I got back late Monday night and Ed and Ziggy picked me up at the Orlando airport in the rental car. Ziggy almost licked my face off, we were all happy to be reunited.

My head cold over the past week was easing up but still a factor, I needed more rest.

Tuesday was our day to get provisions and get the boat ready to head out early Wednesday. After getting the head sail back on, we walked out to the parking lot to the car.

“Oh sir I’m so sorry I hit your car.” The slightly plump woman in black walked up to Ed as soon as she saw us.
“No you didn’t! How did you do that??” Ed was stunned and I was aghast.

“I don’t know I just tried to back up and turned too close I guess I’m so sorry…” She was close to tears.
We checked out the damage, it wasn’t that bad, just a scrape in the right rear side. On the other hand, her left front fender was almost ripped off.
She had called the police, who took their sweet time getting there. We got the police report and headed for Publix.

After turning the car in we spent the afternoon at the marina office doing laundry.

In walks a huge guy who had to lower his head to get in the door. His name was Martin and he was Swedish. He was 6’7″ and planning to hang out for a week or do in his boat in the marina.
We ran into him later at the local pizza hangout, Ryan’s, where he bought us a beer and joined us outside.

We learned that Martin had just bought his boat a month ago near Baltimore and was headed somewhere south.

He said he wanted to go to Cuba, plant the Swedish flag and then head further. He said “I’m a socialist,” but we learned he actually was a capitalist.

Ed asked “How do you get to do this, not working, you’re not old like us?” Martin laughed and said we were elderly. No! We protested that moniker.

Martin was 39. He smiled and said he recently sold his business in Sweden and wanted to sail the islands.

“What was your business?” We were getting comfortable with each other by this time.

“A candy store, called Candy Palace.” Or the Swedish equivalent.

Martin explained that Scandinavian candy (smagodis) is known as the best in the world. His store carried 500 different kinds, where you “pick and mix,” and he sold 3000 pounds a week!

He told us that American candy was basically “crap.” I asked him if any stores in the US offered this type of candy. He told us to visit Sockerbit in New York, probably the most popular candy store in the world.

Hmmmm. My wheels were turning. Perhaps my little shop in Wilmington should morph into a Swedish candy store. That would be unique! I’ve never seen a fat Swede so maybe their candy is not so sweet.

Naaaah.

https://www.sockerbit.com/shop.html