View from the 3rd floor of the Holiday Inn
The Holiday Inn had a pool and restaurant/bar as well as shops.
Although the cars are built the same, you drive on the left side of the road.
That can make driving before coffee FUN!
Our hotel was directly across the road from the Sea
This is our Inlet
Pirates!
and poverty
and crazy traffic with rude drivers, honking constantly.
Magen's Bay, heralded as one of the most beautiful beaches on earth.
Testing the waters, Atlantic Ocean
Kinda cold, but you get used to it.
Epitomy of serene.
Our first adventure on Saturday. Mangrove Eco-Tour.
Kayak, snorkel and hike. An amazing 3 hours.
Mike, our funny and energetic tour guide.
We liked Mike. He's explaining the details of the tour in front of their mountain of merchandise.
The red dotted line represents the tour path.
Avidly listening to Mike explain how not to die on the tour.
Part of the team was a professional photographer. Liz Wallace. That's a big Olympus with an underwater case.
Our snorkel gear.
Road to perdition. Actually the path to the Ocean Kayaks and our life vests.
The two seater Ocean Kayaks. You don't feel as wobbly as other styles of Kayak. No roll training required.
Teamwork is important to managing this rig.
Having successfully left port, Tim takes a moment to celebrate our success.
This is not the successful teamwork demonstrated in earlier photos.
Tim has captured some of the non-native beauty of the island here.
The last 3-hour tour was a bit harder on the passengers. Obviously, they can't row as well as us.
Gilligan, still looking for a way home. Actually, this boat was beached during a hurricane that hit the island last year.
I see you! Liz & Tim played peak a boo with their nifty underwater cameras.
That there be the sea. Was a long way to paddle.
Still not doing so well at the synchronized rowing. Actually, we kicked butt and Mike (tour guide) offered us a job for the week as guides.
Mike, the water Jawa. Pumped for the long haul to Cas Cay, the uninhabited island.
A little better on the rowing here.
Perfection. So good.
This is the reason she should have been in the front. Pure laziness.
Oblivious is the best word for this...
Hunting for a photographer. Found one!
Tucked into the Mangroves. Mike giving us the "eco" part of the tour.
Rapt with interest in how Mangroves benefit the local ecology.
The obligitory photo of the photographer taking a photo.
Trying not to drift back into the bay. We had to hold on to the boats around us while Mike gave his spiel.
And they're off!
Brittany's turn to row.
Liz was tucked into the Mangroves, taking photos as we rowed on by.
Cas Cay island. Uninhabited. This begins the "hike" part of the tour.
Beautiful. Wish I had a boat..er...woman like that.
Here I am to save the day...
I found my hermit crab (Ernie) to race! Go Ernie!
Ernie fell down. (He pinched me, the little bugger)
Our group, preparing for the hermit crab race.
One of the guides, sorting the crabs. She had to tap on the shells to keep the hermits from getting an early start.
The winner! The tiniest crab of them all proved to be the fastest. I'm ashamed to say that Ernie fell asleep before the race began.
A reason for a higher education.
Near the end of the hike, our group arrived at this beautiful rock formation to rest and grab some photos.
The island was full of iron ore, creating some very interesting art.
King of the hill.
The Caribbean Sea, wearing away at the rocks.
A nice look down the rocky cliffs of Cas Cay.
I welcome the spray. A nice cool refresher after the hike.
The very first underwater photo. Spikey Sea Anemonies.
Creepy fuzzy thing.
I claim this land for Spain!
Queen of the hill.
Taking a break in the shade.
Mike explaining the poisonous apples that will kill you in 40 minutes (true).
Termite nest.
The path we hiked.
Spot where the potrait photos will be taken.
Tim taking a picture for another couple.
Our turn to pose.
And again.
yet again...
Gearing up for snorkeling.
Taken with Tim's camera. Brittany enjoying the view.
Stop! In the name of love!
An underwater thing.
An anchor that has been in place for a very long time...
The underwater photo of the photographer taking a photo...
The other side of that shot.
Fishies!
Feeding frenzy.
Tiny fish in the Mangrove roots.
More underwater things.
Lobster! Where's the melted butter?
Angelfish! Very cool.
Getting ready to take an award winning shot.
Angelfish.
Liz took this. Awesome shot looking up out of the water.
Preview of what's to come.
Breakfast on Sunday.
$86,000 chandelier in a crystal store.
Getting ready to be towed 600 feet in the air behind a boat!
Our crew.
Releasing the parachute.
All clear!
Thinking "oh crap!"
Whoa! Here we go!
Yee Haw!
Smile!
Looking down as we go up.
Going...
and going....
and going...
Gone! Whew! An amazing view from up there.
de Plane, de Plane!
Our feetsies.
600 feet high.
I guess we don't have a fear of heights.
Going down..
Splashdown! This is the end of life for Brittany's phone, which was in her pocket. Oops...
In and out, getting ready to be pulled onto the boat.
Seaplane
Practicing her breathing technique at the hotel.
Coki Beach - a ship was sinking in the bay.
Coki Beach. Excellent place to snorkel. Amazingly clear water and fearless fish.
Coki Beach. In the background is Coral World.
Just before we head into the water.
The snorkel gear we purchased. As you can see, Tim's leaked just a little.
Bubbles!
Crystal clear water, fish everywhere. Snorkelers dream.
This one was hard to chase down. Not fearless like the other fish, Tim had to work to get this picture.
No, we didn't eat here. Sushi is not how Tim rolls.
Fix that spelling!
Across the street from the hotel.
Local color
Coming back from the beach, stuck in traffic. Nice view from the top of a hill.
Tim starting to lose patience.
We had a gray Jeep Wrangler for the week.
Big city traffic, tiny little roads.
Lizard. Need any insurance guys?
A thing. Possibly a termite nest.
More local color
I...Just...Can't...Take This... Anymore... STILL stuck in traffic. Ugh!
The local taxi cabs - all pickup trucks with modified beds.
Back at Magen's Bay.
Tim. Completely alone on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Amazing.
Look ma! I can do a split!
A little note Tim sent to Britt after she had to head home.
Just a shot of the clear water. The sand, pure white, was very fine and soft.
A view of Magens Bay from Drake's Seat where Sir Francis Drake posted lookouts to watch for pirates.
The plaque on a bench... apparently the offical seat.
Sunset from Drake's Seat.
Tim!
Coki Beach. Before Tim heads in for one last round of snorkeling.
That's all, folks. Time to relax. What a wonderful way to spend a week.
