Blog #9 from Puerto Vallarta

On Tuesday we headed off to Tequila with friends. The first part of our journey was to take a bus from San Blas to Tepic. Tepic is the capital of the state of Nayarit and has had considerable trouble in the last few months with you know who so they have set up these "Welcome Centres" to try to prevent the bad guys from getting in. Hmmmmm......Don't seem to be working so well!!!!
The next adventure was on a bus from Tepic to Tequila. There was only one bus available and it was the milk run. I love bus travel. I find it really interesting. I have to admit it was a little hair raising going through the mountains at a high rate of speed and looking down over the side to the valley thousands of feet below. I told Ray there weren't any guard rails to which he replied, "They wouldn't help. If we go over, we die." "Oh, ok, I'm good with that. Hey stop this bus, I'm getting off right now!!!!!!!!"

Tequila is a lovely city. We took a tour of a tequila factory and old town. Our guide, Angel, was a real angel and if you go to town, look him up. He hangs around the square and Hotel Jardin.

We ate breakfast at this wonderful food court place behind the church. I've never seen anything like it in Mexico before. It was a square structure with many food places around the center where you ate. We got freshly squeezed orange juice from one stall, coffee flavoured with cinnamon from another and our actual breakfast from another.

On Saturday my art classes are supposed to start at 1:00 but over the weeks the time has been changing slowly. This week I had 7 little dears on my doorstep at 11:30!!! We hadn't had lunch yet or prepared the house for the onslaught. I tried to explain to them that they were way to early and to come back later but then they all sat down on the patio. I got my young assistant from across the street to interpret for me and after she explained to the kids the situation and they spoke back to her she explained to me that, "They are going to sit here and wait." The full sun was on the porch by this time so I just couldn't peacefully eat lunch with 7 kids baking on the porch so we quickly got the house ready and moved them in.

At 1:00 after the first batch had left, 5 more arrived so now, art classes come in two sittings!!!

A couple of hours after the second class ended the two kids from across the road came over, with 3 other friends to show us these adorable Mexican dog puppies. You know the breed, I can't spell. They left and a few minutes later came back to tell me they were for sale - 900 pesos or about $75. What a deal!!! I wanted one until Ray told the kids that his cat would eat it!!!!! Probably the truth!!!!

This is the view from our condo here in PV as the locals call it. We are here until Wednesday and then return on the 16th and stay until our flight leaves on the 29th.

We were both restless sleepers last night. Ray is one of those people who wakes, sits, puts his feet on the floor and he is ready to to. Unlike myself. At one point he got up in the night as above and went to the kitchen and started making coffee. I could hear every sound as our bedroom has half the wall missing over looking the living room. Don't ask. "Ray what time is it" "I don't know." "I don't think it is morning. Find your watch." Lights go off. coffee maker is turned off. "Ok, what time is it? "1:45." As he lays down he crashes his head into the metal headboard yet again. "And stop crashing into the headboard. It is also keeping me awake." "No, I like it. It makes me dizzy and I can see stars!!!!!!" Why, why, why have lived with this man for more than 40 years???? I guess the main reason is we always have had lots of giggles!!!!!!!!

Blog #8 The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

When we arrived at the end of December, the house that was started last year and promised to us, wasn't ready. It was to be ready in 15 - 20 days. It still isn't ready!!! Construction on the second house, above right, was started in January. We put up with the noise and aweful smells coming from the efforts to make the house "water proof" thinking it was all going to be short lived but this week the construction project changed. A new crew came to work on the front wall and with it came loads of sand, gravel and construction materials. They are mixing cement 5 feet from our door!!! Read the latest developements at the end of this piece.

On Wednesday I was putting away my bike in the back patio when I heard these sweet little bird noises coming from above me. I looked up and OMG there was this 2 - 3 foot iguana right above my head. I rushed back into the house, my feet barely touching the tile. I was so shocked I could hardly tell Ray what had scared me back inside at such a speed.

The first person to try and help was our Mexican neighbour from across the street. He brought his ladder from his kid's bunk beds and used it to climb up on with one foot and the other foot on top of our big blue gas tank. By the time he arrived to help only the tail was coming out of the top of the gas water heater. He grabbed the tail and tried to wrestle the critter out of the heater BUT after a few grueling minutes, he had 6 - 8 inches of tail in his hand and no body attached!!!

The second helper was another Mexican neighbour from down the road coming with a pillowcase and two sticks. By the time he had arrived, the tailless iguana was out of the water heater and he was able to scare it down onto the floor. He tried to encourage the iguana to climb into the pillowcase with the help of the sticks. The final hero of the day was Ray who picked the little hissing monster up and placed it in the pillowcase!!! We hear they eat iguanas down here. I'm sure it tastes like chicken!!!!!

We were over at Iguanas Ranas the other day when this crew arrived. They were trying to sell this green iguana for $20. The one we had was a black one. Aren't they an interesting bunch???

We are just loving the barbe!!!

Friday saw us taking a ride through La Travara. We started at the bridge for the first time and quickly realized that it makes for a much better ride. You get to see much more of the mangrove swamp and the jungle before you have to grovel on the bottom of the boat as you go under the highway and end up at the usual spot to start the tour near Las Islitas.

It is such a great adventure ride. There are so many wonderful birds, tortoises,crocodiles, tropical plants and even the odd boa. The one we saw couldn't be inticed into action. Thank you Lord!!!

Another day at Iguanas Ranas, there were these great biker dudes on these awesome bikes so I decided to join them. See my bike on the end??????

Check out this butterfly's wings!!!! Can you see what I see???? Wow, isn't that incredible!!!

You just never know what you will see when you go to the beach on Sunday for lunch!!! Isn't it cute!!!???

This is how our day began. By evening there was a huge trench dug away from our house and then a parallel one to the building. I was really upset!!! When they were using pick axes on the trench, the dirt was flying into our house!!!!!! Ok, enough!!! I let the man know and we just had a meeting. They are going to work tomorrow and the next day as we are going to be in Tequila and then all construction will cease until we leave on March 16th. I will let you know on just how well this goes...................................

Blog #7 Happy Valentine's Day

Our week began on Monday with a trip to Las Islitas on Matachen Bay which is the first beach south of San Blas. For the first time in my life, I went in the back of a pickup truck. Boy, did we turn heads. The Mexicans were in the front of the truck and the non Mexicans were all in the back. People were smiling ( ok, some were out and out laughing ) as we passed. I ended up waving at everyone which made it even funnier.

Las Islitas is a great beach to go to as the waves are small and tame and the water is shallow for a very long way out.


My friend Suan Pierce opened her art show on Friday at the Cultura Centre. It was quite the deal with lots of speaches ( ofcourse, this is Mexico ) and even a ribbon cutting ceremony. If you get a chance, check out the show. It is on until March 11, 2011. It really shows her love and passion for Mexico and its people.

I was the maid, filling plates and glasses etc. It was really interesting to learn that Mexicans won't fill their own glasses so that kept me busy!!!

This is the Mexican solution to that age old problem about cleaning up the yard after your dog!!!

This is a lovely looking tree. It is called a yaka tree. These fruits can grow to be huge like water melons and form some pretty interesting shapes. There is a small section of the inside that is eaten. Yaka is an aquired taste. To me, yaka is yuka!!!

Last Saturday the art class got up to 16 participants. I think that is the max it should be. Here they are making Valentine's cards. Some of the cards had so much stuff glued on, there wasn't hardly any room for words!!!! The glue on gems were a big hit!!!

Next week we are going to paint. I must be crazy!!!

This has been a week of gift receiving. The lovely embroidered cloth was from my old grandmother neighbour across the street. She also gave me the cup of fern and marigolds from her garden another day. We have very warm hellos, how are yous but can't go much further due to our mutual language restraints.

The pot on the right was from another neighbour. It is from the cactus family and close to blooming. I have a "garden" along my window sill and around the door so all of these additions are very welcome!!!

I finished delivering vitamins this week. We went to a small local town called La Palma. A delightful 7 year old boy has been getting vitamins for 4 years now and this year we added his 2 year old brother. The father was so happy to receive them that he gave me the large bottle of nanches in tequila. I am supposed to let them ferment for another 2 months so I will have to come home two weeks late. Nanches are a small yellow fruit - another acquired taste!!!

Finally the barbe!!! I was so thrilled to come home yesterday and find the barbe outside the door waiting for us. I'm not into frying meat and don't want to get to know my gas oven so the barbe has been really missed. It was gifted to us by Canadian friends and we are so thankful to receive it. Tonight we are having barbequed dorado and from now on, it will be used lots!!!!!

Blog #6 Cool Nights, Warm Days

Yesterday was Sunday so we went off to Fernando's and Lucia's at the beach for fried oysters. If you are into oysters, this is the place to go for the best in San Blas. This is the only day of the week that the beach is busy as most local people tend to work 6 days a week.

The woman in the picture sells this very yummy banana bread that is something like bread pudding. We discovered her about 5 years ago and love to partake at least once a year!!! She was so proud to have her picture taken. As she walks along the ramadas in the sand she carries her wares on her head with no hands. Now, that takes talent!!!


See the little green bird? We should all love ourselves as much as this little bird does!!!

Sorry, but this is a story that is going to be told backwards!!! This is the culmination of San Blas Day which this year was last Thursday. It is always on Feb. 3rd. We stood under a palm tree but still it got scary at times. Lesson learnt - next year stand back further in the crowd!!! See the structure to the right of the picture? This is what they spend all day building. It is really an incredible sight.

This is the lead boat of all of the fishing boats going out on the ocean to be blessed. Saint Blas in on board along with a priest or two. There were dozens and dozens of boats behind the lead. When they come back from being blessed at the white rock with the statue of Fatima, the saint of all fisherman, on top, there is a huge water fight in the estuary. Most of the participants are the young crowd.

At the end of the "U" they tried to put Saint Blas in this boat but they couldn't get it down the 10 foot drop so then they headed off to between the library and the new marina where the good saint was loaded successfully on board. We were still marching along with everyone else. I have to admit I rode my bike when I could!!!

This is the "U" as it is known in town. It is a very sheltered harbour for all of the fishing boats. Many boats were decorated as you can see here. Everyone is laughing and having a great time.

Here is Saint San Blas. Fine looking fella.

We followed our ears until we finally met up with the parade that had just left the church. I couldn't believe how far this parade went. Out to the airport, to the "U", down the street where the old Saturday Market was held, over the bridge and finally into the area where tour boats are kept.

This is our house this year. The window on the right is actually the bedroom window from our last years house. It faces the street. Our house faces the JW Church. Nice view!!! The next window is our living room, the front door, our bedroom window and then our neighbours window.

Times are tough here in San Blas. People like the entreprenurial guy above just make you smile. He started to come to our door about two weeks ago on his bike. You can't see the "K" on Kocteles but that is what he is selling. Seafood coctails. He takes a plastic glass. Addes some juice that he keeps on his handle bars. He told me it wasn't hot but he lied!!!! He then opens up the cooler and voila!!! Inside there is a container of cut up cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, octopus, whole oysters and shrimp. When he has packed the cup he wants to know if you want lemon juice which I recommend or hot sauce which I don't recommend. He is so happy and proud of his business. When he first started coming he charged us 35 pesos but now the price is 30 ($2.50 ) since we are such good customers I guess. If he comes to your door, please indulge. You will happy that you did and that is why I love San Blas!!!!!!!!!

Blog #5 Another Week in San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico

Every night this week there has been entertainment at the plaza or central square. This young fellow was part of the local talent night. You could just tell that he had performed many times infront of audiences and had a great stage presence. There were only three performers which was disappointing but they were all really good.

This week saw us back at El Chaco for a polar swim. At lunch time we go next door to a really good restaurant and then walk along the beach back to El Chaco. You can see how crowded and dirty the beach is!!!

The structures you can see on the right are rented for less than $5 a day mainly on the weekends or holidays. You drive right up to one of them in your car. Bring your own food and liquores or sit at one outside one of the restaurants and they will come out and serve you. They stretch on forever. I can't even guess how many of them there are all joined together like one long palapa townhouse. There are actually two parallel lines of them. During the week when we are there, there are very few people. It is really wonderful.

Did you say you wanted a new curtain rod put up on the door? Hey, call the local welder who will come with all his equipment to install it!!!

Our house is no longer "mango yellow" as the landlord calls it. It is now a salmon colour to match the floor tile or I should say, the living/dining/kitchen room and our bedroom are done. The other two rooms will done "manana".

Since this is the week of the bird festival in San Blas, I had the kids make birds out of stones on Saturday. I'm not sure what was the biggest hit. I think it was the glitter that was everywhere in the house by the time they left. They had a really good time.

You just never know what is coming down the street next. There has been a circus here in town for the last week and to advertise it they drive around town hauling trailers with the different animals in them. The kids get all excited and rush outside to have a look. Some run behind hoping for a better look or maybe to join the circus. Who knows. You can buy a ticket for less than $2 from the driver which is less than $3 if you buy it at the circus door. Seems like a good deal as the show lasts about two hours. I heard the show was really cool from local kids but it just is "no me gousta". Not to my taste.

I have never been so close to a big cat. I tried to get a shot of one of them yawning but I was too busy checking out what it had for lunch!!!! See it's foot coming out of the bars??? I could have touched it, but I didn't. See kids, I don't always live dangerously!!!!

Tamales - What can I say? Inside these corn husks are long chunks of dough stuff with some kind of filling such as chicken, pork, shrimp. I have tried them a number of times and I think my trying days are over for tamales. The other day Ray said, "I know you like to support the local economy but I never want to eat these again." When I told him I had bought enough for the next day, I'm sure his eyes juiced up!!!!

mmmmm

Blog #4

This has been a week of "incidents" in San Blas. We are keeping a close eye on events and may move on but not to the gated community in Florida with all the other blue hairs driving golf carts!!!!

You can see Ray here trying to fix one of our minor problems, being the Home Depot plumbing and electrical guy!!! Ok, so a plumber was called next and our minor problem became a major deal and we are now constantly mopping the floor now waiting for the plumber to return but we have learnt this year that, "Manana" really means any day in the future!!!!


Here I am delivering medical supplies donated by a friend at home. They were very pleased to get them. There are two hospitals in San Blas. One for the rich and this one that I was taken to last year after I was chewed by a dog. Oh, the dog is still there and any day now.......I intend to drive past it with my "weapon" and get my revenge. Instead of,"Dog attacks woman" the news will be,"Woman attacks dog"!!!! Do I need to tell you that I'm kidding? I will probably never go down that street again on my bike. I even hold my breath going past in a car!!!

On Saturday we were invited to two birthday parties. These are pictures of the first one. It was right across the street. The kids smashed a pinata and the adults talked and ate. I was given a seat at the head of the table and food started to appear infront of me. first this bowl of pozole. An interesting dish. It has huge kernels of corn, broth and all parts of the chicken. I think there are probably feet in there somewhere but luckily I just got skin and a neck!!! I have had this dish twice and I think I'm done. I have done with this small piece of Mexican cullinary culture. I do not care to ever eat it again. It was followed with yummy chocolate cake and a custardy thing that Ray would have loved if he had of been there!!!!! Ray came with me and then vanished into thin air. I finally found him back at home!!!! He missed the pozole!!!

Yesterday we had a happening on our street right outside our house, actually where the party had been the night before but this time oh my!!! First they put up this huge tarp across the road. They blocked the road off with cars and then set up chairs and tables. It took me some time to find out that this was a christening party. They had a juke box with which they shared music with the neighbourhood until almost 11 last night. So next time you have a special event in your life why not block off the road, crank up the tunes, bring out the tequilla and party all day and night? Can you imagine how long it would last? Five, maybe ten minutes???

Yesterday afternoon I went to deliver vitamins. I borrowed a friends truck and her Mexican husband. It was really fun. At a couple of houses when the kids saw me they ran into the house yelling,"Vitamins!!!" but of course in Spanish!!! There were many hand shakes and good wishes. For the first time we asked if they would like to have them for another year and they all said yes. We got ourselves into a bit of a pickle at one spot as a father came over and asked for vitamins for his two kids and then a mother came and wanted vitamins for her 3 kids and at that point I said to my helper, "Tell the next one NO!!!" It worked out so well and I'm not sure how. It was kind of like the story of the bread and the fishes. Thank you to everyone who donated!!!

Last night was the opening of the bird festival and like always it started with a troup of folk dancers. They were supposed to start at 8. Organization took until 8:35. Speaches took another hour and then finally the show. Wonderful. You may find this hard to believe but it was really cold and damp by 11:00 p.m. but we survived yet again!!!

Did you know that if you lay under a ceiling fan and squint your eyes you can count the blades even if the fan is on high? Now, how interesting is that!!!