5C's Que Pasa

Last year as in Friday, Dec 30th we headed into town to pick up more symphony tickets for us and friends arriving next week. We also wanted to stock up on some fresh pineapple, papaya and other fruits.  The Sirena, an Oceania Cruise ship was in port.  It only holds a maximum of 803 passengers.  It was on it’s way to LA.  From there it will pick up new passengers and head to Tahiti.  Sounds like a plan for the future.

Mazatlan has 400 shrimp boats and they were in port over the holidays.

So neat that each time we take the panga/laucha from the Isla to Mazatlan we get this view.  Not so great that fresh shrimp will be more difficult to find.

Once we purchased our tickets just off the Plazuela Machado we decided to stop there for a very late breakfast.

We actually observed this duo get out of a pulmonia and then set up.  This fellow was doing a ceremonial dance by blowing into the conch shell in each direction as well as up to the sky and down to the earth.  I wish I knew more about the dance.  I have to say that I have never ever heard a conch shell sound like that.  Rather thrilling.

Such an interesting performance but so frustrating to not understand the purpose and meaning of it all.  Regardless it was a fascinating  and unexpected bonus to our day.

Today we were treated to some very memorable visitors.  Dave and Sharon dropped by to say hello, they are in Mazatlan for three weeks.  We met them eight years ago here on the Isla.  It was our first time here at Tres Amigos RV Park and we were in the same row, us at one end and they at the other end.  It was in fact the busiest year to date here at the RV Park.  We spent several happy hours together.  Sharon has been one of my blog readers from day 1.  So glad you and your family took the time to stop by.  You were my very first special visitors in 2017.  Sharon you do look fabulous.

The second sunset of the year.

I just happened to turn around and snapped this photo.

2017 appears to be a dramatic year to date.

Sadly the last day of 2016 was grey and dismal. This poor guy got stuck in the sand in front of us but was soon on his way.

Tres Amigos had three European RV’s come in.  The front row was full and we had five occupied RV’s in the back row.  Almost a full house.  Sadly we had a drizzle that led to a light shower but by 8:30PM the rain had stopped.  There was no final sunset for December 31st, at least not here on the Isla.

We were dining at a restaurant just a block off the Plazuela Machado.  Topolo’s is situated in an old home.  Some of the rooms are private dining rooms, likely former bedrooms, others are the kitchen and bar and some are for general dining.  We were seated in the outdoor courtyard and it was wonderful.  We could look up to the open sky and enjoy all the tall palms surrounding us.

One of the specialties here it that your salsa is custom made at your table. It was the best salsa ever.

For New Year’s Eve the menu was a set price with many options to chose from for the various courses. Included was a glass of very good champagne.  After that on the recommendation of the Maitre d , we ordered a lovely bottle of Torrontes from Argentina.  The label says that each grape is hand picked at vineyards adjacent to the Andes.  Best wine ever.

I include this for my records so that I can hopefully buy this at home.  Suzanne, you would love it.

We were serenaded all evening by music accented by a perfect sax.  The song choices were perfect.  We danced,  the only couple doing so but we had a great time.

Colin had the cilantro fish fillet which was swordfish topped with sauteed shrimp, celery, peppers, onions in light butter, lime and cilantro sauce.

I drooled over my grilled tuna steak which was crusted with wasabi and black sesame seeds.

We chose the last seating at 9 PM which allowed us to linger over our dinner and enjoy the ambience of the restaurant and the wonderful music.  What with doing the odd dance here and there we had a perfect evening.

Minutes before midnight we were dead center in front of the kiosk at the  Plazuela Machado enjoying the band from Cuba.  We were there for the final count down to 2017.

The only thing missing were our very special and dear friends Juan and Chris. We have shared our last two New Year’s Eve countdowns with them.  Last year Juan climbed the kiosk to wish us all a Happy New Year.

The first sunset of 2017 and it was breathtaking.

Colin and I wish each of you the very best of the New Year, may it be all that you desire. Special greetings to blog readers Patrick and Ruthe who pulled in this afternoon and are parked next to us for the next three months.

Carmeh in pain from her pancreatitis. This is what is called the prayer position.  Her head is bowed in pain.  Fortunately we haven’t seen this too much of late.

Forcing water into her re hydration.

She is so good at letting us do what we have to with her.

Caeli resting on a bunch of pillows.

So funny how she has set herself up at that angle.

Here she is at the other end of the sofa but this time resting on two blankets.

Early morning snooze in the sun in the back garden.  So sweet how they are cuddled together.

Here Caeli is making a fort out of our runner carpet.

She does this a few times per day.  Often she is completely buried under the carpet.

Colin giving Carmeh some love time.

Me giving Carmeh her monthly bath last week.

We went to Che which is at the West end of our beach and just up the rise to the path to the Playa Sur Embarcadero.  Our site is way to the right of the bend of the beach, just a tad to the left of the yellow hotel, the Maria Coral, which is under the ‘v’ of the palm branch mid upper right.

Many visitors to the Isla today.

The top of our gazebo is that bit of red in the middle of the photo.  You can find that bit of red about 1.5 inches above the prow of the white boat.  Good camera zoom.

We ate several times last year at Che.  They are the only restaurant that is open till 8PM on our beach and they only serve fish. We have done take out once this year and the fish was not great so wanted to try it in person.  Last year we always had the dorado ( mahi mahi ) burger and it was the most perfect fish burger ever.  Turns out that this year they are using sierra and to my taste the burger is not so great.  Still served with a slice of pineapple and romaine and cheese but not the same taste.  Fresh dorado is becoming more difficult to find.  Next time we will try the shrimp quesadillas which are also supposed to be excellent.

Next stop was a trip to the colonia to pick up our laundry. Saw this patio set made of pallets. The entire Che restaurant is furnished  entirely in pallet chairs and tables.  Looks like they have started a trend on the Isla.

We stopped at Feddy’s, one the main grocery stores here on the Isla.  Colin wanted to tell Feddy that our Xmas laser lights had been stolen on the 26th and to keep an ear to the ground.  We are not stressed about it, just think that maybe our park needs more security.  We are right behind the security area so this should not have happened if the guy had been on the job so to speak.  It had to have been someone who actually came into the park previously as the lights could only be seen behind our RV and from inside the park.  The lights were carefully unplugged from our maze or extension cords, they were not in a hurry.

The other main store on the Isla called Super Deli.

The sunset we came home to.

This is what Colin is doing tonight while I am posting and dealing with emails.  Can you see the girls on the sofa?

This blog is being brought to you from this location complete with wine glass and Christmas tree.  The white lights are outside under the palapa.

We had a lovely Christmas Eve.

Just us and the girls and of course Mother Nature.

We all cuddled and watched a Christmas movie.

While we were doing our beach walk Christmas morning Santa dropped by. He hasn’t stopped at our place for many many years.  Guess this was a special year.

Carmeh was so excited and helped open every package.  Colin got two Mexican style shirts and a new coffee mug.

The girls of course got many new toys. Caeli wasn’t too interested in the toys but Carmeh more than made up for it. I got a sundress and a new hat, you can get a glimpse in the top right corner.

Caeli did like this soft dog bone with a squeaker in it.

But Carmeh wanted that toy also. Caeli did not give in too easily.  Hard to see but she was showing her tiny teeth.

Carmeh is trying to pull it out of Caeli’s mouth.

Once she got it away from Caeli she would not let Colin take it from her.

It wasn’t like there weren’t enough new toys to play with.  It was a fun morning.

Christmas Day sunset.