Another easy passage, two nights. Nothing going on, we cooked, ate read, watched movies and even had a cold Pacifico. We arrived at the entrance around 4am, too dark to enter the marina. There was absolutely no wind, Eric turned off the engine and Makai floated in place one mile off shore until after our breakfast of cherry and apple crepes.
This beautiful display reminds us that the Spanish missionaries spread the word of God throughout central and south America. I know they spread plenty of other less desirable things here as well but at least Jesus remains important to the people here.
Barra de Navidad was first recorded in 1535, then on Christmas Day in 1540 New Spain’s first Viceroy sailed in and crossed the sand bar, naming the port Barra de Navidad. The little port was used for a shipyard and in 1564 four ships set off to discover a route to and from the Philippine Islands. They all arrived safely but unfortunately only one ship returned the following year. This voyage began the 250 year trade route connecting Asia with New Spain. Barra de Navidad didn’t necessarily become a busy thriving port for traders, but has maintained a quaint small town atmosphere frequented by tourists who enjoy the beach here.
For most of our trip we tried to avoid marinas, but the ones we’ve encountered along this coast are reasonably priced with fabulous amenities. Here the slip rate if you spend 5 nights is 70 cents a foot. That’s less than the price of a night at a Motel 6 . Here we enjoyed beautiful pools with slides, a swim up bar that serves killer margaritas, activities for the kids like ping pong, Foosball, and water volley ball. The marina was clean with floating docks, free water and inexpensive power.
Everything was quiet when we arrived early, but as the day wore on things picked up and the place was down right lively. Apparently the Mexicans celebrate Semana Santos for two weeks around Easter. Families from big cities like Guadalajara flock to the beach resorts.
Each morning we were treated to the French Baker. We could give him an order for the next morning or just choose from what ever was available when he came around to our dock.
Some of our favorites were the ham and cheese croissants and berry pie.
Roy loved the chocolate croissant. We also sampled coconut pie, key lime pie, chocolate pie, and jalapeno baguette.
Eric spotted Regardless here in the marina. Sheldon Gebb confirmed that this is a boat he once owned with a partner and did the Transpac race to Hawaii on many years ago.
As always we keep our eyes open for critters. This puffer fish got spooked and we watched him bob around forever trying to deflate himself.
Beautiful, but scary to me are the jelly fish. I’m very sensitive to things that sting in the water and one look at those long flowing tentacles keeps me dry.
We were used to seeing iguanas in the Bahamas, but they were always in a big colony at the beach where tourist boats would come and flip them a few heads of lettuce. Here the iguanas are all over the place living like any other lizard in you back yard.
We met up with our old friends Chris and Lorry on Hiolani right away. They cruised their boat down here more than 20 years ago and found a little piece of land on a canal and started building their home. Soon after it was finished it was destroyed in an earthquake. But hey, now they know how to build houses so they started over again. We originally met Chris and Lorry while they were visiting and working summers in California and then again when we cruised down here in 1997 and 1999.
Their house is beautiful decorated with plants they found while hiking in the jungles outside of town.
They also do some amazing wood work. They made all the cabinets, and tables, many of the chairs and decorations like these brief cases. Everything has a story. Lorry tells about the names she’s given the animals and often includes their boat, Hiolani in the scenes.
Just when you don’t think their wooden projects could get any better, they throw the cover off of one of their first projects, Woody, car with a wooden body.
Many of our days in town were shared with Chris and Lorry. The girls decorated eggs with sharpies and made the most beautiful eggs I’ve ever seen them decorate.
It will be a shame to crack open these intricate pieces of art.
Out in the garage the guys worked on fishing lures.
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After Topaz thoroughly searched the house and we put the dangerous things up high they way you would for a toddler, she settled in for a nap on the couch where she could keep an eye on the household activities.
Not only are they masters with wood working, Chris is also a master marine engine mechanic by trade.
Our new outboard engine has always been difficult to start. After advising Eric where to lube and change oil, they developed a plan to prime the engine before starting and amazingly it now starts with the first pull.
Thursday was market day in the streets. Lorry took us into town to look for provisions and trinkets we just couldn’t live without. How about a pregnant Barbie?
How about intricate bead work from indigenous craftsmen. Well, maybe we don’t really need all that, but we did find a berry stand and loaded up with blueberries, black berries and strawberries. I cleaned them all and everyone scarfed them up. The leftovers were whipped into smoothies in our new blender.
Chris and Lorry tilled, planted the soil in the vacant lot across their little street. We were treated to a tour of the garden. There is a big sweet potato patch as well as stevia, with super sweet leaves that are processed into sugar substitute.
They also have sunflowers that they steamed up for dinner and nasturtium, edible flowers. I was surprised that the kids tried every interesting leaf that Chris passed out to them, including the flower.
This is a great use for a lot perpetually for sale.
The marlin and sailfish sculpture greets visitors coming into Barra de Navidad. The sculpture is more than 5 meters high, is considered to be the largest Marlin sculpture anywhere and was placed in the Guinness Book of World records in 2011.
Chris and Lorry seem to know everyone in town. They stopped by one shop to say hi and the owner was feeding this little baby. She said she found five of them abandoned and had distributed them to friends for round the clock feedings. This little guy is about 10 days old and doesn’t even have his eyes open.
Down on the Malecon, sea wall, is the Nereida and Triton sculpture. It was erected to commemorate the 400 anniversary of the Philippine Island voyage in 1554. While at the ice cream store we met up with Georgie and Bao who wandered around town with us the rest of the day.
Don’t look up, we’re crossing the street.
Marina Isla Navidad was really comfortable with slips the right size for a catamaran.
Eric went out for a sail with Brian and his friend from back home Josh on Cat2Fold while I spent the day at the pool with all the kids. Cat2Fold is a is a light weight catamaran with freestanding side by side masts. Brian can fold it up and trailer the boat back to Jackson, WY for lake sailing.
The pool was relaxing but the 4pm dock party was moving into Makai’s cockpit, so I better get home.
Sailing friends come and go and come back again. Our Cat2Fold friends left today but Marie quickly made friends with Nadia at the pool.
The resort is an all inclusive if you have a wrist band and a popular destination for Canadians, Americans and Mexicans on spring break. there are three levels of pools with slides connecting each pool and a hot tub near by.
Between the great food and company in town and the easy life of a resort marina, it was really hard to throw off the dock lines and leave. But two fun anchorages and another resort marina are next in our schedule.
