Whale Watchers, Kite Fliers, Surfers, Dog Walkers, and Sand Castle Builders

It is spring break!  The tourists have descended on our quiet little beach town.  The traffic has slowed to a crawl along the one major thoroughfare through town, restaurants have long lines of people waiting to sample clam chowder, and the shops are crowded and noisy, and Safeway runs out of milk, cereal and donuts.

Our seven miles of pristine beaches are the main reason people visit our little tourist town, though.  Many times we can walk a mile or more on our beach and never encounter another human.  But during spring break week, the beach comes alive with whale watchers, kite fliers, sunbathers, dog walkers, smash-ball players, surfers, sand castle builders, hole diggers, rock hounds, and shell seekers.  I love it.  The people watching just doesn't get any better!

Donning my earmuffs, gloves, coat, and beach shoes I head for the beach looking the part of a local--someone who knows how to enjoy the beach even with the bite of the wind or an occasional spatter of rain.  Ready for people watching during this spring break week.

The tourists (kids, teenagers, adults) also look their part-- exposed legs and arms bright red after a screamingly cold dip in a 45 degree ocean or a brief moment of sunbathing, beach gear galore from buckets and shovels to umbrellas and towels, rented wetsuits with boogie boards or surf boards dutifully strapped on ankles--all ready for a day at the beach. 

Then there are the dogs.  I think for a dog the beach is like Disneyland--one of the happiest places on earth!  There is so much room to run and run and run and run and splash in the ocean and roll in the sand!  Dogs of every shape, size, and color chase balls and frisbees of every shape, size, and color. 

Won't you join us?  It is spring break on the Oregon coast!  The best place on earth!

Monkey Faces Here There and Everywhere

The Portuguese pavement wave pattern at Copacabana beach

On a gorgeous day just after Ash Wednesday, the streets of Rio de Janeiro were rather quiet.  The frenetic activity of Carnival and the samba contests was over.  The city and the beaches of Copacabana had returned to some sort of normalcy.  The height of the tourist season was over as the seriousness of Lent replaced the frivolity of Carnival.

This is the Rio I experienced--a quieter, more laid back visit to Copacabana where local families and tourists mingled along the long paths following the curves and sweep of the ocean beaches; where, with the bulk of tourists gone, those of us remaining, had the pleasure of visiting the city's famous landmarks and fabulous seafood restaurants less impeded.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

It is on one of these explorations of the city of Rio that I realized there were little furry faces peering out from palm fronds and the jungle vegetation everywhere.  Riding the slow cog railway up Corcovado Mountain through the Tijuca Rain Forest to eventually arrive at the statue of Christ the Redeemer afforded many close-up encounters with these lithe, curious, quick little creatures:  the capuchin monkeys. 

Capuchin Monkey

What was most amazing about that experience?  The awesome size and presence of the Christ statue?  The incredible views from the top of Corcovado Mountain of Copacabana Beach and the Sambadome?  or those dozens and dozens of curious monkey little faces looking at all the equally curious tourists?