Phasing Out: A Lame Excuse

Dear One and All,

How does one who does nothing all day find an excuse of not getting a blog done yesterday. Any excuse can only be lame. So, here goes! Sundays are always a bit rushed which is ironic given that the church bells go off at 6 am and repeat themselves every 15 minutes until every last PV citizen is converted! However, yesterday, despite the bells, I was determined to finish my book: Khaled Hosseini's And the Mountains Echoed. It is a good story and told in a circuitous yet engaging way, from a number of different perspectives that gradually give you the whole story. Very touching ending, but I don't think as strong as his first two books.

Then, of course, on Sunday, Rae Minten and Polley chatter about their lives via Skype. I am the head technician for this long distance gab-fest. And, in fact, the call did get interrupted one time and I did have to step in. I also had an extra-long walk as I scouted out where my brother and his wife will be staying (and how to direct a cab to their mountain-side condo) when they arrive on Sunday. So, all in all, the morning just disappeared. So, here I am, on Monday, ready to bring you up to date on the weekend.

Friday, was quite a normal day, except for little less beach time, as we were schedule to go "up river," as we say, for some music and beer at El Rio BBQ. We met our friends, Phil and LaJule Gant and caught a cab to Paso Ancho. It is always fun even though I now almost have the order of the repetoire memorized. I guess part of the fun is being able to sing along with the variety of 60s and 70s tunes that all our age know without even thinking. One of the delights of the afternoon was when we received our bucket of beers. They waiter neglected to open any of them. So, our friend, Art, and very nice Canadian, tipped his hat our way

We were saved! Most of us had never seen such a handy addition. Art swears he found the sombrero in the snow somewhere in Alaska. We were pleased to have it with us on Friday.

Saturday was a bit more relaxed. I am not sure why, but up river trip always wears us down. It may be the city bus ride back from Paso Ancho. It bears a strong resemblance to being spun about in a cement mixer with about 20 other bodies inside. An experienced not to be missed if you are in PV. We just read and rested, had a nice lunch at the little cafe in the park and then watched the sun retreat.

It was a lovely evening. I sauntered (something I rarely do) along the Malécon and captured the smells and colors of some of the food carts along the way

The grilled corn that can be eaten on the cob or you get in cups mixed with a variety of additions

Some with peppers, some with a red salsa and some plain, but then doctored up to one's own taste. Additonally, you will find French fries, which are served in a strange combination with little vienna sausages!

Some of the sausages are wrapped in tortillas, others just naked on a bed of fries. The Mexican's love sweet things , so you see the strawberry parfaits and other sweets

There are also a variety of crepe vendors and other snacky sorts of offerings

Obviously, something for everyone! With the clouds in the sky on Saturday, it did make for another dramatic after effect in the western sky

Sunday, surprisingly, was just the opposite. We went down to Lagosta Loca, supposedly for a Chile Relleno. We later found that they, in fact, did not have Chile Rellenos, we were forced drown our disappointment in tequila and lime! It was, however, a brght, clear sky and light just seemed to intensity the energy of a Mexican Sunday evening

I captured this group of young musicians putting on a show on the Malécon to a very appreciative audience

It was just a very festive night and I think that the clarity, purity and intensity of the light lifted everyone's spirits.

Not a cloud to be seen and I even managed to capture a reflection of the sun off some hotels at the other end of the bay, it was that clear

These nights, as I say, are rare and everyone seemed to be relishing the moment

We remained around long enough for the sun to truly disappear and for the lights of the pier to come on at the south end of the bay

As often occurs, as the time passed and the sun had been gone for nearly an hour, the sky took on new gradations of color that were nearly as dramatic as the sunset itself