Nov 22, 2015

It was a grand day

It started off with the Grand Princess coming into port.

It started off with the Grand Princess coming into port.

That is El Faro, the famous lighthouse in the background.  Sadly we now only see a light at the very top at night.  We used to be able to see the entire path lit by lights.  I just read the other day that the lights were recently replaced and within a few weeks they have all been broken.  Youths???  It certainly changes our evening view.  Meanwhile we have finally completed our personal installation of what I like to call fairy lights for the season, several hundred ( perhaps a thousand  😀  ) mini warm white lights.  A bit less than last year, certainly never the same display each year, but always elegant, or so I like to think.

Our morning walk. It seems to be getting warmer each morning. Yesterday Colin stayed iwht the girls while I walk

Our morning walk. It seems to be getting warmer each morning and we try to walk as early as we can.  Yesterday Colin stayed with the girls when we thought that Carmeh had had enough and then I walked on another ten or so minutes and then back again. We then we all carried on home together.  Today I just went on another walk on my own later in the day.  The tide is changing and it will affect our early morning walks due to high tide.  We will have to be flexible with our walks….Carmeh needs wet hard packed sand to walk on.  We just take it day by day and are happy we haven’t had to use the stroller yet.

We hadn't been back long when Janet, Grant and Boo came along. Sadly they have moved off the Isla this year into a home near Centro where they are really enjoying the space. Of course they miss the beach but you can't have everything.

We hadn’t been back long when Janet, Grant and Boo came along. Sadly they have moved off the Isla this year into a home near Centro where they are really enjoying the space. Of course they miss the beach but you can’t have everything.   We had a good visit before they carried on with their walk.  Needless to say we will be visiting back and forth across the shipping channel.

A few of the shrimp boats were closer in yesterday.

A few of the shrimp boats were closer in yesterday.

A great end to yet another grand day on the Isla.

A great end to yet another grand day on the Isla.

 

Comments(11)

Nov 21, 2015

Poco a poco…

…little by little.  We are getting things done, sometimes quickly and often times slower.  The temperatures are higher than normal.  We are averaging about 87F midday with 68% humidity.  Mostly we live outside and with no A/C which makes it rather muggy while preparing a meal but the ocean breeze is so refreshing that once outside, out of the sun, conditions are perfect. We do have A/C but no sense in running it when we live outside.  Often during our morning walks we wade in the surf to keep cool.

The girls are adapting well.  We have been very careful with Carmeh and only doing about 50% of our normal beach walk.  She has days where she has more energy than others but over all she is happy to be here.  Caeli keeps trying to escape the yard and is always first up in the morning yipping at us to get up and out onto the beach.

As you can see most of our stuff has been put away. You will also notice that my plants have almost doubled in size.

As you can see most of our stuff has been put away. You will also notice that my plants have almost doubled in size.

Our shade canopy is up and our front palm is finally growing.

Our shade canopy is up and our front palm is finally growing. Also our dust screen is up and boy are we glad we have it.  So many horses creating dust this year

I bought an induction cooktop this year and so far we have used it twice. I find it difficult to know what temps to cook things at. So far it seems like a good purchase.

I bought an induction cook top this year and so far we have used it twice. I find it difficult to know what temps to cook things at. So far it seems like a good purchase.  Sorry about all the reflections but it does have a shiny surface.

Bonus......a couple came in a few days ago with some freshly frozen shrimp. 150 pesos uncleaned with heads on. However both ourselves and Marjorie and Bob wonder if it was actually farm shrimp and not ocean shrimp as we were told, it was rather bland.

Bonus……a couple came by a few days ago with some freshly frozen shrimp. 150 pesos  per kilo  for uncleaned with heads on. However both ourselves and Marjorie and Bob wonder if it was actually farm shrimp and not ocean shrimp as we were told, it was rather bland.  As you can see I use a complicated cleaning process with lots of rinsing.

The hummingbirds are happy and already fighting over territory.

The hummingbirds are happy and already fighting over territory.

Thursday evening was another nice sunset.

Thursday evening was another nice sunset.

That is Maria from The Canexican going out on her paddle board.  She had hoped for as great an evening as I showed on the last post but it was not to be.

Ken is heading back to RV2. You really can't see but he has two West Highland Whiter Terriers in his back seat.

Ken is heading back to RV2. You really can’t see but he has two West Highland White Terriers in his back seat.

What we refer to as the monkey wagon.....tourists from Mazatlan here for a day tour and being driven past us. Are we the monkeys under observations or are they?

What we refer to as the monkey wagon…..tourists from Mazatlan here for a day tour and being driven past us. Are we the monkeys under observation or are they?  They are stopping here for some sunset photos.

Off they go into the sunset while we get to stay yet another day and another day and........

Off they go into the sunset while we get to stay yet another day and another day and……..

Maria done with her sunset paddle.

Maria done with her sunset paddle.

So ended Thursday.

So ended Thursday.

Lots of things crossed off the set up list Friday including getting Ismael to remove a plant and to transplant another it its place.

Lots of things crossed off the set up list Friday including getting Ismael to remove a plant and to transplant another it its place.

It was also the day to spray paint a few things. Rust is your enemy here in the salt air. We try to sty on top of it.

It was also the day to spray paint a few things. Rust is your enemy here in the salt air. We try to stay on top of it.

It was a bit of this and of that type of day Friday.  Not many photos were taken.

Bob & Marjorie dropped by for drinks at sunset. Guess who was wearing this shirt?

Bob & Marjorie dropped by for drinks at sunset. Guess who was wearing this shirt?

...and so ended Friday.

…and so ended Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(18)

Nov 20, 2015

So much to see in a day

Tuna season is about over and the boats are coming in. The tall one is waiting to come in. Lots of shrimps boats out there at times, today none as I write this.

Tuna season is about over and the boats are coming in. The tall one is waiting to come in. Lots of shrimp boats out there at times, today none as I write this.

Just to show it's not all work, we headed out to monthly spaghetti dinner at one of the hotels on Tuesday. The main attraction is the 2 for 1 happy hour. I was good and stuck with wine. I had to walk home down the beach in the dark :)

Just to show it’s not all work, we headed out to the monthly spaghetti dinner at one of the hotels on Tuesday. The main attraction is the 2 for 1 happy hour. I was good and stuck with wine. I had to walk home down the beach in the dark 🙂

On our beach walk Wednesday morning we saw this huge dog barking and nipping at the horses.

On our beach walk Wednesday morning we saw this huge dog barking and nipping at the horses.  The driver finally stopped as one horse stumbled.  The dog owner is in the white shirt and he did not seem at all concerned and took his sweet time ‘trying’ to catch his dog.  The dog is huge and weighs 175 lbs.  His owner wants to head further south to Ecuador but can’t find an airline willing to take the dog.

Nice to see that this fellow is still here.

Nice to see that this fellow is still here.

I've seen this team a few times. They are puled by an ATV and go up and down the beach looking for fish along the horizon, they stop and put out their net.

I’ve seen this team a few times. They are pulled by the ATV and go up and down the beach looking for fish along the horizon, they stop and put out their net. There are three of them, you can just make out the driver’s arm.

Next it was time to go pick up our laundry from Alfredo. I went along for the ride to say hello. He is becoming more serious about learning English and now has a tutor.

Next it was time to go pick up our laundry from Alfredo. I went along for the ride to say hello. He is becoming more serious about learning English and now has a tutor.

Lovely to see two large cruise ships in port. There should be between 3 -4 ships in port each week. Howeer with it being Thanksgiving there are many more this week and next.

Lovely to see two large cruise ships in port. There should be between 3 -4 ships in port each week. However with it being US Thanksgiving there are many more this week and next.

Lots of extra beach activity at the moment. NOt sure how he found his way in but he did have trouble finding his way out. He was very happy to be free as he cantered up the beach.

Lots of extra beach activity at the moment. Not sure how he found his way in but this horse did have trouble finding his way out. He was very happy to be free as he cantered up the beach.   Yes the netting is new this year.  Is it always put up during semena santa to keep the hordes out of this park.  I guess they often leave it up over the summer and it looks like it is going to stay up this winter.  Personally I don’t like it, but in in all honesty it really does not affect the view.

Sunset Wednesday started off just like any other sunset, nice.

Sunset on Wednesday started off just like any other sunset, nice.

Then it blossomed.

Then it blossomed.  The Crown Princess, the first ship heading out.

...followed by the Norwegian Jewel.

…followed by the Norwegian Jewel. The sky kept changing color.

Until finally we were all looking at a work of art.

Until finally we were all looking at a work of art.

Comments(12)

Nov 19, 2015

To be perfectly honest….

….we are both exhausted 😥   I could push and do a post but that would take about 90 minutes  or more by the time I edit my photos.  I have decided that we need to take tonight for us.  We, well Colin especially has worked double time and a lot has been accomplished in a short period of time.  For the first time in a long while I am physically able to help with many of the tasks and I am enjoying it. We wondered today what the heck we would do once we were totally set up 💡   Not to worry, lots and lots of choices 😉

I worked out today that this will be our 7th winter here.  In 2009 we were in the 3rd row of RV 2 and 12th on the list for a front row site.  Somehow we were able to snag site #3 in 2010, in RV 1, for $100.00 more per month than others were paying, we took it. It was a private lease site and no one else was willing to pay the extra $100.00.  Sorry but to us that is a cheap price to pay for paradise.   Our current site became ours in 2011, mostly because others did not see the potential in this run down site, well it was at the time, but we have certainly changed it.  I honestly am shocked at the amount of time we have spent here in one place, but due to circumstances, ie my two hip replacements and both my parents passing away, this was a great spot to heal.  The future holds many changes for us but not until our fur kids have moved on 🙁

So off I go to create a great dinner centered around the shrimp that was sold to us via a lovely couple in a truck.  It was frozen but once it thawed I found it to be good quality and very fresh on how it peeled.  Hope it tastes the same.  We paid 150 pesos for one kilo with heads on.

By the way, I really would like to know your favorite ways to prepare shrimp, BBQ, fry pan, marinades, spices, etc.

Comments(10)

Nov 18, 2015

The reality of an arrival in paradise

We are ecstatic to be here but paradise does not just appear.  Well at least for us it doesn’t.  We need to give it a nudge.

No matter the day, it always starts with a walk on the beach. We are parked just above the letters RV.

No matter the day, it always starts with a walk on the beach. We are parked just above the letters RV.

Many frigate birds that first morning along with the usual pelicans.

Many frigate birds that first morning along with the usual pelicans riding the waves.

After the idyllic walk was over it was time to get real.  Time to do our official set up.  Others just pull up with whatever fits in their RV but several long time residents like us seem to accumulate stuff.  Things that seem essential to our happiness here in paradise 😳

I will be the first to say that we are not minimalists.  If we are going to be here for over 4.5 months we want to be comfortable, very very comfortable and why not?

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It now takes 2 pulmonia trucks to get our ‘stuff’ from the bodega, our storage area. The cost per month is so minimal that it is well worth it for us.  Plus anything that we leave here on the Isla will be happily donated to those in the Colonia should we not return.

Extra stuff like a 10 X 10 canopy, dog beds, some exercise equipment and tons of white fairy lights along with a buhch of things we feel we can leave here in a bin rather than cart it back and forth and don't forget all my plant pots plus a bunch of who knows what. Found a bottle of vodka I left last winter, wonder who is going to use that?

Extra stuff like a 10 X 10 canopy, dog beds, some exercise equipment and tons of white fairy lights along with a bunch of things we feel we can leave here in a bin rather than cart it back and forth and don’t forget all my plant pots plus a bunch of who knows what., oh yeah lots of chairs and tables. Found a bottle of vodka I left last winter, wonder who is going to use that?

Once everything was unloaded it was a challenge to sort it all out and start putting things in their place.  One of the big items we store is a carpet the covers our entire double wide patio.

As we worked hard at setting up, a local family came along and did their own set up. They were simply enjoying a Monday off on a long weekend. It was fun to watch them as we worked. I think they watched us as well and wondered what the heck we were doing.

As we worked hard at setting up, a local family came along and did their own set up. They were simply enjoying a Monday off on a long weekend. It was fun to watch them as we worked. I think they watched us as well and wondered what the heck we were doing.

It was so humid and hot that I could not believe that Colin and Ismael got our dust screen put up. A real feat.

It was so humid and hot that I could not believe that Colin and Ismael got our dust screen put up. A real feat.  If you look closely you can see that 3/4 of Colin’s shirt is wet!!  Just that kind of day, they both worked so hard.  Ishmael is between the foliage and the fence dealing with all kinds of yuck.  These two work as a team and call each other brother.

The dog fence is up....and Caeli has already escaped twice and of course those areas have been blocked.

The dog fence is up….and Caeli has already escaped twice and of course those areas have been blocked.

After a very long day things are looking better. Oh, I forgot we also store 2 mini fridges.

After a very long day things are looking better. Oh, I forgot we also store 2 mini fridges, see them on them on the left.

Sorry no sunset photo, it was a cloudy day which resulted in no color in the sky….

 

………but wait till my next post……as I was writing this post, we experienced one of the top ten sunsets ever over the years.  I have no idea how I am going to choose the best of the hundred shots I took.

 

 

Comments(6)

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