17th March, 2017

Tenacatita to Barra de Navidad

Sunrise over Marina Puerto de la Navidad

March 3, 2017

We are on our way from Tenacatita to Barra de Navidad. After 10 days at anchor, we are ready to tie up to a dock and clean the boat.

Our body rhythms have slowed down considerably. The last couple of days at Tenacatita have been lazy and relaxing. It’s good for the heart. It’s good for the mind. It’s wonderful for the soul. I will miss being at anchor, but look forward to exploring more of Barra de Navidad and the surrounding area, including a visit to La Manzanilla.

March 5, 2017

I awaken before dawn. I slip on a dress, put on my glasses, and grab the camera. I begin my walk. Only today, it will be a short walk. I go over to the hotel, (It sits behind the marina, nestled in the hill.) and ride the elevator to the top floor. The mountains rise up behind and around the lagoon. Slowly, the neighborhood awakens.

The birds and rooster begin their daily ritual, announcing the start of a new day. Hundreds of birds hide in the trees. Their song is no longer individual, but has become a concert performance. The roosters join in. They, too, are hiding, somewhere up in the hills.

One by one, the pangas arrive at the fuel dock. They are filling their tanks for another busy day of work. They are our taxis, back and forth, between the lagoon, marina, and the town of Barra de Navidad.

Twenty anchor lights swing, gently, as the morning brings no wind. I imagine the cruisers to be cuddled below, fast asleep, waiting for the sun to rise. As I join them in wait, it occurs to me that the sun is a promise we take for granted.