Sunday, February 01, 2015

Colour and Sunshine



Warm sunshine for a week seeped into our bodies and souls. Water, sky, sand, and palm trees - the view from our hotel in San Jose del Cabo, on Mexico's Baja California peninsula.


Last September Hurricane Odile caused much damage to the area. Several hotels are still closed and many homes were devastated. Tourism is Los Cabos' lifeblood and they all worked hard to get things up and running as soon as possible. The hotel we stayed at was closed for two months - not a long time in the grand scheme of things. 

I don't know this for certain, but the shrubs and bushes were small and immature and my assumption is that most of them were replanted after the hurricane. Still, the bright colours of the hibiscus above stand as witness to nature's resilience and ability to recover.



One of my favourite tropical plants is bougainvillea. Luxuriant vines of purple, orange, white, red and pink scramble up stone walls, and any nearby structure. They grew around our home in Ecuador and seeing them now, during the past week, brought back many memories.

The coloured parts of the plant are actually bracts, or specialized leaves, which surround the cluster of tiny flowers, as seen in the lower left hand photo.

I have many more photos to show you of our time in Mexico - a marvelous whale-watching trip, all sorts of birds, and colourful architecture. We got back late last night (Saturday) and today we hugged the grands at church (and spoke with their parents) and I began going through my photos. I'm off to pick up some groceries next.  We had a wonderful week - my husband relaxed, read a couple of novels and disengaged almost entirely from work - a much needed time away.

Linking with Sunlit Sunday and Mosaic Monday together this week.  


31 comments:

  1. Welcome home! Beautiful bougainvillia photos. I'm thinking of one big vine that grew outside the old guest host that is no more.

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  2. It sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. It must have been so relaxing, soaking up the sun, seeing all those lovely flowers and enjoying the warmth. I just packed for our winter break this afternoon.

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  3. What a nice get-away from winter. I am so glad that you and your husband were able to go, relax, read, and enjoy the warmth. Looking forward to future photos.

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  4. Very nice, Lorrie! There's something so healing about the sun, sand, and water. So glad it was a good rest.

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  5. Didn't realise you were going to Mexico. My son is going there on his honeymoon in March. It looks lovely.

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  6. Very colorful flowers. I like it.

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  7. A perfect vacation for this time of year. It must have been wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and to be able to enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

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  8. That sounds so wonderful. Just to get someplace warm with colour and sandy beaches would be a real treat. I've never done it. What a great break for you both.

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  9. Heat! Colour! I'm looking forward to the rest of the photos. . .

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  10. Oh a nice trip to warm weather. Beautiful photos. I too love bougainvillia and miss having it up here. We have the most beautiful hot pink on in S. California - it grew up the support post on our deck, way up!!! I loved it so much.

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  11. So glad you both got some R & R. I like that you patronized a location that was economically impacted by last September's storm and look forward to seeing more pictures.

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  12. It sounds like a wonderful time away, Lorrie! Taking a winter vacation somewhere warm is always a special treat. I can't wait to see more of your photos!

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  13. Beautiful flowers, Sun, sea and sand the ideal ingredients for a vacation. Looking forward to seeing more!

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  14. There is no colour like the colour of a tropical flower! It must have been a wonderful break in the heat and the sun!

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  15. It looks lovely to me Lorrie!
    We all need a little break during the cold days of Winter.
    How wonderful that you enjoyed yours in Mexico - very exotic!
    The bougainvillea is so pretty!

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  16. What a treat, Lorrie, to soak up the sun! And a treat for us in the pictures. Mexico sounds the perfect destination for a winter break.
    I missed you! Welcome home : ) And thanks for visiting me!
    x

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  17. LOVE your tropical flower photos! They remind me of family visits to San Diego and Hawaii!
    Blessings, Aimee

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  18. A break in the sun is perfect at this time of year. Tropical flowers always amaze me with their 'bigness', such lovely colours too.

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  19. Your winter break in Mexico sounds really lovely.
    The hibiscus is gorgeous, but I especially like the bougainvilleas because of their colours.
    Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing!

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  20. How lovely that you had such a nice vacation. I miss bougainvillea! My mother had a beautiful one growing in our yard at my childhood home in California.

    I'm looking forward to the return of the sun around here. We only see it a few days a month it seems! But it's February so I know that Spring is on the way!

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful flowers, Lorrie!

    Deanna

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  21. The bougainvillea is a pretty flower and I like the hues of pink and purple it can be found in.
    I've had several laid back holidays in Mexico and look forward to more of your trip. We're relaxing in Florida this month, well until the grands come for a week!
    Thank you linking to Mosaic Monday Lorrie.

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  22. Oh, I have always wanted to visit there . . . the air must smell heavenly with all those beautiful flowers in bloom. I'm so happy that you could get away and relax :)
    Connie :)

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  23. What a lovely place for a vacation. I am glad they recovered from the storm... The bougainvillea is one of my favorite plants.. It is lovely.. Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  24. Oh I needed these beautiful colors and the warm sunshine...

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  25. Wish I could have joined you Lorri. It sounds absolutely perfect!

    From a grey and cold Rotterdam,

    Madelief x

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  26. Looks like just what the doctor ordered. I'm glad your husband could relax. Sometimes it takes awhile to adjust to not working! That hibiscus is an amazing color!

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  27. Now this sounds like a spectacular winter holiday.
    So glad you could enjoy it and also enjoy the flowers.

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  28. A perfect vacation .. Nothing like a bit of spring while it is still cold at home. I remember thse days!

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  29. I really wanna go to the beach right this minute. I love these photos!

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  30. Lovely tropical flowers! I used to be surrounded by bougainvilleas and hibiscus back in the tropics that I took them for granted. Now I miss them.
    Beautiful post!

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  31. Your photos of the trip to Mexico are so beautiful, Lorrie. As the snow flies and my shovel awaits, needing to be used before I have to head out, I'm reminding myself that winter has it's own loveliness, but look at the bougainvillea! When Cameo gets adopted, I think a little trip somewhere is in order!

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