It has been a couple of days since I last told of our adventures. Partly we were pretty busy (by Mexican standards) and I wanted to combine the activities into one action-packed tale!
Monday was really just doing some errands. As we headed down the hill I did catch this photo of a kind of amazing flowering tree.
Polley commented that the limbs look dead, but you have these beautiful blossoms. Wow!
We lined up a pedicure appointment for Polley and then wandered around to some hotels gathering brochures and prices as my brother and some others are interested in coming down next year. While the beach front places are expensive, there are some very basic, but clean places near us that are very reasonable. We saw a huge apartment just down from us for $85 a night. Others in the Mexican section of town, but relatively close to us for between $30 and $35. Not too bad.
While we were walking about I was able to get this picture of the watch repairman.
You are looking at his office, at the end of the bridge right near us. Talk about low overhead. He just sets a cloth and his tools out on top of the bridge pillar and people come to him, for repairs, batteries, etc. Quite an operation!
Anway, we just sort of whiled away the time, stopping for a requisite beer, of course, but early in the afternoon we returned to the apartment and read. I finished a book by John Banville, called The Sea. He is an excellent writer, but the detail in each paragraph is incredible. Thank god is was only 195 pages! Seems very in the style of Ian McEwan and others. Not a lot happens, but the intimate detail is remarkable. Polley finished Out Stealing Horses -- another good book. We are slowly lightening our luggage load.
Around 6 p.m., we went down to Candela. They had told us on Saturday that Monday they were starting a 2 x 1 Happy Hour, so we, of course, wanted to make sure we got off to a good start. We walked in and were the only people there except for the owner, who came to know as Francisco. He was setting with two other guys that we later learned were his brother and his cousin. I got this photo, with the cousin, the brother and Francisco from left to right.
We had a great conversation. We learned that the cousin was a graduate of University of Oregon, of all places. He had an uncle in Portland and other relatives around the state. Francisco also told us of his original Candela, which is a very successful establishment in of all places, Guadalajara! He leaves today for Guadalajara, so we have already planned to meet him in Guadalajara at that Candela. The social circle is underway in GDL and we haven't even arrived!
Polley and I left a little tipsy from Candela (beware of 2 x 1 vino de la casa) and went into the Mexican section of town to a very nice place that we hadn't gotten back to in nearly two years. It is a place called Naranjo.
Very nice ambiance and good food. We had a very interesting appetizer: a brie-like cheese, called Panela, that is baked and served hot. It is served with a sweet onion sauce. Going to try that when we get home. Then Polley had a crab bisque and I had a grilled vegetable salad -- and thought we shouldn't have, another couple of glasses of wine!
Having now lost all sense of propriety, we stopped back at Candela for a nightcap! Staggered up the hill to end the day.
Tuesday was another lovely day. The morning was very routine, but in mid-afternoon we had planned to go for lunch with our landlord, his wife and another couple, Tom and Eileen, up the Cuale River about 4 or 4 miles to a lovely setting on the river. After 3 or 4 miles os dusty dirt road, passing horseback riders, donkeys, chickens goat and more, we came to this little rustic Mexican restaurant on the Rio Cuale, Moro Paradise. Very lovely
We just sat and talked, drank beer and margaritas, shared some guacamole. For lunch, Polley and I shared a delicious seafood salad of a white fish, shrimp and octopus. Very simple, but very good. I did get this photo of the luncheon party
When we came back into town, we got out with Tom and Eileen so we could see there place. A really lovely two bedroom place, but the best part was the rooftop terrace. I got this shot just as the sun was setting
One of the most attractive setting I have seen since we have been in Vallarta. We have made plans to have morning coffee with them on Thursday. Very enjoyable couple
Polley and I then strolled down to La Palapa to try and catch out Scots friend, Bobby, as this was the last night he plays with this particular group. Sadly when we got there, Bobby was not playing. Don't know what happened. I hope we can catch him before we leave. I did however, continue to try and get the perfect shot of the waiters making their famed at-table Spanish coffees (Mexican?).
Polley and I then left and walked on this lovely evening, back up the Malécon. On the way, I got this shot of the reflection of a restaurant called Oscar's, reflected in the waters of the Cuale, just where it reaches the ocean.
Then, of course, a last visit to Candela and then home. A very nice two days, and a few more friends in Vallarta
Ed and Polley
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