The Butterfly Hunters

One of the first things the grandkiddos did when we got settled at the condo was to hunt butterflies.  They had come prepared with dollar store butterfly nets for the hunt.  Grandpa coaches Jack on the fine art of butterfly hunting.

And, the hunt is on.  With a determined look in his eyes, Jack sets out on his own.

His hunting skills come naturally and he almost bags the elusive white butterfly!

 Even Dad tries his skills at tropical butterfly hunting.

Meg and Ella get into the act.

Ella is a top-notch, patient butterfly hunter and her skills pay off.  Grandpa Wayne helps her and gives her instruction on how to release the butterfly into the jar without harm.

Jack admires his sister's catch.

Ella holds up her trophy with pride.

All in all, a very successful first day of butterfly hunting in the tropical paradise of Bahia Pez Vela.

Las Mariposas (Butterflies)

 Here are some of the butterflies that The Butterfly Hunters were catching right in our backyard.

Can you see the yellow butterfly?

Monkeying Around--Our first view, upclose and personal of los monos

Los Monos (Howler Monkeys)

We have seen so much wildlife here.    The most interesting have been the Howler Monkeys.   They are very loud! This morning we were awakened at about 5:00 by some of the vocalizing. 

According to the New World Encyclopedia, their loud roars can be heard by humans, even three miles away through dense jungle and they have been called the loudest animals in the New World (Dunn2008)

Howler Monkeys are folivores. They eat mainly top canopy leaves, together with fruit, buds, stems, flowers and nuts.

They travel around the jungle area above our condo.  Sometimes we've seen them right in back of our house!  We've really enjoyed monkey-watching :)

Los Peces Salidos (the fish that got away)

 On Monday night, Wayne and I went fishing on the beach.  We used ballyhoo as bait.  It is a half-beak fish.

Fishing goes better with Imperial

Another beautiful sunset.  I love the blue hue that the sun provided.

 We didn't have any luck fishing off the rocks around the beach, so we tried on the surf. 

I caught a puffer after an exhausting fight :)!!!!

Wayne caught a Jack.  But the best part was that we had three huge fish on our lines that broke our 20 lb. test lines like it was a cobweb.  It pulled out all my line.  Those fish didn't even give us a chance to fight them. They were off and running away with our ballyhoo!

What a night!  The sun goes down about 6:00 p.m. here.  It was dark when we were fishing off the beach.  It was partly cloudy and almost a full moon.  There was no one else on the beach.  We listened to the surf and the night sounds of the crickets and other critters while just behind us, a howler monkey was vociferiously claiming his territory.

Photos After Church on Sunday

Meg, 8, Ella, 6 and Jack, 2

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Misa al Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Monte Carmelo

 On Sunday, Wayne and I went to Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Cocoa.  Most all Catholic churches in face West and this one was painted bright green.

This photo was taken a few days before on our first trip to Cocoa.

 It was Pentecost Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Spirit.  Behind the altar are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:Wisdom, Sabidura; Understanding, Entendiemento; Counsel, Consejo; Fortitude, Fortaleza; Knowledge, Conocimiento; Piety, Piedad; and Fear of the Lord, Temor de Dios.
They had a nice singing group with upbeat songs.

It was standing room only at the church and there were a few of us gringos in attendance.  At the peace sign, the locals went all around the church greeting eachother and it was like a fiesta!

Here's the little shrine on the left side of the altar, where I lit a candle for our whole family.

Padre Caesar conducted Baptisms after Mass.  There must have been 6 babies that were Baptised that day.

Get your lottery tickets here!!  There were two venders at the church after Mass, selling lottery tickets to the congregation. I didn't see them at Mass :D.