Under the Sea in Curacao

Our trip to Curacao is over, the dive gear washed and stored away, and the photos posted online. The dive gang-Laurie, Chris, Dave, Dale and I spent a week in Curacao at the Marazul Dive Resort near Westpunt, diving with Ocean Encounters West. Our flights on Continental and DAE went smooth, we picked up our rental van and arrived at the resort around 9 pm. Our bungalow, #11 had 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a full kitchen and living area. Tired from a day of travel we crashed after a hot shower. The next morning we did our check-out dive and made arrangements for our boat dive the next day. We drove into town and got supplies at the big Centrum market for the week.
Our dives were good, no current, 79 degree water, 50-60 ft., with pretty good visibility. We saw the usual marine life.....turtles, lots of eels, Christmas tree worms, Flamingo tongues, barracuda, a seahorse, and the biggest green moray eel any of us had ever seen. The reef was pristine, one of the best I have ever seen, lots of huge sponges, corals and soft corals. During our surface interval we stopped at the "Blue Cave" and had a chance to snorkel into the large cavern, an interesting experience. I had the chance to snorkel with a pod of spinner dolphins during one surface interval and it was a thrill. Our captain "Tookie" spotted the pod and yelled for us to put on our snorkel gear, as we neared the dolphins he told us to quietly enter the water and swim toward the pod. Dave and I both got in and began to swim hoping to get closer. Much to my surprise the pod came toward me and swam within a few feet of me. WOW! Dave also got a close up look at the creatures.
We sampled some of the local restaurants in Westpunt....Sol Food and Jannchies. We checked out some of the beaches near Westpunt....Playa Forti, Playa Lagun, and Santa Cruz. Dale and I snorkeled one afternoon at Playa Lagun and enjoyed the crystal clear water.We even saw a local young man that had caught a eel and was butchering it, taste like chicken!
Our last day we drove into Punda for some shopping and sightseeing. The brightly colored buildings lined the streets and made great subjects for our photos. Walking across the Queen Emma floating bridge, it was hard to imagine it was built in 1888. We enjoyed Dutch lunch at an outside cafe with ice cream for dessert.
Saturday we left the resort headed to Hato Airport for our DAE flight to Aruba and then onto the Continental flight to Houston. It was a long day of travel, lots of lines, lots of security screening, but we arrived home safe and sound.
Curacao is very much like Aruba, but the wind seems to blow harder........at times it seemed like hurricane force winds. I also think Curacao has a more European flavor than the other ABC islands. The diving was good, easy, and all went well. Another dive trip in the books!

Living in Color

We now have color at our house, the painter finished painting all the interior rooms. Dale and I started putting up the crown molding, after painting all of it. We started in the small bathroom, it went well, so we tackled another room. Poor Dale spent lots of time measuring, cutting, fitting, and going up and down the ladder. I was in charge of spackeling the joints, sanding the joints, and then painting the joints. Room by room we worked, leaving the family room/kitchen for last.
We came up a few pieces short, called and placed an order which arrived the next day. This weekend we WILL finish the job!

Weekend in Louisiana

This weekend we made a quick trip to Abbeyville, Louisiana for the memorial service for Dale's cousin. Leaving the house early Saturday morning we arrived shortly after lunch at Mike and Bonnie's home. Quickly we changed clothes and left for the memorial service at the funeral home. After the service, family and friends gathered at Mike and Bonnie's house for some refreshments, plus time to visit. After everyone left, we drove out to see Whit's new home that is under construction just outside Abbeyville.
Later in the evening, Whit, Mike, Bonnie, Dale and I enjoyed a great meal at the Riverfront. I had the opportunity to try some of Louisiana's famous "Fried Patfish".......it was delicious!
Sunday morning Whit joined us for a great breakfast that Bonnie had prepared. Before we left we walked over to the cemetery to visit the grave of Dale's grandfather, Oliver Atchetee. On our way home we stopped in Crowley to visit Fray, Dale's uncle, he is a very young and spry 96. He recognized Dale immediately, even though he hadn't seen him in a long time. We made the trek home, driving in the rain almost until the Texas/Louisiana border, arriving just before dark.