Company

After a period of two and a half months with no company, we just had my sister Joanne from Arizona here for a week and Emily back from her adventures in Guatemala and a good part of Mexico. The photo to the right is of Joanne in Chacala taken at an interesting site where someone created a living space out of an existing old building with many trees growing out of the walls. Very beautiful and unusual.

While in Puerto Vallarta we did drive south along the shore to Mismaloya, as Joanne had been to PV in 1964 (her last visit) after the Night of the Iguana was filmed there, and she wanted to see what it looked like now. Of course the changes in the entire PV area are mind boggling compared to what Puerto Vallarta once was back in 1960 and earlier. We even got to share that enjoyable beach lunch of fish tacos with Victor's aunt and friend who had cruised in on the Holland ship to PV that morning. Aunt Ann, age 84 and her 89 year old friend really enjoyed their outing to the beach and tour of the city.


Here is breakfast in La Penita before going to Tianguis (Market) on Thursday with friends Jeanie and Dennis. There are so many less people at the market now compared to January and February when you can barely walk through the crowds. The Canadians and Americans are beginning their treck back north to their summer homes already. In two weeks we will be having the influx of Mexicans coming to the beach for holiday during the two weeks before and after Easter. The first week is the busiest, and Guayabitos will fill up with tour buses, families in cars driving from great distances such as Mexico City and north, and tent campers who fill up the beaches. I have been told you can barely walk through the crowds on the streets and beach, there are so many vacationers here. We'll probably hole up inside watching movies with our dvd player on television.

This cute little guy is Chuy who used to live near us. He stopped by to ask for a donation to his campaign. He was running for King of his school class, and we found out he won!

Monday is a National Holiday having to do with the birthday of Benito Jaurez. He is often regarded as Mexico's most respected and beloved leader and is the only full-blooded indigenous national leader to serve as president in Mexico. To quote him: "Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz". In English, " Among individuals, as amongst nations, respect for the rights of others is peace". A day off means Emily and I have no Spanish class that day, and maybe there will be a parade.

Our future holds this view of the ocean and the island come May, when we make a move to the town of La Penita. I don't think I will tire of having this beautiful sight from my house when I wake up and have coffee on my deck and when we watch the sunset every evening.

I have to say, this still feels like paradise with gorgeous weather since December and it will slowly get warmer but it is perfect now to me. I hope by rainy season when the heat and humidity are here, it will be cooler up on the hill in La Penita. Of course, escaping to the North Woods of Minnesota for a bit, is enticing.