This week we
enjoyed a few nights of the full moon over the ocean. Just beautiful with the
reflection over the water!
On our morning
beach walks we saw the head of an eel (with really sharp teeth), but the body
was missing. We also saw a puffer fish (all puffed up) dead on the beach. To be
fair we also see lots of birds and shells as well. Pelicans in huge groups,
Willets, Whimbrels, Sandpipers and we have been watching a family of Caracara.
We see them often in the trees along the shore and sometimes sitting right on
the beach. We used to see Crested Caracara on our Wetlands walks in Florida.
They have Crested Caracara and Yellow Headed Caracara here. The ones we see
on the beach are Yellow Headed. When we used to walk near the golf course in
the neighborhood we saw the Crested ones. One day we saw a couple of iguanas on
the beach. They ran up onto the grass, but we watched them for a long time.
One day we
had an “attack of Mothra” on the balcony. Just a gorgeous huge moth about 5 or
6 inches across. (about the size of a small bat)
Continuing
on with the critter report this week, the white bird was back on the balcony as
well. We are pretty sure he is a domestic bird since there aren’t any of his
kind that is native here, plus he seems to go onto the balcony below us and off
to the side. So, I guess he happens into our balcony by mistake. We see him
flying free a lot.
Practical
matters this week included making our dental cleaning appointments. They could
get us in next Tuesday. With our dentists in Florida, getting appointments took
about 3 or 4 months. While we were out we were going to grab lunch, but 3 of
the places we wanted to try were closed. Many restaurants here are closed on
Mondays and Tuesdays and others are only open Thursday to Sunday, since there
are so many people that come from the city to the area to use their weekend
homes, which sit empty the rest of the week. Most have a family that lives in
the caretaker’s house and enjoys the grounds and take care of the main house
and grounds. So, we ended up at Leonardo’s and had Greek salads & garlic
bread. (always good, just wanted to try some place different.)
Wednesday we
went to the happy hour at Picassos and met a few more interesting people. (plus
ones we have met prior) Tried pizza this week and it was quite good.
Thursday we
tried Mexican food at Orale Tacos y Tequilas. Wow, the salsas and sauces were
amazing with flavor. We had an appetizer of queso and beef with chips with 2
tasty salsas. The red was smoky and the green was tasty and hot! For those that
know our favorite Mexican place in Mesa is Loss Dos Molinos and these salsas
were quite similar. (in heat not flavor) We ordered carne enchiladas in a salsa
verde. The plate was huge! We took half of everything home and ate it the next
day for lunch. So, we have found 2 Mexican places that we like. Chollos is
great too!
Friday we
drove to El Valle de Anton for lunch and ziplining. (aka Canopy Tour) From the
web: “The Canopy
Tour and the “Chorro El Macho” waterfall share the same entrance. Here, from
platforms 100 feet in the air, you are given a spectacular insight and view of
the cloud forest´s fauna and flora. The Canopy Adventure is an installation affiliated
with the Canopy Tower Ecolodge in Parque Nacional Soberanía. It takes
you—you're strapped in with a very secure harness—flying through the forest
canopy and over a 115-foot waterfall via zip-line cables strung between four
platforms high in trees. The tour is in the Refugio Ecológico del Chorro Macho, a private reserve a few
kilometers northwest of El Valle. This is more adrenaline rush than nature
tour, though you do pass through some gorgeous rain forest scenery. The tour
takes about 90 minutes and begins with a 30-minute hike to the first platform.”
toucan in the distance
We
have ziplined in Roatan (Island off Honduras), but this one was more “fun”.
Higher zip lines and the one past the waterfall was a steep one. They stop you
in front of the waterfall so you can enjoy it and then release you and you
finish the zip. That’s the only one they brake for you, the other ones you use
your gloved hand. Really a fun time! We did see one pretty toucan on the walk
up. The guide took photos with my camera and also took a short video of both of
us. Once I finish the world cruise photos I will put together one of Panama. I’m
just finishing Kotor and then will start Venice & day trips from there.
We
had gone to Buon Appetito
since it was closed last time and found it closed again. We drove by after
ziplining and it was open, so perhaps they don’t open until 1:00. We’ll try
that next time. So we ate lunch at Carlitos
Pizzas & Empanadas. Had spicy beef empanadas and chicken curry empanadas
with dipping sauces and a pizza with ham, garlic and provolone. All were quite
good.
After our Canopy Tour we stopped at the local
Panaderia (bakery) and picked up some pastries. All were good!
Hasta Luego!
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