The Ramsar Bureau bids farewell to the Secretary General and eats a lot of seafood, 30 July 2003

Following a dizzying round of farewell parties and extravagant mementos of Delmar Blasco's eight-years' tenure as Secretary General, including some of those listed (left), the staff of the Ramsar Bureau, or secretariat, were feeling left out and pondered amongst themselves how best to commemorate this milestone of the Convention in a fashion that would be, not only suitable and tasteful, but also far more spectacular than the champagne-charged testimonials of other nations and organizations.

Briefly, there was a sense of insignificance and despair, since we had no rug to offer him (as at MedWet/Com5, left) or cowbell presented by the STRP, but the Ramsar Bureau has a secret weapon. Namely, Carlos Villalba (seconded by the Spanish Government, luckily right now when we need him most), who can do wonders with layout in next to no time, and kaboom! we were away.

As our Deputy Secretary General and his partner Linda readied the old homestead for some significant merrymaking, our Administration Coordinator Annette swung into action, engaging the services of a paella-maker from a nearby village who makes his living from hairstyling when he is not practicing his sacred art of seafood in a wok.

Preparations: Linda discusses unwelcome weather with the paella maker, and Ramsar staff help to move the wok to higher ground.

One of the first arrivals, Tomas Villalba (orange), gets to play with Annette and Anada before the rest of the guests arrive.

Now they've arrived, and they've planted themselves all over the enormous lawn, nibbling things.

Annette has had a preliminary go at the paella and says that it's coming along very well.

Guests debate wetland conservation issues impatiently as the paella simmers.

The departing Secretary General greets newcomers to the Bureau, left, Guangchun Lei and, right, Ivan Dario Valencia.

S. Hails and Linda Bridge (left); C. Hails, Delmar, and Ibrahim (right)

So when's dinner?: Delmar and Montse Riera (Ramsar), Ruth Scott (IUCN), and Denis Landenbergue (WWF)

The Guest of Honor is first to the wok.

Paulette is a close second to the wok (left), with Sandra diligently filming (right)

Chow down! The family of Villalbas (left), the Tiégas (right) with Annette and Estelle

The family of Blasco (or much of it): Mayte, Delmar, Elena, with Ivan Dario Valencia

Dinner over, issues intervene (from left): Denis Landenbergue (WWF Living Waters), Wendy Strahm (IUCN Species Survival), Dwight, Amalia, Sandra.

Time for a speech. Nick tells everyone that Delmar is departing the Ramsar Bureau after eight years' of splendid service. Which they knew.

The Bureau's gift to its departing Secretary General -- a photo book of mementos, often hilarious mementos, scanned from his long history on this planet and especially for his work with the Convention, all nicely done up as a superb keepsake by Mireille and Carlos.

Elena Blasco (left) and Mayte (right) watching proudly.

As evening comes on, casual conversation becomes pointless, as all participants queue up to view the sacred book of Ramsar mementos.

Photos by Sandra Hails, Nick Davidson, and Dwight Peck.