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.
