photos of summer

rainy season

Good Sunday morning, everyone !! Cool here this morning,
24 Celsius with high of 32 today ...76 F. - 90 F ....
that's thanks to rain the last few days.
Pressure to get new plant cuttings into the ground !
Like May in the north, this is planting season ! Much easier here in so many ways. For one, I barely have to dig hole, 
just push the branch into the earth, and we're done ! 
You have to deal with mosquitoes, and all those other creatures that love eyes, and ears, and noses, and always
on the look out for ants. No gardening in flip flops, or
you pay the price if you get to close to them, especially the red fire ants, so aptly named !

A tragic accident on an ATV just a few weeks ago.

A man of 81 years was killed when the ATV coming towards his ATV ( on which he was a passenger, and was at a full stop) lost control and hit his vehicle. He was thrown, or rolled over, I'm not sure, and his head was severely injured. He died after
just 3 or 4 days in hospital. So sudden and frightening and very sad. He was very well known in the village and leaves
behind his wife, and a large family, including his grandson,
Sama, our young para glider / flier who was injured in a swimming accident, in Boca, close to 8 months ago.
Sama came home to Yelapa for the funeral, and he will stay here and continue with his therapy.
He gets stronger every day !

The ATV's are extremely dangerous. Partly because of the
path being so narrow and full of curves and blind spots;
partly because of the constant horse and mule " trains " carrying building material up and down; partly Vallarta Adventure walking tour groups, or tourists on horses;
plus, more and more motorcycles, and bicycles !!,
all adds up to accidents waiting to happen !
Use great care in walking. 
Be aware of your surroundings; what's up ahead, and
what's coming behind !  
Hopefully in the near future, steps will be taken to manage and control the flow of traffic. Not sure how that will be accomplished, very difficult task , for the whole world !! 

The new Kindergarten opened this week, and I found out 2 hours later ! so didn't get up there, after all my anticipation !!
I will visit asap to take pictures, and satisfy my curiousity.

Two new teachers there, and 3 new at Primaria, with 1 still missing, 2 new at Telesecundary, and 1 still missing at Prepa !
Boy. 
I may not have liked some of my teachers, but at least they were consistent !! An added layer of distraction always getting to know a new teacher, but this has been the way for students of Yelapa forever. That's why Maestro Pedro was so extra special !! Constant for almost 30 years !

I'm filling in at Prepa, English Fridays for 2 hours.
Secundary English is at 9 am, so they'll have to change the time on that if they want my help !! The schedule comes from Guadalajara, and this year the class is once a week from
9 am - noon, for all levels, on the same day !!  !! Yikes !!

After 3 weeks break from Mi Escuelita, the kids are coming back to their groups, and more students are participating, which is thrilling, for me ! Also giving 2 adults private lessons and 1 adult group slowly starting to form. 
I look forward to the next 10 weeks of classes. 

It's been a hot hot summer, as usual, with little rain so far. 
A lot of power outages, as usual, but more this year.
Rain in the mountains though.

The lagoon is part of the sea, the mouth of the river open wide. Flooded streets in Tuito and San Miguel and elsewhere.
Walking home from school at 6:30 pm, traversing the skinny wooden bridge, over small raging mountain run off ...
avoid the mud ... it's just like black ice !!

Rainy season adventures continue ....

Summer Holidays

Good morning from the green jungle of Yelapa. Still not enough rain, only 6 inches, approximately, more in Puerto Vallarta I understand, same as years past. 
It's a funny thing, talking about the weather around here.
It can be heavy grey clouds, but the locals seem to know when the rain will come. Looks like rain to me, I'll say, but he or she will looks up, and very confidently tell me, No, Kelley, not today !! And they'll be right.
Sama is in Puerto Vallarta, continuing his intense physical therapy to get walking again. He has a new modern, light weight wheelchair, with special wheel to put on for going to the beach !! His best friend on school vacation, so he will be visiting, and giving the family a bit of respite ! He's learning
English, whether he likes it or not, since it'shis step moms first language !!
I am getting positive feedback on NOTEBOOKS for the students to use, rather than replacing the old laptops with lap tops !  Seems a lot of schools don't even have coputer labs anymore, with students working on Tablets or Notebooks in the classroom. The most exciting thing about the change, for me, would be the configuration of the computer lab, to provide more much needed storage space for the dancing costumes of TeleSecundaria Group Marlin, and Cobaej.
The groups are fortunate to have received enough donations to purchase so many different outfits, that it must be a priority to keep them in good condition.  The space could also be used to expand Secundaria library and create a display of the many trophys won over the years. 
You know my next sentance .... looking for volunteers to assist in this project !!
Graduations were all well done and well attended !! 
So much work by the teachers, and parents, and students, to pull this off.
The graduation gowns of Kinder and Cobaej and decorations and dress up gowns and most everything else coming from Puerto Vallarta.  There are 3 clothing shops in town, and one or 2 or 3, up river that have beautiful things to buy, but for this quantity, most is purchased in PV.
Please check YELAPA SCHOOL PROJECT.COM and scroll down to bottom left to see photos I posted there of all the graduations. Special congratulations to the Graduates of Cobaej, Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Jalisco, aka,
Prepatoria. I will post to the site a tribute to this amazing and inspiring group. Dedication to dance and basketball and soccer won them many trophies and ribbons over the years.
A huge accomplishment,especially with the challenges of
living somewhat isolated !!
Big tourist season so far !! The beach has been packed,with day trippers mostly. Great for all the businesses and workers who make their living there, horse rentals included !!
Took my 2nd ride in a ATV taxi from graduation dinner on the beach !!  Wasn't too bad but I had K. Hill with me to keep me calm. They are being well used in the Village, but still there are concerns about speeding and traffic jams. Grade 6 students made banner about Safety in Yelapa, and hung up on the bridge in town. A great first step !! Also a new sign at the playita, announcing a 5,000 $ peso fine for littering !!
I wouldn't mind the Garbage Police job,incognito, of course!!
 Particularly difficult time to have Yelapa looking beautiful,
sweep sweep and more sweep inside and out, all over town.
The rains will come and wash it all away, soon.  It reminds me, somehow, of the snow melt in the north, that in between time of changing seasons.  We have had a few wild light shows, where you could hurt your eyes by looking, with some thunder, but the best is yet to come, we hope.
Good luck with your weather, and enjoy the good with the bad !! 

Water and Power

No rain yet !!  It's coming, we can see that, but when is the question ? There was a good soaking in downtown Puerto Vallarta last Monday, but nothing here.
It is amazing how some plants are giving off their flowers now, in such dry conditions, but the hills are bare, and waiting, like the rest of us.
I added 2 tarps on my roof this year, and a plastic tarp on the top crown . Something new I hope will keep out those first leaks of the season, before the palapa swells up, and is more or less, rain proof . A new roof is on the list, but I don't know if I will use palapa again or not, but most probably. It is
traditional, and cool, and very special to live here, in a
thatched roof, not easy, but special !!
In the meantime, favorite books are in their plastic bags, to protect from termites, and land crabs, and all their friends who drop in over the summer months.
It's house fly season right now, and ants are out in all their millions, different colours, sizes, and agendas !!
Not bad with mosquitoes yet, they too are waiting for rain, then they will visit for a little while, nothing nothing nothing,
compared to my little village in N.W.Ontario !! 
Like everything, over time we adjust. Instead of 4 seasons,
we have 2, wet and dry. I can't say I miss the 4 seasons.
I'm grateful I got to know them well, to play in the snow, 
and skate and slide and all the rest. Now, I have to watch my step for toads, and land crabs, and mud puddles, instead of
black ice !
The 7 High School Dancers who were given Visas to travel to USA, have already been there and back ! 
San Fransisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz !! 
What a roller coaster ride !
Difficult decision to leave their group behind, but how could they not go, with family there waiting to see them?
All is done now, and we move on to final month of classes, then exams, then Graduation in early July. 
There is a lot of school news, that I will post on
Yelapa School Project face book. If you don't have facebook, please go to the website, and scroll down to see the latest posts. Please give feedback on any issue of accessibility to the site. 
Grades 3 and 4 will finish the year early, since the those teachers have been transfered to another school !
We go through this almost every year !!
More on that at YelapaSchoolProject !! plus ...
Researching options for new computers for all of Junior High, Grades 7, 8, and 9. Approx. 60 students, now, but growing. Any feedback on Chrome books / tablets, in the classsroom ? Sounds like thats the way to go ... 
Mi Esquilita, My little school English Program coming along in fits and starts and bits and pieces. Back patio space privacy wall has been completed, for the time being, and it's
fantastic ! Sink has been installed and plumbing good to go ! 
I'm very pleased to move on to ... to ... whatever will evolve there. Painting, and drawing, and movement and eating snacks !!  Calling all volunteers !!   
Cafe Bajia sits, empty and forlorn.  It looks so small.
How Susana did what she did is remarkable. She's out of town now, with a friend, resting. Wishing her all the best in whatever lies ahead for her. Such a drastic event, with Ronco ending up in the hospital too ! He's home now, and happy.
His grandaughter Sol Kamila, celebrated her 15th birthday
in high style, for 2 days, and he was able to dance, a little, with her at the party. 
Electrical Outage was the main theme of May. Three times in less than 2 weeks. Once for 30 hours, once 18.  Without a generator, or solar power, to run your fridge, now is not the time to fill your freezer.  We learn that over and over, the hard way. Life really slows down, when there is no fan to retreat to.
30 hours to repair lines damaged by a fire in Tuito area.
Hopefully, that will be the end of that. 
Very quiet in town, but there was a wedding last night, with fireworks !! shake us up a little !! And some tourists walking along, and still many on Vallarta Adventure Day tours.
These tourists are guided through town now, to check out fruit trees and what not ?, since there is no water coming over the town waterfall to look at !! That will change soon, we hope.
There has need a Water Commissioner appointed, more like he graciously volunteered !  Pumps have been purchased,
the reservoir is under maintenance to improve capacity and etc. It's going to take a while to stabilize the whole procedure, but this is the critical stage, when the river runs dry.  With the rains, will come new life, and peace of mind.
There is not much to life, when the tanks run dry.
I am looking forward to summer holidays from school, but will the use the time to prepare for the coming new year.
Big changes abound. I also hope to get more time in with this blog, and my poetry pursuits. 
For now, I'm thrilled to listen live to NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs !! I can't live stream, but having it on the radio, 
here in my palapa, so far away, is a perfect life for me !!
KICK BUTT LAS VEGAS !! 

Cafe Bajia

Cafe Bajia burnt to the ground, 2 weeks ago Monday.
Fire loves Palapa and it's a blessing no one was hurt !
Proprietor and Chef Susana still has her house, and the lease on little house next door to were Bajia was .
So she has options, a lot of support, and a gofundme  web page to get help in rebuilding.

Flames so high and intense melted plastic flower pots on the upper floors of Casa Anarosa, flames licking at towels, and under side of her roof.  Her daughter ran out calling for help, and neighbours arrived, with buckets, filling them up with hoses on the property.  No volunteer fire department of fire hydrants in Yelapa, at least not yet !!

It's amazing there are so few fires in Yelapa. 
A family in El Paso about 3 years ago, and maybe 8 years before that ? How many more Palapas will be built remains to be seen. One of the many unique draws of Yelapa, but less and less affordable, and available. 

My own Palapa will get 2 tarps this summer, until I decide to replace the palapa or change the roof all together ??
Preperations for rainy season begin.

The very extreme fall out of Cafe Bajia fire is, Anarosa's husband Ronco, is now in hospital with collapsed lung, and pneumonia !! I haven't heard an update today, but he's been there 6 days or so.  He is a friend to so many, especially in the early days of tourism and visitors, he and his brothers, among others, ( cousins, uncles, etc. ) were the fishermen
who fed this village. Strong and Brave as the day is long .  
Get better Ronco !!!

Sama is sitting in a wheel chair. but arms and legs are slow coming back.  He's in PV, and his family brought him to the beach this weekend. He looks good. He has a long road ahead, but is young and strong and in great shape.
I see the same Yelapa bravery and strength that Ronco has,
in Sama. Something in the river ..... ??? 
I think so !!

Keep on keeping on Sama and see you soon !
  
Ballet Folklorico Cobaej is being tested by the USA Consulate in Guadalajara, I think !! 
Only 7 dancers were approved for Visas to San Francisco Carnaval May 26 th , from the group of 16 !! 
Bullshit Borders !!
They have reapplied and have the next appointment May 11th, the 2 week mark, the original cut off day !!
Only God knows what will happen !!
I hope I can report good news !!

Water water no where, or very little, and Town pump has been in repair waiting for parts, but !!, Jeff Elias has agreed to take on a Water Commissioner position and is organizing to buy 2 brand new pumps. Thank you Jeff, and Good Luck !
He has gotten the high school kids involved educating and collecting 200 pesos form each house to pull this off !!
Necessary project for sure !

May is the month of Celebration no doubt. 

April 30th Day of the Children.
Yelapa Guadalupe Festival May 4th - 12 th
Mothers Day May 10
Day of the teachers May 15th

School Graduations will happen in early July.

June 1st  ... Dia de la Marina ....
In memory of those lost at sea.
Yelapa fishermen gone by among them.
Big day in Yelapa.

Get well Ronco !!!  I hope we will see you here then !!

Peace and love and bring on the rain .....  

Start with good news

Sama Joya is doing very very well at his physical rehab in Mexico city.

No idea when he can be transferred to Puerto Vallarta, but
sooner than later I presume . It will be a happy day when he steps back in Yelapa.

In other news, there was too much tragedy since I last wrote.

Two young men, one in his 20s, one in his 30s, took their own lives within days of each other.
Addiction knows no borders or boundaries.  
I bet all of us have been touched, or have seen in some way,
the destruction of alcohol and drug addiction.

Another young man in his 50s, dead with a brain anurism,
just like Maestro Pedro. That is the 2nd death within 9 months for Ava's family.

Another young man, murdered, in a State of Mexico north
of us ! His immediate family rushed to be with him, and returned to Yelapa with his young wife and daughter.

Living in a small town, the grief and sadness and shock are palpable. Our mortality and venerability is deeply exposed.
Tragedy and heartache touch us all, because, if not us ,
someone we know is affected personally.

The village is so interconnected.  Families coming together through marriage, or, fatherhood/ motherhood responsibilities.  Who's your Mother/Father a question
I ask regularly, and I often have to start with Grandmother
or Grandfather, since more likely they are my peers !!

The same families, supporting each other, over the course of generations is a unique aspect about Yelapa, and maybe other rural parts of Mexico, and maybe Canada's remote Northern communities.  People don't " just pick up and move out ",
or get transferred with the company after  few years, except our teachers and our doctor do ! 

The family home and property, remain so, decade after decade, sons become grandfathers, in the house they built for their families, a stone throws away from each other.

People do move out of course, but they come back as often as they can, many of them working hard away so they can return, and never have to leave, again !

This little place is obviously in need of a new cemetary.
How and when that will come about, we will have to wait and see.

Babies being born.
My ex chef Moises, and his girlfriend, Gabby, welcomed a Son, Keylev, March 25th. I wished they lived closer because I would go over to see him every day !!
I have to arrange a play day after school !!
Which starts today after 3 week break !

High season is winding down. People leaving for their other homes in the North.  Another life lived up there.
Busy busy season !  Water taxis running at maximum capacity, especially over the Easter holiday.

We may not have roads, but we certainly have traffic !,
and it's best to keep that in mind. 
Know your boats and your National Holidays !!

Lots of people have dental work done while they're here.
Great dentists in PV, but it takes time and energy to find one you like, and often takes numerous appointments, so you have to plan to stay for a while, or make an initial trip to set things up !  

School is still keeping me busy. Dancers trip to San Francisco
in May in particular.  The web site and facebook page
Yelapa school project, is where I am posting all the updates on that event, and other news and needs in all schools.

I'm also posting my poetry on my facebook page,
More poetry please. I know so many people who are not on facebook, but it was the most convenient for me, at this time.

It's cold here !!! Ocean is clear, but cold .  Doesn't stop the 
Womens group of Isabel's beach from swimming everyday.

Giant mantas close to shore the other day.
And still whales, and whales, just a week ago.
Water is unusually cold, and the breeze is chilly, enough
I'm still wearing my toque in mornings and evenings !
I pray it will warm up soon, here, and wherever it is you are !

A little rain would be nice. So dry. No rain has fallen, to speak of, since October, and none to come till June, if we're lucky.
Fishing is touch and go,  little more than usual as well !
No Chora for my cat for over a month ! 

Pollo Bollo never seems to run out of fish ! and Los Abuelos too, although Fabian was marinating a large Salmon last month ! to use in a Salad Special !! 
Restaurant days are numbered too, except Pollo Bollo stays opens Saturdays and Sundays ... and the local taqarias !

Happy spring everyone .... keep on smiling ....

News Update

Sama scratched himself the other day, or at least tried to !!
Slowly his bed is being raised to sitting position and then he will start physical therapy.
His immediate family have rented a small house near by and are taking care of him morning and night. So many good signs, but impossible to say how long he is well enough to be moved to Puerto Vallarta .

And then Chris, the fisherman from the Philippines with the dog in the canoe,  broke his hip !!
Unreal. 2nd fisherman to go down with hip or knee this season ! Rough seas !
Benefits will be held to make him more comfortable and cover some basic necessities he badly needs.

Then there is still Mario, son of Ramona and Santos, can't move or talk. Car accident Hwy. 17
San Jose to Santa Cruz. His 5 sisters help his Mom take care of him !

Sad stuations especially in such a small village .

 Donations can always be made through YELAPA SCHOOL PROJECT.COM with a note for any specific purpose you want the money to be used for .

Going full speed to help the dancers raise money to buy tickets to San Francisco !!
The Carnival they have been invited to participate in is May 21st. weekend.
 Again check the website or facebook page above !!

Robert Clumpas and his guitar are volunteering at My Little School and the 6 and 7 year olds are learning to sing Baby Beluga.  It's utterly fantastic to watch !!
I will post a video before he heads back to Canada in May 

I've had other volunteers too, and people popping in more and more as they keep walking by.

Lucinda taught the Grade 9 English class on Thursdays for a bit, and hopefully again next year !
It's a great way to make connections, and whos who .

Yelapa Croquet donated money to the School Project to buy more hula hoops and soccer balls etc.
and that is exciting !! This is 34 years of Croquet in Yelapa and I was thinking I hope
Yelapa School Project will be around that long !!

There was quite a bit of chatter on the Yelapa facebook pages about the ATV's last month, from people who haven't visited in a while, and felt the charm of Yelapa somewhat diminished .
I stayed out of it, but I did think it's just another example of peoples disconnection to the families
who try to make a living here and expand their world and the future of their children.
ATV's just being a small part of how they can make their lives easier and more productive.

Yelapa has a funny way of making all of us somewhat possesive !

The grade 12 graduating class of 2018 are puttting on a play this Saturday night t the Casino.
All proceeds to their Graduation Ceremony and Festivities.  They worte, produced, directed nd are starring in the World Premire of Desperate Princess !!

I will definetley provide an update on that !!

Kathy Osmar from my home town, Terrace Bay is scheduled to arrive tomorrow for a 2 day visit.
She's a french teacher now, trained in Switzerland and we haven't seen each other in at least 20 years.

It's a little chilly here right now, if you're used to 30 degrees like me, but she came from 13 feet of snow, so she'll do just fine !

This will be fun !!  Watching people fall in love with Yelapa !!

Until next time ....more and soon ...