There is nothing more enticing,
disenchanting and enslaving than the life at sea.
--Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim
Each evening -- after a full day of fun and frolic in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico -- we’d head to our condo’s deck to watch the sun set over Banderas Bay. And, at a certain hour, the scattered parade of small wooden fishing boats would pass our viewing stand; the ‘rut-a-tut-tut’ of their engines announcing this nightly ritual. Each was headed to some predetermined spot in this, the second largest bay in North America.
As our day came to an end, the pescaderos, (fishermen’s), day was just beginning. From our deck in the early morning we’d see them still working in the same place they’d been the night before.
I came to look for the two pictured above. It became a ritual: they worked and I sipped morning coffee and watched. I pondered the story they would tell about their lives, these Men of the Sea.
During our cruise ship stop in Cabo San Lucas, we gathered with a handful of other visitors and shoppers to watch this fisherman preparing his catch for sale. (Note the feathered freeloaders who waited for – and often got – samples.)
Cabo is one of 31 ports on Mexico’s Pacific Coast that produces nearly three-quarters of the country’s total catch.
Huachinango, or Red Snapper, (pictured above) were readily available just north of Puerto Vallarta at the daily fish market at Cruz de Huanacaxtle’s slick new Marina. It’s one of our favorites so one of these guys went home with us and made for a great dinner. Thanks to Mexico’s Men of the Sea.
It is Travel Photo Thursday so click this link and head on over to Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox to take a quick tour of the world – it is great armchair travel.
That red snapper looks GOOD. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was good. The fisherman was so proud of its freshness that he rubbed some of its blood on his fingers to show us just how fresh it was. . .I really didn't need quite that much information.
DeleteYour sunset photo is glorious. I always wonder about the very hard life of a fisherman - long hours and often dangerous conditions. My hat goes off to these people.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about how lonely it must be during some of those long nights, waiting and hoping that you'd catch something and then hoping to be able to sell it the next day. Sunsets were pretty striking over the Bay.
DeleteWorking harbors are great! Fisherman work so very hard for their money. It is incredible they keep after it day after day.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could do it, that's for sure.
DeleteHuachinango, my favorite fish and one of yours too. Hope you got the recipe so you can try when you get back home.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite recipe is for a spicy Mexican red sauce with onions and peppers over it. . .but then we like that kind of sauce on almost everything.
DeleteIt is interesting to think about the lives of people we see in our travels and the deck of your condo sounds like a comfy place to do that. There is something fascinating about men of the sea as you and Joseph Conrad have noted so well.
ReplyDeleteYour sunset and scenic marina shots are beautiful! What hard labor but looks like a fruitful one to come home with all those beauties.
ReplyDeleteThere's something special about early morning scenes, isn't there? No one out and about except those who have to be... and the occasional curious visitor :)
ReplyDeleteThanks all for taking time to comment. Cathy, you ar right about thinking about the lives of people we see in our travels. I wish I spoke enough languages to be able to speak with them all and learn more. I guess that is a trait of travelers: the desire to learn more about others.
ReplyDeleteFresh fish has to be one of my major Pavlov triggers, as every time I see them looking that good my mouth starts to water. I'm very envious of you having such a great supply so readily at hand. I'm also getting a real kick out of the pelicans(?) waiting around for samples. I'm betting there's no five second rule in play around that area.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! I love those pelicans - the pelicans in Mexico do the same when you come back from a Deep Sea trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with us today!
That first picture is so pretty! ... love how the sea is tinted pink. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove the sunset shot, and the pelican shot is too funny! I spent a week in Cabo a long time ago, and remember eating delicious snapper and shrimp.
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