Seasonal savory dinners, bonfire, hike to Wizard Beach and fireworks.

PHOTO LINK—>>. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Cf9dLVHiemebZxGr6

Christmas Eve:

Was the day after Gavin and family left. La Rosa was had a wonderful Christmas dinner which we throughly enjoyed. La Rosa is one of the Red Frog restaurants situated right above the beach.

It is a beautiful setting. The place was full for dinner. We selected the traditional turkey dinner, and what a wonderful meal! The stuffing was amazing, full of nuts and grains. Sangria was served with dinner and the dessert was Christmas cake and Egg Nog!

We really enjoyed the band that was playing, a family whose music was rhythmic with Spanish vocals.

Bonfire at Red Frog:

We had a quiet Christmas morning followed by a lovely walk.

That evening we went to a bonfire we had been invited to attend. It was held at the side of the Red Frog beach where looking out at sunset was just lovely.

There were a few other cruisers, but mainly residents of the villas were there. All folks we had met during the last few months. It was a very nice evening. We shared nibbles, had a few drinks, chatted and enjoyed each other’s company.

A lovely way to end Christmas.

Walks and sights we see:

On one of our daily walks we were at the end of Red Frog beach when a couple from Holland started talking to us. They were going to attempt to continue the walk and try to get to Wizard Beach.

We decided to tag along and see what the path was like and how far we could get. The problem was we were both in flip flops and the path is reputed to be very muddy and rough.

We didn’t get far before I slipped and nearly planted myself in the mud which made me take off my flip flops and walk it bare footed. Continuing we then came to an area which required walking in the sea. I was not about to attempt that bare footed and so we gave up, but promised our selves to go another day when it was low tide, drier and with proper foot attire.

During several of walks we came across troops of monkeys. There were quite a few of them, plus mothers with babies. We watched them and they watched us. One baby was very adventurous and came quite close to check us out.

The mother was not happy and soon followed to gather him up onto her back.

We have also become very good at sloth spotting, seeing several on most walks.

Seeing them is a daily occurrence. Still spotting birds is a challenge. However we see loads of beautiful butterflies.

Wizard Beach and on to Old Bank:

So, about 4 days after our first venture towards Wizard beach, on the eve of NeYear’s Eve we headed off again towards Wizard Beach. This time we equipped ourselves with walking sticks, water 1st aid and snacks and headed into the wooded area behind Red Frog Beach at the north west end.

The pathway was somewhat drier, but still quite muddy and slippery. Unfortunately, just as we were under the trees it started to drizzle. The bonus was the rain kept us cool. It was not as difficult as we had thought to get to Wizard Beach. It took about an hour along a path that was at times, uphill, downhill, with deep mud, along a beach, over rocks and fallen trees, but quite passable.

Wizard Beach was quite spectacular, even in the rain.

There were a few other adventurous folks there, but they were all much younger than us. We walked the entire length of the beach. It is much wider and longer than Red Frog beach, plus the surf is wilder.

We found what we thought was the pathway to Old Bank, and set off down it. Again this pathway was under the cover of trees, then through boggy, muddy, slippery, mucky areas where one had to tread very carefully.

Next there was a few steep, muddy uphill stretches and we came to cleared areas where there were large fields with cattle, plus what looked like farm huts.

Lovely lush fields were on either side of us as the path followed the ridge-line.

There were cattle grazing in the pastures, small farm huts in the shade of trees, hammocks strung, chatter from some cottages, we were emerging from the slippery, muddy, slopes.

We were both quite surprised by the way the island changed. When looking from the seaward side one would never imagine what the center was like.

Eventually we emerged into Old Bank, passing several homes along a pathway we joined the sidewalk that led us into Old Bank.

Old Bank is so wonderfully colorful. It is where the Afro-Carib population lives. Many ended up here generations ago during the old banana plantation days of American Fruit Company. Their culture and language are still Caribbean Island, lively, colorful, and bold.

We returned to the same restaurant as our previous visit and again had a great fish and chip lunch. After lunch we walked the sidewalk to the other end of town. Passing many homes where children played and ladies were busy with laundry or such.

Again just so very colorful.

New Year’s Fireworks:

After much thought about whether I was able, or capable, of staying awake?? I suggested to John we get a hotel room in Bocas town for New Years night. He thought it was a great idea, Vista Mar was booked the day before New Year.

There were two reasons for going into Bocas town for New Years, the 1st was restaurant Omm and the second was Chinese fireworks.

We arrived at Vista Mar around 3:00pm, finding our room to have a terrific little porch to sit out on with view out over the north anchorage. In the evening we walked to Omm. This is an Indian restaurant that serves great tasting curries, proper Indian ones.

There we enjoyed a very nice dinner of chicken Tikka Masala, samosas and garlic nan together.

After which we sauntered back to our room….the town didn’t look any closer to a major fireworks display than it did earlier. By then I only had 3 hours to stay awake…..well that 3 hours passed dreadfully slow. I played games on my phone, something I rarely do, but it kept me awake.

Finally it was time to head into town to see the famed fireworks. Surprisingly still shops were open, and the only difference was there were lots of people about, but no barriers, yes a few police at the end of the main road, but not really any semblance of a fireworks about to begin. We made our way up to the area where the bigger grocery stores were located.

There we could see something being set up in the middle of the street. It looked like a long swirling red cable, or a fat red snake that swirled along the road for a few hundred feet. There was definitely an air of expectation felt from the crowd that had now gathered on either side of the road, when from the far end the snake had been lit and began to explode as it ran along. By the time the explosions got to the end where we were the sound was deafening, so bad it made me feel dizzy! Sickerly loud!

It stopped and then the fireworks erupted from the middle of the street. Massive explosions, rockets shooting into the air. There were 3 main locations outside the 3 bigger grocery stores. One display would last for 10 minutes or so then another, and another and so on it went for over an hour.

The smoke was all around, the ash fell all over, this was a fireworks display like no other. The story is that the grocery stores compete each New Year for the best display. It’s a matter of pride, so cost is not spared. The fireworks are imported directly from China and set up as only they know how.

Returning to Red Frog Marina the next day, as we walked through town we saw the empty fireworks boxes. Piles of them in front of the Supermarkets. John, being curious, lifted one and found they are heavy, and must be weighted at the bottom. Guessing this is what stops them from falling when fired….