Summer 2021

Hurricane Narda. September 28, 2019

A day to remember. 

And there were a number of firsts this rainy season.

First time I had to hang on to the tarp over my swinging bed, while strong gusts of wind blew through the house !

 I could hear the wind, Nora, building strength, then screaming through the arroyo, and then through my palapa. 

Between times I could take a sip of my wine, for nerves, but you have to stay sober, you have to stay alert, you have to be prepared.

There was some serious damage up river, but not like we had with Narda ! Two boats sank, one being the Parachute boat, but as of yesterday, October 10th, they are back !

We have a jet ski addition to  the bay, but it's not a rental, so far, just someone's for fun.  

One of the magnificent things about Yelapa is the weather. Especially October to May, though everything is changing.

The wind and rain pass over the hills, through the canyons and out to sea, not usually hanging over us for too long. You can feel the wind building strength, getting closer and closer, then feel it as it moves over us. The thunder and lightening sometimes right over our heads, deafening and blinding, or a light show over Puerto Vallarta. I swear I saw all the lights go off over there, after one bolt came right down to earth !

There are many times I just plug my ears and cover my eyes !

There seems to be more bugs then ever before this summer.

Land crabs, the size of my fingernail, or the size of my hand. There are not as many now, as the beginning of the rain, but they are still around.  The dogs like to play with them, but I find it a little distressing ! There are crabs legs all over the floor.

Living in Yelapa requires a lot of sweeping, and mopping !

More mosquitoes, and no seems, and moths the size of your hand, and ants, and ants and bats and bats and bats. The mosquitoes and crabs will go away, but not the ants and bats ! It´s been a while since I've seen a Scorpion, but they'll be around. 

Hummingbirds the size of my little finger, flapping between me and my book, and butterflies checking out my tea cup. 

Nature in your face, and in your tea cup, 24/7. Especially now, during the rainy season, but count down to winter, and everything changes, continuously, and you see it here on a pin head !

River is big and full. Little rapids just a little up from the bridge. Kids having a blast. Women washing clothes, men washing horses.

It's hot, and getting hotter, every year. Like everywhere !            One day at the end of August humidity was 99%, with clear skies.

I check my Facebook page less and less, especially after seeing the movies Social Network and The Social Dilemma ! but I do see comments of people saying they will never come to Yelapa again, because she has lost her magic.

If nature and beauty and isolation and community brought you here, some version of the wild, wild west, where there is no police, no cars, parking lots or parking meters , basically everyone is family, e but gets about their own business, as best they can, usually...!?

I wonder what bothers them so much ? Electricity, telephones, internet, ATV's ? It's a curious thing.

No matter what you or I or we think about it, Yelapa is still Yelapa, the same way NYC is still NYC !

If you want to be 22 years old again, well that is gone, forever,

Covid, covid , covid. So many people have gotten sick, so many people have died. It keeps going on and on. We had another death just 2 weeks ago, or so. An American woman, who had been living up the town waterfall. She came back from Florida, and died in Yelapa shortly after.

Thankfully many people have gotten both their shots. I got mine back in March! If a booster is available, I won't hesitate .

A storm is brewing out to sea. Expecting heavy wind and rain to hit Wednesday, October 13. Hurricane Kenya hit the end of October. 

We aren't in the clear yet.

Hortencia is back, from 3 months recovering in Vallarta. Gorgonia is doing well, still washing her clothes in the river, despite taking a tumble a few months ago. Your " corazons " will be waiting ...

Ray´s place moved to the Oasis at the Lagoon, but they moved out of there after a few months. Not sure where, or if they will re open. 

Nothing happening at the Hotel. There is a " snow fence " all around the property. Very sad and sad looking. Los Abuelos was open most of the summer, but closed now. I'm sure he will be open again by early November, and Pollo Bollo open 3 days a week all summer.

Everyday there are hundreds of fish jumping in the bay below my house, but fishing has been off and on, as per usual. 

I hope to re open my English school this Friday. I've had the inside re painted, with completion of the dry wall on the ceiling, so I hope that will keep us a little cooler in the summer months. One thing is the cats can't get in anymore, I hope !

We have had lots of babies born, and more on the way.  A few weddings, big and small, and numerous Quincenaras, big and small.

I hope we all make it through this, I hope Covid disappears, and I hope you all can make a trip down to see us ! 

Until then, I hope you, like me, have a lot to be thankful for.

Bright Light Rolling Thunder

 My first blog of the year .... how time flies in my

Palapa in Yelapa !

We had the party on June 1st, Dia de la marina.

Just half the crowd as other years, due to Covid,

and I was able to watch from a distance on high. 

Live band was great ! I stayed for a few Coronas and 

a dip in the ocean. The day before so many horses, 

including from Chacala, came dancing and prancing 

through town,with one little cowgirl among them, 

daughter of Horacio, riding her own horse next to 

Grandpa! 

Many people were here for the gathering for Philippo

on his 62nd birthday. It was a packed agenda for the 

family, with the finishing of the mural of Philippo, 

Luncheon at April´s Passion Flower Garden, full moon 

fire, Yacht club, and Mimi´s live Thursday night , 

which was very fun, and Philippo was deeply felt, by 

all. 

There is a wonderful tribute to Don Tambor, on 

Facebook and Youtube, created by his son Aaron 

Whidtley, spelling may not be correct, but search 

either name and you will find it. 

He died 9 days after Philippo.

Don Poli died just over 2 weeks ago. Patriarch of the 

Garcia family, Erik, Alfonso, Queta, Lay, Luis, y mas. 

His wife Alicia. We won´t see him out front of his 

house reading his bible anymore. Like his cousin 

Primo, who had a favorite spot to sit on the wall, but 

Primo wasn´t reading the bible ! When not watching 

the boats in the sea, he was waiting for the girls to 

come by. We know that for sure !

Life is rolling along here, and so is Covid 19. Yelapa is

on strict protocol and Vallarta is enforcing more 

restrictions as of today, July 30th. All bars and 

nightclubs have to shut down, completely ! See 

PVnews.com ! I have my 2 shots, but it´s still scary 

out there, and I´m staying pretty close to home. 

School is out until August 30th, but it´s iffy, and my

little school is closed, till further notice. Hopefully not 

too long !?

I did manage to get the stucco completed around the 

outside, and inside the patio area.

A job that was to be Chaparro´s, had he not died on 

cinco de mio.

I had 2 generous donations, that helped get that job 

done, and I have the paint, and am ready to get 

started asap ! Plus I bought a piece of drywall from 

Trine, and it´s waiting to be installed in the unfinished 

half of the ceiling, which will cut the heat down 

tremendously.  

It is very hot here, like everywhere else. 

The sun is more intense every year, for sure. But it´s

been hotter in Vancouver and in the Okanagan then 

here lately, and we aren´t fighting fires !

It´s very very sad to hear and see the news of towns, 

homes, and communities destroyed.

At this moment at 9:30 am a storm is brewing up the 

canyon. Raining lightly for the moment, but darker 

clouds on the way ...

9 hours later, we had just a sprinkle of rain. We have

had about 16 inches so far this rainy season ... 

another 60 or so to go ... At the moment humidity 

sits at 90 %. The thunder and lightening have been

super intense ! I´ve given Yelapa a Canadian 

Algonquin First nation name ---

Bright Light Rolling Thunder.

No matter where you have been in the world, it would

be hard to match the echo of the thunder in our little 

bay .  

I attended the baby shower for Maestra Nadya, at the

yacht club, just the day we knew about the outbreak 

here in Yelapa. Baby showers here are too funny, with 

games played through the evening...how many 

marshmallows  can you fit in your mouth ??

If and when school returns, I´ll cover her English

classes while she is on leave . 

I´m short on news since I´m stuck pretty close to

home. Maria Von Bolschwing is maintaning, at 87 

years. Her old friend, William Leonard Pickard, has 

made contact, and eager to visit as soon as he is 

able . Look him up on Wikipidia ! Facinating story !

I understand Sue Dirkson now on morphine, unable to 

communicate, and her son is there in Santa Cruz with 

her till the end. We wish her Gods speed. She was a 

great friend of Maria´s for close to 60 years !

I hope all is well with my Northern amigos, and look

forward to seeing you all back here, safe and sound.

 

Wait for it ...2021

Greetings on this new moon in November. 

Extreme tides has changed the little beach in town, again. The playita became larger last year, after the storm, Narda and we continue to see it take on a different outline. Beach in front of Silent Jim's house again !

I can safely say winter has arrived. It was a hot, humid, wet summer, and the temperature stayed high into October, but now we are at a cool 25 to 30 degree Celsius during the day. 

The ocean was a riot and a mess a few days before the new moon, as per usual, especially in winter, then overnight turns into a soothing rhythm of come and go, here and now, like a meditation.

Mexico back on a 2 week shutdown. The border must still be open, because tourists are coming. Small yoga groups have begun, and most restaurants open. The majority of people not wearing masks, but I see more tourists with them, and I wear mine inside the store. This is really the time to stay vigilant ! I feel safe keeping to my routine, in a fairly controlled bubble. Doing all the things we need to be doing, even if others are not !

School won't return to normal till at least July, but good news is some grades in Primary School have an English teacher, who is a bi lingual native of Yelapa ! It's challenging doing online classes for sure, but it's an excellent start !

All schools have their teachers, including a Math teacher at Prepa, and Maestra Angelica returning to Secundaria, but not as Administrator. 

The Museum is offering free English class to children, as well as art and yoga !  These kids all play together and in some cases from the same family, but social distancing and mask wearing is not observed. 

One of the oldest Yelapa residents died this week, after a bad fall, and 8 days in hospital. The mother of Ambrosio, Lupe, Martita, and etc. The wife of Don Martin, who died just a few years ago, at 99 years old. History. We passed 4 years since Maestro Pedro died. 

We are on pins and needles, waiting on news of Phillippo Lo Grande, Yelapa artist in residence, recovering from radiation treatments at UCLA Hospital. He returned to United States last month, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He's been almost constant in Yelapa for 37 years ! 

We've had a couple of residents take bad falls, and wish them speedy and tolerable recovery. Yelapa has a bad reputation for injuries falling down stairs, or hills, or trees, or cliffs, or boats ! Walking anywhere can be precarious, and you need good legs, feet and balance to get around. Go slow and lift your feet. Even in Vallarta you must pay attention to your feet and you head, while walking. Accidents are so easy to happen here. 

The Hotel is still closed but the new year is supposed to bring new ownership, and Chicos has been dismantled to the ground, with brand new construction to begin. Most other beach restaurants open, with Vallarta Adventure and other tourists boats arriving regularly. I'm grateful, and feel very lucky to be here, always, but especially during a Global Pandemic ! Yelapa has always been it's own little universe, a little bubble, that I hope nothing comes along to burst !  

Happy Holiday Season, Thanksgiving and Christmas !!

Let us pray for Peace and for the Health of the World  !!

Covid 19

Blind Maggie died last month, in Oregon. She spelt her name something like, Maggui. Very original. Living here for years and years, just a little up river from the main beach. I'm not sure the cause of death, but quite sure it wasn't Covid 19. She was 80+ years. She will not be forgotten.

And then, just 16 weeks after his Wife died, Margarito died too. He had been  in Vallarta, and he hadn't been well. It was the saddest thing to see him walking about so fore lone and lonely. I heard he fell and broke his foot or ankle, and took to his bed and stopped eating and drinking. Like Silverio did, and Don Martin,and old Santiago, and Jim. 

What a trippy year !!

Yelapa had had numerous cases of Corona virus,it will be impossible to know how many for sure, without peoples co operation, in reporting. When people starting getting sick here, there was some confusion between the virus and dengue fever, but I think that has gone out the window by now. 

We know the symptoms of dengue, the fever is high for a prolonged time, there is usually no coughing or shortness of breath. It's been raining a lot, and I'm hopeful that is good, to keep the puddles full of fresh water, and the river and lagoon too, to decrease the risk of breeding mosquitoes and dengue. I'm sure there are some sick with dengue too, but the virus can not be denied.

Vallarta Advenures and other party boats, and private boats, and water taxis going back and forth to Boca de Tomatlan and Puerto Vallarta !! I read this morning there were just over 5,000 new cases reported in Jalisco August 17th ! We still need to play it really safe ! It is scary and surreal, for everyone around the world !! Surreal.

Schools will start soon. They stagger the dates, but Primaria will be next Monday the 24th, Virtual, which I don't think really exists in Yelapa, and so many other places.

Maestro Juan is getting ready to start Prepa, distant learning, which will be easier then kindergarten and Primaria , but still not that easy !! As far as I understand it, teachers are also working from home. I haven't had a recent update, but I believe Maestra Angelica has moved to another school, closer to her Mom and teenage son. She stepped into M. Pedro's shoes after he died, not easy !!! Her house was hit hard by Narda too ! I wish her God's speed and Good Luck in her new adventure. But how will a new Director take over under these circumstances .... is yet to be seen.

Most restaurants still open, but I have been eating my own food for months now .... expanding from the fried egg sandwich, but nothing very exciting. I have had take out pizza from Mimi a few times, but just when I think I can't take another week without Pollo Bollo, I tell myself I've gone this long, I'll wait a little longer till the Covid numbers go down. 

I'm sure many of you are doing the same. Wait and see what happens in the coming weeks. Same with travelling back to Yelapa. It's all wait and see. Some people have tickets back for late October, so we stay hopeful, everyone will Do The Right Thing, and follow the medical guidelines. 

I'm continuing on with normal life at home, but I have taken up colouring in some books I pinched from mi escuelita, great getaway ! I am watching a lot more news, and great stuff on YouTube, and watching Hamilton, over and over and over !!

Yelapa is as green as green gets, right now. The birds, the incects, the ants, are insane, makes me laugh out loud sometimes. A Huge Orange Prehistoric Iguana falling from the tree, will make you give your head a shake ! 

And then there's the the thunder, but mostly the lightening.

You can see on The Weather Bug app, it was 0.07 and 0.02 miles away from Yelapa. Approximately right over my head. I was in the shower. I definitely felt a slight jolt through my feet, and tingle up my body. Dear Lord. It was a clear, Snap, Crackle, Pop moment!! The power went off, of course, but then came right back on again !? Electricity and Telephone and Mail remain a Yelapa mystery.

Living here you sure learn to savor the dull moments !! 

Take care everyone !! Saludos !! Hang in there !!

Cycle of Life

oh boy oh boy oh boy, oh boy ....

Tough times, all around. Yelapa lost 4 elders, in 3 months, all in the neighbourhood of mi escuelita ! Five if we count Matilde, Margarito's brother who died in early November, and six, if we count one of my best buddies, Jim, on November 24th, then Margarito's wife, in March, then Eva, then dear sweet Ronco, then my boyfriend, Silverio ! He wasn't a serious boyfriend, and I'm not the only woman he had, but we all loved him, like a favorite uncle, more than a boyfriend, but you know how people like to talk !! 
April 5th my step mom died, at 91 years old/young, in Nova Scotia, just a week or so before the tragic, horrible shootings there !  Oh boy Oh boy Oh boy .
It all leaves me grateful to have had such people in my life, to be part of a community where we share the good times and the grief, and to appreciate life, every single day.
I can't even talk about George Floyd. I think I'll write about that in a seperate post.
Kinder and Secundaria are out on vacation, but Primaria and Prepa still doing exams, except for Grade 12 graduating class,
they are done ! Six students, 4 boys, 2 girls.
No group picture, no graduation ceremony. So sad for them. Entering into grade 8, 17 girls and 6 boys !!
Remember Yacht Club Elena's boy Zion ?
He is entering Grade 10 !
 Six girls and six boys entering Grade 1 ! Then didn't get a graduation either !
What a nightmare the teachers and students and school boards and administration, all over the world, have had to live and work through !  I hope there will be huge changes to Childhood and Young Adult Education moving forward. 
Reform the police AND education system ! 
Health care and politics too !
Meanwhile, I'll continue to do my small part, here, as best I can. I am more active on Instagram, and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, with as many hearts as I can.
I'm following George Floyd's daughter, Gigi !!
The news over took my life, as with most of us, but I'm weaning myself off, and getting my little escuelita ready to open. Vico extended the small garden out front, to go to the corner of the property, and also extended the curb from Margarito's and behind Gorgonia's, along the trail, and re-did the drainage in the back patio. I learned some lessons, after Narda !  Still waiting on gyp rock/drywall to finish the inside ceiling. Not a material used here a lot, by the locals.
Restaurants have opened in Yelapa, tourist boats are arriving at the beach. Garcia Rentals is open, Pura Vida, open. 
It seems strange seeing tourists around. Cafe Eclipse for take out only, so still only place for lunch or breakfast in town is Olivia's sandwiches. Brissa coffee open 7 am- 1pm. No Cafe Bahia ! And I don't think any Vallarta Adventures here until November, but they may have Rhythm of the Night open.
It rained 1/2 inch last night !!! It has been so dry, and the sun is like an oven ! More rain and thunder on the way. I have only seen a few small crabs, kinda strange, and the flowering trees are all flowering at odd times, so I have pink and yellow in my view, and dolfins were in the bay this morning.
And Life goes on ....

Up on the hill

Dinner up Shit Creek last week. Nina and I walked up the stairs, and avoided the rocky path, named Shit Creek by someone long ago .... could have been No Neck Hank, or Jock Strap Jerry, or Orange Charlie, or any other gypsy who spent time here, before my day ! K. lives way up there, but not quite as far up as Ms. D.  I don't have permission to write about her, and we all know she is very private, so I will just call her D, and our host, K.
If you arrive in Yelapa, for the first time, and plan to spend any length of time here, it won't be long till someone tells you the story, of the woman on the hill, D. Stung 17 times by a Scorpion, cuts the head of snakes with her machette, and very rarely ever comes down to the village. I was facinated !
It took a few years for me to ever see her, and then a few more years to actually meet her, and then slowly over time, get to know her better.
The four of us, having dinner and drinks. We didn't have masks on, but washed our hands and were careful. We have all been isolated here, and I've seen K. and Nina on different occasions, so we felt very safe.
No idea how high up it is, I'll have to ask, but I'll guess ..
200 or 300 feet, Shit Rock way way out in the distance, at the entrance to the bay. 
( How do you get to Yelapa from Vallarta ?
   Turn left at Shit Rock )
We sat on the lovely small deck, just meant for 4, nested in the trees, when the mangos are ready, my long arm could probably pick one off the tree !
I'd only been up there once before, so I followed Nina.
One of the 1st places she ever stayed, was up that hill, but on the other side of the creek. That was 45 years ago. 
There weren't a lot of houses to rent, back in that day, so I've heard many other people tell stories about that place.
No electricity, no hot water, no stairs, no bridge, feed the pigs your compost, no plastic bags. Those days you still had to ride the cargo boat to get here, which took about 2.5 hours !
No power boats, until a few years later, one water taxi.    
This year Nina had an extra bedspread and pillow case set that she had brought back from India, where she goes every year, for months at a time, when she can. I bought it !
I've seen the other ones she had over the years, and finally I have my own. It's not Mexican, but my embroidered pillows are perfect match. 
Under normal circumstances, Nina wouldn't be here at this time, nor K., but they live in hot spots for Corona virus,
in USA and the UK, so they will be here a little while longer. Hopefully they are gone before it rains, because their sweet cabins are not ready for that.
No one wants to live in a house with a hole in the roof, where the rain comes in !
Ms. D. is prepared. At 67 years old, she said it's 47 years she has been on that hill ! Many people came then, and stayed 6 months, or a year, maybe 3, but they all left, or died ! She stayed. She never left, except a few years ago when her Mom died, she's been here. For a loner, she's a great talker, and I learned how to care for my teeth with salt, care for my gums with Goldenseal, and make a Vodka mash punch, using fresh basil, lime, and water. Add Anis and Lemon Grass if desired !
I'm on it ! 
I didn't ask about cutting the head off snakes !
I started writing this blog in 2012, to keep connected to my Father, who could only talk on the phone for short periods of time. He died 6 years ago, and today is his 93rd Birthday.
He was able to make one visit to Yelapa, and saw and felt how I loved it here, and had found my place.
He was very happy for me.
I'd like to think I still write to keep that connection to him, and to the Yelapa friends I've met along the way.
Happy Birthday Dad, and Thanks for Everything !
      

Good Night Eva

Sweet Eva, with the flowing hair, all the way down her back, at over 80 years old, though she almost never wore it down.
Catch her sometimes, sitting on the rock outside her house, brushing it out, the length of her arm. Stunning Eva.
She told me she remembers serving Jim Madden tacos, and beer, at her little cafe, 50 years ago. Gregorio has know her 45 years. Sweet Eva, calling your name as you walk by her place, her little cafe turned little store, turned Micheladas
Vicky !! 
Directions to the waterfall ?? Turn right at Eva's little store,
on the corner, and up the hill 5 minutes. Of course there was no sign that said Eva, and it wasn't what you would classify a store, really, but enough knick knacks and bolsas, and fishing lures hanging on the windows metal iron work, and she in her chair, next to her cat and her songbird.
After some time passed, it would be habit when walking by, to call her name first, even if she wasn't in her chair, she could see you from her room,or kitchen window, and it became a game, who said who first !  
She was ready with a laugh, and witty remark, many flying over my head, but always with good spirit ! 
Both of us trying to get Pedrito to study English. 
Her, pulling me inside the house to look for him, and he at
13 years old, trying desperately to hide ! 
Oh, she thought that was hilarious !
And a beloved Mother, and Grandmother, so close to to her grandkids. Sweet Susana, loved her so much, and cared for her so well, I feel her pain. 
A small service was able to be held at the Church, with burial following in the afternoon. She looked beautiful, in a soft print blouse, and bright pink cardigan. Her hair was up .
Nine days of prayers begin, as is tradition, but with distancing and masks needed this time.
It is a sad situation, all round.
Deligacion Yelapa posted a notice there will be applications available for government financial assistance, April 30 and  May 1 for anyone affected by the Corona Virus. 
That's good news.
Signing off, Good Night Eva, Rest in Peace Forever, xox