Living on the water – Can you imagine?

We were off to visit a couple of floating fishing villages east of Santa Marta, Nueva Venecia and Buena Vista.  I had seen floating villages in Myanmar and visited one in Cambodia so I had a general idea of what to expect. There would be people who live in houses on stilts above the water.  I was looking forward to capturing unique photos of life in the homes of the village, and photos of the village itself.

What I lacked was a full understanding of what living on the water meant for these people. Only as I observed them in their day to day activities could I begin to imagine what life on the water was like.

The Journey

Off we went across the lagoon. It was a lagoon versus a lake as it was shallow and the fishermen we saw used poles to push their boats to the areas they wanted to fish.

The lone fisherman on the lake caught my attention. The simplicity of their work and the remoteness of the location made for a good minimalist photo. 

Two fisherman in their dug out canoe in the vast expanse of the lagoon. The sky and water seemed to blend together.

As we headed to the middle of the lagoon there were fewer fisherman and our boat picked up speed. It was at that moment that a fish, leaping out of the water, flew into the boat directly towards me. Seeing this large projectile flying right at me caught me off guard and I did the girly thing and screamed. The fish sailed across my camera bag, between my legs and ended up under my seat. The tomboy in me was embarrassed. Our guide, after a few slippery tries, was able to secure the fish and return him to his home.

We settled in for the long ride as it was expected to take nearly an hour to cross this huge lagoon

Nueva Venecia is a unique floating village located in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (red point), Colombia’s largest coastal wetland and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. We started our journey at Meulle Nautico Pueblo Viejo (upper right).

Arriving at Nueva Venecia 

Wildlife is abundant in the waters and mangroves. 

Colorful buildings with beautiful artwork could be found throughout the village.

Nueva Venecia has close to 3,000 inhabitants, 400 elevated houses, a church, school, library, and a sports field. This community has been here for over a 150 years. This village is totally isolated. There are no roads, no ferries, no trains, and certainly no Amazon deliveries. The people live a unique life dependent on the water around them. Fishing brings in income, and the income sustains life. Can you imagine what it is like to live here?

Repairing the fishing nets

A woman pushes her boat with her mother to visit a friend.

Can you image raising children without a yard or fence?

Children are taught to swim at almost the same time as they learn to walk. There are no baby gates to protect them. As soon as they are able, they are also taught how to use a boat or raft to get around (e.g., to school).

Paddling, even for the young, is a way of life. This young lady is about 6.

Can you imagine learning to ride a bike? This youngster was practicing on his front porch.

Can you imagine going to school? Playing soccer?

The school buildings are connected with small bridges. Children paddled to the school.

A young uniformed girl returns to her classroom

A soccer field was built with dirt brought in. It is the only place I saw for kids to play. 

And yes, we watched as a youngster jump in the lagoon to retrieve a misguided ball.

Can you imaging having pets or livestock?

During our journey we saw a both a dog and a pig swimming.  I could only image where they might be headed.

Is he walking himself?

Can you imagine running a restaurant in the village?

We enjoyed lunch at the local restaurant. The people were kind and the food was delicious. It was one of the best lunches we had. 

Lunch at the restaurant, from left to right: Jeff, Kathryn, Elaine, Tristan (our guide) and our local guide / interpreter.

Typical Colombian meal: coconut rice (rice fried with coconut milk)  fried plantains, fried fish, and a bit of salad. The bonus today was the beans.

Can you imagine the future of this village?

There have been many challenges for this small town. From guerrilla attacks (2000) to invading plant species, life hangs in the balance.

This man was 70 years old. Quite a character with gold teeth (literally). He has lived in Nueva Venecia all his life. He loves his village and the people within it. He explained to us how he would do anything for his village and its people. With his passion and dedication, there is hope for the future.

Perhaps now you can begin to imagine what life in a floating village is like.