This is our third week at Little Plantation. This photograph was taken from the deck.
http://www.littleplantation.com/
Only one more week left and I'm beginning to feel sad. We absolutely LOVE St. John.
Today we hiked the Petroglyph Trail.
http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Petroglyph_Trail.htm
I've been spending my time swimming, reading, knitting, hiking and looking at houses. We hope to buy one and live there during the cold winter months.
We had our son Gary and Rachel, Gui and our granddaughter Sonya spent time with us. Gui's parents Irene and Alain spent a few days here as well.
It was wonderful having company but we cherish our time alone.
We will be meeting with a realtor this week and if we don't find a house we'll be back to look in a few months.
Click on the photograph to see more pictures.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Jungle Bay Resort and Spa
After spending 4 days at Crystals in St. Lucia, our next stop was Jungle Bay Resort and Spa in Dominica.
http://www.junglebaydominica.com/
It was our third trip to Dominica and won't be our last!
Here is a picture of the restaurant where I had the most delicious organic and creative vegetarian meals.
The accommodations were absolutely beautiful. Every evening we went to sleep listening to the sounds of the surf and tree frogs.
The sea was too rough to swim in but they have a beautiful stone swimming pool.
http://www.junglebaydominica.com/
It was our third trip to Dominica and won't be our last!
Here is a picture of the restaurant where I had the most delicious organic and creative vegetarian meals.
The accommodations were absolutely beautiful. Every evening we went to sleep listening to the sounds of the surf and tree frogs.
The sea was too rough to swim in but they have a beautiful stone swimming pool.
Crystals in St. Lucia
We spent four days at Crystals in St. Lucia.
www.stluciacrystals.com/
Here is the pool outside of our private villa.
It was a relaxing and beautiful holiday. What a unique and beautiful place!
The hosts, Monica and Martin were warm and friendly. Monica told us the best places to go for dinner and arranged a lovely sailing trip.
We had dinner some lovely restaurants but the one we had at Crystals was the best!
We've been to many wonderful places in the Carribean and Crystals is high on our list of places we would like to visit again.
www.stluciacrystals.com/
Here is the pool outside of our private villa.
It was a relaxing and beautiful holiday. What a unique and beautiful place!
The hosts, Monica and Martin were warm and friendly. Monica told us the best places to go for dinner and arranged a lovely sailing trip.
We had dinner some lovely restaurants but the one we had at Crystals was the best!
We've been to many wonderful places in the Carribean and Crystals is high on our list of places we would like to visit again.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Jaguar Reef Lodge
October, 2007
David and I spent a few days of rest and relaxation at the Jaguar Reef Lodge in Belize, Central America.
http://www.jaguarreef.com/
Getting there took some time. We flew from La Guardia to Miami to Belize City. We then took a short flight to Dangriga and were driven to the lodge. The van ride was round forty minutes.
David and I spent a few days of rest and relaxation at the Jaguar Reef Lodge in Belize, Central America.
http://www.jaguarreef.com/
Getting there took some time. We flew from La Guardia to Miami to Belize City. We then took a short flight to Dangriga and were driven to the lodge. The van ride was round forty minutes.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
There are some times that I don't travel with my husband. Some of my trips are private and give me time to reflect, relax, and restore my body and mind. I recently spent a few days Kripalu.
http://www.kripalu.org
I spent my time doing yoga, meditation, hiking, knitting, and reading.
Kripalu's evening programs are wonderful. I had the best time listing and chanting.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
My yoga teacher told me that her favorite place for yoga retreats is at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, New York. After attending a five day workshop with Steve Ross, it's become my favorite place as well. The workshop, Happy Yoga, ran from June 3- June 8.
Here's a list of the books we were required to read before taking the course. They are both wonderful.
After an hour of vinyasa he had us doing stretches and holding the pose for a few minutes. It wasn't my idea of a good time but I got through it.
The afternoon wasn't as grueling. We did Tai Chi, chanting and listened to Steve's stories about the years he spent in India.
When I woke up the next morning I expected to be in pain but I felt great! I wasn't tired and my joints didn't ache like the often do. I felt strong and invigorated.
So for the remainder of the week I continued to take Steve's workshop and loved every bit of it, pain and all!
The entire class bonded and we ate our meals together, went on walks, swam, and enjoyed the beautiful grounds of Omega.
I didn't think to bring my digital camera but fortunately a few people had them and emailed pictures to the group.
I'm going to take another workshop with Steve this July in Ojai, California.
Life is good.
Namaste
Here's a list of the books we were required to read before taking the course. They are both wonderful.
- Happy Yoga by Steve Ross
- A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
After an hour of vinyasa he had us doing stretches and holding the pose for a few minutes. It wasn't my idea of a good time but I got through it.
The afternoon wasn't as grueling. We did Tai Chi, chanting and listened to Steve's stories about the years he spent in India.
When I woke up the next morning I expected to be in pain but I felt great! I wasn't tired and my joints didn't ache like the often do. I felt strong and invigorated.
So for the remainder of the week I continued to take Steve's workshop and loved every bit of it, pain and all!
The entire class bonded and we ate our meals together, went on walks, swam, and enjoyed the beautiful grounds of Omega.
I didn't think to bring my digital camera but fortunately a few people had them and emailed pictures to the group.
I'm going to take another workshop with Steve this July in Ojai, California.
Life is good.
Namaste
Monday, March 05, 2007
losroquesunset4
Los Roques, Venezuela.
February 2007
We spent a wonderful week in Los Roques, Venezuela. This was our fourth visit and we hope to continue to visit every year.
Click on this picture to see more Los Roques photographs.
February 2007
We spent a wonderful week in Los Roques, Venezuela. This was our fourth visit and we hope to continue to visit every year.
Click on this picture to see more Los Roques photographs.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
These were our accommodations at Punta Caracol. I wouldn't mind relaxing on one of those lounges right now!
Have a look inside an aqua-lodge. If you click on the photograph you will be able to see the rest of our Panama pictures.
Enjoy!
Panama
February 1, 2007
Between the bitter cold, long dark evenings, snow and ice, Long Island in January can be a real drag. We’re not into winter sports, so it’s a perfect time to escape to a tropical paradise. We haven’t been to Panama in over ten years, so it was time for another visit. David made the arrangements and I must say, he really planned this one well. The first part of the vacation was adventure part and after that it was pure rest and relaxation.
We departed from JFK, had a connecting flight in Miami and arrived in Panama City in the evening. Our first night was at The Country Inn and Suites by the Panama Canal. The hotel location is fantastic especially with a room over looking the Panama Canal, but the rooms are not very clean. However, the rooms are so inexpensive that it was easy to overlook this flaw. We woke up very early to catch our flight to Bocas del Toro. The plan was to have breakfast at in Bocas del Toro and wait for Henry, the proprietor to meet us there. Henry arrived on time and introduced us to one of the staff members who took us by boat to La Loma Butterfly Farm and Jungle Lodge.
When we got to La Loma I knew we were someplace very special. We were greeted by Margaret and the La Loma staff and felt right at home. There are only three guest ranchos and one lodge for dining. It was a five minute uphill walk to get to our private rancho but well worth it for the view, besides I really need the exercise! The rancho is made from naturally fallen trees and sustainable harvested lumber. The furniture was crafted from local materials and is absolutely beautiful. It was so peaceful to sleep under a thatched roof listening to the sounds of the tree frogs and hearing the rain. Every day at dusk we relaxed in a hammock as we watched parrots fly to their trees for their evening roost.
All the meals at La Loma were delicious. Henry baked bread and we had different breads at each meal. My favorite was the chocolate bread made from the coco beans that he harvested, roasted, and grounded into coco powder. Margaret did the cooking and is a talented and creative chef. She spent some time living in India and learned how to make the most delicious curries. I can’t begin to describe the amazing homemade desserts that were made from local fruits and coco beans. I would go back again tomorrow just for the food!
The dining room is cozy and very comfortable with hammocks and a loft upstairs with two daybeds. We loved relaxing and reading in the hammocks as we smelled the delicious aromas from the kitchen. One evening as I was on the hammock, and enjoying the sounds and scents of the jungle I came face to face with a creature walking on the wooden railing of the dining lodge. It had a cute face but when I looked its long tail I jumped off the hammock and announced that there was a wood rat on the pole. My husband, who is very familiar with my mouse and rat phobia told me it was my imagination but that didn’t hold since the creature came right back in view of everybody. That creature happened to be a possum and was resident along with the rest of his family. Once I knew that, my fear was gone and I welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Possum and family to keep me company. Henry and Margaret weren’t too happy with this family since they were getting very bold and going after the fruits on the counter. These possums were in the market for bananas.
Possums weren’t the only residents at La Loma. The 23 hectares are home to red tree frogs, tropical birds, monkeys, leaf cutting ants, lizards and rainforest creatures. They also have chickens and goats which will hopefully produce eggs and milk when they get older. I can’t forget their dog, Goose. Henry told us that they decided to get chickens because Goose went after chickens at their neighbor’s property and they had to pay for each chicken. Goose isn’t bothering the chickens at La Loma but is known to stray to the neighbor’s chickens so that approach hasn’t worked.
Margaret and Henry have a butterfly farm and export pupa to Europe and the United States. I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that they do not supply butterflies to the dry specimen market or for special events such as weddings. Their philosophy is to use the jungle’s resources in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way. Henry and his staff were happy to give us guided tours about the various butterfly species and how they grow.
Our first adventure trip was with Luis to Coral Key. On our way through the mangroves Luis harvested some fresh oysters which David said were delicious. David and I might be considered to be “scuba snobs” since most of our coral reef adventures take place under water, but we snorkeled in Coral Key and it was breathtaking. The coral colors were so beautiful and we saw many small colorful fish. It was more spectacular than many dives we’ve experienced over the years. David grows orchids in our greenhouse at home and spends hours trying to get the right temperature and humidity to keep these flowers happy. Orchids were in trees at the deserted beaches and thriving. I think he’s seriously considering taking his hobby to a location much further south. No argument from me! You wouldn’t have to twist my arm to get me to live in the tropics during the winter season.
Our second adventure trip is one that will remain planted in my memory for years to come. Chappy took us on a river tour where we saw a crocodile and sloths. I’ve been to the Amazon and saw sloths (perisoso) high up in trees but never could see their adorable faces and claws. We saw two and three toed sloths. One made his way down from a tree and if I wanted to I could have touched him. I knew sloths were the slowest moving mammals on earth but it was really something to watch them in action. Now I have a model when I try to practice walking meditation or tai chi.
Our boat excursion was in route to the bat cave. I was really excited about going into a bat cave, and have fond memories of my online project, Stellaluna’s Friends. I couldn’t wait to see Stellaluna and her friends but had second thoughts when we got to the cave. To tell you the truth, I was terrified! We were given yellow hard hats to wear, which was a good thing was considering the fact that I bumped my head on a stalactite. The cave was totally dark, slippery rocks, waist deep water, neck deep water further in (which I didn’t do) and bats galore! The people who went there the following day encountered a tarantula in the cave. If that happened when I was there it would have certainly put me over the edge. I wanted to turn back the minute we entered because I was afraid falling, and my imagination went wild with the thought of vampire bats! Little did I know then that Panama is one of five countries in there world where there are no rabies. I also wasn’t thinking about how vampire bats only drink when the person is asleep, which I had no intention of doing.
There were two guides, David, myself and three other people on this cave trip. I wanted to turn back the minute I set foot in the cave but was outvoted by all so I had no choice but to venture forward. At one point we were told to turn our flashlights off in order to appreciate the total darkness. As a diver, I go on night dives and turn off my flashlight to experience the bioluminescence, but I felt uncomfortable and just put my hand over the light. I was in total darkness for about 3 seconds when I freaked out and announced that this whole experience was taking me out of my comfort zone. Monica, one of the other guests was very reassured me that I was doing fine and these kind of experiences tend to make us stronger. A few minutes later we were told that the water would be chest deep depending on our height. At that point, Monica, and her mother-in-law Linda decided to turn back. There was no argument from me. Monica’s husband, my macho husband and guide went further. It didn’t take long for them to turn back either. David told me that he was worried about me, right!
We saw a white bat. They think it’s an albino but aren’t sure. David took a picture of hundreds of roosting bats. There were a few that were flying around, back and forth. When I was working on Stellaluna’s Friends, we talked about bat myths and my daughter Rachel teased me about how bats fly in your hair and are really mice with wings. I couldn’t help but laugh!
So, I managed to live through the bat cave adventure, with just a few bruises when from sliding on rocks. I’m so happy that I did this. You may be wondering, if I had the opportunity, would I do it again? Sure, why not?
The next day was raining so we decided to relax and enjoy the La Loma environment. After breakfast we relaxed on our hammocks and Henry brought some hot coco beans that he just roasted. Monica, Linda and I sat and shelled the beans as we talked and enjoyed each other’s company. We watched Henry grind the beans and had them in a yummy dessert for dinner.
For years I’ve been an advocate to save the rainforest and supported ecotourism by going to jungle lodges. As an elementary school teacher, I taught my students about the rainforest and the importance of its preservation. There was one sound that we heard while we were at La Loma that made us all very unhappy. Henry told us that they are in the second phase of building a retirement community, in the surrounding area and the sounds we are hearing are the trees that will be used for the new construction. If they go through with this development, and I pray that it fails, instead of seeing the bay from the rancho one would see a golf course. According to what we heard, the whole project was not planned well, it will have a terrible affect on the fauna and flora of the area and the local people will not benefit. This development can have such a negative impact on La Luma that Henry may have no choice but to sell the land. If this happens, it would be a terrible loss. Henry and Margaret are sensitive to the land; they use no chemicals, and hire local people who are treated with love and respect. Every time I think about the possibility of this horrible development I have a lump in my throat.
After three wonderful days at La Luma, it was time to say goodbye and begin the second part of our vacation in Panama. We returned to Bocas del Toro and were greeted by a staff member of Punta Caracol. We were driven to the dock where we boarded a boat to the Punta Caracol resort. This was a totally different experience than La Luma. Punta Caracol is located right off shore of Colon Island. There are eight two story wooden accommodations on stilts with thatched roofs. The first floor has a living room area with the bathroom and upstairs is the bedroom with an opening to let in the tropical breezes. They also have a dining room which is less casual than La Luma’s. Dining is a more intimate experience with tables for two or very small groups. Punta Caracol was much more expensive than La Luma and in my opinion; the food wasn’t nearly as good.
A nice surprise at Punta Caracol was the spotted eagle ray right outside our room in very shallow water. I thought he was in 4 inches of water but it was more like a foot of water. We spent our first day there reading, swimming and relaxing.
On our second day it rained all day and was very windy. In the morning we went on a boat ride and saw black-faced monkeys high up in trees. Our next stop was Playa Estrella (Starfish Beach). It was a lovely beach with an abundance of very pretty starfish. Although it was raining and windy, the water was warm but I decided not to swim because the thought of sitting in a wet bathing suit on the boat ride back wasn’t very appealing.
When we returned to Punta Caracol out clothing was totally drenched, so we went for a swim before drying off. We spent the afternoon in Bocas del Toro at an Internet café checking email. It was David’s birthday and the chef at Punta Caracol made him a yummy vanilla birthday cake. Too bad it wasn’t a surprise, because the waiter went over to David during dinner and asked him which one of us had a birthday! It really didn’t matter, since after all our years of marriage he knows I always plan some kind of surprise when I remember his birthday!
On our third day at Punta Caracol we woke up early, had breakfast and headed back to Punta Caracol for an early flight back to Panama City.
It was very hot and sunny in Panama City and the first thing we did after checking into the Country Suites hotel was to relax and swim in their huge swimming pool. In the afternoon we went to the artesian craft market where they sell Wounan and Embera crafts, baskets, carved palm seeds, molas, and other souvenirs. David bought us two beautiful baskets and carving made from the seed of a palm tree. We love to bring back crafts from Indigenous people on our travels.
Our last experience was the Panama Canal. We went to the Canal Museum, toured some exhibits and watched a huge ship go through the locks at Miraflores. They have a 24 hour web cam where one can see the boats make their journeys on the Pacific.
Well, that's the end of my story. I can’t say that I look forward to the unpacking, facing an angry cat, doing laundry and the cold weather, but we have a trip in three weeks to Los Roques, Venezuela, so no complaints here. We will have wonderful memories of our trip to Panama and will hope and pray that the rainforest destruction will come to an end before it’s too late
February 1, 2007
Between the bitter cold, long dark evenings, snow and ice, Long Island in January can be a real drag. We’re not into winter sports, so it’s a perfect time to escape to a tropical paradise. We haven’t been to Panama in over ten years, so it was time for another visit. David made the arrangements and I must say, he really planned this one well. The first part of the vacation was adventure part and after that it was pure rest and relaxation.
We departed from JFK, had a connecting flight in Miami and arrived in Panama City in the evening. Our first night was at The Country Inn and Suites by the Panama Canal. The hotel location is fantastic especially with a room over looking the Panama Canal, but the rooms are not very clean. However, the rooms are so inexpensive that it was easy to overlook this flaw. We woke up very early to catch our flight to Bocas del Toro. The plan was to have breakfast at in Bocas del Toro and wait for Henry, the proprietor to meet us there. Henry arrived on time and introduced us to one of the staff members who took us by boat to La Loma Butterfly Farm and Jungle Lodge.
When we got to La Loma I knew we were someplace very special. We were greeted by Margaret and the La Loma staff and felt right at home. There are only three guest ranchos and one lodge for dining. It was a five minute uphill walk to get to our private rancho but well worth it for the view, besides I really need the exercise! The rancho is made from naturally fallen trees and sustainable harvested lumber. The furniture was crafted from local materials and is absolutely beautiful. It was so peaceful to sleep under a thatched roof listening to the sounds of the tree frogs and hearing the rain. Every day at dusk we relaxed in a hammock as we watched parrots fly to their trees for their evening roost.
All the meals at La Loma were delicious. Henry baked bread and we had different breads at each meal. My favorite was the chocolate bread made from the coco beans that he harvested, roasted, and grounded into coco powder. Margaret did the cooking and is a talented and creative chef. She spent some time living in India and learned how to make the most delicious curries. I can’t begin to describe the amazing homemade desserts that were made from local fruits and coco beans. I would go back again tomorrow just for the food!
The dining room is cozy and very comfortable with hammocks and a loft upstairs with two daybeds. We loved relaxing and reading in the hammocks as we smelled the delicious aromas from the kitchen. One evening as I was on the hammock, and enjoying the sounds and scents of the jungle I came face to face with a creature walking on the wooden railing of the dining lodge. It had a cute face but when I looked its long tail I jumped off the hammock and announced that there was a wood rat on the pole. My husband, who is very familiar with my mouse and rat phobia told me it was my imagination but that didn’t hold since the creature came right back in view of everybody. That creature happened to be a possum and was resident along with the rest of his family. Once I knew that, my fear was gone and I welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Possum and family to keep me company. Henry and Margaret weren’t too happy with this family since they were getting very bold and going after the fruits on the counter. These possums were in the market for bananas.
Possums weren’t the only residents at La Loma. The 23 hectares are home to red tree frogs, tropical birds, monkeys, leaf cutting ants, lizards and rainforest creatures. They also have chickens and goats which will hopefully produce eggs and milk when they get older. I can’t forget their dog, Goose. Henry told us that they decided to get chickens because Goose went after chickens at their neighbor’s property and they had to pay for each chicken. Goose isn’t bothering the chickens at La Loma but is known to stray to the neighbor’s chickens so that approach hasn’t worked.
Margaret and Henry have a butterfly farm and export pupa to Europe and the United States. I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that they do not supply butterflies to the dry specimen market or for special events such as weddings. Their philosophy is to use the jungle’s resources in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way. Henry and his staff were happy to give us guided tours about the various butterfly species and how they grow.
Our first adventure trip was with Luis to Coral Key. On our way through the mangroves Luis harvested some fresh oysters which David said were delicious. David and I might be considered to be “scuba snobs” since most of our coral reef adventures take place under water, but we snorkeled in Coral Key and it was breathtaking. The coral colors were so beautiful and we saw many small colorful fish. It was more spectacular than many dives we’ve experienced over the years. David grows orchids in our greenhouse at home and spends hours trying to get the right temperature and humidity to keep these flowers happy. Orchids were in trees at the deserted beaches and thriving. I think he’s seriously considering taking his hobby to a location much further south. No argument from me! You wouldn’t have to twist my arm to get me to live in the tropics during the winter season.
Our second adventure trip is one that will remain planted in my memory for years to come. Chappy took us on a river tour where we saw a crocodile and sloths. I’ve been to the Amazon and saw sloths (perisoso) high up in trees but never could see their adorable faces and claws. We saw two and three toed sloths. One made his way down from a tree and if I wanted to I could have touched him. I knew sloths were the slowest moving mammals on earth but it was really something to watch them in action. Now I have a model when I try to practice walking meditation or tai chi.
Our boat excursion was in route to the bat cave. I was really excited about going into a bat cave, and have fond memories of my online project, Stellaluna’s Friends. I couldn’t wait to see Stellaluna and her friends but had second thoughts when we got to the cave. To tell you the truth, I was terrified! We were given yellow hard hats to wear, which was a good thing was considering the fact that I bumped my head on a stalactite. The cave was totally dark, slippery rocks, waist deep water, neck deep water further in (which I didn’t do) and bats galore! The people who went there the following day encountered a tarantula in the cave. If that happened when I was there it would have certainly put me over the edge. I wanted to turn back the minute we entered because I was afraid falling, and my imagination went wild with the thought of vampire bats! Little did I know then that Panama is one of five countries in there world where there are no rabies. I also wasn’t thinking about how vampire bats only drink when the person is asleep, which I had no intention of doing.
There were two guides, David, myself and three other people on this cave trip. I wanted to turn back the minute I set foot in the cave but was outvoted by all so I had no choice but to venture forward. At one point we were told to turn our flashlights off in order to appreciate the total darkness. As a diver, I go on night dives and turn off my flashlight to experience the bioluminescence, but I felt uncomfortable and just put my hand over the light. I was in total darkness for about 3 seconds when I freaked out and announced that this whole experience was taking me out of my comfort zone. Monica, one of the other guests was very reassured me that I was doing fine and these kind of experiences tend to make us stronger. A few minutes later we were told that the water would be chest deep depending on our height. At that point, Monica, and her mother-in-law Linda decided to turn back. There was no argument from me. Monica’s husband, my macho husband and guide went further. It didn’t take long for them to turn back either. David told me that he was worried about me, right!
We saw a white bat. They think it’s an albino but aren’t sure. David took a picture of hundreds of roosting bats. There were a few that were flying around, back and forth. When I was working on Stellaluna’s Friends, we talked about bat myths and my daughter Rachel teased me about how bats fly in your hair and are really mice with wings. I couldn’t help but laugh!
So, I managed to live through the bat cave adventure, with just a few bruises when from sliding on rocks. I’m so happy that I did this. You may be wondering, if I had the opportunity, would I do it again? Sure, why not?
The next day was raining so we decided to relax and enjoy the La Loma environment. After breakfast we relaxed on our hammocks and Henry brought some hot coco beans that he just roasted. Monica, Linda and I sat and shelled the beans as we talked and enjoyed each other’s company. We watched Henry grind the beans and had them in a yummy dessert for dinner.
For years I’ve been an advocate to save the rainforest and supported ecotourism by going to jungle lodges. As an elementary school teacher, I taught my students about the rainforest and the importance of its preservation. There was one sound that we heard while we were at La Loma that made us all very unhappy. Henry told us that they are in the second phase of building a retirement community, in the surrounding area and the sounds we are hearing are the trees that will be used for the new construction. If they go through with this development, and I pray that it fails, instead of seeing the bay from the rancho one would see a golf course. According to what we heard, the whole project was not planned well, it will have a terrible affect on the fauna and flora of the area and the local people will not benefit. This development can have such a negative impact on La Luma that Henry may have no choice but to sell the land. If this happens, it would be a terrible loss. Henry and Margaret are sensitive to the land; they use no chemicals, and hire local people who are treated with love and respect. Every time I think about the possibility of this horrible development I have a lump in my throat.
After three wonderful days at La Luma, it was time to say goodbye and begin the second part of our vacation in Panama. We returned to Bocas del Toro and were greeted by a staff member of Punta Caracol. We were driven to the dock where we boarded a boat to the Punta Caracol resort. This was a totally different experience than La Luma. Punta Caracol is located right off shore of Colon Island. There are eight two story wooden accommodations on stilts with thatched roofs. The first floor has a living room area with the bathroom and upstairs is the bedroom with an opening to let in the tropical breezes. They also have a dining room which is less casual than La Luma’s. Dining is a more intimate experience with tables for two or very small groups. Punta Caracol was much more expensive than La Luma and in my opinion; the food wasn’t nearly as good.
A nice surprise at Punta Caracol was the spotted eagle ray right outside our room in very shallow water. I thought he was in 4 inches of water but it was more like a foot of water. We spent our first day there reading, swimming and relaxing.
On our second day it rained all day and was very windy. In the morning we went on a boat ride and saw black-faced monkeys high up in trees. Our next stop was Playa Estrella (Starfish Beach). It was a lovely beach with an abundance of very pretty starfish. Although it was raining and windy, the water was warm but I decided not to swim because the thought of sitting in a wet bathing suit on the boat ride back wasn’t very appealing.
When we returned to Punta Caracol out clothing was totally drenched, so we went for a swim before drying off. We spent the afternoon in Bocas del Toro at an Internet café checking email. It was David’s birthday and the chef at Punta Caracol made him a yummy vanilla birthday cake. Too bad it wasn’t a surprise, because the waiter went over to David during dinner and asked him which one of us had a birthday! It really didn’t matter, since after all our years of marriage he knows I always plan some kind of surprise when I remember his birthday!
On our third day at Punta Caracol we woke up early, had breakfast and headed back to Punta Caracol for an early flight back to Panama City.
It was very hot and sunny in Panama City and the first thing we did after checking into the Country Suites hotel was to relax and swim in their huge swimming pool. In the afternoon we went to the artesian craft market where they sell Wounan and Embera crafts, baskets, carved palm seeds, molas, and other souvenirs. David bought us two beautiful baskets and carving made from the seed of a palm tree. We love to bring back crafts from Indigenous people on our travels.
Our last experience was the Panama Canal. We went to the Canal Museum, toured some exhibits and watched a huge ship go through the locks at Miraflores. They have a 24 hour web cam where one can see the boats make their journeys on the Pacific.
Well, that's the end of my story. I can’t say that I look forward to the unpacking, facing an angry cat, doing laundry and the cold weather, but we have a trip in three weeks to Los Roques, Venezuela, so no complaints here. We will have wonderful memories of our trip to Panama and will hope and pray that the rainforest destruction will come to an end before it’s too late
Sunday, December 03, 2006
We arrived home yesterday and David edited the photos today. It was a snap uploading them to Flickr. I just gave a contribution to help the Potcakes. If you don't know what Potcakes are, check the web site.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Grand Turk
December 1, 2006
Another wonderful day on Grand Turk! The first morning dive was at Rolling Hill. The site was beautiful but there was a very strong current. For the first half hour we dove along the wall against the current. It was very hard work for me and my legs got real tired.
The second part of the dive was much easier since we had the current take us back to the boat. Our dive master gave us a signal and to my delight a large hawksbill turtle was heading my way. He came right up to me and if I wanted to I could have touched him. I don't usually pet animals on a dive and after posting yesterday's grouper video got some negative feedback from members of the YouTube community. I am the last person that would ever want to stress wildlife.
I was really tired after this adventure so instead of going on the second morning dive, I relaxed by the beach that was opposite the dive shop. When David returned from the second dive we went to Governors beach. We couldn't do an afternoon dive because we're flying home tomorrow and need to rid our bodies of nitrogen.
December 1, 2006
Another wonderful day on Grand Turk! The first morning dive was at Rolling Hill. The site was beautiful but there was a very strong current. For the first half hour we dove along the wall against the current. It was very hard work for me and my legs got real tired.
The second part of the dive was much easier since we had the current take us back to the boat. Our dive master gave us a signal and to my delight a large hawksbill turtle was heading my way. He came right up to me and if I wanted to I could have touched him. I don't usually pet animals on a dive and after posting yesterday's grouper video got some negative feedback from members of the YouTube community. I am the last person that would ever want to stress wildlife.
I was really tired after this adventure so instead of going on the second morning dive, I relaxed by the beach that was opposite the dive shop. When David returned from the second dive we went to Governors beach. We couldn't do an afternoon dive because we're flying home tomorrow and need to rid our bodies of nitrogen.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Grand Turk
November 30, 2006
Another beautiful day in paradise. I was nervous this morning because the sky was gray and it was raining but it blew over in time for our morning dive. We went to Ampitheater – This bowl-shaped dip in the sand starts at 85 feet and curves into the Caicos Passage, where whales, sharks, and manta rays often swim by. It won't be whale season for two months but we did see beautiful coral and fish.
After our morning dive David chose the Susan Silverman schedule, so we went back to the beach and relaxed. After lunch we went on our afternoon dive. We dove at Coral Gardens and it was wonderful. There were two friendly resident groupers that allowed dives to pet them. We also saw a school of dolphins and that was a real treat!
David is still working on his photos so stay tuned.
November 30, 2006
Another beautiful day in paradise. I was nervous this morning because the sky was gray and it was raining but it blew over in time for our morning dive. We went to Ampitheater – This bowl-shaped dip in the sand starts at 85 feet and curves into the Caicos Passage, where whales, sharks, and manta rays often swim by. It won't be whale season for two months but we did see beautiful coral and fish.
After our morning dive David chose the Susan Silverman schedule, so we went back to the beach and relaxed. After lunch we went on our afternoon dive. We dove at Coral Gardens and it was wonderful. There were two friendly resident groupers that allowed dives to pet them. We also saw a school of dolphins and that was a real treat!
David is still working on his photos so stay tuned.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Grand Turk
November 29, 2006
Another beautiful day in Grand Turk! After our morning dive at Black Forest, David decided to skip the second dive and try out the Susan Silverman routine. After rinsing our dive gear we drove to Governor's Beach. I was incorrect in saying that Grand Turk has no white sandy beaches. We were the only people on the beach and it was relaxing and beautiful. The ghost crabs provided constant entertainment.
We had lunch at The Sand Bar and it was delicious. Our afternoon dive was scheduled for 2:30, so we had an hour left to relax at the beach opposite the dive shop.
Our afternoon dive was lovely. We dove at the Anchor dive site and saw an abundance of beautiful fish. David used my camera and I'll be posting the pictures on Flickr once he is finished editing.
We're going to be having dinner tonight at the Osprey Beach Hotel. Mitch, from another dive shop provides entertainment there on Wednesday nights.
November 29, 2006
Another beautiful day in Grand Turk! After our morning dive at Black Forest, David decided to skip the second dive and try out the Susan Silverman routine. After rinsing our dive gear we drove to Governor's Beach. I was incorrect in saying that Grand Turk has no white sandy beaches. We were the only people on the beach and it was relaxing and beautiful. The ghost crabs provided constant entertainment.
We had lunch at The Sand Bar and it was delicious. Our afternoon dive was scheduled for 2:30, so we had an hour left to relax at the beach opposite the dive shop.
Our afternoon dive was lovely. We dove at the Anchor dive site and saw an abundance of beautiful fish. David used my camera and I'll be posting the pictures on Flickr once he is finished editing.
We're going to be having dinner tonight at the Osprey Beach Hotel. Mitch, from another dive shop provides entertainment there on Wednesday nights.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Grand Turk
November 28, 2006
We weren't too tired in the morning considering that a donkey outside woke us up a few times with some very loud and strange sounds. There was coffee in our suite so we had granola bars and coffee before our dive. Part of our package at the Island House includes use of a car, which is very handy. There was no need to show a drivers license or pay for insurance. All we need to do is replace any fuel which can't be very much considering the size of the island. We also have to remember to close a gate when leaving so that cows don't come in and eat the vegetation. Their not concerned about donkeys.
The Island House made arrangements for us to dive with Oasis Divers. I don't dive very often so it usually takes me a day or two to get comfortable. The water was around 82 degrees with good visibility. This is my third time in Grand Turk and after diving in many places around the world, I still think Grand Turk is one of the best. The coral was in good condition and there were fish galore. We saw a huge hawksbill turtle that was apparently very comfortable with divers. If I wanted to I could have touched him. David took photos and I'll be posting them after he fixes the lighting with Photoshop.
This was a two tank dive but after the first dive I was tired and decided to rest and do a one tank afternoon dive. David did the second dive.
When he returned he had a sheepish grin on his face. He managed to flood his camera and it was beyond repair. He's been talking about buying a new one and didn't seem very upset. He told me that either he didn't seal the housing properly or it got rattled on the boat. For the rest of the trip he's going to use my digital camera. I don't mind since I'm the world's worst underwater photographer.
I did the afternoon dive and it was totally amazing. The site could have been called Turtle City since I saw at least four hawksbill turtles. Toward the end of the dive the divemaster made a clicking sound to get our attention. I turned around and to my delight a school of bottlenose dolphins came swimming my way. WoW!
When the dive was over David was waiting for me. I felt bad that he missed the turtles and dolphins but couldn't keep it a secret. His dissapointment couldn't have been anything like mine when I skipped the dive where he saw a whaleshark. That happened over twelve years ago and he made it up to me last April in Utila.
Our dinner tonight wasn't very memorable, but that's not what we came to Grand Turk for. If you want a place with white, sandy beaches, nightlife, great restaurants, entertainment, sailing, jet skis, water skiing, gambling, and shopping, then don't bother coming to Grand Turk. If on the other hand, you want a very quiet island, modest accommodations, and incredible diving, this is the place for you!
Tonight's sky was beautiful, so if David is correct again we should have beautiful weather tomorrow!
November 28, 2006
We weren't too tired in the morning considering that a donkey outside woke us up a few times with some very loud and strange sounds. There was coffee in our suite so we had granola bars and coffee before our dive. Part of our package at the Island House includes use of a car, which is very handy. There was no need to show a drivers license or pay for insurance. All we need to do is replace any fuel which can't be very much considering the size of the island. We also have to remember to close a gate when leaving so that cows don't come in and eat the vegetation. Their not concerned about donkeys.
The Island House made arrangements for us to dive with Oasis Divers. I don't dive very often so it usually takes me a day or two to get comfortable. The water was around 82 degrees with good visibility. This is my third time in Grand Turk and after diving in many places around the world, I still think Grand Turk is one of the best. The coral was in good condition and there were fish galore. We saw a huge hawksbill turtle that was apparently very comfortable with divers. If I wanted to I could have touched him. David took photos and I'll be posting them after he fixes the lighting with Photoshop.
This was a two tank dive but after the first dive I was tired and decided to rest and do a one tank afternoon dive. David did the second dive.
When he returned he had a sheepish grin on his face. He managed to flood his camera and it was beyond repair. He's been talking about buying a new one and didn't seem very upset. He told me that either he didn't seal the housing properly or it got rattled on the boat. For the rest of the trip he's going to use my digital camera. I don't mind since I'm the world's worst underwater photographer.
I did the afternoon dive and it was totally amazing. The site could have been called Turtle City since I saw at least four hawksbill turtles. Toward the end of the dive the divemaster made a clicking sound to get our attention. I turned around and to my delight a school of bottlenose dolphins came swimming my way. WoW!
When the dive was over David was waiting for me. I felt bad that he missed the turtles and dolphins but couldn't keep it a secret. His dissapointment couldn't have been anything like mine when I skipped the dive where he saw a whaleshark. That happened over twelve years ago and he made it up to me last April in Utila.
Our dinner tonight wasn't very memorable, but that's not what we came to Grand Turk for. If you want a place with white, sandy beaches, nightlife, great restaurants, entertainment, sailing, jet skis, water skiing, gambling, and shopping, then don't bother coming to Grand Turk. If on the other hand, you want a very quiet island, modest accommodations, and incredible diving, this is the place for you!
Tonight's sky was beautiful, so if David is correct again we should have beautiful weather tomorrow!
Grand Turk
November 27, 2006
My husband and I arrived yesterday and we were not off to a good start. We flew from JFK to Provo on American Airlines. From Provo we took Sky King flight to Grand Turk. It was cloudy and raining which didn't make us happy campers considering we were having unseasonably warm weather on Long Island. The flight was bumpy but I didn't mind since it was only twenty minutes. The captain made an announcement when were were ten minutes into the flight but neither of us could understand him and I'm sure happy we couldn't. I thought he might have been apologizing for the bumps or asking us to join the Sky King frequent flyer club. We landed and saw an American Airlines airplane on the ground. This really annoyed my husband since American Airlines told him when he booked our flight that they do not fly to Grand Turk. If we knew this we could have been spared the bumpy tiny airline and saved money.
Once we got in the terminal we finally realized that we weren't in Grand Turk but were back in Provo! The announcement that we couldn't understand was that the plane was having mechanical failure and had to return to Provo to be serviced! The American Airlines airplane was the one we flew in from JFK!
We had an hour to kill before the next island hopper so we decided to have lunch in Provo Airport. The food was lightyears better than anything I ever ate at airports in the states so that was a pleasant surprise. I had a yummy veggie burger and David had conch chowder and grilled bread. It was time for our second flight to Grand Turk.
When we arrived in Grand Turk only half our luggage arrived. The next plane was going to arrive in two hours so we weren't too concerned. It was still windy, cool and rainy so the beach was not going to happen. So much for waking up at 4:30 AM to catch an early flight.
We took a taxi to our accommodation at The Island House. We were greeted warmly and given a tour around the island. The tour didn't take very long considering the size of the island is 7 x 1.5 miles. We stopped at the airport and the agent told us that she was just about to call us. Our luggage just arrived! Last time my luggage didn't arrive I was at La Guardia airport and had to wait on a long line to fill out a report. My luggage didn't arrive until the next day. It's nice to be a big fish in a small pond!
Around 6:oo PM the rain finally stopped and we saw the sun. We had dinner outside by the beach and enjoyed the stars. David told me that a starlit sky is a good indication that we would have nice weather and he was right.
November 27, 2006
My husband and I arrived yesterday and we were not off to a good start. We flew from JFK to Provo on American Airlines. From Provo we took Sky King flight to Grand Turk. It was cloudy and raining which didn't make us happy campers considering we were having unseasonably warm weather on Long Island. The flight was bumpy but I didn't mind since it was only twenty minutes. The captain made an announcement when were were ten minutes into the flight but neither of us could understand him and I'm sure happy we couldn't. I thought he might have been apologizing for the bumps or asking us to join the Sky King frequent flyer club. We landed and saw an American Airlines airplane on the ground. This really annoyed my husband since American Airlines told him when he booked our flight that they do not fly to Grand Turk. If we knew this we could have been spared the bumpy tiny airline and saved money.
Once we got in the terminal we finally realized that we weren't in Grand Turk but were back in Provo! The announcement that we couldn't understand was that the plane was having mechanical failure and had to return to Provo to be serviced! The American Airlines airplane was the one we flew in from JFK!
We had an hour to kill before the next island hopper so we decided to have lunch in Provo Airport. The food was lightyears better than anything I ever ate at airports in the states so that was a pleasant surprise. I had a yummy veggie burger and David had conch chowder and grilled bread. It was time for our second flight to Grand Turk.
When we arrived in Grand Turk only half our luggage arrived. The next plane was going to arrive in two hours so we weren't too concerned. It was still windy, cool and rainy so the beach was not going to happen. So much for waking up at 4:30 AM to catch an early flight.
We took a taxi to our accommodation at The Island House. We were greeted warmly and given a tour around the island. The tour didn't take very long considering the size of the island is 7 x 1.5 miles. We stopped at the airport and the agent told us that she was just about to call us. Our luggage just arrived! Last time my luggage didn't arrive I was at La Guardia airport and had to wait on a long line to fill out a report. My luggage didn't arrive until the next day. It's nice to be a big fish in a small pond!
Around 6:oo PM the rain finally stopped and we saw the sun. We had dinner outside by the beach and enjoyed the stars. David told me that a starlit sky is a good indication that we would have nice weather and he was right.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
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