December Guests

It has been 3 months nearly since I blogged! Now I have to play catchup! Our guests in late December were Lois and Dan from St. Louis Park, Minnesota where we used to live. They lived only a few blocks from us and now are approaching the time of their lives when they are considering the idea that they don't have to continue living in the cold way up north all year round for the rest of their lives. Hmmm, what a brilliant idea. More of those folks should reach this conclusion, unless they love freezing their .......s off so much, and love not having any winter sports to do, due to lack of snow. (Although at times MN has had snow this winter, but rain too). I just couldn't see living there anymore to have to endure a long cold winter with no snow at times to go out and play in. How boring and miserable. So they visited us for a week and had their eyes opened to a whole new world, just south of the U.S. border. A place many folks from the U.S. never set foot in (notice I don't call them Americans and I try to refrain myself, because where I live that is an insult, considering the U.S. in only one country in all of North America and they don't hold the sole privilege of being "American") They are missing so much, and they don't even know it.

Lois and Dan had been to Mexico before, a lot, but had not spent much time or any on this stretch of the Pacific Coast. They got to see how the climate here is ideal from about November through June (but getting hot by June) and most days are sunny during that time. The humidity levels drop by December and temps in the low 80's is pretty much a perfect existence.

We took them to the little town of Chacala north of us, for coffee and dessert at Cafe Chac Mool, and then to the beach for some sun and just plain relaxing. Pina coladas and Margueritas were a pleasant part of relaxing at restaurant Las Brisas on the beach. Other beach experiences were at San Francisco (San Pancho) south of our town, where the town lies on the ocean and not a bay, so the waves can get quite large and the undertow strong, making it difficult and dangerous to swim there. But lying on the beach reading a book and getting some Vitamin D is great, and sipping more Margaritas, cervezas, and limonadas with guacamole and chips is the Mexican thing to do.

An hour drive through the country on a narrow dirt road full of holes was an adventure, well worth the time to get there, in order to soak in a river nicely warmed up by some hot springs. Several times we have driven there to find no one else with the same idea, and just a few of us enjoyed the small private spot. But today lots of locals were there enjoying a Sunday afternoon relaxing and having a picnic. It was a first for us to be there with lots of children splashing around, but we all had a good time.
Taking our guests to our weekly Thursday Market called Tianguis was a must do event. It begins with breakfast across the street at the sidewalk cafe where we usually run into friends who also enjoy socializing on a Thursday morning. Shopping for Mexican arts and crafts on the town square, and strolling down the blocks of flea market booths usually results in at least one purchase. For me, it was a new glass blender jar and a fresh loaf of wholewheat bread. Can never pass up a piece of homemade flan and a glass of Horchata (rice milk beverage on ice).

For New Year's Eve we went to a grand party at friend's home in Rincon de Guayabitos (the town adjoining our town). They open up their home to many people to enjoy homecooked Mexican dishes and margueritas and wonderful local Huichole musicians and a Mariachi band. Click on the link Mariachi to watch this Mariachi U-tube to hear some incredibly wonderful Mexican music. I wish i had been in that concert hall!


At the end of their week vacation, we drove a different way to Puerto Vallarta, via Sayulita and the road through Punta Mita and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. We checked into the Hotel Rosita and walked the Malecon along the beach, down to Old Town of Puerto Vallarta. Dinner at one of our favorite places at sundown, was at Barcelona Restaurant on 31 de Octubre street, just a few blocks from our hotel. This place always satisfies, in more ways than one. The setting high up on a hill overlooking the bay during sunset is spectacular. The Sangria is delicious, as are the Tapas and our favorite dish, seafood paella. Another stroll down the Malecon is fun in the evening, for many families and tourists are out walking and you usually find some good street food or desserts, and live music or entertainment.


Sunday morning was breakfast in Old Town at a pancake restaurant and we dropped Lois and Dan at their friend's house in Ixtlan, near Puerto Vallarta and Victor and I drove home, leaving Lois and Dan to enjoy their last night of their vacation in PV. I think they loved their time with us and got a good picture of what retiring or living part of the year in Mexico can be like, including the pleasures, the low costs, the healthy lifestyle and the natural beauty of the area. Once again we have enjoyed sharing our life with our friends, in this beautiful country that we have chosen as our home. One thing is for certain, with the economy what it is today, Mexico for now is a fantastic value for the U.S. tourist (the peso is nearly 15 to the dollar currently). For retirement it can't be beat for the convenience of location to the U.S., the healthy lifestyle, and the low cost of living. For those of you who lost a lot of your retirement money in the last year, and are near the time of retiring, I recommend a close look at life in Mexico as a great place to afford to live, even possibly soley on your income from social security.