Good Morning From Paradise! This is the view from our bed this morning. Absolutely gorgeous morning! We slept in until 8:30… sort of. 🙂 Huevos Rancheros are being prepared as I write this and we are looking forward to a day of downtime, with the exception of a couple of massages and some fishing from the flats in front of our house.
I woke up this morning with an overwhelming feeling to write so, I started blogging to document the last couple of days of our amazing honeymoon. Marci and I have decided to alternate days of authoring and editing so as to get two perspectives of this magical trip.
After breakfast, we spent the first few hours of hour day drinking coffee, writing, and taking pictures. We reflected on our wedding experience, our families, and the amazing place in which we sat. Times and places like this have a way of invoking deep thoughts, thoughts of how truly lucky we are to have found each other. We have so much to be thankful for, and I have found myself praying and thanking God multiple times throughout the day.
The day is warm and clear here in Cayo Espanto. We have spent most of the afternoon dodging the sun while creatively crafting. The UV rays reflecting from the water’s surface are still enough to tan our bodies.
We had a lovely lunch at about 1:00. Marci had the Sicilian Salad with watermelon, papaya, and chicken. She said she wasn’t sure what was so Sicilian about it. LOL. I had the Chicken Club Salad (Shocker, I know) which was kind of like a cross between a club sandwich and a Ceasar salad… Delish! A couple of Cayo Espanto Waves quenched our thirst.
After lunch, Marci returned to her book “The Last American Man” – by Elizabeth Gilbert and I returned to my 9 foot, 8 weight… that’s techy talk in the fly fisherman’s world for those of you not in the know. Brenda the masseuse arrived at our house at 2:00 and I was more than happy to let Marci have first dibs. I spent some time stalking the Bones that call Cayo Espanto their home but, they are spooky little jokers. After tying on a couple of different flies with no luck, I decided to tie on an additional four feet of tippet (13 feet total) and practice casting with a little minnow fly. Wouldn’t you know it, right as I started to get the hang of casting the longer leader, I found a school of around 50-60 small 1-2 pound barracuda off the long dock by our house! After a couple of chases with no hookups, a nice little two pounder found his way on to my line. My first ‘cuda on a fly!
I decided not to repeat the “Look Bird, it’s a Barracuda” experience from Monday. I could see through the open double doors of the house. Marci laying in nothing but a sheet over her bottom as lovely mocha-skinned Brenda massaged the pre-wedding stress out of Marci’s shoulders and neck. I knew she was in heaven. Before I knew it, Marci’s hour was over and mine was to begin. Relaxing atmosheric music played from the satellite tv, the smells of exotic oils filled the air. It has been many years since I have had a professional massage. I need to make sure I do it again soon. The hour long massage seemed like 15 minutes. When I awoke, my neck and shoulders were void of the kinks I had come with. Brenda the masseuse has healing hands.
After our massages it was time for a dip in the pool. Alex and Chef Richard soon greeted us with cocktails and the dinner menu. Tonight’s choice, Paella with Conch, Shrimp, and Spiney Lobster for Marci, Lamb Osso Buco served with pearl onions, and mashed potatoes for me.
Alex setup a dinner table at the end of the large dock this evening. Candles inside of brown bags lined the path to our destination. New sand drawings were also added on our path as well as “Chad and Marci.” The attention to detail is very impressive here! Our meal was delicious as always and once again we found ourselves pondering the question… “Is it wrong to go to bed at 9:00?” A full stomach, sun kissed bodies, and an ice cold room… I think a 9:00 bedtime is just fine.