A Slow Adjustment

One and all,

Compared to the drama of getting to Puerto Vallarta, the last couple of days have been pleasantly dull. We have quickly re-established the cerveza to margarita to vino progression. Our version of the Oregon Trail! And while temperatures are warmer than home, the clouds have been present and we have yet to fully establish an intense relationship with the sun.

Sunday evening, the last holiday night for Mexicans enjoying Epiphany, we wandered down to Langosta Loca, a beachside cafe/hut that we frequent. It was clear that the groups at the tables had been there for quite a while, enjoying food, drink and music.

This small mariachi band was playing number after number. I will say that when Mexicans vacation, they go all out. Endless supplies of food fill the tables and drink appears as if falling from some adult piñata! You can see from the clouds, that it was a less than ideal sunset, but the party went on nevertheless. You might also notice that on the table to the right, that man was so drunk he actually bought a carved wooden bird. Vendors sell these at the beach. I can understand the carved bird or dolphin, but when they offer you a carved elephant or gizzley bear, I begin to question their knowledge of the native habitat.

Yesterday we managed to reconnect with one of our favorite musical groups. We discovered that they are called The Costa Brava and they, to our musical ears, the best of the groups wandering about the town.

This photo is a bit dark, but we have from left to right, Pedro, Vincente and Miguel. Very nice guys who, regardless of where our paths cross, have a few minutes to spend with us. We try to have them sing to us at least once a week. They did a beautiful song yesterday called "Sola Playa" The Lonely Beach. They are always featured artists for Polley's Valentine Birthday.

As we walked up the hill to our place yesterday we stopped at the midway point and I was struck with the creativity of Mexican artists. These are the basic Mexican roof tiles, but rearranged in a couple of different ways, to provide decoration to the wall of this casa.

It may not be too clear, but on the balcony above, they have simply stacked them over each other. However, below, they have turned them upside down and woven them into tiles stacked in the normal way, to create a very lacy sort of design. Very creative use of the same simple form. Ah, the old FA 207 just never leaves one!

We continue to arrange our apartment. I promise, as I did last year and never came through, to give you a photo tour of our place. I will leave your tongues just watering for that feature. Until then, we are good, we are warm and we are just enjoying each day as it unfolds.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Houston, We Have Landed

One and all,

It actually did not take Richard Bower's prompt to get me to write this blog. I have been feeling guilty for the last two days about not finishing the story of the lonely travelers and the wicked corporate airline. It, in fact, all ended relatively peacefully. We did arrive at the airport about 10 pm the 2nd of January for a midnight flight, via Houston. I did moan a bit about the treatment by United and that the girl at the desk was the first person, live or recorded, that I had actually had the opportunity to speak with. She listened sympathetically, but informed us that 2300 United flights had been cancelled that day due to extreme weather in the Midwest and the Northeast. However, when we arrived at the gate, we discovered we had been upgraded to First Class from PDX to Houston. Don't you just hate it when they won't let you stay pissed off! Actually, it was really First Class Lite. We settled into our comfortable first row seats, received a glass of wine and then they immediately upon take off, turned off the lights and we never saw anyone again until they turned on the lights, offered us coffee and we landed, about 30 minutes late. We had a 2 1/2 hour layover, and as my wise wife says, "Wait here, or wait there, what's the difference!" The next leg was really nice. It was a small, Horizon type shuttle which meant that when we arrived in PV and had to go through passport control, there were only the 50 or so of us. We were in and out so quickly that our landlord had not even arrived to gather us up. So, end of story. Don't you love happy endings!

My real reason for not getting back to you upon arrival, was that I forgot that activity involved in settling in. This was compounded by the fact that Polley FORGOT the eye drops she must take twice a day as a glaucoma preventive. She remembered the shoes, she remembers the scarves, she remembered the skimply little tops, but the stuff that might help her from going blind, that she left off the list. So for the last two days, with the help of our landlord, we were able to find replacements. Another happy ending!

In addition to scrambling to score "drug connections," the first two days were mainly spent reconnecting. First, and most importantly, the cats were waiting for us. At least, Kira was there.

I took a quick stroll along the Malécon and discovered that Feliz Navidad was still in the air.

It seems that each year, PV does a little more to put on in the spirit

Actually, in Mexico, Epiphany is a much bigger celebration as the children await the gifts from the Three Kings. So, this is no doubt a long weekend as Epiphany comes on Monday. The town is very full of Mexicans who come to the coast for the holiday. Apparently, New Year's Eve, was a real zoo this year.

We also managed to reconnect with a number of our favorite waiters. We had the required first margarita at Fuente del Puente (the fountain at the bridge) and enjoyed the requisite first sunset from Roberto's.

Again, no photo shop necessary!

Having been to the grocery store for a bit of food for us, and purchased 3 kilos cat food from my little Mexican lady friend (who has now taken to introducing me to her local customers. Actually, in Spanish, I think she is telling them that I am her "cat-meal ticket to retirement"), I think we are ready to begin doing very little. I will try to hook up every couple of days, but with any luck there will be a certain level of lazy redundancy to our reports. Best to all of you for 2014, with love,

 

Ed and Polley

 

Posted with Blogsy

Still Stuck

Good friends and family,

Well, I was hoping to show you blue skies, sandy beaches and the colors of Mexico. However, thanks to the "unfriendly" skies of United, we are still in nearly colorless Oregon. Last night, less than 12 hours befor our scheduled flight, and after having confirmed the flight, United called to tell me our San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta leg was "cancelled"! Yes, that's right, "No Go"! However, not to worry, I was just to call this special 800 number and reschedule. No problem. Ha!

For the next 55 minutes I listened to about 500 variations on Rhapsody in Blue! I never go a live voice. So I went on line and grabbed a slight for midnight tonight through Houston, getting into PV Friday at noon. However, we are not done. This morning, when I tried to get seat assignments, there were none available, unless I wanted to buy extra leg room for $62 each. So I tired to call again, being told that my wait would be 3 minutes. 35 minutes later, still having never reached an actual person, I hung up. Then when the confirmation e-mail arrived and I filled out the information, it then told me the flight was overbooked and they would give us $200 travel certificates if we would reschedule. Of course, to do that, you have to go out to the airport, prepared to fly, and wait. So, . . . I drove to PDX.

Arriving at United/PDX, there were about 150 people in line. They had no service rep available. Finally, I got a nice United baggage handler who went behind the counter to see if he could get me any more information. All he managed was another 800 number. So I tried it and found that it sounded very much like the recording I had now listened to for more than 90 minutes. So, while I waited, having been told the "expected wait time" was 10-15 minutes, I headed to the car with the line still open. 25 minutes later, I arrived home, and still no one had come on the line. Unbelievable!

So, while my head is raging, I am cooling my heels. We plan to head out to the airport tonight and see what the next chapter holds. Stay tuned. Hopefully, our next installment will be from down south, at least as far as Houston! Happy New Year to all and we will connect soon, just remain on the line

Ed and Polley

Posted with Blogsy

Warning: Dr. Donna Starita: A Healing Place

I am posting this in the hope that any dealing with Dr. Donna Starita be very careful in terms of billing and conditions. We recently contacted her regarding a very sick cat. We had previously had successwith regarding another cat. However, in discussing the sick cat, she lured us into casually discussing the cured cat. The next thing we knew we had an unauthorized bill for $215.00 for a cat that was perfectly healthy. She, of course rejects our contention that all was above board. The reality will never be clarified, but I offer a warning to all to be very clear, take careful notes and approve all intended costs.

Posted with Blogsy

Parting Shots!

One and all,

I did not intend to do a blog on the morning we are packing to come home. However, last night we had one of the best sunsets we have every witnessed in PV. So, here is T.M.G.P.V.S: The most gorgeous Puerto Vallarta Sunset. These had not been tampered with in any way. Enjoy!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Blog Extra!

One and all,

 

After posting the blog, I took my morning walk and low and behold, came across

the Blue Footed Booby! Quite amazing, just standing out on the pier. For more entertainment, go to You Tube and search "Mating Dance of the Blue Footed Booby." Talk about "dirty dancing!

 

Posted with Blogsy

The End of the Line - El Ultimo Día

One and all,

Good things must, alas, come to an end, but as hard as it may be to believe, we are anxious to get home for awhile. I am sure that will wear off in a couple of days, but right now, we are ready!

As I have said previously, we are just enjoying the last of our days by going through our usual routine. There was a nice surprise yesterday, as we met up with Reg Bartel. He is a wheat/canola farmer from Mantiboa. A truly wonderful fellow and it was so great to sit on the beach and catch up. We will be looking forward to more time with Reg the first of the year.

We did wander through the park yesterday and found a few more of the 50+ cats that live there

It is quite exciting as there seems to be a cat or 2 or four behind every turn

They have even taken over an empty restaurant that is in the park

If you look carefully beyond the coffee table cat, two more in the background are bellied-up to the bar

We have been lunching regularly at La Fuente and enjoying their excellent kitchen. We had a divine fish ceviche on Tuesday and settled for simple quesadillas yesterday. Have yet to be disappointed in a meal yet.

For the last two nights it has been down to Roberto's for sunset and a small bottle of wine. Somehow we make it last for a couple of hours. Last night we managed a moment to catch Polley with our two favorite waiters there, Bruno (left) and Nasario (right).

They are great examples of the generosity, kindness and sincerity that we find so much a part of the Mexican culture.

While there we also managed to catch a pretty dramatic sunset

Nearly no place that can top PV for sunsets

It has been a great 7 weeks. Polley suggested it may have been her favorite time here. Partly, it was just us, no US or Canadian social obligations. I also think that we have grown comfortable with our life style here. We are truly no longer tourists, but just residents who enjoy the rhythms and simple pleasures of this place. We are anxious to come home, but I know we will look forward to resuming our lives here come January. Thanks to all of you for following our journey, albeit, we didn't, over the course of the weeks, travel very far. Best to all for holidays. It is our hope to see each and everyone of you in person at some point before 2013 draws to a close.

 

Ed and Polley Bowen

 

Posted with Blogsy