A Morning in Paradise
It’s 5:30 A.M. It's mid winter, the windows are open, I am lying in bed with no covers and comfortable. Shall I be lazy today and get up later – but no, the sun will be rising soon, coming up over the mountains and I don't want to miss it. Sunrises are too precious and at my age how many more do I have. I remember my drill instructor. He would say "off your --- and on you feet, out of the shade and in the heat", and a few others that I had better not put into print.
Into the bathroom I go. I look in the mirror to see how I survived another night. Where am I, all I see is some old guy looking out. But wait, he looks familiar. It's me!! Whatever happened to youth? There must be some mistake!
My dog, Taco Belle and my two cats – Kitty and Cat (I really gave a lot of thought when I selected their names) have to be fed. Off I go downstairs. I feed them and start my morning coffee ritual. First I pour an amount of Arabica coffee beans, which I roasted last night and which I permitted to rest for better flavor until this morning, into the grinder and set it for the number of cups I need. While it is grinding I putter around the kitchen, trying to preserve some order so that Mary, my maid, won't think I made another wild night of it. Then the grounds are placed into an unbleached filter and into my drip coffee maker. I add water, turn on the coffee maker and return to the bathroom for a hot shower. After shaving, etc., I am ready for my morning cup. Shall I have it Mexican style? Sure, why not. I toss a little canela (cinnamon) in the cup along with some cream and sugar (coffee buffs will groan when they see this). I take a first sip – aaaah. deeelicious. I am now ready to present myself to the world.
Up the stairs and out on the balcony for morning exercise. Now, the sun is just peaking over the mountain. The birds are starting to chirp from the palms in the ecological park across the street. I wonder what I ever did to deserve all of this. A couple of wars and a few dings, but I feel in as good of shape as I ever was (well almost). Thanks to the Marine Corps and all of my good training, which I continued even after retirement, I still do a few stretches, 100 push ups and a couple hundred sit ups, with sips of this great coffee in between and I am ready for the morning walk.
Shorts and tee shirt, my uniform of the day. A couple of cookies in my pocket for the watchdogs. They used to bark at me, but now being schooled by the Mexican mordida system, I give them a treat. I am now greeted by wagging tails. Off down the street to the river and over to the beach. It's as beautiful as ever. Today it's mid tide and I will have an easy day, no dodging waves or walking in soft sand. I head for the other end of Guayabitos. I pass a couple of other strollers, then a group of fisherman who are dragging in their large net. The catch has not been great but still there are many eating size fish and they are all smiling and laughing. Walking on, I pass a few scatterd homes, some palapas, and a few swimmers. The sea is calm with a slight swell. I see a yacht anchored off the island, heading south for the winter. I look with nostalgia, imagining that I still have a sailboat and I am heading for some exotic place – why do I do that? I am in an exotic place! The beach is great today, light rollers coming in. There are a couple of shrimp boats anchored near the island. This reminds me that we haven't had any fresh shrimp for a few days.
I say hello to Benjamin. He is fishing and has a number of Botas (a type of fish) in a bag. We chat a minute and I continue on. There are a few tourist families, a few vendors with their carts selling fresh pineapples and others tropical fruits and juices, as well as grilling fresh fish. A couple of pangas are beached and the fisherman are filleting and selling their catch. I stop and visit with a couple more Mexican friends.
Most of the hotels here are called bungalows. This means that they have small kitchens. Fresh fried fish is great for breakfast, and a lot of the tourists, especially those that have come with large families, find that this is a great treat as well as economical. Many come with the entire family and this means grandma, grandpa and the dogs.
Now I move on along, passing a few hotel/bungalows and not so many tourists on the beach. Looking out across the bay I see the local small fleet of pangas and the Marine base on the other side. Coconut palms are all along the beach. A tropical paradise. I reach the end of the beach, the halfway mark. I touch the sea wall for luck (why do I do that, I'm not superstitious, am I?) I check my watch. 45 minutes. Right on schedule. I reverse my direction and head back home.
There is the smell of good cooking. Mary, my maid and my friend Vicky are preparing breakfast. Vicky has brought fresh tortillas and they are preparing omelet de Camaron (shrimp omelettes), and I was just thinking of shrimp not an hour earlier. I grab a quick cup of coffee, pop into the shower, put on fresh shorts and a tee shirt and return to a breakfast fit for a king.
They have made fresh salsa and the tortillas are hot. We gossip and they correct some of my bad Spanish. We talk of the weather, what has happened locally and with their families. The omelet is great. I grab a hot tortilla, cover my omelet with the fresh salsa and enjoy. Mary has cut up a papaya and pineapple, both from my garden. A fresh lime (also from my tree) is squeezed over the papaya. What a treat.
After, I decide that I have a great life and maybe I should share it, even if only in print, with those who are snow bound, still dreaming of the future or just arm chair travelers. I go to my computer and start writing about A MORNING IN PARADISE. (or maybe I should return to the frozen North and get a part time job to supplement my pensions)
[these photos were posted later on a different website:]
Vicky and Bob
This is the beach that I walk every morning that I can.
Maria Eugenia De Leon Ramirez is my maid
Mary maintains my paradise and keeps the guests happy in our bed and breakfast
Mi Casa es Su Casa
This is my home in paradise. It is also my small bed and breakfast. The many guests have also become my friends.
The fountain in my back yard
I sit around this fountain quite often and think how lucky I am to live in this paradise
Kitty and Cat
My two cats like to sleep in the jeep. I gave a lot of thought when I named them.
Taco Belle
My faithful companion and watchdog.
