23. September kl. 22:30 - Hands and hearts of gold – and a puppy named Galathea

Dato 23.9.2006

Today ´s authours are Klaus Peter Brodersen (University of Copenhagen) & Susanne Amsinck (DMU).

This day was pretty much like the others. Hard and heavy work from early morning until late night. “Well – are they really working that hard?” some of you may question. Yes – and without our extremely helpful local collaborators, we wouldn’t have managed it all. Therefore, today we would like to acknowledge our great collaborators from the University of Azores, who have been with us from the first minute we touched the island of Sao Miguel!

Our very special thanks go to Ana, Rui and Afonso. They have been working very long hours, also during the weekends. Their effort in the field has been extremely valuable.

Rui in the inflatable boat at Lagoa Rasa. Rui is our tough, persevering and patient colleague. His effort on the wet, stormy, and cold day on Lagoa Fogo makes him a candidate for a medal of bravery. Frozen to the bones, his only whish was to go home to “The President” (read: girlfriend), to get a warm bath and a whiskey. But he struggled to the very end…and showed up again the very next days! Thanks Rui!. Photographer: Klaus Brodersen.

Afonso working in high speed at Lagoa Azul. Afonso is always full of fun. He is our humorous and cheerful partner. After a long days work, Afonso (and his wife Anarita) is still capable for guiding us to a good restaurant, and to point out a good local beer. Afonso (and Rui) knows how to set the nets, pick the fish, and cut the fish stomachs – without any complains on the smell and other nuisances in their lab. Photographer: Klaus Brodersen.

Ana with “mother-in-law” (bottom sledge) and the poppy “Galathea”. Ana is the pretty and smiling young woman with a heart of gold. In the field, Ana wants to try out all the practical sampling techniques – even going in the boat with the field-commander-in-chief, Frank. Ana loves dogs! She saved a homeless (abandoned) puppy at a local cafe. She brought it to a nursery, and named the puppy “Galathea”. Ana always offers her lunch package to dogs – and eats Afonso´s instead. Afonso starves – or does he!? Photographers: Klaus Brodersen and Susanne Amsinck.

We should not forget to mention Pedro, Vitor and our local team leader Jose, who also showed up and helped, when they could get away from their other obligations. Photographer: Klaus Brodersen.

Our Azorean colleagues have been a brilliant and entertaining company. They deserve a lot of credit – thanks a lot..! We hope this will be the kick-start for a fruitful future cooperation.

The Galathea Lake Team