oh my summer!

Here's what I wrote on January 20th in Eleuthera (Bahamas) after 9 days of being away:

What a lovely trip it's been! I'm loving Eleuthera way more than Nassau. Jude was restless last night and awake since 5:30 am. I finally gave in at 6:30 and got up with him. Strapped on the cuddly wrap and went walking as the sun came up. So peaceful, as locals started stirring - driving to work, walking to school... We followed the coastline, watching birds sift through the buffet left by the receding tide, listening to roosters call out "Good morning! Time to get up!", waving to the locals and enjoying the rising sun.

Some houses are tidy and grand while others are messy and crumbling but everyone you meet says hi and smiles at you. We reached the dock and found, in the shadow of the wall, a school of fish at least a hundred thousand large. Two channels, one above were all swimming towards a ship while below they swam back to shore. Under the barge were more fish than I've seen in my life, turning to flash in the sunshine. We continued our wanderings along the shore, now a rocky bluff overlooking glass clear water. Two billy goats tied up along the rocks grazing the greenery, more roosters and hens, friendly dogs and scared kitties. Started to head home at 8 just as the house was stirring.

It's so nice to be vacationing with so much family - always someone to watch or entertain the bug while mom gets stuff done! I told my dad yesterday that Jude'll be so bored when we go home after all this stimulation. Mom  again?? Blah! I want someone new!

 

 

Yesterday we went to Cocodimama Beach on the Caribbean side. Hardly another soul on a sandy beach littered with perfect shells and jellyfish (not the poisonous kind, apparently). Snorkeling on this side we found starfish, sand dollars and a sea cucumber (i think!). No fish like on the Atlantic side but calm and relaxing. Jude lounged on his towel laid over a carpet of pine needles. Some type of evergreen with long soft needles.. The water close to the shore was so warm we put his feet in the water. Later I slung him with my sarong and we walked the beach, nursing in the sunshine with toes in the water and soft sand. This time away has been rejuvenating. Needed to get away from everything and everyone at home and spend some time alone with my family.