We don't want to leave the island!!! Well, just our room, maybe.....

Island life is amazing. Despite the shower in our room that leaked (flooded) out into the rest of the miniscule bathroom, we did very much enjoy our time on the island. Pirate Island is not very large at all. Much smaller, in fact, than any of us expected. But that was okay. Maybe it was better that there weren't any shops or 'town' so to speak, since I had a hard enough time warding off the peddlers on the beach!

We also spent time on the other side of the island. The water was 'rougher' as that is the side the waves hit directly, but it was more private and gorgeous.





We even had the chance to head out to an aquarium for Jennifer. It was totally worth the trip! We saw some bull sharks. Okay, not really bull sharks, but that is what I thought when I saw them. They were reddish in color and they sucked up their food like vacuum cleaners! Yup, we saw those sharks eating and there was a brave bird who actually stood on top of them to steal fish!!! BRAVE!!!!



There were turtles



and I loved this blue-eyed fish. It kept tipping sideways to peek at us.


And they had rays, including this really really really long one. Very strange.


Almost as strange as the fish that circled for food!


Jen's favorites were the dolphins!




But just when we thought our time on the island all about relaxation and quiet.....

I had a near death experience!!!!

Yes, that's right. I went out for one last snorkle, to say goodbye to the coral and the fish and just as I was trying to get really close to these really cool needle-nose fish..... BANG! Or rather STING STING STING!!! I felt this stinging sensation all up my left arm. I swam to the steps and climbed out, telling the concierge about what happened. He sent me to the kitchen area where a wonderful woman poured vinegar over my wounds.


Whew! I survived. We did decide at that point, however, to spend the rest of the day in the shade.




And we weren't the only ones. Several of the peddlers were taking a time out as well.



And then it was time to go. We had one last toast at the bar to say farewell,



took in the views once more,




and were sent on our way by a friendly toucan.

Aaargh, matey!!!

And finally, we made for Isla del Pirata!! Oh, we were so ready for the beaches and the sun and the relaxation.....


There was even our very own mermaid offshore!


The island was so pretty; a real paradise.





We didn't have the best room on the island... but that just gives us more to talk about later!!!!



The views from the island more than made up for it, though. The water was CRYSTAL clear ~ just gorgeous. The different hues of blue/turquoise/green have to do with whether or not there is sea grass growing. The sand is white and beautiful.




And relax we did! We played in the water, read, and tried to deflect the vendors! Yup, that's right, there were people who came to this itty bitty island and just hung out trying to sell necklaces, hair braids, bracelets, shrimp.... It was pretty uncool.






And there were the cutest crabs on the coral around the island. Christina especially loved them! And lots of birds ~ some liked to steal leftovers during mealtimes!



My favorite past time on the island was snorkling! Christina and I donned masks and flippers and we went on a tour of a nearby reef. (Jennifer didn't have her contacts with her and the mask didn't work over her glasses. She seemed very content to lay on the beach and read though.) The coral was so gorgeous even though sometimes we were afraid that we would scrape our tummies on it when the waves pulled us through the water! And the fish were totally awesome! They were all different colors and shapes ~ it was like watching the Discovery Channel, only through my mask!!! The man who rented us the equipment took a liking to us, or at least our enthusiasm, and he let us keep everything for the whole time we were there. I loved it!!

Day at the beach and a Night on the town

This day was devoted to sheer relaxation and enjoyment. After a wonderful night's sleep, the girls and I rented one of those little cabanas on the beach and spent the day in the surf and the sun! It was hot and sunny and the water felt amazing!!! The waves were fun to ride! We even got really good at saying no to all the vendors!!!! (Now that is an accomplishment to be toasted!!!)

Then we spruced up and headed out ~




We actually went into the old town both nights that we were in Cartagena, but the first night we splurged and took a coach in to the old town!





The old walled city is so beautiful. The buildings all painted brightly, the lights up for the holiday, the air warm and the breeze soft.







We even found a Botero there in the middle of the Plaze de Santa Domingo!



The second night we even met my friend, Kim, from Bogota!



There we all met up with my friend Beth and her fiance, Luis who is from Cartagena. They were in town for the holiday and invited all of us to go out dancing with them.








We went to a favorite night spot, Mister Barilla's, where the girls could salsa. Some cousins of Luis' were there and so they were kind enough to be dancing partners for us. So the girls did get a chance to learn a little salsa.



However, most of the music was not salsa, so we were all right at home dancing!



All in all, it was a really fun night ~ even though I know the girls wished that their own men were with us....

Oh! Did I mention that I got a tattoo?