OutsideTemplo San Antonio de Padua
"Cristo del Ciclón"
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Directly from the pool at volleyball we changed and walked to catch a bus to Barra de Navidad. We had plans to meet up with some friends from Coeur d'Alene who are staying on their sailboat in the marina at the Grand Bay Hotel, awaiting the move to their new casa in Barra's Barrio.
Arriving early to our rendezvous location at the jardin, we walked to Ramone's, a small restaurant on one the main streets, and drank a couple of cold beverages. Volleyball had made us thirsty and those drinks hit the spot.
At our arranged time we walked back to the jardin. As we walked along holding hands we rounded the center planter of vegetation and I spotted David and Rebecca sitting on a bench in the shade. At the same time, Linda started waving and pulling my hand in the direction of a group of people across the street to our right. A moment of confusion ensued. There we were both pulling different directions waving at two different groups of people. We stopped and looked at each other. Finally, Linda spotted David and Rebecca standing up to greet us. We hugged, shook hands and tried to explain the confusion. We looked to the right towards the group of people Linda had thought were David and Rebecca and they were gone! With a confused laugh, we started our visit.
Our view at Sea Master for lunch. |
After the greetings, we walked into Barra's Centro and checked out the many places that we all were familiar with. David and Rebecca pointed out the places where they did their daily shopping and the various areas that provided services for them and Linda and I pointed out the places that we were familiar with from our visits to this fun little tourist town.
We sat down for lunch at a restaurant located right off the water called the Sea Master and enjoyed a nice lunch of tacos and chips. Our time was spent catching up on both couples' lives and the lives of mutual friends. It was a very enjoyable time in a beautiful location.
From the deck of the Sea Master, we walked through the streets, and past the shops to the water taxi dock and caught a panga over to the marina. The taxi captain dropped us off on the dock right next to Liberté. Linda and I were so impressed. Two steps and we were on board. We can't wait to have the Kilmers over to our casa and have them experience the 37 steps up to our living quarters.
The view from their cockpit of Liberté is spectacular. The Grand Bay Hotel encompasses the entire panorama before you. Sailboats and yachts provide the foreground and all this is perfectly edged with the green of palm trees over a blue sky backdrop.
Catching up with friends was wonderful. We sat on the soft pads on the boat and talked and laughed. They suggested that we go for a swim and so we left the boat and wound our way through the maze of garden and villas to the pool area. This pool is actually about four pools connected with slides and waterfalls. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the pools seem to go on forever. We found a spot in a quiet corner overlooking Barra and the lagoon. We swam and talked for a while and enjoyed the life at the Grand Bay.
After about an hour our attention was drawn to the many fishing boats that were returning from a day of fishing out at sea. This weekend a huge fishing tournament was taking place and the Grand Bay was the site of all the ceremonies. Boats of all sizes were returning with their catch to be weighed and measured. We could not resist, so we walked from our quiet hideaway into the center of the fishing tournament spectacle.
Night and day! From the tranquility of our quiet corner to a throng of people crowded around the rack where the competing fish were hung after being weighed and measured. The atmosphere was loud music, fish, tequila, pretty girls and testosterone. Big boats, beer, and fish stories. The place was humming. The people-watching was excellent so we crowded in, caught the thump of the loudspeakers, and enjoyed the ride.
The beautiful grounds of the Grand Bay. |
Living quarters on Liberté. |
Part of the pool area where we swam. |
Watching the tournament catches being unloaded. |
Just one of the unlucky Marlin. |
Boats of all sizes. |
Dorado! |
Fish, tequila, boys and beauties. |
David and Rebecca having a tequila mixer. |
Photos by David Kilmer, Linda Bennett, and Dean Bennett
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