Another Year in PV

One and all, family and Friends,

It is hard to believe that Polley and I find ourselves in Puerto Vallarta for year number 8! I look back and remember the first year meeting a woman who claimed she and her husband had been coming to PV for 25 years. I could not fathom the idea of coming to the same place year after year after year. But here we are, again!

As most of you know, December was a very hard month weather-wise. After such hard, relentless rain, you really come to appreciate drizzle. Sunshine even more. Tuesday, 22 December, we finally got away. It took a bit of doing as our flight was delayed an hour and a half. My sister-in-law warned me, but I had already booked the flight. Avoid San Francisco. It can often get fogged in and air traffic gets backedup. That is exactly what happened to us. About 8:30, we left Portland. There was a terrific tailwind (El Niño is not all bad) and we were down to SFO in an hour and a half. However, we then had to hold for another 20 minutes or so as things were still backedup. We arrived about 10 and they did manage to turn the unload and reload the plane very quickly and by 11 or so we were on our way south. However, by the time we cleared Passport Control and Customs, it was 5:45, nearly two hours laters than scheduled. WE caught a cab and made it to our place by 6:15 or so. My brother and his wife had stayed in the house for November and 10 days of December, so we had the keys. However, our agent was there and soon we were feeling like we were home.

So, the last few days have been settling in. Those of you who have followed this blog previously know the routine. Several days of shopping. Taking in the old cat from up the hill. Our old landlord was quick to see if we wanted company at our place. So, having hardly unpacked (actually, I don't think Polley is done yet), we put chicken wire on the windows, bought catfood and set up a litter box and Kira was back with us. It will be nice to have her, but when we return in April (after taxes and a brief visit home) we are thinking of bringing our cat, Quirk (sadly we are down to one cat as we had to put Caspar down in mid-December), down south with us. He is an indoor cat who needs to get out more!

So the rhythms of life are beginning to be set. We did begin our stay with some sad news. When we arrived for lunch on the second day here, we discovered that José, our very favorit waiter, was not around as his father had passed away. Then later, we wandered down to the Malécon to Roberto's. There we were shocked to find that another delightful waiter, Freddy, had been hit by a car and killed in July. He was only 20! Our visit was not getting off on a positive note. That is what comes of an ongoing relationship with a place. Things come and things go, people come into your life and go out. It begins to make you realize that you have only so many entrances life and then, one day, a final exit as well.

But, as for now, we are here, and the sun shines.

Wer enjoyed the rare Christmas full moon. Had a lovely Christmas dinner at Vitea and have hooked up with some friends from years past. Life is good here, we are warm (and dry) and will continue to share with you our days as they too come and go. Love to all. Merry Christmas and a most Happy New Year.

 

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