When you swim with sea lions you find sardines

When you swim with sea lions you find sardines

I am honored and grateful to share this review of THREE MUSES in Lilith: “A Fraught Fling, Deep in Meaning.” If you haven’t yet picked up THREE MUSES, it comes in paperback, e-book, and audio. Might you post a review on Goodreads or Amazon? Want to bring a few copies to friends and family at Thanksgiving? And yes, I would love to zoom into your book group. Thank you!

Last week, after a wonderful event at Berkeley’s Books Inc., and uplifting visits with loved ones, we traveled to Baja Sur California, Mexico, for my niece’s wedding.

Gwen Mok was an inspired interviewer in Berkeley

We took some time to tour the area. One day, we traveled in a small boat to Isla Espíritu Santo—a spectacular UNESCO-designated Mexican archipelago off the southern tip of Baja.

Getting ready to snorkel with our guide, Fabián

As we approached, we heard a chorus of barks and yelps. Sea lions were spread on the rocks, jostling together, and diving into the ocean.

We could hear the sea lions before we could see them

We jumped into the water with snorkel gear and followed two sea lions into an underwater cave. The two swam beside and beneath us. They were magnificent.

Utterly transporting were the fish. A shimmering silver wall of sardines moved as one. If a larger fish swam near, or a pelican began diving, the sardines quivered in unison and abruptly changed course, a group effort to protect themselves. Their numbers and coordination, grace and choreography, created a vivid, underwater ballet.

We swam over coral beds. (Coral make crackling noises when you listen underwater.) Giant spiky sea urchins lodged in ledges, vast starfish lay across the ocean floor, luminescent blue fish with turquoise spots darted around, and a rainbow of fish carried on above—pinks and oranges, blues and greens, puffed-up and elongated, stripes and polka dots. Why had I never considered marine biology?

With no thought to the family members swimming beside me, I fantasized about staying. I could hide from our guide and float forever in this peaceful, mesmerizing, magical seascape, miles offshore and thousands of miles from anything or anyone I knew. It was a miracle to glimpse this miraculous world.

The next day, we found a remote beach accessible by dirt road. Turquoise waves broke at the shore, and there were dramatic, volcanic outcroppings.

Rocks at Cabo San Lucas

The water was luxurious, so we were surprised when two men onshore began waving frantically. Along with the handful of other swimmers, we rushed from the water. A moment later, a motorized fishing dinghy roared to top speed over the waves and bounced midway up the beach.

The morning’s haul was two enormous marlin. Within seconds, one of the fish lay flayed on a bloodied butcher block table, an old hand standing in the sand, carving up the flesh for local restaurants. It took two men to carry the skeleton to the back of a nearby van (fish soup I imagined). Before long, a second boat made a similar, spectacular beach landing, it’s hold filled with luminescent red snappers. And so it went; a third brought in another marlin.

Excited to see the local fishing cooperative in action

We squeezed in another swim, said good-bye to the fish, and dressed for our niece’s beautiful nuptials.

On rare occasions we clean up

Here’s wishing you and your family a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

Love,

Martha