Beauty, Beasts and Buildings
 Apparently, island shopping and mingling with the locals seems to take a huge toll on one since I was exhausted by the time I returned to my hotel. Once again I showered and dressed for dinner, this time in the elegant dining room. The meal was great and I quickly retired for the evening. But one cannot sleep too long in paradise or it's quite possible to miss something. This "something" was the awesome sunrise that poured into my suite at 5:30Am the next day and here, I have captured the moment to always remember.
After a delightful breakfast I decided to stroll the property this morning to take in the early events that many seem to miss. Down by the pool, the staff had already straightened chairs, set up cabanas, opened the towel exchange and dive shop around the crystal clear pool and waterfalls. I strolled down to the near empty beach and just sat there admiring the beauty before me when soon a "buddy" quitely appeared. You see, these islands are inhabited with many different creatures and no less than the prehistoric looking iguanas. They have been made nearly tame by being around people on a daily basis and often come up to you without fear. In fact, they seem to love the pool area as well, perhaps because at noon daily, the staff actually feeds them near the hot tubs...(I wonder if they think the steam benefits their skin?)
Here you see a view of the hotel looking up from the beach itself. Located on somewhat of a hill, it fronts the coast and has approximately 300 rooms.Encompassing several acres, it also boasts a private spa, tennis courts, putting greens, an exercise gym and weight room, a duck pond, four shops, a tourist guide center, computer facilities, three restaurants, two bars, a nightclub, conference halls, and a wedding gazebo overlooking the ocean four floors below my suite, where I actually watched three different weddings from my balcony during my stay. 
A quietness unlike any other permeated the air as the palm frons swayed gently on the early moring breeze. The abundance of heat and rainfall makes for a wonderful growing region Here on the property I also found many coconut trees amongst the lush vegation. Other flowers and shrubs included (but not limited to): hybiscus, oleander, dates, mangroves, cannas, various palm trees and bougainvillea. I could have spent the day just touring the grounds but other diversions beckoned me. What would today bring?
Today's Quote:
No hammers fell, no ponderous axes rung;
Like some tall palm the mystic fabric sprung. 1
Majestic silence!-Reginald Heber
8:43:04 PM 
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