A MORNING WALK

The Guard for the Tienda

     How  could anything be better than a morning walk to the square in Ajijic?  The air is soft and warm and clean.  The sun is bright and the sky has filmy white clouds breaking up the clear blue.  There is a light breeze blowing that just adds a feeling of contentment.  
     The cobblestone side walks and streets are still sprinkled with confetti and white flour left from the most recent parades.  The dogs are quiet this morning probably completely tired out from last nights barking and running around. The birds are calling one another in various songs which are lovely to hear.  It is quiet now, no cars, very few people.  I walk along the sunny side of the street.
     The walk takes me by Ninette’s a very nice restaurant, closed now, of course, and by The Only Chocolate shop which is also closed at this time.  Good for me.  The homes along the street are painted many beautiful colors and the nondescript doors lead to mysterious and sometimes very beautiful gardens and homes.  Always interesting to see behind the walls.
     If I do pass someone, I say, “Buenas Dias”, in my very best Spanish and most seem to understand me.  I do hear lots of accents, U.S. accents, from Texas, Mississippi and many other recognizable accents of the states,  then there are the Canadians, eh.
     At the square, its about 10:30 am and there is a line up  of gringos waiting to eat brunch in the Jardin.  All are dressed similarly - just like me.  Most of the older men wear a beard and mustache like Pete and have bought a straw colored hat to go with their sandals and shorts.  That’s the uniform for us old folks.  Although you can wear anything you feel like wearing so I was told by a woman who has lived here 20 years and loves it.  She was Flossie the hummingbird lady originally from Spokane.  Pedro, who wore a very large hat festooned with artificial flowers, many necklaces and rings and other interesting costumes, died recently and is missed by all especially the white burro he rode.
     I am seeing quite a few more young people this year and I mean real young, like 20’s and 30’s or on a honeymoon or something.  Even the old people are younger or is it that I am older.  This does seem like a very good place to live a healthy life.  The warmth, the altitude, the fruits and vegetables and the seafood, all contribute to a healthy lifestyle along with walking on cobblestones.
     On the way home I will walk on the shady side and be just as impressed with the ease of it all.

SOUNDS OF AN AJIJIC NEIGHBORHOOD

Sombreros

     It's difficult to write a lot when there isn't the weather to complain about so I am looking for something else to write about.  As I sit here in our house, I hear a rooster crow.  A dog is barking out front.  It's is 5 pm now and soon the neighbor next door will arrive home and his dog will go just nuts barking.  They NEVER yell or tell the dog to shut up.  The dog just stops finally.  Probably when the master acknowledges it.  The children also greet the father noisily and happily.  Often, it seems as if he is chasing them around the yard in back and, of course, they are squealing happily.  The man on the other side calls out Spanish words and has his girls give the word in English.
     Later, after the comida, probably 8:30 or 9, all the kids on the block play in the street out front.  I don't know what kind of game it is but they have a loud time.  I never hear parents call them in, they just stop playing and all is quiet.
     It is lent now so the majority of the big parades and celebrations are over.  There is some sort of church located in back of us maybe the block that backs up to our back yard.  They begin singing (way out of tune) usually on Friday evenings and the preacher tells them all about something.  It is loud and passionate but in Spanish so I probably won't be saved this time by him anyway.  Then they sing some more songs.  This also happens on Saturday and Sunday.  I don't hear any "amens" or "hail Marys"  so I don't know what religion it is.  If I were my friend, Helen, I would have found them and joined in the chorus.  Maybe I will investigate more on Friday evening.........
     While the kids are playing in the street, the dogs are barking.  All of them, yapping little ones, big loud ones, barks that sound like they would like to eat you and barks that sound as if they are the ones that are being killed.  It would be annoying if they didn't just suddenly stop just like the children. 
      Did I tell you that it is rare to hear a baby or child cry.  It just is not something that you hear.  On the street, holding their mother's or father's hand, they talk and chatter all the time, but they don't seem to ever whine or cry.  Not that I have seen or heard.
     Other sounds of the neighborhood.....there are two mechanics and one carpenter located on this street.  There is no zoning against businesses.  Also located at the ends are very small stores that sell necessary things (beer, pop, snacks and I don't know what) and these stores are open late.  So, there are automobile engine sounds sometimes and sometimes the carpenter is sanding or something.  Plenty of noise from the local bus that comes by regularly too.  

     But this is Mexico............ and all of those sounds are just part of this warm lovely place.

TROPICAL TREES



The kapok cotton flowers which come out of pods



Kapok Tree Pods

 We have become interested in the trees here in Ajijic. There is a large tree in our yard with a huge trunk covered with spikes or thornes. The branches are also covered with thornes. This time of the year (dry season) it is losing its leaves and is almost bare but for the “cotton” balls festooned all over it. Very interesting. I guess it has a pink flower - then developes a large green pod similar in shape to an avocado but larger. The pod eventually opens up and out comes this large white ball of cotton or kapok.


When I was a young child in Virginia, I remember my father using kapok to caulk our wooden boats but it was strange to see it growing on very tall trees. I asked Mexican’s what the name of tree was and they didn’t know the name so I looked to the internet.

The Kapok tree or the Cotton tree or Ceiba or silk tree grows mostly in tropical areas. In the Amazon there is a type of Kapok tree but it has a smooth trunk. The people there like the tree because they can hollow out the trunk to make canoes. They use parts of the pod for pipes and wrap their poison arrow tips with the cotton material. The seeds in the cotton balls are eaten or used for their oil.  I do believe that the pillows on our bed are stuffed with wads of kapok.

I noticed these trees on the way to Mazatlan, in the distance closer to the ocean than to the highway and they piqued my curiosity. Then to my surprise there is one in our back yard.

In Guatamala the Ceiba tree is the national tree. I have seen the Ceiba tree there, it is very, very large with a huge smooth trunk. I had no idea it was related to this tree because at that time I didn’t see the ball of kapok. The only unusual thing about the Ceiba I saw in Guatamala was the size of the trunk and the fact that it looked as if it had to have buttresses on the trunk to hold the tree up.

There are several other trees that I have taken photos of and need to look up on the internet. This area of Mexico, I am told, is tropical and there are many plants here that I have not seen in other parts of Mexico.

As I walk to the market on Wednesdays, I pass by a tree which is bare of leaves but has flowers which are similar to the ones on the Mimosa Trees I remember growing in Virginia. Flowers which are pink and fluffy, like a filmy brush. It has an interesting trunk - various greens in up and down stripes.

Then another tree has a flower that looks like an orchid. Of course, there are the Jacaranda trees with the purple flowers, the Flame trees with the bright red-orange blossoms and the Primavera trees with the elaborate brillant yellow flowers. All of these should be in bloom by the end of February. I have been told that the “rainy or wet” months are the most beautiful here because of all the flowers that bloom. Maybe I should come down in May, June and July. What a good idea.

DRIVE TO TAPALPA



Part of the Plaza



See that volcano cone



 I really wanted to find out the elevation of Tapalpa before starting this post but I am not connected to Mr. Slim’s TelMex internet at the moment so can’t look it up. It has to be quite high because even here in Ajijic we are at about 5200ft above sea level and we traveled to the top of one of the mountains. Okay, I got it - Tapalpa’s elevation is between 6759 and 6800 ft depending upon where you look. The name means - place situated in the heights - in Nahuatl. Population - 16,000. Lots of info online.

Our first challenge on Monday morning was backing out of the garage and on to the narrow cobble stone street with cars parked across the way. Done!

Then we turned on the GPS although we had a good idea of where we were going. She (the GPS is Juanita) does amazingly good work in Mexico. Sometimes she doesn’t know the speed limit but on most libre roads (not toll) the speed limit is determined by the pot holes. The toll roads are very good though and construction work on all the roads, even the free ones, is ongoing. Lots of jobs for people at the moment.

Juanita showed us the way on the toll road until it ran out close to the mountain on a very winding two lane road somewhat like the hedgerow roads in England but a longer drop. We thought it a good idea to stay behind a truck or another car so they could take the brunt of whatever collision might happen. With no shoulder, it was sometimes necessary to move to the center or left hand side in order to avoid huge depressions. A little scary but the truck helped with the white knuckles.

We had to go down in elevation about 2000 ft to an expansive valley some of which was a dry lake bed. Dry now anyway. The road goes across the lake and is elevated only a few feet so I assume in the wet months the lake is filled only a few feet deep. There are salt works in the distance and the land is cultivated to the edge of the “lake”. Lots of hay grown, cattle and horses. By the way, mind those “cattle crossing” signs. Good not to be speeding when a bull decides to wander across.

As we climbed up the mountain, we were able to view the valley below. What a spectacular sight. Patchwork cultivation climbing the mountainsides. Different shapes and sizes and colors. We noticed what looked like pipe organ cactus which were being grown - for what? It must take a long time to grow cactus. Ten years for a good agave. Some of the fences were made of these cactus so maybe that was the purpose.

Climbing higher we saw lupine flowers, those kapok trees, Jacaranda trees and oaks and pine trees. The air is sweet and clean.

We arrived in the town at noon - mas o menos. Narrow steep cobble stone streets, teaming with people of all ages going about their business. A beautiful church with a lovely bell tower.

Sitting in an outdoor restaurant on the plaza, we noticed ATV’s with “turistas” in them. There is a company which will pick you up from Ajijic or even Guad, take you to Tapalpa, 3 days, 2 nights and ecological park tour for a price. They have zip lines AND, if you would like to jump off a cliff and para glide down to the valley, I guess you could do that but I have only a limited time left as it is and the road back down is exhilarating enough for this ole woman.

The architecture is more like that of most of the US, probably because they need to have heat in the winter. The town is very old and has been designated “magical” by the Mexican government meaning it has historical and architectural significance. It is magical, as if you are walking back in time. My goodness, the people are beautiful.

We found an artisanian tienda and, of course, I contributed to the economy by purchasing coasters woven from the pine needles, earrings for my favorite women and a pottery cup that Pete liked. I won’t mention how much/little it all amounted to but the artists were happy and so was I.

Walked around some and headed back down on all free roads. Ouch! Our auto will not be the same and the driver and passenger were more than stimulated by the dodging of pot holes and happy to return to the cobble stones of Ajijic.



Some difference in the style of architecture



PHOTOS AJIJIC 2013



CHAC LAN VIEW




ELVA AND PETE AT HACIENDA DEL LAGO 2013




CHAC LAN VIEW



THE MALECON WALK

     We have walked this malecon before but every time it is different.  It has always been clean even though it is well used by gringos and families.  The walk is about a mile, I guess, about six people wide, decorated with inlaid stones and evenly paved.  Evenly paved is important here because most sidewalks are anything but even.  Watch your step!
      Even when there are many people along the way or in the parks which are on the side, it is such a relaxing stroll.  The lake side of the malecon is a view of the beautiful, very large, peaceful water with the mountains in the far distance.  Way on the other side is where they grow a lot of your strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.  "Driscoll"(sp) has muy grande farms which are visible even miles away because they have white coverings on the plants.
      Of course, if it is exercise you want, go early in the morning and run or fast walk to your hearts content.  I'm over that.  I like to stop and look at the pelicans, egrets and cranes all fishing for their dinner.  Diving and swooping.  Cranes and egrets prancing along with great dignity.
     In the evening, families gather in the park areas and have dinner while the children play on the equipment or just dance to the music.  There is an elaborate skate board area for the older boys and girls, also a small basketball court.  There are many benches along the way to sit and either look at the lake or turn and watch the children.
     Last evening there were singers (loud speakers) who were very good and songs both in English and Spanish.  The Mayor of Ajijic spoke.  We think he said how proud he was that Ajijic was so clean .... and to keep it up.  Or something to that effect.  Then the policia whisked him away.
     Although we didn't see them in the evening yesterday, there are usually men and women selling peanuts and many other food items for you to snack on.

 

CHAC-LAN



VIEW OF MONTE COXALA FROM RESTAURANT

      Today we watched as seven men lifted a 2 ton (ok I exagerate - Pete says it was one-half ton - whatever) ancient grinding wheel on to a platform where they will use it as part of a new water feature in the Hotel Nueva Posada. 
     There is a lot of construction going on here in the hotel upgrading the dining rooms and meeting rooms etc.  I have noticed a lot of construction in town also where they are redoing from top to bottom some of the very old homes.  That kind of work whether in Ajijic or Seattle is always good for the city and neighborhoods not to mention the workforce.
     We decided to take the car out and only a couple of times had to fold the mirrors in so that they wouldn't be hit by either a car or a post.  Riding on cobble stones, it is desirable to go slow.  Our car may have a lot more rattles when we get back.  Another challenge to driving in town, other than the narrow cobble stone streets, is that all streets are one way only don't really have a sign - you look up the street and if most of the cars are parked one way you figure it out.  Of course, in a pinch, you can go the wrong way if nobody is coming or if they move over. After all you are a gringo.  
     We drove to a beautiful spa, hotel and restaurant up in the hills called Monte Coxala (Coshala).  It is most amazing.  It sits up on the side of a very tall hill (little mountain) high up above a residential area called the Raquet Club.  The streets are named for tennis stars - Jimmy Connors/Rod Laver, por ejemplo.  There are two secured gates to get to it and when you finally wind your way up the mountainous cobble stone streets it is designed in the style of a Mayan Ruin.  Absolutely pristine and manicured gardens, stone stellas, terraced gardens - just breath taking - many natural hot pools situated over the property along with buildings in the style of Mayan temples.  We see couples in robes walking either to or from their massages or mud baths or whatever sybaritic treatment they have chosen.
     We drove up to the restaurant - Chac -Lan - and the young man gave us a number and took the car.  The restaurant building is a very very large palapa.  Huge palm roofed house with two floors, circular and open air with 360 views of the lake far below and the mountains up above.  We arrived at about 3 pm and left about 6:30.  A long, leisurely comida.  It would have been great to stay for the sunset but these old gringos wanted to get back down that winding cobble stone road and back to more familiar narrow streets before it got dark. 

     What a wonderful experience and the food and service were superb.

IN AJIJIC AGAIN



Doug, Helen and Elva in Hotel Nueva Posada

      We arrived here in Ajijic on Tuesday the 29th.  Checked into the Hotel Nueva Posada for a few days while we find a place for a month.   Met up with our friends, Helen and Doug, and had a nice dinner at Yves.
     This little town is so clean and the air is clear.  We love it here.  Lake Chapala is low again this year but we found out that the threat of Guadalajara siphoning water out of the lake is no more.  Last year there was a big protest against that happening.  Glad to hear they won - for now.  Of course, the restaurants come and go but some of our favorites are still in operation.  I am sure that I have written about the people here before.  They are all so friendly whether they are Canadians, Americans or Mexicans.  Always say "buenos dias" etc.  Thank goodness that hasn't changed. 
     On Wednesday we went to the Tianguis (outdoor market).  It is wonderfully crowded with all kinds of people buying and selling.  You can buy everything from fish to flowers, vegetables and fruit in abundance, nuts and candy, jewelry and pottery.  I really wanted to buy a watch but will wait until next week.  I don't really need to know the exact time right now.
     We walked for about 3 hours and came back and took a siesta.  For some reason, I was a little tired.  We are at a high altitude and it takes a day or so to acclimate.  The siesta was refreshing and we met D & H for snacks and happy hour.  We had dinner at the hotel yesterday and it was delicious.  We are trying to eat only two meals a day and make dinner light.  (Wish us luck on that.)
     Today we looked at a rental house in the Villa Nova area - a longer walk to the plaza than I wanted but it was huge - 3 bedrooms - 4 bathrooms - upstairs - downstairs - mirador.  We would be rattling around in it.  Then we saw another and it was just right BUT she is showing it to a couple who want to rent for 3 months and if they take it we are back in the market.  No worries - we'll find something.
     Tonight we have happy hour with Malcolm and perhaps wll be able to meet our friend Inez for dinner. 
Adios Amigas,

MAZATLAN-GUADALAJARA-AJIJIC



Stephen and Cuquis

      Sunday, we drove from Mazatlan to Guadalajara.  Five hours - really not a bad drive at all.  With our friend, Stephen, along we had a great navigator riding shotgun.  The only tricky part is when we arrived near Guadalajara.  It is such a large city and there are no freeways or such through this old city with off ramps and such so the streets are intertwined.  That is how it seemed to us anyway.
     We arrived just in time for comiida with our friend Cuquis' family.  Yum yum  How lucky can you be.  Cuquis is Stephen's wife and her family is so welcoming and warm.  I have a new fresh appetizer recipe that I will certainly make when I have an opportunity.   It takes a lot of chopping and dicing in very small pieces - jicama, cucumber, miniature pieces of fresh pineapple and lime juice and a little salt - sprinkle with red pepper when serving.  Loved it.
     We were fortunate to stay with Stephen and Cuquis for two nights.  OMG they have the most beautiful house and garden. Strangely believe it - they live in a section of Guad which is called Zapopan and in Zapopan the section they live in is called Seattle.  How about that?    
     Our dinner that evening was on Mexican time about 8 or so, can't remember the name of the restaurant right now but the food was delicious. 
     The next morning we had a delicious breakfast in a french restaurant,"OUI".  While we were there our car was washed by a fellow who had been to Seattle, Portland, Yakima etc.  Our license plate is proving to be an asset.
     Cuquis gave us a tour of her business. She sells all kinds of things, clothes, candles, bibles and all sorts of things for Catholic ceremonies from baptisms to 15 year celebrations.  It is a thriving business and Cuquis is an excellent businesswoman.  I admire her very much.
     I was able to buy some paint pigments in that area of downtown.  I hope to find a wholesaler.  Well, maybe next time.
      We took off from downtown Guadalajara with some directions from Cuquis and my programing the GPS.  We didn't know if we could find our way out of Guadalajara or not but alas we did and made it all the way to Ajijic easy peezey.

BODY SURFERS

 
Here I am sitting in the shade with sun all around watching for two old guys get in the ocean. The waves are crashing on the shore but the tide is low. There they go, two really white guys ready to get all wet. I watch them as they confer about the temperature of the water, the size of the waves or whatever it is they and converse about. Sometimes it is pure nonsense they enjoy.


Overhead there is a person being towed by a boat and is flying high in the air in a multi-colored parachute.

Now the two old white guys are slowly making their way out to the waves. The water is not up to their knees yet unless a small wave comes along. Oh, there comes a big one to jump over. It doesn’t seem as if the conversation has slowed down and the old guys still haven’t gotten their suits wet.

Wet now, they are becoming very brave, jumping and bobbing like young ones.

Small boys, young women and men walking along the shore selling the usual souvenirs.

Okay! Now they swim. I think they are having a great time. Good old buddies.. So far neither has tried to body surf which is ….okay with me. Now BIG waves are coming and the old guys ARE trying to body surf. Hope they don’t scrape something.

Pelicans skimming low over the blue water. Now , the waves are coming really big . The man with the hats - a dozen or more on his head - walks by.

Its been some time, I hope the guys don’t get overtired but - no - farther out they go. Yikes, I forgot the camera but they are too far away to get a good photo anyway. Why should I worry, neither is 80 yet.

Beautiful young women in bikinis fast walking along the beach. People in the shade under the palapas reading their Kindles.

The old guy who doesn’t hear is gesturing so we know he is still talking.

Another parachute guy flyes by. What a view that must be. Sun glistening like diamonds on the blue water.
Now I see the first seadoos going out. In the roar of the waves the motor of the machine is almost silent.

One old guy in yellow caught a good wave - maybe he didn’t loose his suit. Back out he goes.

The beach is so beautiful long and clean. A lovely color against the water, waves and reflections . In the distance three small islands - in the foreground a rather large island of sand and hills and green.


That wave must have left some sand in the suit. Jumping and diving, the years don’t matter - these grey hairs are teenagers again.


Finally Steve and Pete come to shore, stimulated but not tired. Shower off the sand and come to join me in the sun.



COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE

We really didn’t get an excellent cup of coffee for most of the trip including the ones we made and those we bought in the US. We didn’t manage to make a trip to Starbucks so were trying to do it ourselves.

This is a short story of the best/worst coffee ever and I guess this blog should be dedicated to Paul because he managed to “seem” to enjoy the worst coffee ever made.


Paul and I are coffee lovers. We search for the beans, get some flavored ones and brew it up. We both tried with little success to make a cup of strong but good coffee. Paul just about accomplished the goal in Green Valley. Not to be outdone, and to show my gratitude, I thought I would search for a coffee in the Mexican store and make a really good cup for him. I bought expensive already ground coffee and was delighted to invite JoAnn and Paul for coffee and cookies.

I prepared the brew in my “expert” manner, putting in the correct amount of water and coffee, maybe I added a little more just for good measure, and it smelled really, really good like only coffee can.


When we poured it however it was like black coffee syrup - really thick and strong - yuk. However, Paul managed to put in milk (and maybe a little water) and like a good sport drank some. Thanks Paul. My friend, JoAnn, missed the best/worst coffee, fortunately, because she drinks only decaf . Lucky JoAnn.

We finally got the best cup yet in Culiacan for breakfast and I think I have conquered this coffee and have made a good cup or two.



And, by the way, I finally read the package - ESPRESSO!!!

SOME PHOTOS

MAZATLAN AND CHANGES

One of the first things I want to mention is that it is ideal weather here in Mazatlan now. We were heralded by others who proclaimed we brought this beautiful weather with us as it had been chilly the weeks before. The water is wonderfully blue, the surf is lulling us into relaxation after all of the miles we have driven.

We have noticed that the prices of everything here are almost the same as in Seattle. Now that was sort of surprising.


We have met and spoken with many people who have moved back here after 15, 20 and more years of living and working in the states. One young man went to Utah at about age 15, finished high school, married a US citizen of Mexican descent and has 3 US citizen children. He finds making a living difficult because prices are high but wages are low but his family loves being here with all of his family and her relatives. People see our Washington car plates and are eager to tell us, in English, that they have worked in Bellingham, lived in Kent, or Boise or California or Portland. One of these people was at a stop light selling juice, another was a shoe shine man who was older and had left the US a long time ago but still spoke English very well. The knowledge of English gives them only a small edge but does help especially in the gringo areas and in hotels, restaurants etc.

What hasn’t changed is the beauty of the people and the friendliness of everyone. Pete really doesn’t have to practice his Spanish but they let him try and those who don’t speak English almost always understand him. I still have to tell him what they said. LOL

NOW IN CULIACAN



Men of a certain age wear the HAT.



 As we have traveled south it has become warmer and warmer.  I think I left us heading to Hermisillo where we stayed for one night.  Headed out for Guaymas.  Along the way the scenery is much the same as it has been for hundreds of miles - desert and mountains - sometimes very beautiful but .... now we are into more smoke and smog.  Since the landscape is generally the same I will note some things that I saw which are a little different than what we usually see along the highway.

• parakeets in cages for sale at toll stops
• bicyclists on highways
• cattle and goats munching on the median with men on horses (cowboys) guarding so we won't run over them
• people wearing surgical facemasks (are they sick or do they not want my germs or is it the air?)
• man selling eggs with a trick egg where a chick came out
• old men in the median gathering grass or hay
• large farm machines on the highway
• jacaranda trees blooming purple on the mountain sides
• crop dusting planes

So lots of different ways of doing things. 
On we went to Cuidad Obregon a modern manufacturing busy city.  More smog.  Agriculture fields go on for miles and miles growing maize, corn, strawberries and sugar cane.  In the parts that are dry (most) they have some irregation. 
We passed thru Navojoa and went to Alamos, a very small town in the mountains which is supposed to have a large population of anglos but we were the only ones in town that day.  Some beautiful restored homes and some new condos but mainly a nice very Mexican town with the narrow streets.  By the way, the first man we talked to in Spanish was the shoe shine guy who spoke English.  Of course he spent some time in the US.  By this time, it is about 84 degrees but the locals are really cold and wearing coats and hats.
Entered the state of Sinola which must be like the Emperial Valley in California.  So much growing and a long growing season.  We spent the night in Los Mochis and I would recommend the Hotel Plaza Inn. 
Today we made it a short drive from Los Mochis to Culiacan.  Along the way more sugar cane and farms so large we couldn't see the end of the planting.  Then, of course, there were the plastic farms growing along the road side.  Mexicans are very dependent on plastic bags so I guess that is the reason they are blooming everywhere. 
That's all for now.

TRIP FROM ROCKY POINT TO HERMOSILLO

Mayan Palace Golf Course



Paul, JoAnn and Pete

 We left this morning - one day early - mostly because Pete hurt his foot and we couldn't play golf again. It had finally warmed up too. Anyway, we traveled many miles today thru miles of desert and beautiful cactus forests. We saw lots of agriculture - grapes and asparagus. Also saw fields burning. Along the way, outside of Caborca, we obtained our auto permit. Everything has been easy so far. Most of the roads are very good and lots of new ones being built and construction along the way. We were on Cuota (toll roads) some of the way. Paid 93 pesos one time and 20 another time. Good highways. Hope to put in some photos soon.

ITS COLD IN PUERTO PENASCO

Elva, JoAnn and Paul at Mayan Palace

Pete looking for his ball

The wind is blowing and it just happens to be the coldest weather southern Arizona and this part of Mexico has experienced in years. The government of Sonora closed all of the schools in the state yesterday because of the cold. Many schools don´t have heat and the children walk to school usually so it was just too cold for these people. This is a beautiful place and the sun is shinning. There are thousands of pelicans lined up on the shore just waiting for the fish to come to them and they do. Then the pelicans take off and dive and eat to their hearts content. The beach is clean with millions of beautiful shells. I pick up a few. Things are expensive. This Mayan Palace has exactly 18 rooms occupied at this time. Not high season to be sure. The town of Rocky Point is about a half hour drive and looks interesting. We grocery shopped there - should have bought long johns. We did play golf yesterday in the cold and the wind. It was actually fun after we got started and the course is beautiful and well kept up. We hope to play golf again on Thursday and will probably drive into town again tomorrow. I am unable to get on to facebook right now and can´t add photos but I plan on doing that later.

Long Time No Blog

We have had a great time but my little Acer is a bit on the fritz we have been and are Limited in blogging. We have spent one night in Tubac on a ranch with show ponies. beautiful ponies that Pete's friend Helen owns and shows. We stayed in a cute little casita on the ranch. Went to dinner in Tubac with Helen. what a nice conversation we had and learned so much about the area and ranching. Then we went to Quail Creek for 3 days with friends and golfed. I actually did well one day. We are now in Mexico! We got our visitors permit and we are all set until we leave here, then we will pick up our car permit. We are at the Mayan Palace in Puerto Penasco. Very beautiful suite with a view of the grounds and the Sea of Cortez. We will go to the grocery store in town today, play golf a couple of days AND then comes the big adventure. Unfortunately, I am on a timer so can'do my usual writing and am not able to add photos. I'll get this straightened out soon. Have to mention the incredible forest of cactus we drove through. The sahuaros marching up the mountains in mass. Then later miles of ocotillo cactus! The Mexican border guards didn't give us any problem and I think they must put the youngest and cutest guards on for visitors entering. They looked about 18.

BLUE WILLOW

Somewhere near Tucson

A  DAY IN TUCSON

Woke to a beautiful sunny but chilly morning.  Had breakfast with niece Jody (really Pete's cousin's daughter, but he has always called her his niece) and by the time we were finished IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WARM DAY!!! Just lovely.  The sky is clear and the air if clean.  We will be in the Tucson area for a few days so we will be  looking at the possibilities.  At this time, there isn’t much color here as far as flowers that I can see but there are leaves on the trees. 
We took the  laundry to do our wash .  That’s a different experience or at least we haven’t done it in a lot of years.  Very hi-tech and user friendly.  Large machines that hold from 1 to 5 loads at a time.  Good deal for us $1.75 plus $1.25 for drying.   We see lots of families here together. Lots of kids having fun. Besides we got to see  a movie “Karate Kid 2” remake. 

Casa Grande Ruins

Left our rustic motel in Ajo this morning.  By the way, last night we have a wonderfully adequate chinese dinner.  It seemed that the whole town was having a date night at the restaurant.  Fun to see all the "locals".  It was cold in the morning but crisp.  We went through our 4th Border Patrol (check point)  stop.  They just look around and ask us what country we are citizens of and wave us on. Still, Pete says he wonders about stopping everyone on interstate highways like I-8. 
 
We were driving along and Elva was reading the map and saw "Casa Grande Ruins" so we decided to make a stop. Turning off Hwy 10 the desert suddenly becomes farm lands for miles and miles  -  cotton, alphalpha and rice, I think.  Casa Grande is near Coolidge and  Run by the national park service, the visitor center was great, lots of people there with their kids. Casa Grande is what Father Kino named the 4-story building when he first saw it in  1694. Excellent guided tour of that ruin built about 1,000 years ago, in a community of structures that were already over one thousand years old when it was built. The Casa Grande people were farmers and they built a very large system of canals from Gila River.  The irrigation system was built thousands of years ago. There was probably a number of catastrophies that caused the people to abandon the large communities.  One of which may have been the flooding and destruction of the irrigation system.  Many of the eroded adobe walls reminded us of Paquime, in northern Mexico, which is an even older archeological site, a place where a thousand years ago the main economic activity was the raising of scarlet macaws, and selling their feathers far and wide. 

We forgot to mention what we saw on  the golf course in  Yuma! About 25 of the strangest looking birds came and landed next to us. They were "Long-billed Curlews", whose beaks are so long and needle-shaped that it looks like they could not fly or even hold.their heads up. 
Basically they winter down here, near water, and Yuma has the river, and the golf course has plenty of ponds. Scores of coots also seem to call the golf course home. Next time we golf we'll try to remember the camera.

Checked in to motel in Tucson - ate lunch/dinner and went to get hair cuts.  We feel like we look better now.  
That's all for today.  

THE DESERT BEAUTY

GOLF  - We did get to play a golf game in Yuma.  VERY windy but a sunny day and we had a good time. 

Now we are traveling in areas that we are not as familiar with.  Both of us love the desert but are still learning about the plants and animals and the geology.  

We left from Yuma this morning and drove to Gila Bend.  Along the way in what seemed to me to be unfriendly desert we came to a section with that terrible cattle o d o r.  (You know what I mean.)  Thousands of animals standing in long rows and convincing me NOT to eat beef that has been raised standing on their own s...tuff.  How can I find out?  To be solved later.  

Drove on to Ajo, Arizona, a very small place which used to mine copper and now is mostly a place for artists and desert adventurers.  Also the last place to find a motel before Mexico.  You can get insurance here of course for your car.  We stopped at Cabeza Priata Nature Reserve just outside of Ajo and took a walk in the desert.  Left and drove a few miles into Ajo to see the restored Plaza.  Just like a lot of this part of Arizona it is struggling for businesses but this plaza is actually very beautiful and will be an attraction when it is fully restored.  

BIRD WATCHING BLIND IN DESERT

Driving on we stopped at  the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which was a nice short walk and a drive through the desert.  We were a little late in the evening but the photos were great.  These parks are manned by the friendliest personnel.  Very knowledgeable.  I love the colors of the rugged mountains and the blue of the sky.  At this time the desert is not very colorful  and I am facinated by the survival techniques of the plants and animals. And the Pupfish, which live in 130 degree water only at one hot spring in the preserve area.

The motel we are staying in tonight is a lot of little cottages.  A little bit rustic.  Met some interesting women who drove dune buggies all the way across the dunes and desert  from Yuma to Ajo.  It was late so I didn't ask for a sample ride.  I do know that if my daughter-in-law were here she would have not missed the opportunity. 

We don't yet know where we will head for tomorrow so ....... more later. 

SOLVANG WINDMILL

ROAD TRIP
Our road trip has been very interesting so far.  Very relaxed as compared to other trips when we had to meet deadlines and be at certain places on time.  We traveled down highway 5 to Eugene.  Then crossed over to the coast and used 101.  There were at least 50 shades, hues of green.  It was amazingly beautiful.  Moss laden  trees in dark, dark green at first and then light airy moss swaying on the limbs in a silver green nearer the ocean. We stopped in Florence. We found a real pretty old town with lots of tourist of which we were two.  We had a wonderful seafood dinner and stayed in a lovely little motel.

The next morning we traveled to our friend Bonita’s home near Coos Bay, Oregon.  This is a home they built themselves and is spectacularly beautiful in a wonderful setting in the woods. From the there we drove down to Brookings and through the Redwoods of northern California to Eureka, CA.  A beautiful little city on Humboldt Bay.

Saw Suzanne in Santa Rosa.  A delightful visit,  but too short, as we left to go on
 to San Anselmo for two nights with our friend, Joan.  Her son and his family were away so you know the old story while the cat’s away the mice will play…. .  We gathered up Tom and Sarah from Larkspur and asked them over for a little visit and “party”. What a great New Year’s eve eve (the 30th).While we were in San Anselmo  we got to take a walk in a beautiful park in Ross.  We walked Shasta, the dog.  Shasta likes me.  Joan also took us shopping in Ross.  I must say that everything in the grocery store was three times what we pay at Safeway but then people in Ross have the money to pay the bill.

Stopped at Solvang, Ca.  A little “Danish” town.  Lights for Christmas many people of all kinds and languages.  Beautiful art galleries and shops.
While there we spent a couple of hours in the Mission Santa Ynes, very beautiful gardens, lovely and peaceful setting, with a long history. Our 12th California mission, all of them worth visiting. Nine more to go.

Leaving Solvang, we took a back road thru the mountains to Santa Barbara.  We drove down to the beach front where people were out running and walking along the esplanade “malecon” or boardwalk which was all quite beautiful on a very pretty sunny day.  Yes, I could live there. 


We took a back road from Santa Barbara to Ojai.  Most beautiful scenery.  The town of Ojai is small and artsy.  Liked the paintings I saw there best of anywhere so far.  We ate lunch in a little Italian place there and the food (salads) were great.  They took our whole money allottment!! Many beautiful people.

 From Ojai we took a road never before traveled by us to Santa Clarita. Instead of finding a motel as we planned we realized we had time to drive to Laguna Hills.  We were able to obtain our Mexican travel insurance at the very busy New Years Eve day AAA office. Then to visit Pete’s 95 year old stepmother Olive,   whom we love very much and with whom we had a very nice visit.  Went to Coco’s which Pete’s father always loved for dinner.  Really thought we would have a hard time finding a motel close by because it was New Years Eve but we were lucky and found one at the Courtyard by Marriott.  One of the best so far.. 
  
New Year’s day we drove to Beaumont and visited with Pete’s stepbrother Jim and his wife Connie. Beaumont is always and forever windy.  But the air is good.

Just a short trip to Indio where we stopped early in order for Pete to watch the Rose Bowl game.  Yea, Stanford. 

So far the traffic has been very light in  most places.  We took a toll road from Laguna Hills through the spectacular foothills towards Beaumont.  Well worth the $5 toll. 

Heading to Yuma, Arizona along the Salton Sea.  Mountains on both sides desert in the middle.  Very dry and flat, you can see forever. 
Pass Borrego Springs and into the Imperial Valley  where the desert is made to grow many green things .  Farms for miles.  The Imperial Valley provides veggies all year long in large quantities. Vegetables as far as the eye can see from mountains to mountains on and on into the distance.. Palms and sand too.

We have appreciated TomTom, our GPS, a lot.  Pete calls her Laurie for some reason.  Because she sounds like a “Laurie”, he says. We have always done very well with maps and really never got lost but this GPS just takes the stress out of finding specific places like motels and friends houses in obscure locations.  She tells us how fast we are going and what the speed limit is, as well as just which turns to take--and she gives plenty of warning, as well as literally drawing us a picture.  Great for those places where the speed limit changes thru towns.  She tells us what lane to be in, gets upset if we make a wrong turn (just kidding) and helps us get back on track.  Fortunately she doesn’t talk all the time and we can turn her off.  She also tells us on a read out what time we will arrive at our destination. 

Yuma has a LOT of trailer parks and RV parks.  There must be houses somewhere here because there is a nice golf course which we will play tomorrow.