We swim with the fishes, Sunday, 11/18/12

Up around 8:00 and down to the buffet.  By now, we know the routine, geography and whose section to avoid.  We are advancing to "regular" status.  Lot's of coffee and protein to aide us with the day that lies before us.

We run into Roberto (the agent who sold us tours and provides transportation) in the lobby who asks us what we are thinking regarding proceeding with our plans to go on a snorkeling trip.  The weather is overcast with a stiff wind which is causing more ocean swell.  We decide now is the time  so we return to our room to prepare ourselves for the upcoming endurance contest of "our will" v. the ocean.  Sunblock - check, snorkels - check, towels - check, hats - check, cash - check - no actually it was cash and not a check (ha-ha).

We meet Roberto in the lobby at 10:20 and load up in a Mercedes minivan and off we go.  My confidence is slightly shaken as I observe Roberto crossing himself as we pull away from the curb.  We pick up 6 other crazies and drive out 40 minutes and turn down a dirt/gravel road that defines isolation.  Fears are relieved and tensions abate when we come across a series of buildings which house all the necessary needs surrounding our upcoming adventure.  We get our life jacket and fins and instructions from the dive master concerning "How to snorkel in one easy lesson".  This consists of step one - breath in followed by step two - breath out.  Any questions....let's vamonos.

Lunch

Another beautiful beach

Cloudy but we made our own Sun

Kat showing of her latest acquisition

Kat's favorite pose

Me happy!

We do two dives where the water clarity is good - 30 or 40 feet, water temp comfortable and the undersea flora and fauna is varied and plentiful.  It was truly beautiful seeing schools of 50 - 60 fish swimming around doing what fish do, watching sea fans sway with the current, and watching 24 other folks in orange vests and masks do their thing.  I looked around and realized I was the oldest person on the boat - how depressing, but I kept up and was far from the weakest link in the water.

Even with the extra chop and lack of Sun, it was still an amazing way to spend the day.  After our second swim, we went back to the facilities and showered off and had a very nice lunch with mas cerveza por favor.  Kat and I decided to forego the afternoon swim and just get some beach time.  We were far from alone in our decision.  It was nice as it gave us time to chat with some of the other participant's - a Mormon couple from Utah, a couple from Limerick, Ireland and a couple from the NW woods of British Columbia.  Meeting new folks and hearing their views and idea's make traveling so much more fun.

We got back to the hotel where we took the better part of an hour scrubbing sand from parts of our bodies where we were left to wonder, "How did that get there?"  We took a long nap where the term comatose comes to mind.  Dressed and out the door at 7:15 for dinner at La Muerda.  Once again, a wonderful meal with digestion helped along by our favorite Mariachi band.  Desert was cool as we each had a cup of Mayan coffee which was a 10 minute show involving pouring flaming blue liquor from one glass to another. Very entertaining and oh so delicioso!

We walked back to the hotel and my mind kept saying, Jeff, you're on vacation - let's partay!!  My body was in total disagreement saying Jeff B & B - book and bed.  Well my body could not cash checks my mind wrote so B & B handily won out.