December 23rd courtesy of Crowley American Transport and the Brazilian government.
We spent virtually every waking hour ravaging each others sweaty bodies, eating the finest food, ordering room service, and sleeping, and you can imagine what else… the entire time we spent together is a complete blur and a freak of nature. I would sit there as the sun was coming up through our hotel window watching her sleep, just staring in awe at her amazing body, soaking in every moment we had together before I had to leave for Santos, assuming I still had a job.
Hard to put into words what an amazing place Brazil is. There is a spirit there that you can literally feel in your bones. Just being there changes you, and changes the way you look at people, and what life is all about.
It's a nation that embraces its culture and cherishes it. Rich or poor, the people of Brazil love their country . It's a passion for homeland you wont see anywhere else in the world. There is this inherent personal pride the people of Brazil hold close to their hearts which is not only genuine, but unspoiled.
Brazil even to this day, maintains that national spirit in every facet of their society. Wherever you go, you are greeted with a warm smile. These people walk the streets with pride on their faces and literally belong to their country.
Brazil is unique in the sense that there is a sense of unity you won't find anywhere else in the world.
Next stop: Rio De Janeiro...
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