April 22 - Quits, Frigates and a Pod of whales

Arriving at Secrets Marquis greeted by our hosts and being reminded to relax, enjoy and feel the sand between our toes was wonderful. With an updated lay of land it was time to shed our gear and get on with the very serious business of relaxing, getting to know the other President Awards 2013 winners, and get some wildlife watching in (and no, not talking about the Cabo Wabos).

Migration season is pretty well over for the birds that have been coming up from SA, but the natives are still fun to look for.... Little yellow quits in the coconut trees, purple finches finding the perfect spot to have the sun explode off their breast and stately frigate birds patrolling where the fish are jumping. The tide was in ebb when we arrived and there was a sizable school of fish, probably red snapper, hunting smaller fish around the rocks, creating these boils to suddenly break from the surface so you would see the flashes before they splashed back under the waves. Was a red flag day, and the do not recommend swimming in the surf directly in front of the resort, but to go up or down the beach for safer access.

Walking the beach, the surf was a force not to ignore! The drop has to be close to shore for the rollers to break where they are and surge up the beach, if you are not vigilant or steady on your feet it will knock you down or soak you. Folks out surf casting for red snapper and bass, a washed up puffed fish, expired, and ghost crabs fleeing every footstep.

Dinner was on the beach, and our before dinner show, as though planned, was a pod of whales and dolphins playing about 1/2 mile out from shore, leaping, tail slapping, and waving to their adoring fans.