Trip with the new" firmm spirit" as experienced by Volunteers

Text: Sabine Blaser, Evelyne Rufer, Elvira Gómez (Volunteers with firmm)
Fotos: firmm

Nina tells us to hurry up as the office is full of people who cant wait to hear the Charlas to be presented in front of the office. We, Elvira, Sabine and Evelyne quickly grab our folders and carry a few chairs and benches outside. Sabine speaks in English, Evelyne in German and Elvira in Spanish. As soon as the people are separated into groups the introduction in the various languages can begin.

Today Elvira has an especially lively group of many handicapped children from a special school in closeby La Linea.

At the end of the introductions, questions abound from the listeners, but unfortunately there is too little time and the questions must wait until we are underway. We gather all the tourists quickly and together make our way to the boat. We control each passenger's ticket at boarding

The passengers are greeted joyfully by our Marinero Eduardo who also helps them to climb aboard, and always has a charming smile ready. Evelyne is the guide today and helps to cast off.

It doesn´t take long before we spot the first animals. Everywhere "ooooh" and "aaaaah" can be heard. Bottlenose dolphins cavort in the bow´s wave and it doesn´t take long before they begin swimming next to our boat and performing jumps and turns which would make any trained dolphin show envious.
Even spermwhales make their debut. Immediately new questions crop up. "How many whales are there out there? Is that already Morocco? What is that freighter carrying? How fast are we travelling?" With much patience we try to answer what we can, attempting at the same time to care for those who are beginning to feel sick to their stomachs and keeping an eye out for animals.

Two hours later the boat returns and Sabine runs direction dock in order to help with the docking proceedure. She and Eduardo help each passenger as they debark. Some can hardly wait to tell of their experiences while Evelyne and Nina prepare for the wave of enchanted whale watchers. Upon arriving in the office the visitors check out items they can purchase as souvenirs to remind them of the eventful excursion. Many purchase far more than just one item, knowing that each purchase includes a donation for the good of the dolphin.