4/12/16 SAPODILLA BAY, TAYLOR BAY, BUGALOO'S

4/12/16  Breakfast-egg, toast, coffee.  Using up those groceries we bought.  We have decided to go south in search of calmer beaches.  Not too hard to find.  First stop-Sapodilla Bay beach.  Small area for parking.  There's a sign about the Sapodilla Hill historic site of rock carving dating back to the 1700s  I can imagine what the view would be like from up there.  Not far but narrow path, rocky, and I'm wearing flip flops.  Not too smart.  Really should have sturdier shoes to make the climb easier.  Saw the carvings-interesting.  Thought to be carvings made by sailors.  Took some pictures and used the video camera to capture the panoramic scenic view also. 

Driving to Sapodilla

The view as you climb

This last part was the worse

From the top

Access path to the beach is not long.  We have brought towels, water, sunscreen.......Very little shade here but this beach is a dream.  Water is so calm/still.  Beautiful color, warm, and shallow.  Feels like you walk out forever before it hits your waist.  Great for a swim.  There are several villas for rent here.  That's where the loungers and umbrellas are.  You have to bring your own with you as no where to even rent them like you can at Coral Gardens.  We see 2 small turtles but are unable to capture them on our UW camera.  They're too smart!  Richard snorkeled out a ways to where the white buoy was.  Remains of small plane there.  Even though the wreck is pretty much encrusted he said nothing much to really see.

Access path to the beach

Best beach we found for swimming-so calm

Beautiful homes

Shallow water-can walk out far before it gets deep

A bit of writing in the sand

Loved this beach!

Access path

Next we drive a short distance to Taylor Bay beach.  Not as nice as Sapodilla in my opinion.  Some sea grass washed up on the beach.  Less shade here.  Some debris in the water.  Someone built a nice sand castle.  A couple arrives with their dog.  Very few people here.  Some nice homes in the area.

Sign by the road where you turn

Longer access path to Taylor Bay

Some shade

Sand castle

Lovely homes

Kayaking

Looks ominous but no rain

Wanted to check out Las Brisas but it was closed.  So for lunch we're thinking Bugaloo's.  We get a table outside.  Lots of folks here.  Then it starts to rain-pretty hard so everyone goes inside.  No tables left inside so we sit at the bar.  Hector is the bartender and he takes our drink order-coke and Red Stripe lager.  The rain stops and the sun comes back out.  Most of those inside go back outside.  We decide to remain at the bar.  Luis takes our food order.  Conch fritters and fish fingers with rice/peas and coleslaw.  There are 10 conch fritters on the plate with a small dish of spicy dipping sauce.  They're tasty but I like the fish fingers meal better.  We share.  I have 2 of the fritters and half of the fish fingers meal.  A very nice lunch although it's around 4:30 pm.  Maybe a very, very early dinner??   Cost without tip $40.25  We have a nice chat with Hector, Luis, and I kid you not-he introduces himself as Omar Sharif!  3 great guys-easy to talk to-very personable.  I ask to take their picture and then they say I have to come behind the bar so Richard can take my picture with them!  We had such a good time just talking about everything and nothing.  We see some guys cracking conch out in the water.  Very lovely setting-right by the water.  Music playing on the loudspeaker.  Lots of people here having a good time.

Closed

Signs like this point the way

Menu

Menu

Conch fritters

Fish fingers

Cracking conch

Hector, Luis, Omar Sharif

Large puddle from the rain earlier

Infamous Suzie Turn

Back to the condo.  Just relaxing out on the balcony.  We decide to open the bottle of red wine that the condo owner had left us.  It was very good.  Richard made us sandwiches for dinner-fried ham, lettuce, and tomato.  Not bad at all.  The wine made me sleep like a baby!!