IWC 61 Day 1 part 1
And so we are off up ‘Cardiac Hill’ towards the Volcano-shaped building which hosts a Casino, a nightclub and ….the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
The sun is shining. The sky is blue. Yellow and pink petals fall like confetti from the trees overhead, forming a pastel carpet on the cobbles underfoot. The agapanthus flowers nod their heads as we go by. In fact flowers blossom everywhere. In excellent juxtaposition the blackbirds are singing their little hearts out.
Madeiran wall lizards scatter as we pass and tourists are selecting their basking spots out on the various tanning surfaces in the parks and by the pools.
Not far away dolphins are leaping from a blue sea and making lines of white splashes on the surface. A little further out small fishing boats bob and a wisp of vapor marks the breath of a surfacing whale.
It is a beautiful day. This is a beautiful place.
But… we leave that all behind and plunge into the magma chamber of the volcano which will be our home for the coming days. The curtains are carefully closed. No shard of sunshine can be allowed to disturb our gloom. (The rumour that this lack of day light is to prevent some delegations bursting spontaneously bursting into flames is palpably untrue.)
On the agenda today is the adoption of the agenda (often surprisingly controversial); whale stocks; whale killing methods and welfare and co-operation with other organizations. Stand by… musicians can be seen carrying cases into the great hall; there is going to be entertainment too.
WDCS on Twitter
WDCS on Facebook
WDCS on YouTube