Bahia de Banderas

My third full day here began with fresh coffee, papaya, and delicious jamaica (a tamarind drink) on the veranda, while Rich continued reading The Hobbit aloud to me. We are somewhere around chapter four with Gandalf and Thorin examining swords with Elrond. We will continue reading in just a little bit. (Confession: I have never read The Hobbit before. Tolkien's writing works very well, read aloud, especially in the hands of a skilled reader, such as Richard.)

After breakfast, the better part of the day was spent on the hot sand beaches of the Bay of Banderas. A delicious breeze from the ocean provided just enough relief from the high heat and humidity, and then of course, there was the bay itself, the beautiful, beautiful bay. The water here is a very comfortable temperature so no thermal shock is involved when getting in. Being a bay, the waves are playful, without being too physical. And being their "low season", we are not surrounded by hordes of North Americans but instead, small numbers of local Mexican families who are here on holiday.

It's wonderful. I haven't felt so relaxed in a long time. And the best part? There's so much more to come.

I'll have another margarita, on the rocks.