This is not the Beagle.

My dearest friend,

Salutations from the sea, I have much to tell you about, you won’t believe it. 

It all started three sunrises ago, on the 4^th of June when we finally lifted the anchor and the sails were deployed. We set course from Callao, Perú towards the enchanted islands of The Galápagos. 

I know what you are thinking my dearest, and no, this is not 1835, and we are not onboard The Beagle, although in many ways it certainly feels like - for we are onboard Bark Europa sailing 1000 miles carried by the wind.

Twenty-eight sails are there to assist us in our endeavor but they also seem to be the perfect place for snitchers to perch on. Seabirds! on top of our heads, our kind naturalist calls them Inca terns and Peruvian boobies. We dance on the deck to avoid guano over our heads – yet some are lucky to get blessed by these salty creatures.

The work must be finished nonetheless and the sails shall be fully released. One by one, they start to give Bark Europa it’s glorious shape again. The hard work pulling and easing the ropes are rewarded with tight bonds amongst the crew members. Chants celebrating life and the sea are sang regularly – which seem to cheer even the most serious of mariners.

I see these moments that I should treasure forever and I’m afraid the pictures I take won’t be enough to make justice of what I’m living – moments and feelings that render strange to me. Is it perhaps that life is nothing but the vessel you are on?

We shall continue, the watch awaits me my friend. I hope to hear from you soon as well.

Until next time.

Yours,

Josh