Languishing, at Playa Cocolito...

The photos below represent a quintessential, stereotypical, oft-cliched natural element-a perfect beach. A broad carpet of luminous beige sand gently inclining into the embrace of a restful, unhurried skyblue sea, the primitive beauty of palm-frond huts baking in the intense noonday sun, a thick canopy of jungle framing the horizon in leafy emerald, occasional vocal spasms from howler monkey troops piercing the otherwise all-consuming calmness. And, a gorgeous shell that looked like a brain, petrified canyons criss-crossing the length of the object. We arrived at this beach for the second half of our Jeanette Kawas National Park tour, energized by the jungle walk and looking forward to a lunch of fried fish and plantains, and some good ol' do nothing but sit and swim at the beach time. Usually, tours are so time-programmed that spots that otherwise encourage relaxation can start to take on a frenzied air, with tour clients paying too much attention to their watches, silently praying that this sojourn in paradise, so removed from their normal, everyday lives, will not come to an end too soon. We always take for granted the days we spend at the beach unless we live next to one, and we Poderes were no exception, soaking in every moment of beach bliss while realizing that, like a twelve pack of micro-brewed beer, or particularly sublime reggae concert, this good thing must too come to an end...