Life on the Bay

The best remedy for those who are afraid,

lonely or unhappy is to go outside,

somewhere where they can be quiet,

alone with the heavens, nature and God.

Because only then does one feel

that all is as it should be

and that God wishes to see people happy,

amidst the simple beauty of nature.
       - Anne Frank

How can there be a better day in your life than a day when you can dance with your own shadow. This requires a careful blend of sun, sand, and freeness of the mind. It’s not something that happens every day, but ooh what a dance. It was a quiet slow warm day when everything around us seems safe and surreal.  

 

We are taking every last molecule of discovery that we can from this place because tomorrow we are off to the Island of Vieques. It took some doing to make all of the arrangements but we are looking good. Hundreds of fellow northerners are stranded here because of the flight cancellations in the U.S.A  We are actually envious because we always hoped to get stranded somewhere wonderful. 

  We took long beach walks today and found a huge flat sandbar in the surf where we were soon rewarded with two sand dollars. M was happy and said these were our last two dollars. 

 

You can walk forever here and only see your own footprints on the beach. Secretly, I am already scheming and plotting to get us here for a longer stay next year.

It is the marriage of the soul with Nature

that makes the intellect fruitful,

and gives birth to

imagination.
       - Henry David Thoreau

 

We took a short sweet walk to get some of the Sun before it became fierce. The rental car was ready and we took off for the rain forest. It would take a lifetime in study and patience to become a photographer in a tropical rain forest. I soon learned that it’s a macro world. It’s much too busy in there for me to capture what my eyes are enjoying. It’s a world of green and water and light.

We drove further than planned, and much further off the path than expected but it seems we always do this. The Volcanic switchback roads challenge even the local drivers. The vistas and villages rushed by in a frightening swirl. It’s a heady, green jungle place with a McDonalds around the next bend. Puerto Rico for us so far is an enigma within an Island. There is definitely more to be discovered tomorrow.

 

It feels really good knowing that I have escaped another huge snowstorm back home. I’m not rubbing it in or being smug. I am simply being appreciative for the time and space that I am lucky enough to be in, fully knowing what the alternative could be.

For whatever we lose

 like a you or a me
it's always ourselves

we find in the sea.

~  e.e. cummings

We left early for a beach walk. You can get out of the resort zone and walk on clean beach and realize that you have walked for miles without seeing another person. The beach is natural and pristine. There are coconuts and shells, and organic debris, so if you want that sifted perfect sand, stay at the resort. I saw fish jumping in the surf, and pelicans looking for a meal. I saw iguanas everywhere and we got lucky with an overcast day which allowed us to stay outside in the warm breeze.

In this huge resort, Lisa at one of the Lobby bars remembered us by name and we ended up with cocktails and dinner under her kind and sincere service. Being the explorers that we are, we have rented a car for tomorrow. The main goal was exploration of the rainforest that is on this end of the Island. Lisa quickly got us maps and suggestions for food and route, and you could see that she could taste the food at the places she was sending us. It’s people like her that we remember later when recounting our travels. The sun tans will fade. The mojitos will wear off. Lisa will stay unnoticed by her management, and will be there to share her soul with you when you get here.

We live in a wonderful world

 That is full of beauty,

 Charm and adventure.

 There is no end to the adventures

We can have if only we seek them

 With our eyes open.

~ Jawaharal Nehru

We just got back from a day spent in paradise. This morning, we were lucky enough to find two perfectly placed pool chairs that were just vacated. We are not the type to lay out our towels at the crack of dawn and hover over them growling all morning,,,,,,from there it went to body surfing in the ocean which was warmer and cleaner than the pool.

The iguanas amuse the pool crowd all day and they know exactly who has the fruit and who is a waste of time. Then we tried out one of the top restaurants and were pleased with everything they had to offer. Off to the casino as we are still learning to be gamblers. I learned yesterday to really caress my machine and sure enough, I was rewarded. There is enough money left over on my electronic ticket to try again tomorrow. 

We returned to the room and opened a bottle of red wine and then it happened,,,,,,hell froze over. We got a call from our business partner who was simply calling to say how good things were going. It's a great phone call when you are sunburned and have to put down your wine to hold the phone. As to Puerto Rico, who the heck has been keeping this place a secret? So far, paradise found. The island is gentle, quiet, and keeping us intrigued. The people for the most part are happy and nice. What could be better than being together in a beautiful foreign  place and having the phone ring with good news?

We wander for distraction,

 but we travel for

Fulfillment.

 ~Hilaire Belloc

I’m not cold!!!! We arrived in Puerto Rico safe and sound with overcast rainy skies but oh so warm…..  While waiting for our room I must say I found out why not to drink the 151 Rum Punch when you are just really thirsty…whew…it really does pack a punch.  After settling in we took a walk on the beach which is gorgeous and checked out the property.  We decided to stop at the casino for a few minutes and play the penny slots…as my family knows I’m not a gambler and am usually in and out in five minutes…but, a sweet little old Puerto Rican woman sat next to me and starting showing me her passionate way to slap, pet and caress the machine until soon we were both laughing and winning.  All   the energy and Karma in our corner just keep coming our way making our penny wins seem ever so sweet. When she got up to go to play bingo with a quick hug and another caress of my machine I promptly lost it all!  These are the beautiful human connections I love about traveling you just never know when and where the fun will begin.....

This is just a view out my room window... I can see iguanas,turtles,beautiful colored fish and frogs....

I'm loving it!

Live in the sunshine,

swim in the sea,

drink the wild air...

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are off on a new adventure.  If I am absent for a day or two please come back and visit me, I'll be blogging from Puerto Rico.....see you soon!

Go within every day

 and find the inner strength

 so that the world will

 not blow your candle out.

 ~ Katherine Dunham

You can't just sit there and wait

for people to give you that golden dream,

you've got to get out there

and make it happen

for yourself. 

~ Diana Ross

This photo is of the Presque Isle Light house at the state park across the bay from me. Here is a link to more lighthouses in my area:  Erie Lighthouses  

Go follow the light and find your dreams!

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder

 than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel

 is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time,

 to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.

~ Bill Bryson

 

As our Kayaks wait quietly beneath a blanket of snow,  I wait for the gift of a new  adventure.  As I grow older and maybe a little bit wiser, I have come to think that  adventure comes in many forms.  Yes, I am the one who always wants the exotic event or the random connection with someone from  a different culture.  But,,,,, there is also the  simple gift of reconnecting with someone in my family and the discovery of the joy of that connection... because who am I without them....certainly not the person I have grown into. Those moments in time that define oneself can be as simple as watching the excitement on their kids faces as they play. To just sit with your family and allow a moment to be simple and joyful is an adventure that is not to be taken for granted. Look around today and see what, or who you've missed.

 We are all part of the adventure that waits to be discovered.

 

 

 

There is only one person

 who could ever

 make you happy,

 and that person is

YOU!
~ David Burns

 Happy Valentines Day!