Hakim and Camelia

About a month ago we met Hakim and Camelia when their boat, Hakim 7, was anchored outside our house. They're from Canada where he owns a very successful chain of eyeglass stores. Originally Hakim hails from Iran. He left his home country with the solitary dream of seeing the steamy women of Rio, but a stop-over in Canada turned into a permanent settlement. (Brazil had to wait until decades later when his now ex-wife bought him a ticket as a birthday present, but by then the appeal had faded and after just a couple of days he decided to return home.)

Camelia is from Romania where she was quite the Renaissance woman, studying and teaching engineering, reporting weather and entertainment on a then spanking-new post-communist television network, attending law school, and modeling...much of this while waiting for her visa to Canada. Once it came, she, like Hakim, didn't look back.

On Bine's eight-month birthday we were invited to have dinner on the Hakim 7. Over the course of the next week we dined many times with the couple at on their boat, at our house, and at local restaurants. JA and Hakim also went diving together, which was an adventure JA won't soon forget. Bine and Camelia developed a mutual admiration society.

When they were headed back to La Ceiba/Canada, Hakim and Camelia invited us to ride along and stay on the Hakim 7 for a couple of nights. JA described being on the boat as feeling like we were in a James Bond movie.

For about a week after saying goodbye we were humming "La Paloma" by Dean Martin, a song that the very jovial Hakim would belt out multiple times a day. They were really warm and fun and we hope to see them again soon.