Isla in summer

While I love to be here in the winter months, & feel I'm escaping our Northern winters, I'm not usually dying to be here in summer; however, here I am again. We made the bad decision to apply for our FM3 Visas in early summer last year, and now the renewal process may force our coming every summer.  Not only that, it appears the Chicago office boggled the original application, using an outdated booklet vs. the card, and we have decided it's just going to be easier to do this the right way with professional help, and have now enlisted a local atty for that purpose. Well, that explains why we're both here, overlapping a few days, as we each get our temp. Visas, and will still need to return for our permanent FM3 Visas.   Whew...the explanation is almost as long as the process (just kidding...no way...)
     Anyway, I'm trying to get back to my long morning walks here, which I love & find easier to do here.
These are some things  I saw on today's walk--

Walking along the turtle beach, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the crew raking and/or collecting eggs, which I think happens more late night or super early.
But I heard they did construct a line of rocks to persuade the sea turtles to lay their eggs closer to shore, saving them the trouble of going farther than necessary. 

I do at least hope to see some turtles and will scout them out later during some nights; night vision binoculars would've been a great thing to bring. darn.


But I do love the whole turtle effort they do here, collecting and incubating the eggs to buy them a little more time and raise the survival odds.
















Being from a farm, and a horse lover & rider, I loved coming upon this horse, tied along the road by the side of the cemetery outside La Gloria. I guess its days are spend inside the Hacienda Mundaca, perhaps giving rides to children. I wouldn't mind a ride myself; but today, I just give him a pet and an ear scratch; maybe tomorrow I 'll bring a treat.  

The Catholic Church in La Gloria, not far from where the horse is tied, along the cross island road.

It is somewhat new, and seems to be in a suitable spot.
I've seen a lot of people in attendance during mass.

The construction, the wall and walkway seem well done.
I really like the planters on the side, with bamboo plants.




Listen...
(if)
you are 14 years old or more, and you're lacking a sacrament, then, come with us every Saturday, at 7pm, here at Sacred Heart!

Garrafon de Castilla Beach Club

Here is Sofi (who came with me to enjoy one of our last days on Isla.. and we chose Garrafon de Castilla....

The iguanas here are fabulous...and a bit aggressive... One time one came up while I was eating and took a 100 Peso bill...(I got it back...but only after chasing him down, & yanking it out of his mouth!

 The iguanas are often out sunning on the sidewalk, or the cliffs...and come up looking for handouts (food...not money... but they'll take anything...

I like the outdoor shower. Sofi found it fun & easy

The water is usually a bit cooler than North Beach.  But, there is wonderful snorkeling here.
And you can see a lot of fish even without a snorkel. I missed a great shot of Sofia totally surrounded by fish with their mouths open, almost jumping up & out of the water for the fish food.
Because I had to hold Sofi up out of the water to protect her from the fish, I couldn't get a photo...

The lounge chair area is nice and peaceful. Good shade.
Restaurant service is good and food is fine.

Guac and Modelo Light are my preferred orders here. Fish is okay though.






What's really great is that the Sailfish condos are just behind this beach club.  So, it's easy walking if we want to go there.

Like Playa Tiburon, this club has an older feel. Yes, some things look dated, but I like the mix of things.
There is no loud music and usually a nice, quiet crowd or just a few people.
It is very family friendly.  I think lots of Europeans come here.
The price, although up from the 30, and then 40 pesos from when we first started coming, is now 50 pesos for the day, and I still think it's worth it.

Casa Colibri'

Sometimes it's hard to keep the focus of a blog, I'm finding. I'm not on Isla, so lately my focus has been our farm in Wisconsin, both mothers in our lives and their many needs; our children, and now my visiting siblings.  Maybe some of those things will figure in future posts, for they for sure have been figuring big time in how I spend my time here (my 88 1/2 yr old mother is sleeping next to me as I type..._

Anyway, Steve is on Isla. We still have a house in progress...my origninal blog focus. So back to that. 

Here is our house, called Casa Colibri'   (it's smallish....like a hummingbird, and kind of hovers there.) 

It has been freshly painted (the yellow, that is...) by myself, before I left, and then continued by Manuel our sometimes caretaker.  More on Manuel and his family later.....

 

This is the back view; it shows the wall which comes to edge of Calle Tortuga, a cross-island road. 

Our son, an artist & photographer, did the drawing/painting when he visited in March. He is currently busy with wedding photographer, his main job.  He'd love to get some work on Isla!

And here is the front; It makes me kind of 'homesick' to see it; Sr. Ruinas emailed the new pics.
I'm happy to see the palm trees. It's going to be a hot week here, so it's not like it's winter and I'm desperate to be there....but, I will be....soon enough~
I miss looking at the open sea...from the upper balcony... 

Our next project, as we finally move along with our plan, is to secure the area, and we have debated over what kind of enclosure.  Sr. Ruinas likes this combination of stone/rock foundation &natural wood. Guess we would have lots of plantings growing up and over it, eventually.
A lot to think about...
Gardening is a hobby of mine, and in fact, I've been going on several garden tours lately. But semi-tropical gardening...such another challenge...

Think this wall be be behind or back of Hacienda Mundaca. I have yet to go into that place. 

A small island, and there is still much I haven't seen. 

On the other hand, I'm living on a farm in WI, and I have acres of marshland I've never set foot on.