Cozumel Dive Master

This is my Cozumel dive master (snoozing on the bow of the boat). The night before saw a little too much Tequilla, but when the "pool was open" he was ready to go and was an awesome dive master. I think what was most amazing is that "Le Tigre", pictured here in orange pants (and our boat captain)...transformed into some male strip outfit when we surfaced up...with just a acqua colored g-string bathing suit and pooka shells made from some barracuda he speared some time ago. It was a little shocking to me at first...but then everyone on the boat rolled with it.

Cozumel Diving

Diving in Cozumel is the most amazing experience. Its all drift diving; where a flip backwards off a boat and drift with the currents for 45-50 minutes 50-70 feet below. Its also like diving in the biggest swimming pool you ever did see...as you can see 200 feet in front of you and down the walls of the reef extending below. Magical.

Cozumel Sunsets

The sunsets of Cozumel in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Yes, Island culture is fabulous.

Cozumel Bliss

Here is an image from day two of diving just before we dove the Santa Rosa wall. WOW!

This day of diving was heavenly; This was as close to GOD and serenity I have ever experienced. Let me describe the experience - For the first time in my life have I ever felt so safe, so carefree, so at peace that if I died...I felt so okay with the thought...so comforted...because the feeling of flying in complete solitude (except when I took a breath from my regulator) was sheer bliss and I wanted it forever. This experience lasted for nearly 50 minutes as we difted with the current sweeping us along the second longest reef in the world; this was my first experience of drift diving. I'm now addicted.

Bling Bling!

This Sunday I was introduced to EXTREME wealth. Wow. A bed tycoon showed me his collection of 12-15 super, super high end vehicles. This vehicle (Rolls Royce) was like an aiplane (G4 private jet) on wheels. I don't know the price of this vehicle, but it has to be over 1/2 million given this guy doesn't purchase any vehicle that has under 400 hp. What a ride. But this ride does not compare to the formula 1 car...FERRARI ENZO!

Going 125 on I-395

This is the Ferrari Enzo. Wow, what a ride. Its a V-12, 660 hp pure race car. When I plopped myself inside this car...meeting Micheal at the Ritz Carlton in South Beach, I noticed immediately that the interior was made of carbon fiber and soft calf leather. He took me for a spin in this vehicle, or shall I say a lap around the track. Micheal is also a seasoned race car driver and being in this machine was like being a movie star. People in South Beach were captivated; they stopped in their tracks, they gawked and took pictures with their cameras and cell phones; in fact, one guy waved us down...pulled out his disposible camera to grab a quick shot...and it made sense since there are only 399 in the world at a BASE price of $1.5 million. I must tell you it was such a RUSH to fly down I-395 at 125mph dodging in between high end vehicles struggling to stay in view of this MACHINE (killing any Porche, BMW, Mercedes and even a Ducati Motorcycle failed to keep pace). Wow the whiplash. Okay...just so you know, its not going to my head...I'm still looking for a very modest car to replace my mini in Tucson...but it may have some turbo.

Bravo!

Bravo, Bravo...GIRO! Okay...I've been adicted to listening to the Giro on Eurosport radio (pronounced rah-dee-o). If you are a pro cycling geek like me...dial into www.eurosport.com, press the link for LIVE coverage and you too can enjoy the action. Its a bit discouraging that our American sport channels are filled with crying sportmen that are highly overpaid for games of mediocrity. But cycling is both an individual and team sport. The tactics are like chess. The strategy involves machine, man, nature and a little bit of drama. So...OLN once provided LIVE coverage...but the Italians charged too much this year...so we must listen to the helicopters, and play by play action. Funny, I almost prefer the audio commentary as my mind must engage the imagination. The picture I have here is Ivan Basso putting on the pressure on one of the steepest climbs during one of the first mountain stage races, where several guys cracked (namely Cunego). These guys will race for 20 days an average of 80 miles a day over MOUNTAINS and at 50k per hour on city streets. Amazing men.

Enchanted

Here I am walking along side the carin. This image was taken about 2 years ago when I had my first experience of the "Enchantments." This is an amazing place that feels sometimes like the moon, and other times like a fairytale with falling water, unicorns (wild goats) and the cleanest of air. Wow, the Enchantments; the quintessential name for what it is. I long for the enchantments; a place of raw beauty, a place of balance, a place where no one hides, they just be. It is again another contrast to my days in Miami. I'll need to get into this high country again this late summer.

Busy Bee

This is busy bee. Its been my car in Tucson for just under a year. Well, its now for sale. Why would one sell such a wonderful vehicle that gets nearly 40 miles to the gallon in a time when petro is equal to a bottle of good wine, why? I need a bit more space. Picking up people with luggage has become a bit problematic. Oh...but how I shall miss the ubiquidious smiles from looker bys when I come strolling up in the little mini called "busy bee." Maybe I'll keep it and get another car.

Broad Bench

This is an image from my personal art collection and a piece I purchased last week. The artist is Karen Jurick and she lives and paints from a town in Georgia. I so enjoy the emotion, feeling and experience she plants in her paint. She captures the rich colors and light in each of her images to convey a vignet of life, coming in all shapes in sizes . This particular image captured me because it is about companionship, friends; so comfortable to share the bench...taking in the proximity of others and what is present before them. They are taking time to reflect. Karen labled this image "broad bench" and it will be shared in my home for others to appreciate too.

Open Water

I did some diving this weekend. This was the first time I went DEEP. I must say I had a bit of trepidation about things that can happen when diving deep, yet the experience was wonderful. The 6 foot swells were not so wonderful when I felt like offering some technicolor yawns to the yellowfins just off the side of the boat. I did manage to keep it together. Diving has been a great escape from the life topside in Miami; a world so different from the chaos on land. I suspect I will continue to dive while stationed in South Florida.