This is Really Big and I think I am going to Drown

This is a photo of one of the Islas Marietas, a few miles off the coast in the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags) where we live. And needless to say, we are still alive, which sitting in the ocean a few days ago, I was not quite sure that we would be.

We were walking to the beach when our friends pulled up in their van and told us to hop in, they were going to the beach in neighboring town, Punta de Mita. We hopped in and drove the 15 minutes to the beach. Little did we know what was in store for us.

Due to a chain of otherwise unpredictable events, we ended up in a tiny boat, some miles out to sea, with these really really big animals that the captain insisted upon taking us closer and closer to.

Humpback whales. About two times the size of our house. And about ten feet from the boat. There are no safety standards here. We got as close as we could. And I dug my nails into Flor's arm in sheer panic. I mean, yes, they were very beautiful and amazing. But I could have maybe appreciated them more if I was not terrified. Or if I had been wearing a life preserver.

Anyway, we will be going back. The whales are here until April. Along with the dolphins and all other kinds of fish that lurk around the islands in their pristine green waters. For our next trick....Snorkeling!!