So I might have fallen off the blog band wagon for awhile but I think that I am back. I just got back from Destin, FL on vacation. Wonderful beach time with the family and faboulous time at the Fisherman’s Warf. I am in Michigan this week and the rain seems to be neverending. This weather makes me want to crawl back in bed and read a good book. Speaking of, I just started reading SWIM TO ME! Wonderful novel about one girls journey to becoming a mermaid at Weeki Wachee. As the ecomony gets rougher and the job market gets tougher its hard to not imagine packing a bikini and the people closest to me and calling this rat race quits.
Archive for Travel
pilates,
After having terrible night in one of the worst hotel rooms in the US I found some solitude at the pilaties class at Gold’s Gym, in Great Falls MT. I had a picnic lunch by myself at the town square next to a bronze cow boy on a horse. I curowsed in Amazing Toys and Dragonfly Dry Goods, resisting the kitchy toys and trendy clothes. After strolling the streets of the small town I visited Giant Springs Heritage State Park. Viewing the largest spring in the country made me have an instinctive urge to jump in and swim a few laps. I resisted and tookd a few snap shots instead. The fish hatchery was pretty interesting, I would recommed being there before 4:30 to have an opprotunity to feed them, the cost is $.05.
Kung Fu
Wow. I just watched the movie KUNG FU PANDA and it made my day. I am not sure what was better, the movie or the 40 kids giggling in the theater. Both made the movie well worth watching. Mars, PA has a lot to offer in movies and strip mall area.
“Yesterday is history tomarrow is a mystery and today is a gift, thats why they call it the present.”-Master Shifu
sanibel
today we drove out to sanibel!!! i love that beach!!! the new bridge has been completed for awhile but its starting to looking really nice again. the construction equipment and fences are finally gone and the sandy white beach look crisp and clean. i have been going to fl since i was 7 and i swear on drive over the there all your problems fizzle in the salty air. life is better on sanibel. we threw the football, frisbee and enjoyed a few ice cold beverages.
Late night with Dani-girl and Jenn
I had a terribly annoying day until i met up with my old college roomie. we met up in lincoln park at her newly urban outfitter style apartment. we caught up over a glass a wine, and ventured across the street to Galloways. We met an interesting character named Olgar which apparently means to me damned by god, a couple random people playing pool, and kicked some old school tetris butt on a real Nintendo. on the way up to jenns place we met a random boy without shoes on and told him he was going to get hepatitis c. he sure enough 20 minutes later knocked on her door and wanted to have a beer on the roof. did i mention jenns random text messages to the wrong person at 2 am. LOL! I love it. i strolled into my hotel at 4:55. thanks lady, i had a great time, and managed to not steal any socks.
Scuba, Spa, Sun, Fun
Hello Roatan. I woke up this morning eager to dive at Sea grape Plantation Dive Shop. I met Lewis the dive master and the other 4 people on the boat. I was anxious nervous and excited. I dove with Lewis who was super attentive and educational. We dove at West End Wall which is near Iron Shore, we descended slowly and performed a drift dive. We went down about 95 feet following this huge underwater wall of coral, fish, and wildlife as we went. Lewis was quick to point out a Monterrey Eel and Angel Fish. I tried my best to relax and keep my mask as clear as possible. I lost the 3rd underwater camera this year. About 40 minutes into the dive Lewis swam away from me, one of the men got left behind and had to ascend. I was left with 3 other women to safety stop and ascend. It was a miraculous dive. At one point I felt as though I could be in a National Geographic magazine cover. After the dive I went back to Coco Lobo. We ended up going into town for an early drink and making reservations Baan Suerte Spa. The spa was so surreal. We were greeted by a friendly islander with chilled melon water and fresh towels for the pool. I ventured the property and went snorkeling while megan received her treatment. I received the Earth Cocoon. The first step i was scrubbed down with coffee and sugar. I bathed after this treatment with buckets brought to me by the attendant because megan broke the shower during her session. I was then painted with mud and wrapped in plastic and enjoyed the relaxing music while the attendant rubbed my scalp and feet. After one more awkward bath/bucket rinse I sercame to the intense hour massage. Marvelous property and Spa. After the spa we went to West Bay to enjoy the beach one last time. After the beach we spent some time at the pool chatting it up with the other guests at Coco Lobo. We got dressed up and went out to dinner at Half Moon Bay Cafe. Our server was great, he was attentive and was super mannerly. After dinner we went to Sundowners where we met up with some people that we had met on Wednesday. They treated us to a Monkey La La and showed us the bar dogs tricks. We followed the locals down the street to the bar crawl and hit them all. Ran into Chad at Roatan Rick’s we hung out with him for too long and his girlfriend. Awkward. After megan spoke spanish for this part of the journey, i was ready to move on to the next bar. We visted all the bars. Retired to bed, and dreamt of never going home.
ZIP A DEE DO LINE
Woke up this morning and walked to Half Moon Bay and went Snorkeling. I was tons of fish and some great coral. I was a little creeped out because I went by myself. There was a barracuda hanging out and watching my every move. Transfixed on the bright fish I floated along and enjoyed the relaxing swim. After snorkeling I retreated to Coco Lobo to get ready for our Canopy Tree Adventure. We were picked up by a taxi at 10 am and headed a few miles inland to South Shores Canopy Tour. We immediately were hurried into the equipment room and strapped into harnesses and helmets by handfuls of men speaking Spanish way too fast. Apparently there was some confusion with the taxi cab, we were told that the cost was included and the manager ended up having to pay the driver. Opps. So off we went to the canopy. The tour guides were smothering us with compliments as they strapped us up on the lines. We were given a 2 minute rapid saftely course and off we went. By the third line we were strapped Super Woman style, facing the ground as if you were flying over the tree tops. The lines were rigged across the canopy and ended on a platform. The rush was exhilarating. The gentlemen on the tour offered to take us out on the town later in the week. Karaoke anyone??? After the zip line tour we walked to Las Rocas and cooled off in the infinity pool. Dined on the bar swings and baked in their beach chairs. We stumbled down to the Banana Rama bar and met a couple people from the states. Later on that evening we met the infamous Chad and Sashi, owns wine bar De La Vina Wine Bar and Jug Shop. We followed the bar crawl down the village and enjoyed some rum along the way. Things get a little hazy here but we had a good time and enjoyed the people that we spent time with.
Cruise ship/ ants at a picnic
I wish all my days could start as peaceful as this morning. I woke up slowly to Yoga on the beach at the Lands End. What a peaceful way to start the day. After yoga we wandered over to West Bay Beach. We shared a taxi with a local who was about 7, he was on his way to work with his homemade coconut earrings and map. The beach was covered in Cruise ship travelers. They were all over the Iron Stone beach, lined up the beach like cattle on a farm with their matching towels, chairs, and sunburns. The beach transformed from a peaceful sanctuary to a market with locals selling stuff to anyone who would open their wallet. We layed on the beach in front of the Mayan Princess. I spent the afternoon swimming laps and snorkeling. Megan and I shared our towel with a curious crab that seemed interested in our Monster drink. We tried to take a water Taxi to Anthony’s Key Resort to Swim with the dolphins. This didn’t workout so well, so we ended up at the Lighthouse bar again. Today was defiantly random vacation day where agendas went untouched and “no worries” took into play.
Whooaaa Horsey
Today we walked to West Bay beach and lay ed out near the Iron Shore. I dove in right away and went snorkeling. I saw 50+ kinds of fish just in that small area. After some coaxing megan came in the water and snorkeled for the first time. she seemed to enjoy herself for at least 15 minutes. I continued to play around with the small schools that were swimming around me and worked up enough courage to use my fish food to draw them closer to me. The fish food was a hit, but it scared me. I ended up dropping the food because the fish were becoming so aggressive. We catch ed a water taxi back to the west end and got ready for our horse back riding adventure. Shirkie was waiting in town with us and qucikly introduced us on to our horses and without hesitation we were on our way. We trotted threw town and and along the beach towards West Bay. At one point Spirit took off and ran faster than Shirkie. Once the horses slowed down he then explained how to keep them under control. The horses walked over the small bridge and threw the rocky shore. We climbed up the mountain and Shirkie explained the history behind the island and his adventures. At the top we watched the sun set, what a breath taking view. We trotted threw his friends property viewing other horses, mango trees, and lush vegetation. We were introduced to his friend who let us back on the beach property. He told us of a drink called COCO LOCO made from Coconut Water and Rum, after searching for that drink across the island later in the week we came to realize that it must have been this mans local specialty. Riding back threw West End we were a spectacle on parade. The streets were crowded and the tourists were snapping pictures of us as the horses picked up speed. Skirkie offered to drop us off at our resort/hotel so we obliged not knowing what a thrill this would be. As we traveled threw town the locals dogs started chasing after the horses which spooked the horses and made them go faster than usual. Dogs barking fast trotting, I could help to enjoy this moment when I was so out of control.
Travel Girl Doing Yoga
9am at Lands End Resort, Yoga overlooking the Caribbean. Christine was the instructor, she was sweet. challenging instructor with a shaved head. We walked 3 miles to West Bay. Gorgeous walk, with a small bridge, old canal with rickety plank, sea urchins, Rented chairs from Mayan Princess, pristine beaches. We took a water taxi back to the West end. Met some locals at Sun downers the watering hole on the beach. While at the bar some local old man tried to shake us up with some Shark attack story. LOL! Funny stuff sounds like something my brother would do. Went to dinner at the Lighthouse restaurant on the water. We met the restaurant dog and shared a watermelon slush drink.
