Up for sunrise but it was so windy that I thought the coffee would jump right out of my coffee cup.

Typically on my last days on the island I take a whack of pictures. I think that I store up images in my head during a vacation and on my fading days I say to myself “boy I better take that now or never”. I stuck pretty close to home that morning.

Guess where I am?

I thought that I was making breakfast for the gang at the hotel but instead I shared a shrimp omelette with Sister #3 at Rubens. Nice how that worked out. I love every excuse to visit Ruben’s. I dream about this shrimp omelette when I am home.

Then it was straight to the beach. Michelle had already reserved a palapa so I joined she and Jan (friends from PEI via Luna D’Miel).

Then Bro #3 & L, Sue and Donna all came down.

As I walked back to the hotel I realised I hadn’t eaten lunch so I stopped at Pizza and a More’s beach location. After much deliberation, I had a thick crust Matteo cheese pizza for lunch. Afterwards I walked to the bank to withdraw some money and then got my 2021 dates figured out with XBulu Ha. I was happy to take it easy and I hung around the room all afternoon. At about 5, I headed to the beach again.

I spent a lovely long time on the beach at twilight. I think that this is my favourite time of the day. Covid note: This must be what all the beach restaurants look like right now. Hoping this is soon over for all my islander friends.

The long wait for sunset was worth it. Wouldn’t you agree?

Our dinner at Xontolo was lovely but you will have to wait until after Covid to read all about it.

Kath’s quote: “Today I will be as useless as the “g” in lasagna.”-Unknown

Love never fails.

I woke up before the alarm that I set so that I did not miss the sunrise. But it was too cloudy for a sunrise anyway.

Besides, I was happy to just get my bearings again back at XBulu Ha. I love that I can see a little patch of the ocean from my room on the front street.

These little guys are on our beach on Lake Winnipeg in the summer. I am amazed that they migrate so far north.

I was wanting to attend “Church on the Beach” so I strolled down to North Beach to check out the wind. By that time the clouds had cleared and it was glorious on the beach.

The service itself was beautiful and it was a joy to be worshipping with so many in such an amazing setting.

Since I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I stopped at North Garden’s Bakery for a cinnamon bun. I prefer the style we make back in central Canada, but it was pretty good.

It was another hot one so I met up with the extended gang for time on the beach. With the wind, the beach was enormous that day.

How windy was it? Well there certainly was no use putting my hair into a ponytail.

I took this photo for the middle Wee One who is crazy about unicorns especially rainbow ones!

It was a hot walk home so I ducked into a little gallery en route.

The sculptor there was showing some fabulous work.

Yes I am a goofball.

Just before sunset that same evening, I was in for another special experience. In this case, I was very disappointed that D wasn’t still on the island because the evening was especially romantic.

M and I met in university when our lives were very different from our lives now but still our friendship has remained true. Perhaps it is because of all the sorrows (and joys) we have weathered together over the years.

Her fella R has been in my life almost as long as M. There was a time when out of kindness, the three of us were almost inseparable.

We sat with our feet in the sand at The Mayan Beach Club on the perfect spot to soak up the lowering sun.

The setting sun was very beautiful.

Almost as beautiful as when it had completely disappeared.

Even though the wind was still high and a bit nasty elsewhere on the island, it was perfect in this little paradise.

What did we eat that memorable evening? Well that story deserves a post of its own (after Covid).

Kath’s quote: “Things end but memories last forever”. -Unknown

Love never fails.

That evening was very windy. I had heard from the Luna d’ Miel gang that they couldn’t even go to the back of the apartments, the wind was that bad. (Good day to move into Centro I guess).

Since we had shared lunch, we got the yearning for another treat late afternoon, so we each had a pastor taco next door at Natural. Who knew that even though you order “pastor” which means pineapple and pork, you have to request the pineapple. No biggie, the tacos were tasty either way.

Shortly thereafter we poured “to go” cups and went to be together for our last sunset-it was splendid.

I asked D what his last food request would be? He chose 1000 Tacos because, like me, it was his nicest surprise that season on the island. (Covid note: I pray that this little business makes it.)

D hadn’t seen Javi yet, so we had a drink there and enjoyed seeing Javi and his Dad perform.

Sister #3 ordered a couple of appetizers. I dream of the tempura asparagus from Javi’s.

D headed to hotel to retrieve his luggage and R and M met us for good-byes at the ferry. This is our traditional pouty picture-extra pouty when we don’t leave together. I am so blessed to have a husband who allows me the freedom to do things like stay on the island when he has to get back to work.

R & M walked me home with tales of how much the island had changed but not necessarily for the good. Bedtime in another new bed.

Kath’s quote: “Good-byes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such separation”. -Rumi

Love never fails.

When we woke up that morning  we knew that it was our last day with crashing waves as our view. They were huge that day.

I started packing up while D took his walk. I paid Mario for 2021 and then Bruce and Susan gave me and all our luggage a lift to XBulu-Ha. I took my bags in while D visited with the gang staying at the hotel.

On our last day together, that is D and I, we always have a progressive dinner together. This year we actually began at lunch time where we shared a Chilies Relleno at La Lomita. It was kind of slow at the restaurant that day but I didn’t mind, taking some shots of that great little neighbourhood (we stayed at El Pariso for a number of years).

La Lomita was the first meal I ever ate on the island in 2005. The family that own the restaurant make constant improvements to keep the place looking fresh and pretty.

We hadn’t discovered the stuffed peppers that first year but soon after another table recommended them and we have consistently eaten them whenever we are on the island. We have even figured out how to make them at home but we rarely do because there are so many steps and they are very complicated to assemble. Anyways no matter what we do, we can never duplicate the La Lomita’s masterpiece.

And the fries….oh those fries!

We strolled to the hotel (the long way)

and after a little rest

we were missing R & M so we connected and at the Na Balam beach bar.

This post is getting kind of lengthy so I will let you read Part 2 on my next posting day.

Kath’s quote: “Every ending has a new beginning.”-Unknown

Love never fails.

There was no sun visible above the horizon this morning, but still the scene was a pretty one.

We had hoped to go to Playa Norte that day but the weather forecast was iffy. Instead R&M came over for a ham and egg breakfast that D whipped up for us.

Then I asked Bruce and Susan our neighbours at Luna d’Miel if we could possibly borrow their golf cart for a spin around the island.

We wound our way around the entire island with only one stop-the Ladies Beading Co-operative for some more shopping.

We all spent some time at our beach looking for sea glass.

At lunch time I contacted Loncheria Nichol’s (I had always wanted to find the excuse) for fried chicken and an extended visit on our back deck.

It was still chilly so D wound himself up in the hammock for a read.

Later, we took a bus into town so that D could do some shopping for the Wee Ones back home.

That evening R and M treated us to an amazing dinner at North Garden. We started with frozen drink concoctions.

Delicious premise made bread came along next as well as empanadas and roasted potatoes (yes please!).

R chose a flank steak.

M selected salmon

and me chicken.

We were all in for something special but D most of all, with his Tik ‘n Chix shrimp.

When it was time to serve us our mains and entire trolley was wheeled out from the kitchen and little grills set up to finish our selections. We were very impressed and the food was excellent. We felt particularly blessed not just because the four of us had shared an amazing meal but because of our friendship over 35 years!

Afterwards R and M humoured us by going across the street to Snappers to watch the end of a Jets game. We had another nightcap at home under the stars.

Kath’s quote: “Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” –Muhammad Ali

Love never fails.