Hope things are well with you. It's hard to believe we have been on Margarita for 3 weeks already. Time flies when you are having fun!!
Things have slowed down at the hotel and on the island this week. March apparently is low season here. Steve and Cheryl left on the 17th and we are down to us and a young couple from Argentina. Today 3 girls from Russia are arriving and then things pick up with the Easter Season which is suppose to be a crazy 10 day holiday for Venezeulans starting around March 27th They say the island will be packed with people. Should be interesting!!
We have had a very enjoyable week with our new friends we met at our hotel. Steve and Cheryl are Canadian but have been working and living in Central/South American and Africa for the past 20 years (in the gold mining business). We hung out with them at the beach, hotel and went out for evening dinners. We had lots of laughs and good times! Here are some shots of last week's activities!
Steve and Cheryl
A favourite restaurant Dona Maria's
Warren and Cheryl
Steve - ready for the waves!
Mallory and Steve
View of Playa Parguito
Open Sea to the East
Beach Vendor
Need I say more?
Typical Sunday on the Beach
The kids are so cute!!
Surfer School and Rentals
Two university students from Caracas (Wilfred and Nelson)
Preparing Fish at the Beach Well, our blackout has changed from M/W/F 7-9 p.m. to M/W/F 3-5 p.m. which suits us better. They say the water resevoir will be dried up by May which is what is used to produce the power on the island. Yikes!! Chavis says not to worry but most Venezuelans we have met blame Chavis for problems on the island and they are not holding their breath for the power situation to get any better unless there is rain soon. Need I say more regarding Chavis!!! He has full control of the country. Kind of scary!
The Beach close to us (4 blocks)
Warren, Steve and Rapheal (a waiter at Dona Marias)
A favourite Spot We have a driver named Simone. He is a very nice man and is available whenever we need to go somewhere. He will drop us off somewhere, pick us up at a certain time, go somewhere else, wait and so on. He only charges about $7 per hour. Unbelievable!! We have been all over the island with him.
Simone, helping us with our groceries
Delicious Fish Empenadas
Play Aqua
Warren helping to push the corn barrel!! We have heard 80% of Venezeulans live on minimum wage which is about $200 a month. Rather shocking!! I guess the other 20% are wealthy.
This guy makes special cocktails from his cooler and does a dance as well!
Fresh Mango
We love the kids!!
Our beer of choice!
The towel artistry at our hotel is amazing!!(The greenery and flowers are real)
We have become VIP's at the beach. Our favorite beach bar offered us a year pass for the rental of the chairs, lounges and umbrellas. We paid $30 for a whole year which is transferable. Normally it costs $5 a day. So after our 6th time, we are beaching for free!! And with the delicious food they serve and 40 cents a beer how can you loose!! Jenny (below) works at the beach bar. She has 4 kids. The pre schoolers come with her to work. They are the happiest kids! Her husband also works there. Everyone at the beach plays with Willy and when is tired, he sleeps in the hammock!!
Jenny and her baby Willy.Last Saturday, Dan and Kira (owners of the hotel) invited us to a little party on their patio. We met Kira's family, listened to some good music, danced, drank, and played dominos. It was really fun!
Kira and Dan They have these really cool fold up dominos tables with slots for your drinks and a ledge for your dominos. They are quite serious about this game. Warren and I took on Kira and Jeanny and we won!!!
Kira and Jeanny
Jeanny, Corinna and her boyfriend Carlos. Jeanny and Corinna work at the hotel. Corinna is Kira's sister. Corinna has worked here for 20 years.!
Corinna and Carlos
Fiesta with JeannyOn day we took a tour with Simone. First we went shopping at the fancy mall. From there we went to the historical Simon Bolivar Plaza. Very interesting to see the people sitting around and the 6 blocks of markets. Next we stopped at a famous street for shopping. There was every brand name store there you can imagine and talk about fancy stores!! Shoppers you would be in paridise! Next we stopped along the coast of Pampatar and visited a historical fort and church. Finally stopped for a few groceries and then home. It was a busy day and very hot!!!
Shopping Mall
Simon Bolivar Plaza
Simon Bolivar himself. He was instrumental in freeing Venezeula from Spain in the 1800's and has the currency name after him (bolivar)
Plaza Market
Historical Catholic Church
Church dating back to the 1600's in Pampatar
A fort from the 1500's including a moat!!
A few days ago we visited a new beach called, Playa Manzanillo. Hardly any tourists, very quiet. Also, Manzanillo is a noted fisherman village and beach. The water is calm and pleasant to swim in. It was interesting to watch the fisherman go about their day's business, coming and going, setting trains (net traps) and fishing out their catch. We had the most delicious lunch, garlic fish fillet and mussels!!
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