Life in the fast lane ....

Home sweet home .... after 3 full days and nights in the big city of Puerto Vallarta ! WoW !
Still a lot of people around, and especially on the weekends, at the beach , it is packed with
locals and Mexican tourists , and they know how to have a good time.

Food everywhere.  Restaurant tables loaded up with Lobster, Shrimp, Ceviche, Tortilla Soup.
Beach Vendors selling BBQ Shrimp on a stick, Papaya and Mango on a stick, or in a bag with lime and chile, coconuts sliced open at the top with a straw to drink the water, and then chopped up to get at the sweet white meat.  It's endless and the Mexicans are in for the long haul.  Many families with their own coolers full of food, under umbrellas, laughing, eating,
singing, but always laughing.  Musicians walk the beach and play songs for tips.  In the full
sun, all dressed up in their finery, white and starched to perfection.

It can get tiresome with so much action, and then the children selling Chiclets, and the adults selling their wares, hats, sunglasses, blankets, tattoos, hair braiding, wood carvings, jewelry, you name it.  It's impossible to buy from everyone, but my visitors did do a good job distributing their pesos, and bought some lovely things.

I did my part by having a foot and leg massage !! Talk about decadent ! 
My calves can get so sore and so tight from all the up and down in Yelapa, I knew i needed a good rub down, and Rosie did an amazing job, though she did leave a little bruise.  She made sure to watch me insert her cell number into my cell phone, so I can keep in touch !

Everyone is so nice, so friendly and happy to see you.  Some are a little too pushy, but the season is winding down and there must be some anxiety about the long, slow summer months ahead.  We did unfortunately run into a couple of rotten apples !

A young show off taxi driver who couldn't find the Gallery we were going to.  Yelapa friends were having an art exhibition and Friday was the opening night.  When I finally told the driver to stop and let us out ( he just kept going around in circles) he wanted $ 200.00 pesos ! When I told him no way, and that it was less than that to get to the airport, he said
he was going to call the police.  Go ahead, I said, and I'll tell them you are not a real taxi driver.  We were drawing some attention, so i did give him $ 50.00 pesos, and we quickly turned on our heels and walked the opposite direction.

Then, needing a drink to calm our nerves, we went into a Cafe I know of close by.  The owner, a Canadian, spoke at Dear RH's funeral, where I had also been asked to read some emails, so we met there. Well, he turned out to be the nasty host you could imagine. 

We got our beers, no problem, but when the food arrived and I explained to the waiter we
didn't order an extra side of onion rings, he told me that I did, and when we were discussing this, poor Brian's Chicken Burger was the worst thing you've ever seen, so he asked for some mustard, tomatoes and lettuce, and then owner came over and began shaking his finger in my face.  We were stunned.

He said he knew we were trouble from the start, how dare I call his waiter a liar, ( which i did not do ) and for us to leave right away, or .... he would call the police !!

Innocent us, " almost arrested twice " in less than one hour !! 

Such scare tactics are certainly not good for business. Two macho men preying on tourists.
Brian told him we would tell our friends not to come here, and he said, " People like you don't have any friends " .  What a great personality for a proprietor !

I'm more than happy to share the name of the Cafe with anyone who wants to know, so they can avoid the place. 

We eventually made our way to Las Margaritas, and had a lovely time, with great service, great food, and great music.  We returned the next night for dinner, and everything was perfect, with one exception.  One of the customers fell for my girlfriend, and the waiters had
to gently, take him away, but it took a few attempts before they could pry him away. 
No hard feelings, no angry words, no calling the police.

Of course it's a running joke with us now.  Don't touch my Burrito or I'll call the police !

I expect them both to arrive in Yelapa on Thursday and stay for 2 or 3 nights.  There is a
Quincenera on Saturday night that would be fun for them to see.  I'll be going since I know the family well and they live in my Neighbourhood.  I'll be sure to tell you all about it next week. 


Until then ... be good and stay out of trouble !!

 
 

Full Moon Rising

.... Cafe Baja closed as of today .... Tacos y Mas,  final week this week ....

I spent the day at the Cafe today, ( with a break in between to check in on the Library and
bring more donated books).  Pizota friends arrived for the occasion, and a good time was had by all.  Much praise to the staff, and salutes and salutations to the chef !
There will be the annual Flea Market/Closing Sale next week, with many locals participating ... I bought a sweet dress from CS last year.

I have a dinner date with an old friend tomorrow at Tacos y Mas.  He's a long timer here, and I sure enjoy listening to his stories and secret tales of Yelapa Magic. 
Not to mention, enjoying my last Passion Fruit Margarita of the season !

I will be spending next weekend in PV. Looking forward to visiting with a dear friend who is
on vacation for 2 weeks, so I should say I will be a day late with my Blog !

I have a bet with my neighbour that it won't rain before May 15th .  It has been grey and
misty in the mornings, but the rainy season is still 2 months away, if we're lucky !

Casa Delfin needed more line to reach the water source and another neighbour had empty tanks, due to a broken line !  In many ways, it still is " Gourmet Camping ", living the way we do.

Amazing that we can stay so isolated, in such beauty and so close to an busy, International
City .  

There is another rumour, this time 2 ex-president's son's, descending upon our village and
developing a resort.  Those rumours never go away. I don't pay any attention.  
Talk is cheap.

I want to say that the weather is perfect right now, but in another 10 days, it will be even better.  The nights are clear and still. The sea has calmed her tone. The moon is already high in the sky.  The sun balancing over my head during the day.

May and October is the best weather here.  It's not hot, it's not cold. It's not humid. 
The sea is a bathtub.
The bugs aren't bad yet.  Still a soft breeze, that reminds me of Lake Superior. 

By June 1st .. it's hot...and you better have a hat, at all times, and swim early in the day.
When the rain comes, the ocean is not the most inviting.  The rain washes down the river and the canyons and deposits everything in it's path, into the sea.  

The large gully next to my house, flows so heavy in the rainy season it moves large trees
down the hill that block the path.  Sometimes you can't cross the gully at Pollo Bollo, there
is so much water flowing through.  Like the Mighty Fraser River, on a smaller scale !!

Try crossing holding a flashlight, because it's dark ; and umbrella, because it's pouring
and trying not to step on a Toad, because they are all over the place !

Another Yelapa Initiation ! I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am learning more about the computer and the blog.  I have read some comments.
Thank You so much.  I don't know how I did it, but I do want to hear feedback so will learn how to do that. At least now I can post photos ... lots of flowers and bugs !

It was a great Sunday Brunch Send off  ... Congratulations Chef. 

And what about .... Mr. Justin Trudeau !!  SO Exciting and moving.

Love and Inspiration ....

xox
k    

No news is ...

Quiet week in Yelapa, for me, except for Saturday Night !!  I made it out to the Disco for the
first time in a while and had a good time dancing, until it got too crowded, and the music was turned up to 10 !  I couldn't dance very well with my fingers in my ears ! but i had a lot of fun, while it lasted ....


Fishing has been good this week. No tuna yet, and it isn't as bountiful as i remember in years past, but everything is always changing, and I look forward to a fish & vegie diet this summer.  Right now the pinapples and mangos are juicy and sweet !  

The leaves are still falling from the tress, but there must be some tasty nuts or seeds as there seems to be more birds of different varieties making a lot of noise.  Many parrots and
little starling type birds who have started coming in to the house, walking/hopping about on the floor, which is very dangerous to their health, with lily around.  Maybe whatever they're eating is somewhat intoxicating, causing them to lose their bearings ....
Lily had a hummingbird in her mouth the other day, poor little thing crying out, but i grabbed the broom quick, and she dropped it and it flew away ...

Ants are a big problem right now too.  They never go away, but they have a certain schedule that they follow, and now they are on the move !  I have saved the hair from my last cut,
( I still do it myself ) and stuff some in at the base of my favorite plants and trees.  
It's supposed to work for deer, so i thought I'd give it a shot, and so far, so good.  
It beats combing the side of the hill, in the dark, with my flashlight and the nasty poison, trying to find the nest .  Ground cinnamon works to suppress them too, I've seen it in action at a local cafe.  I better stock up !

The old Bouganvilla up behind the house is in full bloom and amazing.  It is almost coming thru the top window of the Casita.  The one we planted a few years ago in the front is growing fast and is developing flowers too.  It is Deep Magenta and the one up top is Deep
Red.  Gorgeous.  I have seen 2 of them growing together, with a white one mixed in, huge,
growing up the side of a wall , or into the other trees growing beside it.
One of my favorites, but with killer thorns. Maybe that's why they grow so wild, because they hurt, a lot, to prune. You never want to step on a branch, with barefeet especially.
That could mean a trip to the Clinic.  

I will get my photos up asap.

The New Moon brought a heavy sea, again.  More than usual because it has been more windy than usual, partly. People getting wet on the boat.  A new Laptop, in a backpack in the front, ruined.  People were scared.  That's not good at all, and I'm sure the Captains will address the problem.  They will have to. 

Mimi's is closed for the season, at least Friday Nights. The Library is coming together.
I already have a few sections organized, Children, Autobiographys, Cowboy Western
DVDs & Magazines. There is a LOT left to do, but I hope, over this summer we will
work hard together to create a Sacred Space, that will also make us some money !!

On my way to Puerto Vallarta tomorrow, to pick up the keys to the very nice apartment we are renting for the summer.  Six months !  I have some experience now, of how to live back and forth, and am looking forward to a bit of a respitie, from time to time.
It's nice to have a place to stay overnight.  You can get more accopmplished in 2 days.

I haven't left Yelapa since Feb. 11th, to the eye doctor, and the time before that was Dec. 20,
when Craig came back from Reno.  It will be a whole new world, all over again.
I'm going to make the most of it.

.....from my hut to yours...

sleep tight ... keep smiling ... keep guessing ... keep dancing ...
xox
k

April Showers .... i wish

Welcome to April in Yelapa .... and the stomach flu !!


I thought I was going to escape the little bug being passed around.
 I shouldn't have been bragging that I wasn't sick .  It hit me hard Friday afternoon, and I was in bed for the rest of the day.  Saturday I thought I was recovered, but by early evening
I was back in bed, where I stayed all day Sunday. Today, Monday, I am a little better, but
exhausted ... how can that be ?? 


I had to cancel going up to the Library today, which is upsetting,but the PTA President will
cover for me as A. won't be back from the USA until late this week.  What bad timing as I really enjoy going up there, and this is the first day back from Easter Holiday.
I didn't want to call her, thinking I may be better this morning, but it's a good thing I did.
I couldn't walk up there in this state, let alone work with the kids for 2 hours, and walk back ! 

The weather has changed dramatically.  Full sun every day, and everyone is commenting that it's hotter this time of year then we can remember.  We still have the welcoming ocean
breeze, and there are grey skies in the afternoon, but it's unlikely we will have any rain, for
sometime to come. It's  a water dance again.  Keeping the greenery alive, and yet still trying
to conserve water.  We have been very lucky here over the years, but running out of water
is a real threat.  There are always ways around getting water in the line, which means 
running more of the black piping that feeds our tank.  Lets hope we get don't have to do that.

In the meantime, the tourists and part-timers are heading out.  By next week, most of the
regulars will be gone. There are 5 houses on our water line, and now that the renters are gone, it's less strain on our water system. 

I will be taking it easy today.  Although there is no water in the tank at Casa Delfin, I have
someone looking at it today.  Without water, there are no renters, and I'm hoping there may
be a few stragglers coming by, that will want to rent .  Usually when there is no water it's the
same reason why, so it could be a somewhat easy fix. I hope so.

For now,I will try to eat some breakfast, it's been a couple of days.

I hope none of you are sick .... and you are enjoying a marvelous spring ...

until next week ...

much love and affection from afar ...

k

Happy Easter ... and more

Easter is upon us ... the beach is lined with tents, canopies and ice coolers. The music is playing, the women are dancing, the kids are running wild in the surf .  Not the kind of Easter Holiday I grew up with, but then again, it could still snow where I come from !

There are 4 grand yachts in the bay, plus a few mini ones, sailboats, pleasure boats, banana
boats, sea-doos, inner tubes, para sailing, and a water skier, behind a water taxi , no less.
The breeze is full of kids laughing and carrying on.  Isabels beach has been packed each day, and the tide has been so high, there isn't a lot of beach to play on, but that makes no difference!  How many people can you fit on a rock ?!

The Mexican people know how to relax, and it revolves around family and food.  There is never a shortage of either around here.  A curious eye gets you an invitation to try the ceviche, or tamalas, or some kind of agua fresca I've never heard of before.  They take such pride and such pleasure to share, it really warms your heart.

Pollo Bollo was jammed packed last night, with so much talk and laughter.  So many family members make it home for this holiday, tables are pushed together, and no one seems to care how long it will take for Jaimie's ribs to reach the table.  There are dogs running around,( not allowed, but good luck keeping them out ) babies are passed back and forth to admire,
hands shaken and hugs given, backs slapped, and yes, more laughter.

I noticed early on, that there are just not the crying babies and infants here, as I was used to seeing up north. Somehow, it seems, the babies in Yelapa are just born happy.  I suppose there are many other reasons you don't hear the whining child down here, perhaps because there are so many distractions for them and so much freedom. The sea and the river at their front door, or maybe it's just something in the air ??

Everything will quiet down now, although the holiday lasts another week.  Life will return to normal, or as normal as it gets for me here.  I hope I will still have a visitor or two .

The bathroom has a lovely new roof.  It smells like a barn in there still, and we have to spray for the little bugs that will be trying to make their home in there.  The roofers knocked off the vent out of the toilet, and when we put it back together, it seems to have solved our septic problem, at least temporarily.  Perhaps that pipe was clogged the whole time ?
Thank you to whoever came up with the retractable snake idea !  Worked for me !

A new toilet is still in order.  That involves breaking out the cement seal on the old one, and replacing it with what we know to be called a flange.  So many of the Yelapa toilets were cemented in to the floor.  There wasn't much alternative years ago, ( this house was built in
1972 ), so the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to get the shitter working was to make some cement !!!

The workers didn't do to much damage to the plants in the yard, and around the bathroom.
Bad, but not that bad.  Nothing like what we lived through doing the main house roof.
You can be as careful as you want, but they have to haul the palm fronds up 46 steps, and
they are long, and wide and full of sand.  Then they have to be piled up, in some kind of order, to be handed up to the man on top.  There were 300 palm fronds.  They took up a lot of room, but everything survived, just a little on the crooked side right now.
I'll post the photos on my " Complete Profile " or Facebook.

Due to technical difficulties beyond my control, I could not make a long distance phone call
today. I have 3 microphones to plug into my computer for my Skype, and NONE of them
work.  I do not have the proper international phone card, and they don't sell them here.
There are draw backs to being so isolated.

Instead I kept busy cleaning the casita, as our guest has returned to Montreal.
There is full morning sun up there, and a great place for a future vegetable/herb garden.

My final Spanish lesson tomorrow, and we will go out for lunch, again.  I went out with 3 woman friends last Wednesday ( so many interesting woman here ) to Shambala, and finally had the Mole.  Everything was delicious.  We had a good time.  I'll go back and try the 
baked potato !! What a good idea....

For now, it's time to go for a swim.  The water has been crystal clear, and I'm told it is warm,
( more than usual )  ... so until next week ...

Sleep tight , don't let the bed bugs bite, and , ...... watch out for April Fools !!

xo

k


  

Full moon shadows

The Church Bells began ringing yesterday afternoon.  People gathered in the Town Square.
"Jesus " was helped onto his donkey, and the Procession began. I didn't follow this year, but I have in years past, and it's a very serious affair, with many many people.  I'm sure there will be many pictures posted on Facebook, and maybe even Utube this year !!
Pollo Bollo stayed open this year, and we got there ahead of the rush ... much excitement, especially with " Jesus " in the room !! This is just the beginning. 

Stay away from PV this week, if you can.  It's one of the busiest times there.
Seems everyone heads to the Coast for their vacations, and who can blame them ...

There are big changes to the Immigration Laws here.  I don't have to renew my status as
Resident until October, but it's important to find out now, what the changes mean, especially if you have a car here, with USA plates, as we do.  If we go ahead and become Permanent
Residents, we will have to put Mexican Plates on the car, which is fine, except we have yet
to discover how much that will cost.  For people with a newer car, it will be very expensive, and some have chosen to drive out of the Country, and leave their car in the North.

If you chose to become Permanent, which I would like to do, ( they say it's good for life ?! )
you will NOT be able to drive a Forgien Plated car into the Country, ever again ??
That's an issue, because I know I would like to drive in again.  There are still belongings of mine in Reno, and in Vancouver that I would like to have here. 

There are ways around it, but it would involve having a friend drive with me.  Someone who
is just visiting, and receives 180 days Visa at the border, can drive their car across, but it
must be returned to the border, before the visa expires.  I think I could manoeuvre that, but
hard to know, for sure, at this point.  I like the idea of not having to renew every year.

The new Government here is making a lot of changes.  The crack down makes sense as there are many, many cars here with expired USA or Canadian Plates.  Nationals drive them
down, or buy them here from tourists, the " ex-pats " or visitors who don't want to drive back.  No more of that.

They have also changed the financial requirements, significantly, but if you already have an
FM3, and transfer to the new status, you don't have to meet the new rules.  We should be ok, but there are many people who won't qualify, and they will have to stick to the 180 day
visa.

I have already tried to do some research on the new rules, but it is going to take some time to get to the right source.  I thought the Canadian Consulate may point me in the right
direction, or the Car Insurance Company we have dealt with in Nogales. So far I've come up short.  There is an office of Motor Vehicles in PV, where we have tried before to get info.
with little success.  Craig will try there again today, since he's had to go in to see the dentist.

Many people are getting packed up and heading North again. I have a farewell lunch with
my Spanish teacher today.  Soon, all will be quiet again, and I'll have the little beach all to
myself, or at least with people I know. 

Water has been an issue already.  The black tank was half full only, and not filling up over night as it should.  Our man was on the job right away, and the tank is full now, but we are now on " Water Watch ".  There are only 5 houses on our water line, and each one is full of
people right now, for the next 10 - 14 days.  Once everyone goes home, the water issues will
dissipate, somewhat, until the river starts drying up ... it may not rain here for 3 months, and that could become an issue. 

We emptied the old cement tank a few months ago.  We kept that as reserve, and for watering the yard, but it was so old, and leaking, and there's no need for it anymore, since
we can purchase another black tank to sit on top.  It's really important to have that back-up,
so after the new roof, and after the new septic/toilet, we will have another tank hooked up.

SJ had some fish for Lily the other day, and since C. was away, he cleaned it for me, at his
small bodega at the bottom of my stairs.  He taught me how to take the meat off the skin , once it was cleaned, a couple of years ago, but he insists I can learn to clean it too.
I've had my doubts, and I really didn't want to learn how to do it, ( I can barely watch him do it ! ) but after this last time watching him, I agreed that this summer, I will learn !
  
Since I like to think of myself as somewhat of a Pioneer, like my ancestors were, I better
learn a trick or to about real survival. Learn to clean a fish is basic I suppose.
Perhaps I should also learn how to bait a hook.  I can't do that either !

I worked at Mimi's most of the week and have the Library much more organized.
The first " sections " that came together were " Cowboys , Indians and Native History "
which I named for LCV  ( it's very impressive, I think, ) and the Auto/Biography's, of which
there are less than a dozen.  I collected an old folding chair off the pathway, cleaned it up, and used it to hold a box of books. 

We are still a long way off, but Mimi and I share a vision, and are excited about the possibilities.  We know about hard work ( her more than me ) and commitment, and
survival.  We know anything is possible, if you really put your mind to it.

And that goes for us all ...

The sky is as clear as can be, and the moon will be, already is, spectacular.  I introduced two
adorable children to the Rabbit that appears on the moon's face here. 
They were mesmerized.

It's the little things that get us closer to where we want to be, don't you think ?

Enjoy ...

Love and Gratitude ..

k

Spring Forward

Hola .... A quiet week in Yelapa.  Everyone must be resting up for Easter Week.  It's a big
deal down here, and I love it too. 

It also means winter is coming to an end, and the Locals really know how to celebrate
and enjoy each other.  It's always a kick to run into someone who has come home
for the Holidays from the United States, or Canada.  They are so , so happy. It's quite a feeling.

I dressed up as best as I could for St. Patrick's Day.  I wore my Grandfather's Fedora, 
cat- like sunglasses, and lots of pins, including a Poppy and an Eskimo Pin that I got from my
Dad.  Turned out I did look a little like a Leprechaun !! I plan to wear it out to Pollo  Bollo
tonight ... Como No ??  I dressed up for the Russells especially. I joined the send off party
as they returned to B.C. today, but will be back soon enough.

Tomorrow is a Holiday as well. Benito Jaurez's Birthday, so no Library. I'll meet with my Spanish teacher for my lesson, and then on to help Mimi in her Lending Library. There are
still lots of books around, thank goodness.  Not everyone has moved on to a Kindle, at least not yet !

A friend had an art show at El Hardin on Tuesday and a good time was had by all.  That's the first house I stayed at in Yelapa, and I love being there.  I'm going to help another friend
organize a clothing show there this week.  She brings beautiful clothes from India every
year, and not everyone can make the walk up to her house, so she agreed to bring some
things down for the " Point People ". I brought my teacher up there last week, and we both
bought something.  I didn't bring much money with me, but that didn't seem to stop me
from spending it.....I'll never get to India, and even if I did, I would never be able to find
the kinds of things she does, she has over 20 years of experience there, and it shows.

There will be a Fiesta at the " Casino " ( our version of a Town Hall ) on Wednesday, the
Kindergarten Kids will perform, and then another performance by the Secondary School
on Thursday.  There will be Tamales and Tacos for sale, which will benefit each school.

The bathroom roof will be replaced at the end of this month.  The palm fronds will be cut
just before the full moon, then laid to dry for a day, and then dragged down the hill by horses
and donkeys.  First the guys will come and take off the old roof, and haul it down the hill towards the back of the property, then come back the next day to install the new palapa.
I will take pictures.  It's a tiny little room, so it won't take more than 2 days, I hope.

After that's done, the new toilet will be installed.  Now that's something to look forward to !

The ocean is still cool, and the wind is still strong, but the sun has intensified somewhat, to
give us the feeling that winter is almost over here.  We have yet to turn our clocks forward,
but when we do in another week, or so summer should be right right around the corner !

The stores are full of sweet oranges, great for juicing, grand pineapples lined up in a row, and pyramids of small, golden mangoes. I don't know where everything comes from, but they
sure taste good.  Even the carrots taste better down here !!

There was another wedding this week, and I got to see the bridal party load themselves on the ponga, for a boat ride to the beach !!!  No one fell in, thankfully the ocean was very calm
but it still was quite a sight, all the women in their gowns.  They took too it well and I heard
the whole thing was a big success.  

Happy Easter everyone ... there won't be any chocolate bunny for me this year, but that's ok ... I'll just eat another mango !!  and hang on tight to my Sombrero, there will be bells ringing and music playing for the next 2 weeks ...

until next week ... take care of yourselves, and do unto others ... is there any other way ??

Happy Spring ...

k