Boats Afloat

I love the boats on Isla -- especially the ferry boat that takes me there! All the boats are beautiful with the turquoise blue Caribe as a backdrop. But without all the rustic pangas, Isla Mujeres wouldn't be the same! Picture all the water and docks along Rueda Medina lined with sleek modern speed and sailboats. The island's ambience would definitely be altered. Here are some of my all time favorite boat pics.

The restaurant at Bally Hoo is my favorite place to watch the boats on Isla come and go. Not to mention I love their fish and chips!

I like to walk straight out Medina along the airstrip on the bayside. Lots of sailboats drop anchor there in the bay, and rustic pangas also dot the shoreline in that area. It's a great area to take photos!

And then there are the multitude of boats in town all up and down Medina along the docks.

Love this sailboat. It was on Isla one May for a regatta.


And the pirate boat!




Never ridden the car ferry, but I love photos of it passing in front of the Posada beach.




And then there are the ferries. I love the Ultramar, but I can't hack being cooped up inside the old Puerto Juarez ferry.

I call this ramshackle conglomeration of boats at Gran Puerto the graveyard. I snap pictures of the graveyard when I'm headed to the airport. You know the fun's over when you see the damn graveyard! :(

Northwest Travels -- Port Townsend

Two years ago when we were putting our house on the market in the Seattle area, the realtor informed us that we needed to get out of there for at least three days so she could work her magic. Real estate was so hot at the time (THOSE were the days!) that you really needed to vacate your house for a few days because the showings literally took place from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. at night. Since we were leaving the Northwest permanently, we decided to take a trip back to the Port Townsend area. Port Townsend has always been one of our favorite day trips in the summer and fall. It's a lovely old Northwest seaport built right on the water (Strait of Juan de Fuca). The downtown area is beautiful with tree and flower-lined streets, historic buildings, good restaurants, cool shops, and great views of the water. And getting there involves a ferry ride (unless you want to drive the long way around), so that makes the trip even better! Port Townsend's a very artsy community with galleries, yearly boat, music, and film festivals, historic home tours, etc... It's a place where there's something going on almost all the time! Here's a YouTube video (not mine) from the Wooden Boat Festival that'll give you a taste of Port Townsend.

Seattle skyline from our departing ferry.

The old Palace Hotel on the main downtown street.

Craig and Saby out for a stroll.

Big trees and flower beds.

Boats in the marina.

Port Townsend Lighthouse.

The Port Townsend Washington State ferry to Whidbey Island.

Cool fountain in the downtown area.

Craig and the other woman!

Another marina shot!

Unfortunately (actually fortunately), our trip was cut short when we got three offers right off the bat. But I'm so glad we got the chance to spend a night and take one last look at one of our favorite haunts in the Northwest!

By the way, if you're ever in the Port Townsend area at dinner time, our favorite restaurant is the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock. It's a little drive from Port Townsend, but it's a really cool cafe in an old general store down on the water. And the food is outstanding! All kinds of fresh seafood fixed in very inventive dishes! Yum!

Ajax Cafe Halibut!