5C's Que Pasa

Jan 21, 2015

Party #1, #2 and #3 !!!

No wonder you haven’t heard from me for a bit. Yes we have been muy occupado, very busy socializing. After one, two, three events in a row I laid low. Mostly I am spending my time on the phone dealing with family issues and some legal things. But not to worry, me, my book and glass of vino manage to get together for a few hours each afternoon.

Another lovely happy hour for the park plus a few other invited guests. Always, always too much good food. This hostess really outdid herself.

Nothing to do but dance all the food off. Is is just us that have happy hours that start at 4PM and keep going thru the night? Maybe it's something in the Isla air?

Janet, Ron and Millie made their first ever trip to the Isla the next day. Party #2.

I was supposed to be in the photo but instead was on the phone dealing with a problem with Dad’s van. Kudo’s to Ron for driving here in their vehicle. They thought the road in was quite the journey but later told me the road back wasn’t so bad as they now knew what to expect. They also mentioned that there was truck after truck bringing in loads gravel for the construction of the new wider road. So things are happening in that department. After some chit chat we walked down to El Velero for a nice lunch. The earlier phone call unsettled me enough that I had not one but two margaritas, my first of 2015. They worked and I relaxed. Sadly Janet & Ron who are staying at Las Jaibas RV Park in Mazatlan are thinking of renting a place next year rather then RV down. Guess we’ll just have to visit in Mazatlan. Needless to say I simply forgot to take photos at lunch.

Later that evening we were treated to a dinner at the new community centre put on by the colonia community as a thank you to all of us ( winter visitors ) who have helped contribute to a variety of projects to benefit those who live on Isla de la Piedra.

The actual building is the result of donations spearheaded by one particular individual. Most of the RVers came plus a few other folks who live in homes & hotels on the Isla.

One of the things the community centre is used for is English classes. The students all have different levels of understanding which makes it more of a challenge for the volunteer teachers. At the moment there are four computers with the Rosetta Stone English program which the students take turns using.

The sunsets are back.

We’ve had three new RVers in and out over the past week. One was a Class C with three young people from Argentina. They had travelled North to the US ( not certain if the y went to Canada ) and now were heading back home to Argentina. Another delightful couple from Quebec were heading North as was another couple I never got to meet. I often wonder how these people find the Isla. They all enjoyed the beach and our sunshine which is back.

Shrimp season is over and the tuna season has begun. The tuna boats started heading out Saturday morning and that also meant lots of helicopters flying back and forth to the boats. Always something to amuse us.

Quite the difference between a shrimp boat and the tuna boat on the right.

Taken yesterday. The boat on the left was literally sailing into the sunset.

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Jan 15, 2015

Things are sorting themselves out and more que pasa

Finally spoke to the Mazatlan notario and it looks like we are going to be able to work with him. Thanks goodness, I just couldn’t see spending that much money to notarize our signatures at the Canadian Consulate. We are in day three of gloomy skies but tomorrow promises to be a great day. In fact we may actually have a bit of a sunset later today.

Saw this washed up on the beach the other day. Must have been a big wave.

Does anyone know what type of fish this is?

One of my new hibiscus! The water drops are from my watering. I took the shot anyway as the sun was out for a moment.

Another of my new plants. I really like how this one folds it's petals back, almost like a piece of Japanese origami.

Forgot to include this in yesterday's post. Saw this in town on Sunday, the van runs but is missing a major door.

A young horse being trained to be on the beach with all the noises, dogs and occasional ATV passing by. This one was very frisky.

Finally got around to getting some of my dresses washed...by hand. Most of our things go to the local lavenderia.

Saw this fisherman heading out just at sunset.

With his net in front of him he is sitting on his knees on what I later discovered was a kayak.

Yesterday's cruise ship and he were neck and neck. As you can see, very little color in the sky.

He got a certain distance out where he attached one end of his net to a buoy which I had not previously noticed and started to let his net out parallel to the beach.

I noticed yet another tiny buoy where he tied off the other end of the net. Then he paddled back to shore in the diminishing light. He must have got up very early this morning because when I got up at 7AM there was nothing to be seen. I sure hope he got a good catch of fish. So nice to have all of this unfolding right in front of us

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Jan 14, 2015

Just a little too busy for us right now

I am spending more time on the phone and the computer than I want to but it needs to be done. We are awaiting some documents that we need to sign and have notarized. So far I have managed to save us close to $1,500.00 CAD. Good thing I didn’t take the first suggestion but researched and researched. Things are complicated when you are in Mexico and need some legal work done re something in Vancouver and your accountant is currently in India. In the end we went with a professional from Kelowna to put it all together. However we were shocked that the Canadian Consulate here in Mazatlan wants $50.00 CAD per notarized signature which means between $400.00 – $600.00 CAD more. Meanwhile I got a lead on a Mexican notary who would charge us about 400 pesos ( $33.00CAD ) to notarize it all. I am waiting to hear back from him to see if he meets all of the Canadian requirements. Most complicated and time consuming.

Meanwhile Sunday afternoon we attended a guitar concert at EL Recreo.

This notice is what prompted us to attend.

The woman was probably the best part of the performance. She did a great job with the castanets, as well as using her hands as a percussion instrument and even did a few flamenco steps at the end.

Sadly the show was just okay. The young boy playing the guitar was much better than the star of the show who had trouble with many notes and the rhythm.

The audience loved the performance but perhaps because Colin plays the guitar and I have the ear for it we were not overly impressed. Our massage therapist ( yeah, we both got massages Monday morning ) concurred with our assessment of the performance before we even had a chance to tell her about it. She had gone to the second show and is a musician herself.

All was not lost as we walked over to Olas Altas and had a fabulous early dinner at El Fish Market.

Bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

These are called red trucks or aurigas. They are used for larger groups as a pulmonia only holds four passengers. I took this photo for those of you who don't travel here any longer.....they added the white gate at the back since last winter. A few people have fallen out so a new safety feature was incorporated, thank goodness. I never did like riding in them.

The restaurant is located just behind the Deer Monument on Olas Altas. Mazatlan is a Nahuati word meaning "place of the deer".

Yet another wonderful Mazatlan sunset. Here you are able to watch the sun fall into the ocean.

Taking the panga across the shipping channel we see how busy the port is becoming.

Heading home to Isla de la Piedra.

Monday was a blur of calls and emails after our massages but we always start the day with our beach walk and end it with the sunset.

Tuesday morning we watched a Carnival Cruise ship, the 'Miracle', come into port. Sadly not too many folks came to the Isla. Perhaps they visited Mazatlan instead.

No sunset last night. We have had two very overcast days. We and another couple did watch the ship head out as we sat warm and cozy in front of our fire pit. This morning the Grand Princess came in and there were a few people here to enjoy the beach. Not sure yet if we will have a sunset or not tonight. Best get this posted. Thanks for dropping by.

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Jan 12, 2015

Mazatlan was calling our name

Last Friday was a scheduled day in town. We wanted to get some shrimp. For some reason we still have not had anyone coming door to door to so we headed into town to buy some.

TIme to paint the buoys. What you can't see is that in addition to the one painter and the two supervisors there is yet another person in the boat, the driver!

First stop was to see the flower ladies. This is a special area that just sells flowers.

Some very lovely work and all so inexpensive. This is a very tiny area unlike the flower area in Acapulco which is half the size of the mercardo here in Mazatlan, in other words huge.

I assume that the heart shape is in anticipation of Valentines Day. Although I was tempted, we only looked. I couldn't see myself carrying an arrangement thru town.

The shrimp ladies were just down the road a few blocks on Aquiles Serdan. These ladies are there 12 hours per day every day of the year so they say. They are known are "las changueras" and have become a Mazatlan landmark.

Wild from the ocean or farmed in seawater ponds ( which you can see on the road to the Isla ), heads on, head off. large or small.

We decided to buy from Angel ( his stall is right in front of the tienda/grocery store ).

He even offered to clean them for us. It was a slow day.

All that shrimp shopping made us hungry so we walked another 6 -7 blocks to the mercardo where we got some romaine and Chihuahua cheese and then stopped at Tony's lunch counter.

We had a shrimp burger. What else would we have? So very very yummy and addicting. One per month is my limit.

Passed this old thing on the way to the panga dock. Does it even run??

There go Janet, Grant and Boo, back home after the last walk of the day.

Now that was a fun day in town. Always glad to bet back to the beach.

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Jan 11, 2015

How we pass our days

Other than waking up, feeding the girls and walking on the beach in the morning, we have no idea how the day is going to unfold. Somedays we do have a plan to head into town but not very often. The day here on the Isla just seems to happen of its own accord. Someone walks in off the beach and a visit begins. A friend drops by. One thing leads to another and suddenly the sun is setting and you wonder where did the day go. Always, always is it a good day but with never enough hours in it. Hence the lack of daily posts right now. I am striving to enjoy each and every minute and not be tied to anything especially the computer. It is enough that I am on the phone daily with family and my Dad and often emailing or calling the hospital. The last two days have been spent doing some major legal things for both us and for Dad. Like I said, the days need to be longer. I have also been working on the baby Romina situation and will give you an update very soon. Plus I have been helping try to find some tutors for the local community centre. There are several folks living here on the Isla, Rvers and others who have been instrumental in setting up an English speaking class that happens 3 evenings per week. Hopefully once everyone heads North the classes can continue. This is something thats needs to be worked on now, not mid April. Things are coming together. Again, not enough hours in the day. Maybe it just takes longer to get things done on the Isla because we are all so relaxed.

Now where else can can you buy a large zucchini, six bananas, a cucumber, a carrot, a bolillo ( Mexican bread ), a large bunch of crisp green beans, an onion, an avocado, two very large oranges and three tomatoes for 51 pesos or $3.49 USD/$4.14CAD?

Carmeh comes nose to nose with the largest puffer fish we have ever seen.

Sadly this poor pelican had to endure a death watch by these young vultures. Interesting how an ATV had made a large circle around them all, the circle of life.

There are several groups of musicians that walk up and down the beach playing at various restaurants trying to earn a few pesos. Over the holidays we have a group of 9 young fellows that play very loud banda music. They are alright for a while but day after day gets tiring. Some here have contemplated paying them to move on. A few days ago two guys stopped their car just in front of us and pulled out the cervezas. They were feeling no pain and when the band walked past they stopped them and hired them to play for them exclusively. Yup, right out in front of us, sigh! We couldn't even talk to each other. Those with hearing aids turned them off.

Finally the plant man came. Not my regular guy ( whom we haven't seen for close to three weeks now ) but as this point I needed soil and one replacement plant for a pot so I was very happy to see this fellow.