Silver Light, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Even though I am in a very colorful, tropical location, I find that sometimes when making images pointing into the sun in the late afternoon  it is fun to remove the color and just use shades of silver, gray, black, and white.

And no matter how late, there is always one child who doesn't want to leave the beach.

Adults power walk in the shallow water - water temp 78 degrees F, air temp 78 degrees F - difficult to tell where the water ends and the air begins.

Silhouettes on the shore in the fading rays of the day.

Bicycle Shadow, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

This is one of those images that looked better in concept than in execution.- oh well.

Dawn, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

In this dawn hour, the wind is warm and steady, the world is quiet but for a few birds greeting the day, the light is mostly gray but for a few hints of the golden sunrise to come. I like being up early to greet the new day, a time when all things are possible. Particularly when the clouds drift into just the right place at just the right time........

....and the sky explodes with color and the announcement of a new day.

Afternoon at the Beach, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Hark, what is this man pointing toward?............

....perhaps he points toward this young boy momentarily distracted from his toy truck by some wonder of the sea......

....or, perhaps he points toward this young  man showing off his oiled and bronzed abs for the camera....

....or, perhaps he points toward the small fleet of sailboats offshore preparing for the upcoming regatta.

Regardless of where he points, the warm and gentle waves lap the shore as sunset approaches.... 

 

.....and it's time to say goodbye to another beautiful day.

Wrought Iron Gate, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

There is something timeless about the graceful curve of a wrought iron gate. In the this case it fronts a long narrow property that open onto the Caribbean Sea. Perhaps someone's side yard or, a venue for weddings?

Orange Sunrise, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

I guess what makes some sunrises visually spectacular is that it doesn't happen every day. Sometimes, weeks can pass before an explosion of color greets the day.  It is worth waiting for and being up and about - even more so in a warm tropical breeze.

Around Town, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Although we've seen more clouds and rain than expected, the sun does break through dramatically.

"Topes" are speed bumps and can be found most anywhere from quiet unpaved roads to four-lane divided highways.  I keep my eyes open - hitting one at high speed could do some serious damage to the vehicle and/or the occupants.

Looks like a kayak to me but I guess one could use it for a paddleboard, too.

Although built within the past 15 years, these steps into the water are evocative of Mayan design and construction.

The beautiful sand beaches are interspersed with rocky shores with crashing waves.

Since I'm a walking man, I see many other gringos out walking also.  It is a good walking town.

Tulum, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

This jumble of signs pointing to the Zona Hotelera along the white sand beaches of Tulum makes an interesting backdrop for a family portrait, although it looks like getting all three children to pose is like herding cats.

Why do some Spanish-speaking countries use "Alto" and some use "Pare" on their Stop signs? At least they all use the same shape and color - unlike Japan which uses an inverted triangle.

Another cloudy and cool day (maybe 68-70 degrees) on the beaches of the Riviera Maya.

Around Town, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

I have passed the age and financial standing where I am willing to stay in inexpensive hostels if I have a better alternative, but if I weren't such a snob, which would I pick of these two? Let's see, does one stay in the Little Tequila Hotel, or, the Che Hotel? I guess the party animals stay at Little Tequila, and the aspiring revolutionaries stay at the Che. 

Note the haphazard stringing of electric, cable, and phone wires overhead, typical of some areas I've visited over the years.

A cigar maker demonstrates his hand rolling craft along the ever popular pedestrian mall of Avenida Cinco. Avenida Cinco stretches about 4 kilometers long  parallel to and a block off the beach in this popular tourist town.  It's THE place to see and be seen. Hundreds of shops, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and hawkers of anything and everything vie for the attention and money of passersby.

It's cloudy and cool today but "Playa"still is full of people out and about. Playa del Carmen is the third most populated town in the state of Quintana Roo.

The Little Cow is a nightclub near the beach in town. This life size sculpture hangs from the proscenium arch at the street entrance.  Odd choice in theme but, who am I to say.

Great Blue Heron, Paamul, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico

At home in Massachusetts,  it is a common sight to see Great Blue Herons fishing on ponds and lakes. I do not, however, usually see them in the ocean but, here was this fellow on the small bay in Paamul.  He was surprisingly close to shore and uncharacteristically tolerant of humans walking by in very close proximity.

Not finding much to eat, he strode forward a  few steps and .........

.....leaped/flapped to a nearby rock.......

.....and resumed his watchful pose, waiting for lunch to swim by. Nice place to hang out.

Paamul is a funky little enclave on a small bay south of Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya. A small hotel, some cabañas, and lots of RVs that appear mostly stationary under thatch roof palapas make up the little community.