The Crew Arrives

up early for once
6.30
walk on the beach
the sand is the color of mud
and soft
the sun is low
shining over my shadow
I walk
a kilometer
and back
check on early breakfast
nope
the pool is being cleaned
wake the kids
and get them ready for the day
with sunscreen
spf 100 for our faces
a big bottle for the rest
and clothing
the shoes come last
katherine wants to try papaya
and it's for breakfast
along with
very cold sweet red watermelon
pina fresh cut with juice
running down their chins
the children eat seconds
and thirds
and if you look at alexanders plate
maybe fourteenths of watermelon
with bread and strawberry jam
or blackberry jelly
orange juice as well
sweetened with a little sugar
the first trip
of many back and forths
we went to see the crocodiles
lounging in the river
in the sun
along the bank
attracting tourists along the bridge
as cars and camiones
zoom past
too close for a mothers
comfort
when she watches her child
try to cross like the chicken
or the iguana roadkill
a bit too slowly
to show a real awareness of the situation
while she struggles with the others
that are clearly too young
the crocodiles, though are cool
and the children count
one then three
then six and nine
twelve no thirteen
ending at twenty seven
or maybe only twenty three
either way it seems like a lot of
hungry hungry crocodiles
afterwards I keep my promise
and buy cups of icecream
chocolate for 400
and loralee a jugo de maracuya
passion fruit
which is my favorite
in the store by the roadside
and shop for hats
everyone needs a hat
pink with a bow
or brown
or tan with snaps
or multi colored with crochet frills
that unwind in the car
as we drive back to meet grandma and grandpa
(but we stop at the national park on the way
it's noon and maybe a little late to enter
since it's too hot)
they've arrived
and went for dinner
down the beach
I looked in the pelican
but they went the other way
and ate ceviche
we saw them when they came back
without grandpa
who went on a birding tour
back by the crocodiles
so all of us
ate bread and jam and tunafish sandwiches
and hurried to leave
except katie
who needs to sleep study swim
go back up the street
its about 40 km
to the park
and pick up dad
but not at the first entrance
but rather at the second
little exit
then the plan is a river boat bird tour
(more birds)
down the road 5 km and along a small beach town
to where the crocodile man lives
$30 per person
we load into the boat
mom
loralee
david
alex
katherine
rebecca
the camera
the tripod
laramie
and nearly leave
when we return for some Colombians
who join us
Dad goes crazy
with the camera
and the binoculars
it was really fun
and I'm sure that someday soon
I'll be able to list all the herons and other birds
we saw
along with the osprey and teal
but not today
I did see one bird that was easy to recognize
chicken
used by the barefoot
crazy lucas
to feed the huge crocodiles
standing barefoot
and slapping the water
until the predator sensed the meat
and like a circus trainer
the crocodile danced for his food
huge
1 ton
dancing crocodiles
when you pet them
they feel like
moss
several were fed
apparently the risk is worth the tip
another highlight
were the birds
we stopped and setup the tripod
to take one photo
or maybe one hundred
and tried to see the birds in trees
and along the bank
stably enough
in a rocking boat
to get a crisp shot
good luck with that
1/1000 of a second helps
so does IS
and back at the bank
we look for scarlet macaws
one block before the town
in the almond trees
but they arent there
se alquila los banos
and alex was dancing
I met a 7 year old girl mela
who gave me change
before we drove back to the cabins
I was tired and grouchy
and wanted dinner
grandma volunteered to feed the kids cereal
I was impatient
she stayed with the kids
who would rather swim than eat
we went out for our "date"
with katie & david
gazpacho
tuna
ceviche
soupa de mariscos
red snapper
mahi-mahi
cheesy bread
water
made the meal
in american dollars
not very cheap
but good
before coming back
talking about tomorrows plans
get up swim in ocean in pool breakfast checkout noon
then meet erik in dominical
lets see how it goes
copying photos
email
etc.
and a moment to talk politics by the pool
before I'm off to bed
early
not.