I woke up at 6:15 (yes, a.m. and again for those of you who know me this was no small feat, since I would rather just stay up til 6:15 than get up at 6:15) but I had left the curtains open so that the dawn light would help me wake up because I really wanted to walk on the beach before my boat trip. I brewed a cup of coffee and headed down to the beach and confirmed every reason that I have ever had for why I should live at the beach.
Warm breezes and sand while the sun rises over the rhythmic ocean - I sat for a long while, just breathing in the salt air as deeply as possible, in the divine hope that this beautiful place will permeate my skin and lungs so that I can always remember this glorious time and the fantastically lovely people that I met here. So far in my travels (and I realize that I have a lot more places to go) but the people I have met here have been absolutely the nicest that I have encountered.
Back to the beach... As I am strolling along I see these long, very strange trails that stretch from the water quite some ways up the beach, but they dont look like a vehicle, but they are very wide with a circular pattern...strange. And then it dawns on me what these are - they are turtle tracks! And a very large sea turtle at that!! Fantastic! I have never seen them before, so I follow the tracks up the beach to a large hole, when I expected a mound...I was very disappointed at first because I thought that someone had destroyed it. (I learned later that the hotels collect the eggs and incubate them and then release them after they have hatch - whew!) I was terribly bothered by the disturbed nests, so I am glad to find out that fate was not as grim as I had feared.
Warm breezes and sand while the sun rises over the rhythmic ocean - I sat for a long while, just breathing in the salt air as deeply as possible, in the divine hope that this beautiful place will permeate my skin and lungs so that I can always remember this glorious time and the fantastically lovely people that I met here. So far in my travels (and I realize that I have a lot more places to go) but the people I have met here have been absolutely the nicest that I have encountered.
Back to the beach... As I am strolling along I see these long, very strange trails that stretch from the water quite some ways up the beach, but they dont look like a vehicle, but they are very wide with a circular pattern...strange. And then it dawns on me what these are - they are turtle tracks! And a very large sea turtle at that!! Fantastic! I have never seen them before, so I follow the tracks up the beach to a large hole, when I expected a mound...I was very disappointed at first because I thought that someone had destroyed it. (I learned later that the hotels collect the eggs and incubate them and then release them after they have hatch - whew!) I was terribly bothered by the disturbed nests, so I am glad to find out that fate was not as grim as I had feared.
I was completely charmed by the thought of seeing the sea turtles now and there were nests everywhere!! :)
I got the distinct feeling, even with my horrible sense of time (my friends are all nodding their heads right now), that I had lingered on the beach way too long. I began making my way back to the hotel but my progress was seriously slowed down by the draw of the ocean and the hypnotic appeal of the waves crashing on the shore. And God knows I am easily distracted anyway :) which I am sure probably comes across as scatter-brained, but it all makes sense to me.
So, as a theme for this trip, and my life, I am running late for my boat trip. I throw on a swim suit and shorts and head out to find the pier. This entails leaving the confines of the hotel/resort and venturing out into the city. Despite several warnings from the staff and concern that I should take the bus, I determinedly head out on foot...because if you really want to 'feel' a place you have to walk it. And while I could kick myself for not bringing my phone/camera (I was concerned about it getting wet) I am so glad I opted for the walk over the bus ride. There were wonderful flowers sprinkled along the side of the road, every color; pinks, reds, blues, yellows, and purples, all with heavy waxy leaves and a delicate array of scents. There were trumpet honysuckles to palm trees, mimosa trees and bog lillies, the variety and abundance of plants in such a small area was fantastic. Luckily the walk was not too long though, because it was h-o-t! It was only 8:20 in the morning and the heat was pressing in on me and I could feel the beads of sweat already forming, I was very glad that I choose a boating excursion over an inland hike.
Eventually I arrived at the pier and while we are waiting for the boat to arrive...
a rainbow appears, bright and glorious and it was perfect timing because I was just beginning to feel the pangs of loneliness, but when the rainbow appeared that vanished. (it is a little deal that God and I have that whenever I start to venture to close to the edge he sends a rainbow, interestingly enough it is why I wear the opal ring that I bought in Australia all the time...it is a rainbow, whenever and where ever I need it.)
The boat arrives to take us on our adventure, 3 gentlemen from Costa Rica, 4 amazing ladies from somewhere in the US, a mother and her son from the UK, and a cute spanish couple. We are a very jovial bunch, even if my talking with the Costa Ricans is a scary mixture of spanish, english, and hand gestures (and I think some french slipped in from word to word -- oops!) Once we were underway it was impossible to talk because of the roar of the engine and the rush of wind, so we all fell into silence and took in the surroundings. I will admit here that I was slightly relieved to not have to speak for a while, I had been using as much spanish as possible while I had been there and it was somewhat awkward and stressful to not be able to communicate effectively.
Our first point of interest was a enchanting lagoon with herons, gigantic fish, sting rays, and brown pelicans. It reminded me of the Everglades - except for the trees, the trees here are knarled, small, and have broad flat leaves. But our ultimate destination was the half boat - half submarine that was to take us on a tour of the coral reefs. Given the rather tempestuous weather report for the weekend while I was visiting I had opted for the somewhat sheltered way of seeing the reefs versus scuba diving and possibly having my trip canceled. It was one of my rare moments of making a practical decision, don't worry - I will not let it go to my head.
The reefs were magical and teaming with life, I have seen corals before when snorkeling with my daddy off of the Keys, but this was...just wow. I could not look fast enough to take it all in. The gentle sway of all the plants; sea grasses, fans, any number of flora that I could not even guess at rolling back and forth in the current. And the sea life! So many different types of life; coral heads, sea cucumber, sting rays, parrot fish, butterfly fish, pipe fish, and sea turtles!! I was completely enthralled!
- side note -
while i am writing this - I am almost certain that I broke my foot when I fell today BUT I am absolutely not going to spoil this trip by going to a hospital or doctor. The incident happens later than where we are in my narrative but it hurt a lot... f---. I am so ridiculously clumsy, I f------ hate that about myself and there is nothing I can do about it - unless I am willing to just sit around, do nothing, and let life pass me by...I am thinking that is NOT going to happen, so my injury pron self will just have to limp around for a few days. -- sigh --
Ok, where was I?
Oh, yeah - fish....
There was so much beauty all around me - it was one of those moments where you wish you could slow down time, like the perfect kiss, or a sun-kissed afternoon, or enjoying a butterscotch sunday. Hmmmm...where was I -- oops, right, water - submarine - fish. So the boat/sub is rocking back and forth, quite a bit actually I was worried for a few of my fellow tourists who were looking decidedly green...and it occurs to me that I don't think of the ocean being in motion so far away from the shore. But as everything is swaying all around me, I focus in on a school of fish and it begs the question...
Do sea creatures ever get sea sick? I can't even imagine what that would look like...haha!
So on our way back to port, I am gingerly sipping a cerveza offered to me by the crew, very cognisant that since I left so early this morning I had nothing on my stomach but coffee, when one of the crew plops a gigantic sombrero on my head. 'Oh boy,' I think 'my workmates will love this!' It was 3 different shades of bright pink (my least favorite color) - thankfully there were some faint purple strips. And yes, there is a picture which is now floating somewhere around Costa Rica, one of my shipmates took photos.
I must admit that one of the highlights for me was when 3 of the american ladies and one of the crew started line dancing! I wish that I could remember the name of the song but it wasn't one that I knew. But wow could they cut a rug! :)
The slog back to the hotel was SO desperately hot, it was like being forced to do jumping jacks in the sauna, the air was so thick in a way that I had never experienced, I could feel it clinging in my lungs, very weird sensation. I took a full five minutes back at the hotel lying on the cool marble floor before I heard the pool calling my name ... 'senorita, come on, dive in...' Seriously, it sounded JUST like that :) (what, water doesn't call to you, well, your lose, haha!) So of course I had to go. I guess lunch will have to wait just a little bit longer.
As I walked out to the pool there was a 3 and 1/2 foot iguana sitting in the path ... how awesome. (even though I did catch my breath in surprise) At first I really did not think that it was real but placed there to charm the tourists, then it stuck out its tongue and turned it's head to look at me - ok, definitely real. I decided that it was best to turn and go a different way, being that he/she was much bigger than most of the lizards I have ever been acquainted with, and clearly this was THEIR home and I was the intruder.
I enjoyed a nice long swim, lounged in the sun and then had lunch at the poolside sushi bar ... how nice is that? Hmmm, let me think....perfecto! Top that off with a delicious mango margarita and I am hard pressed to think of a better day. After several more swims and a little reading, time for a late afternoon walk on the beach. Again, just gorgeous, all the white sand and blue water as far as I could see, I am starting to sound a broken record - but it was just so beautiful and calming. And of course after a nice long stroll on the beach what could be better than ... you guessed it ... a margarita at the best bar in the world!! The jacuzzi bar on the beach - yeah, awesome times 10!!!
So, I am swinging and enjoying the beach and snickering at the man across from me, in his sunglasses and early 70's Ryan O'Neill look-alike contest happening. (Unfortunately, he caught me laughing at his 'I-am-too-cool-for-myself' persona and he got up and left ... oops, my bad)
After 'Ryan' leaves, a man walks up to me and starts to chat while he is waiting on his drinks, turns out he is from my hometown and here with his girlfriend, small world - n'est pas?! They were a very pleasant couple.
- truthfully-
I am behind in my writing, it is the following day now and I am meeting the gentleman and his girlfriend in the resort bar shortly for drinks, but I feel that it is always good to be so busy living that maybe you have to postpone writing for a day or two :)
Back to day 2, 3 margaritas later I decide that I should have another swim before dinner - the pools here are wonderful, my personal favorite is the one with the waterfalls and it looks out over the ocean! Splendid!! (also, I should mention it sounds like I am drinking a lot, but the drinks are small served in 6oz plastic cups and frozen. so they are mostly mix and ice but that makes them perfectly refreshing in this heat and also why it is easy to drink 3 or 4 without feeling it.)
As the sun begins to fade I head back to my room, which is when I wipe out completely on the wet floor, land with all my weight on my foot (which as I mentioned earlier, I am pretty sure I broke it), I am so embarrassed, and in pain, and cursing my serious lack of coordination. Once again, I remind myself not to fall apart because as I mentioned I don't need it to become a habit and besides I have too much to do to let a bad fall keep me down. (ok, sorry, bad joke ... moving on)
I run into the charming couple from the beach earlier on my way to dinner, and I tell them about my spa appointment in the morning. I can see her eyes light up, and he grimaces, but my guess is that she will be visiting the spa at some point during their stay.
I return to the same restaurant that I had dinner at last night and it is funny to me that my skirts and boots seem to be causing a bit of a stir with patrons and staff alike, must not be a look that they are used to down here. Not that I mind, of course, it is a look that I love and am very comfortable with, but it is amusing and I would have thought there would have been more boots in Mexico.
I eat my dinner, which tonight is veal scallapini (on the recommendation of my waiter) and spend the time writing about the adventures of the day, and talk with several of the servers who are still patiently enduring my meager spanish and being charming one of who was Humberto. (as my readers know I rarely mention actual names in my writing but Humberto specifically asked that I would - so Humeberto, this one is for you) ... Tonight at my return to the restaurant Humberto sweetly greets me with a kiss on the cheek and tiny handmade earrings that look like miniture flip-flops. We exchange niceties from my day along with general small talk and he starts flirting which was very flattering since he is all of 22 at most. But given that I am at a resort and wasn't born yesterday, I figure there is many a lady who has received his attentions in this manner. All the same, still flattering coming from a young man with liquid dark brown eyes and an (all too practiced) warm, sweet voice like amber honey. Through the night we chat off and on, me in my halting spanish and his MUCH better english. At one point he returns to ask me if I want him to fly home with me, I laugh and shake my head no. I am not used to such a strong come on, not sure if it is culture or place but I was amused. Or perhaps they were all just baffled that a woman would travel alone with no intention what-so-ever of picking up a man...I could almost hear 'dibs' being called in the kitchen when I walked in tonight. :) haha! Think again buckos, but still funny. A little later that evening and probably one more glass of wine than I should have had, he returns again...leans down close to my ear and whispers "dulce a t'ores" (candy to his eyes) at which point I find myself blushing just a bit more than I like but he definitely has a way with words - and he knows it, especially when put together with a beautiful voice and handsome face. I feel perfectly justified in turning a little pink. (and of course, will blame the wine!) :)
I eat my dinner, which tonight is veal scallapini (on the recommendation of my waiter) and spend the time writing about the adventures of the day, and talk with several of the servers who are still patiently enduring my meager spanish and being charming one of who was Humberto. (as my readers know I rarely mention actual names in my writing but Humberto specifically asked that I would - so Humeberto, this one is for you) ... Tonight at my return to the restaurant Humberto sweetly greets me with a kiss on the cheek and tiny handmade earrings that look like miniture flip-flops. We exchange niceties from my day along with general small talk and he starts flirting which was very flattering since he is all of 22 at most. But given that I am at a resort and wasn't born yesterday, I figure there is many a lady who has received his attentions in this manner. All the same, still flattering coming from a young man with liquid dark brown eyes and an (all too practiced) warm, sweet voice like amber honey. Through the night we chat off and on, me in my halting spanish and his MUCH better english. At one point he returns to ask me if I want him to fly home with me, I laugh and shake my head no. I am not used to such a strong come on, not sure if it is culture or place but I was amused. Or perhaps they were all just baffled that a woman would travel alone with no intention what-so-ever of picking up a man...I could almost hear 'dibs' being called in the kitchen when I walked in tonight. :) haha! Think again buckos, but still funny. A little later that evening and probably one more glass of wine than I should have had, he returns again...leans down close to my ear and whispers "dulce a t'ores" (candy to his eyes) at which point I find myself blushing just a bit more than I like but he definitely has a way with words - and he knows it, especially when put together with a beautiful voice and handsome face. I feel perfectly justified in turning a little pink. (and of course, will blame the wine!) :)
