Expedition Barú
Far from were I grew up, but now very close to my heart and soul, in the same country I was born, lies and island full of hope.
It may sound poetic to some extent, but far from it is the reality of more than four thousand people who live in extreme poverty and are abandoned by their fellow islanders in the town of Barú.
That is a way to put it. Aside from the fact that the Island of Barú is a beautiful piece of land that is considered one of the future poles of tourist development of Cartagena in Colombia.
Beautiful beaches, translucent waters, mangrove swamps and multicolor coral reefs that you can visit anytime via the “Canal del Dique” by car, or simply crossing the Cartagena bay in any kind of boat, but be sure you get into a big one, because if you plan to return anytime after 4 pm, you might catch big and defying waves that will make you think twice in going back sometime.
Our journey started the night before within the magic that beholds the fortress walls of the city named in 1984 by the Unesco, Mankind Heritage. That is Cartagena de Indias, in the northern Atlantic coast of Colombia.
At nearly 9 pm, before we got a chance to have dinner at one of the most characteristic and hip restaurants of the city, La Vitrola, we got a glimpse of the truth that was waiting for us the next day in the small town of Barú. People that do not have basic elements considered humanly livable. No potable water, no chances to get immunizations for their newborn Childs, poor education of the majority of the population, and not much hope of the life that lies in the other part of the Island.
To be honest with you, I’m not going to get into details of what life is on the other side. I don’t think it would be fair.
Very early the following morning we realized we were part of a big humanitarian brigade that was on its way to tell the people of Barú, “there are people that have not forgotten about you”.
With the help of the Colombian coastguard we became part of more than 80 people, including doctors, nurses, school teachers, yoga experts, journalists, CEO’s of big time companies, who crossed the Bay of Cartagena in small boats, and a big coastguard vessel often used to capture those who try to make part of the never ending story of drug trafficking.
It was a beautiful March morning, some of us even got to see a couple of dolphins along the way, jumping out of the water as if they were happy to see a group of people trying to get something done.
And by done, I mean being part of the road, that road that takes everybody somewhere, but that not everyone drives.
You see, for me there are two kinds of people, the ones that are on the road, and the ones that sit down and see everything go by.
It comes to my mind the words of a famous songwriter I once met, who taught me that we live in times where no one hears no one, in times were everyone is against everyone, including themselves. The result, we forget others in need.
What “Operativo Esperanza”, that is the name of the operative that allowed us to help, accomplishes each time they invite people to be part of the road, amongst other things, is social conscience.
That conscience that reminds us how people from all over the world that live below the standards of humanity, need to have hope.
I have one daughter and another coming in a month or so. For me, as a parent, as a journalist from Todobebe, who tried to help in just one weekend, it was a life changing experience.
We take things for granted all the time, but must never forget that there are those who have heard about a promised land that lies far away from were they are, people that live of what they can catch in the ocean in small ships or boats that, in a figurative way, crash with nothing.
Is like getting a small idea of the breeze of the infatuated death that circles as a deadly assassin.
I used to be one of those on the side of the road. But not now. Long time ago I decided to be part of that road.
What about you?