Well, Erika was right - the place we were staying in Tucacas was indeed a hole - even without the bedbugs, it was pretty filthy. And Tucacas in general was nothing to get excited about. The guidebook said that Tucacas and Chichiriviche were about the same, but it's far more pleasant here - quieter, smaller streets, helpful people (our taxi driver drove us around and knocked on posada doors to help us find a nice place to stay, and the woman who runs our posada is great, telling us that everything can be done later, and to go enjoy the beach and relax). I just have to add something from yesterday. We got our stuff together and headed out to the main road, where we were told we could catch a bus to Chichiriviche. A bus pulled up, but wasn't going where we were going. Some guy who was standing around came over, though, and I think was trying to explain that he was going that way, and he could give us a ride so far, or something. I kind of stopped listening when I saw the handgun tucked under his armpit. Not even in a holster, just loose under his arm. And then we ran away and found a cab to take us!

We got us this morning to find some hats, buy a styrofoam cooler and some ice, and hit up a bakery (for me, of course!), then hopped on a boat to one of the many cayes here with a day of supplies - food, sunscreen, cards, and a bottle of gin (none for me, sadly, as I'm on antibiotics for a couple more days). Hit the beach around 9:30, when it was still pretty empty. No kidding, this place is the stuff of postcards - little island covered in palm trees, white sand beach, aquamarine water - beautiful! It got more and more crowded as the day went on... but it didn't bother us at all - people minded their own business, nobody was pushy about trying to sell stuff, and it turned into a sort of white background noise. We spent many happy hours tanning, swimming, playing cards, and repeating. Told Erika that I'm so happy that I'm on this trip with her, since if I was on my own, I'd be forcing myself to trek through the jungle right now in search of some lost ruins, and then who knows what else. I'm actually really enjoying relaxing and doing nothing for awhile. We have a route along the coast where we hop from one park to another, ending in a ferry ride to Isle de Margarita, and then on to Caracas the day before we fly out.

Another day of the same planned for tomorrow, and then off to Puerto Colombia and more beaching! We are very happy girls right now, safe and sound and mostly healthy (I'm thinking it would be wise to see a doctor when I get home, although I'm also inclined to believe that my general antibiotics will clear us anything that's wrong with me!), and looking forward to another day in the sun!