The walks included sandy beach roads, a gauntlet of a dozen or so "Pan de Platano" (Banana bread) establishments, a cerveza distribution and retail store, and lumbering trucks, buses and vehicles. Afternoons would end up with beachside dominos, games and socializing. No siestas this time!
Highlights included a Jungle Tour up a narrow, mangrove lined river with many birds, turtles, iguanas and crocodiles. At the top of the tour, we enjoyed the fresh and cool water swimming hole with a rope swing that demanded exhibition jumping and acrobats. Rob's back flip unanimously won. The afternoon Mexican dominos game with 5 couples and several giant Pacifico ballenas ("Whales") and countless meals was memorable. The sunset cockpit discussions ranging from "what day is it?" to the dreaded "w" word with friends generally summed up the day.
The final stanza of "The Bells of San Blas" poem by H.W. Longfellow was Nancy's favorite:
He wrote the poem as the bells from the old church on the hill were silenced in 1872.
...."O Bells of San Blas in vain
Ye call back the Past again;
The Past is deaf to your prayer!
Out of the shadows of night
The world rolls into light;
It is daybreak everywhere"
Patanjoli at sunrise in Bahia Matanchen |
6 people in a Toyota Tercel |
The new church in San Blas |
Outdoor Foosball tables on the main plaza |
Nancy is making a deal! |
Beautiful boutique hotel in San Blas |
Outside the Cultural Center that used to be the Customs office |
Dinghies loaded up with provisions and ready to go |
Cheese bread pies! Awesome. |
Lazy Croc on the Jungle tour |
Mexican Train Dominos at the beach palapa |