While on vacation in Acapulco Mexico, I, along with my family and friends took a
tour by boat to a small resort island. As we approached, I was awestruck by its
beauty. I knew this was going to be fun, but had no idea that this place would
be forever etched in my mind. We were greeted at the dock by two natives dressed
in brightly colored tropical shirts, white pants and shoes. They were also
wearing smiles just as bright. They escorted us to an open-air type restaurant
with a thatched roof that was actually attached to the pier at which we docked.
The restaurant had a casual atmosphere that made us very comfortable. The food
was served buffet style, with an elegant array of Mexican and American cuisine.
The entertainment provided in the restaurant during and after the buffet was
delightful. A ten minute introduction to the Mexican culture was followed by an
intriguing native dance, performed by a man dressed in an authentic looking
costume consisting of only a rawhide G-string with a short apron front. His
sandals had leather cords winding halfway up his legs. This dance depicted a
story of a hunter and his prey. It was narrated by a woman who was also in
costume. Brightly dressed Mexican men were beating drums and banging sticks
providing the sound effects for the story. This was truly a great beginning to a
wonderful afternoon. Behind the restaurant was a low mountainous area,
accessible by walking trails only. We hiked one of these trails, observing the
brightly colored tropical plants and trees that flourished greatly on this well
maintained terrain. A beautiful waterfall added to the splendor, and when we
reached the top, a lookout provided a panoramic view of the entire bay. What a
breathtaking sight! There was a bar here, and after a cool drink we decided to
head down. We took a different trail down that brought us to the base of the
mountain. In front of us, about 150 feet was the beach. It was 90 degrees and
the Mexican sun made the sand hot under our feet. However, a gentle breeze kept
us comfortable otherwise. On the beach we rented a cabana, which is little more
than a thatched umbrella, table and beach chairs. There, we sat and enjoyed one
of those big tropical drinks that has fruit on the edge of the glass and a small
umbrella of its own. Staring out into the bay from my chair, was possibly the
most serene feeling I have had in my life. There were many people around and
they were making plenty of noise, but my mind was absorbed with the natural
beauty of this place. It was like none that I had ever seen before. Looking
across the bay toward the mainland, with all its hustle and bustle, I felt as if
I had found paradise. I had been to the ocean twice before, but only in the
U.S., and never to a bay. Bay waters are much calmer, and therefore much
clearer-so clear, in fact, that at a depth of six feet I was able to see a
penny. The color of the water is also amazingly different from ocean water. The
intensity of the blue color is almost fluorescent. After we rested, we decided
it was time to get wet, so we donned our snorkeling gear and entered the warm
water. I had never snorkeled before, but it wasn't long before I felt
comfortable. Most of our experience was in very shallow water and I don't think
it was ever necessary to go down more than ten feet. The fish didn't seem to be
bothered by our presence, and although I don't know what kind they were, I
touched two of them, and their reaction was only to flip their tail. About forty
feet out from the beach it was still only about seven or eight feet deep, and
that's where the coral appeared. This is something that no television or video
could do justice to. The vivid colors of the coral alone were enough to make
this whole trip worthwhile. There were many different types of fish, most of
them with vibrant colors, varying in size from the size of a silver dollar, to
the size of a foot or more in length. If you've seen the salt water fish
aquariums in a pet store, you know of the vibrant colors that I am talking
about. But being in the water with these creatures of beauty, who seem to
welcome your presence, is something that needs to be experienced to appreciate.
Wading back toward shore, I have to say I was sorry that this part of the day
was over. Back on the beach, a horn signaled the need to prepare for the trip
across the bay. Fortunately, the boat which came to pick us up was not the same
as the boat that dropped us off. This one had a glass bottom that enabled the
passengers to observe everything beneath the boat. There was an experienced
diver who was a part of the entertainment. He dived under the boat, and as we
watched in awe, he grabbed the tail of a seven-foot shark, pulling himself close
enough to the shark’s head to be bitten, and he then began to pet the shark as
if it were only a puppy. Other antics were included with a couple of other fish
as we made our way back to the mainland. Once on shore we headed back to our
hotel just in time to see yet another attraction, an Acapulco sunset! We made
our way to the roof of the hotel, so that we could get a panoramic view. The
rainbow of colors in the sky was more than you could see in any painting, no
matter who the artist. There were hues of peach to deep orange, pale pink to
deep fusca and purple. Gold was entwined throughout, and the sun itself was like
a ball of fire. The colors kept changing, as if an artist was continually trying
to improve on its beauty. The sunset lasted about twenty minutes, but the
colorful streaks in the sky remained vivid for another half hour. I have never
seen a magnificent sunset like this ever before. Twenty years have passed now
since that trip. In that time I have seen many beautiful places, but none have
made as profoundly an impression on me as that little island in Acapulco Bay.