My Day Off

I was driving through Port Isabel, TX on my day off and noticed people in the lighthouse tower. We pulled over to get a picture and I noticed Port Isabel’s got it going on.

Visitors are greeted with well wishes.

The lighthouse district was full of cars.

and people were visiting the shops.

Winter Texans are already down enjoying the 80 degree weather.

A large crowd had gathered and I wanted to see why.

The crowd was enthralled by this pirate’s incredible feats with fire.

This guy was making big fireballs and swallowing fire then lighting torches with the flames in his mouth.

This enthralling pirate had everyone entertained

and amazed.

I did not get pictures of the big flames because of … a technical error, yeah, that’s it.

Everyone’s attention was then called to the cannon.

 

The lady pirate hid from the inevitable, “BOOM!”

It was an Earth-shattering KA-BOOM!

So this is what Port Isabel is doing while I am working, you need to be down here in the great weather having fun with everyone else. For more on the winter fun click here.

The Fog Has Lifted

When a blast of cold, bad air comes into contact with a warm pocket of air, the weaker, warm pocket of air says, “Oh, hell no!” and runs down the street with its high heels clicking.

This is the cold, bad weather rolling in and establishing its turf on Padre Blvd. on South Padre Island at the southernmost tip of Texas.

The fog was so thick that the highrises seemed to vanish into thick air.

If you paid extra to stay at the Bridgepoint Condominiums’ penthouse that day, you got gypped.

The fog moved in and established its presence on the main drag, Padre Blvd.

and on the bay between the island and the mainland.

The fog made it hard to believe that this building

barely visible as your eyes rose

is the same as this in this picture I took today, Dec. 18, 2008.

Looks like a postcard, doesn’t it? I told you the island lends itself to great pictures. I am no photographer as this picture I took at a recent parade will prove.

That picture is in the hall of fame already and quickly becoming one of my favorites.

This magnificent building, The Sapphire, will be opening in 2009.

I went to the jetties area to get a shot of the boat that was stuck out there on the rocks and the salvaging process.

but I like focusing more on the people there.

You can see South Padre Island’s beautiful beaches here.

South Padre Island Christmas Parade 2009

What a beautiful picture!

 

 If only I was doing this on purpose.

Who gets a shot of two legs running down the street? WTH? Where did the torso go?

 It was party time on South Padre Island again.

 

 The crowd had gathered for yet another great community event.

 Everyone was in great spirits and there were great spirits around.

 

These guys had it going on.  They stood in front of all their supplies for the picture.

 

 This picture came out great – look in the background.

The kids were adorable.

 

Surfer Santa… Why not?

 

 Everybody was looking good.

 

 Real good. 

 

RRRrrreal good with a capital “R”.

 The island was lit up like a beautiful Christmas village in some areas.

 Every year this parade grows bigger and better.

 Everybody loves a fire truck.

  There were beautiful floats

the people on the floats were tossing out candy and beads to the crowd

 

 Even the smallest ones came away smiling.

 I am having problems working this new-fangled camera so what does this guy do?

 start to show off for me.  

Way to go, dude. 

These mermaids were tossing beads out to the crowd as well.

 

This pair of Santas was the most traditional.

 The ultimate topper for such an evening was an outstandingly beautiful walk on a moonlit beach.

If you want to see what the beach looks like right now click here.