The waves have started getting bigger here again - and perfect timing, as there's a big surfing competition starting on Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to going down and checking that out - should be a lot of fun! These pictures were all taken from our deck - the competition will be about a mile down the beach. It still amazes me that these guys have the guts to surf this - I know how shallow the water is when they get dumped, and I definitely know how long the sea urchin spines are on that reef. I am uploading these at a high resolution, so click on the picture to load the full-resolution image and see the detail! For those of you who aren't as comfy with computers, when you're done looking at the big picture, use the "back" arrow to get back to this page. If the back arrow is greyed out, then click on the "X" to close the window containing the big picture.

Stress

If this were video, you could watch his little feet patting in rhythm
to jimmy Buffett...

Steve is a bit stressed these days

Brain coral

For those who were asking what it looks like :-)

This Is a really small piece. In the water, we swim around some that
are four times what I can get my arms around and some are perfectly
round. We found one washed up on the beach in one of our beachcoming
nights that the two of us together couldn't pick up and carry.

We've got crabs!

Forget about the ocean print shower curtain when this is the view from the shower!

Morning coffee

It stormed last night, so we woke up to much bigger waves this
morning. Really pretty! Combined with the fact that we are now staying
directly on the beach (no balconies - just sand) we decided to
postpone the day's activities and enjoy a very relaxed morning cup O
joe. Or two. Or three.

Stormy skies

The white in the distance are the boats where we took the first couple
of pics. It's amazing how far out from the islands it stays shallow

Bits and pieces of the reef

We took this one because we loved the turquoise of the water and the
storm clouds on the hills. The camera phone didn't quite do the colors
justice, but you get the gist. The best thing is watching these dark
ominous clouds build up every afternoon, and it rains like the devil
in the hills, but stays sunny and beautiful on the beach. This
afternoon was perfect because it rained the whole way home and got all
the salt water from the kayaks off the car au natural.

Starfish

These guys were everywhere! Really cool. I picked this one up, and he
curled one little arm tip up at me. I considered it a friendly wave,
but Steve swears he was flipping me off!

Steve at la parguera

La Parguera

Yes, the water really is that clear!

Kayak trip to la parguera

What a great day! We put in on the far shore, and hit almost all of
the islands by the time we were done. Behind me, you can see one of
the islands and mangrove clumps. The great thing is, everyone brings
their picnic tables and chairs and plunks them in the water - just
like a mermaid's ball!

Cora, all decked out in her "fun attaire"

Getting ready for another dull weekend in puerto Rico :-) Got the roof
rack anchored last week, kayaks today, and we're headed back out to La
Parguera to spend the weekend in the mangroves and playing on the
outer islands with Carlos and crew!

Let the weekend begin!

Montones beach

Yesterday was the first day since I've been here that it rained during
the day. Steve and I were out house shopping and running errands and
decided to stop at this beach to watch the storm clouds. I love
watching the waves break up over the rocks and then cascade down...

Changes in (l)attitude

18*67'

Btw- the name of the restaurant is the latitude/longitude of this
place. I'm liking the coordinates! Changes in latitude, changes in
attitude...

18*67'

Ok. Without doubt favorite restaurant here! Amazing view, sitting on a
cliff overlooking the ocean!

Calderon party

So, Saturday night was Angie and Luis' big bash, and a marvelous time
was had by all! I started out with my camera and all the best
intentions, but by the end of the night, this was the only pic to make
it out. For the record... I actually was NOT the "spiller" this time
around. Dana (cowboy boots) had just dropped a full can and it rolled,
spewing everywhere. Steve's contribution to the cleanup effort,
clearly was to take this picture of me switching from mopping the
floor to mopping his feet. When I found this picture, I made sure to
remind him that he was a lucky man. And how easily the camera can be
broken...