The "Calming the Seas" Story

Calming the Seas at dusk on Isla Verde Beach.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting at a table on the sand at the Intercon- tinental Resort's "Ciao Mediter- ranean Cafe" watching this gentleman go through his routine in front of us on the beach which looks something like yoga or Tai Chi.  This is the third evening we have eaten at the cafe and every evening the gentleman has arrived and proceeded to go through his routine while wearing a bathing suit and a swim cap.  We watched in fascination as he spread his legs and proceeded to wave his arms in different sequences for maybe two or three minutes before he walked another 20 yards to the left or right and did the same thing again.  I asked our waiter about him and was told that he has been doing the same routine for over twenty years every evening of the year.  "So why does he do it?" I asked.  Seems he does it to calm the seas to prevent bad weather from harming the Isla Verde Beach where we are staying.  He has talked with very few people on his journey up and down the mile long beach, but is said to be very intelligent when he does converse.  "And, does it work?" I also asked.  Seems they haven't had a really bad storm over the 20 odd years that he has been doing his routine.  Hey, take a look at the photo and see how calm the sea is in front of us.  That is the Atlantic Ocean you are viewing.  Waves are usually very generous on beaches along the Atlantic.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of ordinary guy.