Winter vacations

We had some nice time off the last two weeks off, and I barely touched any computer, but read 5 books.  We also visited a few folks, and went to South Padre Island - cold, windy, but beautiful nevertheless.

Even the water was not very cold - but currents prohibit swimming most times we're down there.

Quite empty beach on South Padre Island, TX

Our sweet little dog on his first beach trip, enjoying a good run and a stiff breeze.

Galapagos Trip - the beach on Isabella at the hotel

Fine sand - with some lava rocks in some areas - but a wonderful beach. No dirt or garbage, no dogs, no people. Animals up close - pelicans, and a surprise visit of a sea lion, pufferfish in shallow areas. Crabs, sea iguanas on the rocky parts. Absolutely wonderful.

(Galapagos trip part I, part II, part III , part IV, part V and VI )

Sand on the beach 

Chairs are 20 meters from the sea - separated by fine sand only.

Mangrove flowers on the beach 

Sally Lightfoot crabs

Empty beach

Wading bird

Coconut palm

A few days off

We had a few nice days off - travelling to the Mexican Border, staying with family.

Including a nice visit to the Brownsville Zoo (just before it started to pour like crazy) and South Padre Island. The water actually was quite warm - so nice to get into the ocean again. And the clouds were very welcome. Still hot, but not too hot - just right.

At the beach - in and out of the water all the time

and Udo petting the stingray.