Today would be another day of exploring, this time to the north side of the island and the national park. The ‘no-see-ums’, can be ‘aggressive’ at times and REALLY like to go for your ankles. We keep our room doors closed during the day and only turn the air on at night. This morning I woke up and thought I had been attached by a swarm of them that had snuck in during the night and had a convention on my ankles . . . ended up being sauce from last nights dinner . . . wish I could remember more about it!!!!

Before we headed out . . . how about breakfast on the veranda!!

The national park had a couple of whale skeletons on display . . . really magnificent creatures!!!

This park had a nicely remodeled and preserved ‘Landhuis’ which was the home of a plantation owner. Usually very nicely done with lots of rooms. The island has many of these remaining homesteads. Some are B&B’s, some are restaurants’ and some are shops. Some may still be in the original families ownership.

The life and times were explained in the various rooms including the ‘marrying bed’. Click here if you want to know the details!!!

. . . and because of the hot weather here, at the end of life the deceased were usually buried within one day or in many times the day of their death . . . this casket had a viewing window that could be opened and closed!!!

Soon we were on a hike up and over dale heading to the sea . . .

. . . the island is FULL of various forms of cactus’s and some are beginning to bloom!

As we neared the ocean we came upon this high point where we could see the plantation home and Christoffel Peak standing at 1,239 feet above sea level behind us.

One great view . . .

Back at the headquarters we toured around a little more and came across this ‘gaggle’ of  donkeys . . .

. . . right next to them was this more modern form of transport someone used to get to work . . . Shimano group

. . . as I walked back, after taking the bicycle photo, I saw this guy who I must have missed stepping on, by inches, on the way in . . . lucky for him!!!

We took a nice drive through the park backcountry on paved roads so steep I’m not sure how they got the cement to dry instead of sloughing down off the mountain.

Would NEVER get up them in WI during the winter!!!

On the way back to the house we scoped out a few beaches we may visit in the next couple of days. This one had a unique, psycodelic, Alice in Wonderland type entrance!!!

. . . and is known for having turtles around during the day and sure enough they were around . . .

. . . lots of them!!!

. . . ends up after the local fisherman come ashore with their catch, clean the fish on  shore and throw the innards into the water  . . . the result? LOTS of turtles around everyday waiting for breakfast, lunch and supper!!!

. . . on the way out of the beach we saw this agave type cactus sending up a flower shoot that looked like a HUGE stalk of asparagus . . .

. . . so why not head back to the house for a few drinks and snacks before dinner!!!

We went to a great restaurant only several miles away and were lucky to get in without a reservation. Popular place. Bicky had the shrimp, emJay and I had ‘Dutch’’ Beef Stew’ and Charlie had a deep fried Asian pork tenderloins. All was very tasty . . .

. . . everyone Bailey’s coffee for dessert except me . . . I went for the last piece of tiramisu. Hey . . . I’ll be biking in Big Bend by the end of the month and need to ‘store up some calories’ especially with G and George cooking!!!!