Devastated….In total shock…What was the beginning of a beautiful Eastern Sunday turned into a nightmare. My thoughts are all the time with all those families who lost their loved ones in the coward attacks in Colombo yesterday….
I had called Ruby early morning when he just had finished football. He was waiting at The Arcade whether to go home for a shower at Galle Face Court or head to his friend house. On our way to the waterfalls, we heard the news of 3 bomb blasts in Colombo and immediately I panicked and called Ruben. The explosions had taken place at The Cinnamon Grand, The Shangri-La and The Kingsburry. All in the vicinity of our old home…
When I got Ruben on the phone he had just heard about it and was on his way to his friend. So relieved to know he was safe!!!!, I asked him to stay put until I was back at the cottage with Sam and Guido..
Miguel had stayed back to do some work and once I had him on the phone he already was informed by the office. I told him about Ruben and that we were on our way.. He was in shock as well. Once we made it back I saw Miguel with a worried face attending emergency phone calls. How many people were traveling, how many of our guests were at the hotels, how many of our staff, our guides could have been affected as we also heard about the explosions of two churches ????……
So many questions in my head, so many worries…I tried to explain it to the boys. They understood that it had happened not far from our old house in Colombo. That Ruben was safe and that Anthe had just escaped the nightmare…doing shopping in the Crescat.. ..
Do we need to go back to Colombo? Miguel wondered what was the right thing to do…??But soon there was a curfew imposed…
That same night Anthe called that they would come up to join us at the cottage. They would bring Ruben along with them early morning the next day. I was so happy that he would be with us soon -as long as the curfew was lifted-……
They made it safe. And we all hugged. Together again. Our two families. Safe in the hills. Far from it all. ..
But our minds and hearts are with all those who have lost their lives….
The Five Gypsies 