Z-ventures: MOVED DOWN TO THE OCEAN...

Friday, March 2, 2012

MOVED DOWN TO THE OCEAN...

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1012 - Costamar (Part 1) - It's been a while since I posted anything on here--partly because of frustration with the last effort, partly because we moved and have a luscious view of the ocean and promenade from our balcony that I have to gaze at (OFTEN!) and partly because I was busy with our friends, Rob & Thelma who spent 9 days with us! We moved in on February 15th and early afternoon they arrived from England! We had a ball with them and I have been missing them since they left a week ago. So some of the highlights since we moved down the hill to this apartment have been:

Our fab view that we NEVER get tired of:

The sunset version from our balcony (even better in person!):

And then then looking back up towards the mountains from our balcony (love those mountains!):

Our romantically beautiful night view of the lights over the promenade and reflecting on the ocean:

Fun with friends!
We had lots of laughs, tons of good food and just literally a blast with Rob & Thelma! Thelma & I had such fun times shopping and laughing. Rob & Geoff found some good beer to keep them occupied when we shopped! I sure do miss them and hope to see them again real soon! It's times like these that I wish England wasn't across such a big pond! :(

Here's Rob and Thelma in our apartment the night we went to a late dinner with other English friends who they and Geoff know and who live here now--it was a fun night which ended at Charley's Bar listening to live music:

On the way to Santa Cruz

We all (Rob, Thelma, Geoff and I) decided to take one of the hundreds of buses going to Carnival in Santa Cruz on the 22nd and we had quite a day--the colors of the costumes were indescribly gorgeous and the floats were grand--we had a beautiful, sunny day along with thousands of others who came to celebrate! The theme in Santa Crzs was "love & peace" and we saw lots of 60s themed costumes along with just other creative ones--hard to pick my favorite but I will post a few of the better pictures I got from our day out:

One of the views from the ride up the west side of island to Santa Cruz!

The ocean was beautiful!

View of a fishing village through the water pipes!

Arrived at the Marina in Santa Cruz--built up into the mountains!

Carnival

People of all shapes, sizes, ages, nationalities & religions participate in Carnival--as do many of the spectators who attend--it's one day to let down your hair (or even buy new hair!).

Some of the costumes in the crowd!

Geoff considers new hair but decides it is too hot for his head! Groovy look!

I opt for the rainbow mohawk that becomes my hat! :)

Just a tine bit of the crowd--Tim would've hated this!

One tall tranny!

Some dancers!

Queen of the Carnival--Queen Carmen!

Costumes with wings!

More beautiful wings!

Thonged dupa dancers! LOL

One of many beautiful floats!

Lots of young people participate in the parade!

A cute costumed drill team!

Some 60s dressed guy clowns!

More great costumes!

Some heavy headgear!

Another gorgeous float headed our way!

The End--literally!

We watched hours of costumes and floats go by then headed to this nice Chinese Restaurant and had something to eat. We walked around the parade streets enjoying the evening and looking at the clean up after the parade activities. We got to see the fireworks over the harbor (although I didn't get a decent picture of them!). To end the evening--a lit up cruise ship in the harbor: