La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
THE NEW NORMAL MAY NOT be the Old Normal, but there are similarities. For one, there are more people out and about. And, in two days, when our borders open (thankfully, with limits), there will be a lot more. So, that eerie but amazing quiet we experienced in March and April is gone. Jet skis are overwhelming the sounds of the surf. But flowers are still blooming (as they always are here), people are again enjoying each other’s company. And a couple of sand sculptors have gotten back to work.
.
LA NUEVA NORMAL PUEDE NO ser la Vieja Normal, pero hay similitudes. Por un lado, hay más personas por todas partes. Y, en dos días, cuando se abran nuestras fronteras (afortunadamente, con límites), habrá mucho más. Entonces, ese silencio misterioso pero sorprendente que experimentamos en marzo y abril se ha ido. Las motos acuáticas están abrumando los sonidos del surf. Pero las flores todavía están floreciendo (como siempre están aquí), las personas nuevamente disfrutan de la compañía del otro. Y un par de escultores de arena han vuelto al trabajo.
¿Una grieta en el processo?
Estos están en el paseo. Compartiré más de nuestra terraza otro día.
Estas hermosas flores son de ramas de un árbol que anualmente se “ofrecen” como voluntarios para crecer de una grieta en un paso elevado.
Este es un desarrollo nuevo y loco. ¡Por favor solo barre … por muchas razones!
Laughing Buddha 2013 (con guardaespaldas / inspiración).
Buda Riendo 2020. ¡Y eso resume todo!
I’ve just watched Jaws for the umptyumpth time, so now I hear the score when I look at the ocean pix. Fun! I so love the flowers! The cheerfulness of them is welcome.
Deedles:
I’ve seen Jaws only once entirely through. That was enough for me. The flowers here really help. The city uses hibiscus as a hedge. They’re everywhere and breathtaking.
Oh the frenzy all over the world to get back to the ‘normal’!
We too loved the quiet for a couple of months.
Those orange Hibiscus…..WOW!
The yellow ‘trumpet’ looking flowers look like the ‘trumpet vine’ flowers except for the colour.
Jim:
I wish I knew what that volunteer tree was. I wonder if it’s some kind of acacia. They lop it completely off every year, but I wonder what it’s doing to the foundation of that overpass. The trunk stuck in the pavement is getting kind of big. I’ll try and get below at a good time of day for a better photo.
What bastard decapitated the Laughing Buddha? Sheesh!
Debra:
I think someone has it in for that particular sand sculptor. His works are regularly vandalized. But it also could be because he hasn’t been paying someone to sit guard overnight.
Those are beautiful pictures!!!!!!! They should keep your borders closed. To early to be mixing to much up yet. Where they have opened, the guidelines go right to the wayside.
Mistress Maddie:
We’re not thrilled with the opening of borders on Wednesday. But, we survive on tourism, and July and August are the biggest months. Hope it doesn’t backfire. The country has been so responsible and responsive. However, masks are REQUIRED here and the police intend to ensure the rules are observed… even by tourists. We’ll see. Anyway, we won’t be going out much.
And to be honest, I m not sure I want that eerie but amazing quiet feeling to leave.
Mistress Maddie:
I know what you mean. We got used to the quiet, to hearing the birds and the sea, and the silence. Not enjoying the noise now and it will only get worse. Of course, the construction above our heads is STILL going on. Six weeks later. Right now, the power saw is raging as they cut the interior doors down to size. Give me strength!!!
Now that would get on my nerves. I often wondered when your on your balcony if the noise was bad or not. I guess that makes sense since noise travels upwards.
Mistress Maddie:
The truth is, the street and beach noise is usually not invasive. Nothing that would stop us from sitting out there… Oh, except the truck that was pumping out the sewer on the corner this afternoon!
Wonderful colors, and a reminder to bloom where you are planted. It is good to see they are trying to blow the sand off the beach.
David:
Do you believe that guy with the leaf blower?!? That’s a new development. They’ve always had leaf blowers but I’ve never seen them take them to the beach. Insane. Noise. Gas fumes. Dust. So, noise AND air pollution. I just don’t get it. That flower tree (acacia maybe) does beautifully there, but I’m worried the trunk and roots have got to be doing damage to the structure below. They cut it down to its base every year.
That last picture: so is that what happens when you achieve nirvana?
Kirk:
Oh, I hope not. A lot of buddhists will have second thoughts. Or … maybe not.
Poor Buddha, but I do love that photo from 2013 of the inspiration subject. Yesterday almost felt like a normal day for me too (minus my husband being away. It is nice to see people trying to do normal things again. People are smiling again (here they don’t wear masks outside and few do inside) and enjoying the weather.
Cheapchick:
In 2013, I came home one day and told SG the sand sculptor was missing an opportunity. He should sculpt a laughing buddha to sit next to his buddha-like guard. Two days later, he did! I’m so grateful for the mask law here. It’s finally been determined that it DOES make a difference. Here’s hoping it makes enough of a difference once the tourists arrive!
Hopefully you’ll be keeping all Americans out as we’re too stupid to get a handle on this thing!~
Bob:
Absolutely no end in sight to the ban on Americans in any part of Europe. I have no idea when I’ll see my brother again, but I’m certainly not traveling until (a) it’s permitted and (b) there’s a vaccine.
I’d watch that guy sweep for days! pretty flowers too.
anne marie:
Do you like a man in uniform? I’d get ear plugs and a full face mask to watch him.
FYI – my Spanish lessons are improving enough when I read your blog I now read the Spanish first and then the English. I thank you for this built-in Spanish lesson you provide. Gracias
Urspo:
That really makes me happy. My Spanish has a lot of flaws, but recently one of the waiters at Mesón Salvador had corrections for me on a post that included him. I thought, “Oh god, how bad is it…” He had three “corrections” and in only one case was he actually correct. The other two, it turns out, I had right! We got a good laugh at the restaurant. So, although you may learn some screwy things, it COULD help. Writing in Spanish every day certainly helps ME.
Leaf (and apparently, sand) blowers are certainly one of man’s most annoying inventions. Right up there with jet skis. And those airplanes that fly along beaches with huge ads trailing behind them. Oh jeez, I’ve become such a geezer!
Walt the Fourth:
And motos and motorcycles. And screaming kids. Don’t forget those!!!
Get off my lawn!
We are fortunate that the sea in front of us is part of a marine reserve and jet skis are prohibited. In the 8 years we have lived here, we have seen only 3 jet skis come by. Belize will open its only international airport inn August with very strict regulations. I hope they can enforce them. The country relies on tourism just like your location does. We’ll see.
Wilma:
I do hate jet skis. They just seem so unnecessary. But clearly a lot of people love them. Keeping good thoughts for us all with the easing of regulations. When we’re here in summer, we usually spend a lot more time at home anyway to avoid the crowds. So, there won’t be much adjustment. I’ll get on the beach for my walks early morning and will be back home before the masses descend each day.