When one chooses to live their life in a conformist style, they intentionally dress different than the “norm”, they wear their hair different, choose unusual ways to earn money and see themselves as “outside” society. That is until they all arrive at the same place at the same time like at a Harley Davidson convention.

Here in  Las Palmas, the capital city of the Canary islands, is the official starting location for the annual ARC event, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. And this is an excellent place to jump off from,  for cruisers to make the trip across the Atlantic Ocean during the trade winds.

So over the  years, word as gotten out that if you are a young traveler who dreams of adventure, this is the place to be to look for a berth on a boat sailing to the Caribbean, South America, or as some of the fliers say. “Where ever the wind takes us”.    These young folks walk around and approach people they suspect are boat types and ask, super politely,  if they are looking for crew.   They also post fliers around the marina advertising their dreams, and maybe even a few skills. Like one guy is an experienced clown. These young dreamers look pretty much alike. They must have gotten the “How To Be  Traveling Dreamer” handbook before they arrived in Las Palmas.   For example, most of them have dreadlocks, and wear little beaded things in their hair.   They all seem to wear the usual wrist, neck and ankle woven decorations. Many carry guitars.  Most wear cargo type shorts and loose gingham shirts, or surf board shorts and  worn out earthy colored T shirts. A lot of them have huge backpacks.  Many seem to like to cook. And then there is that clown.

We asked one sweet American girl if she knew how to sail, and she responded with “Never been on a boat!!”.     ????     Does she know it’s an OCEAN she wants to sail across??  some do have experience, and  a few  have a lot.  These ones look more  sailors, well at least they don’t have the “required’ dreadlocks, and they don’t seem to be carrying guitars.

The fliers are works of art in themselves. Some have cute little  kokapelli cartoons on them and say things like “ Take me, I am young and like to cook and clean up after you!   I’ve worked as a grape cutter in France and as a tattoo artist in the Croatia.  I will entertain you with my guitar! I have no sailing experience but I am eager to learn”.

  Do they know if they get seasick?   And does anyone need a grape cutter or a tattoo artist to sail across the ocean?    

But one thing that is a bit baffling to us, is so many of them approach Robert and I.  And not some our neighbors, who clearly have bigger boats.  Then I realize I also wear woven things, board shorts,  and have long hair that I try but can’t seem to keep brushed in this windy weather. (Maybe dreadlocks are the answer)   So maybe they glom onto us because we “look” like them?   uh oh.   But I am not going to carry a piano around!!