Sick said the Doctor!

I got a cold flu that hit me Tuesday night and I'm still aching all over and not really fit for any human involvement. Sorry but no pictures of me lying on the couch, having naps, or popping tylenol.

Fortunately I don't have any commitments until tomorrow. Tomorrow we are celebrating Steve's 60th birthday which is today. Congratulations Steve!!!!!

Maryann, however, is going to the hospital today to see whether she broke any bones in her hand when she took a nasty tumble. Tumbles, broken bones and injuries are quite common here because the steets and sidewalks are often irregular, not well maintained and can have holes in the most unbelievable places.

Steak that could be cut with a plastic knife!

Enjoying BBQ on our deck and supper at our apartment last night. From there to the Elvis show (aka Corny Rempel from Steinbach) to dance and be entertained and he is wonderfully entertaining. Sorry no pictures of that to post.

Sunday at Stone Island

Way out on the kayak are Steve and Vange, Maryann is sporting a new tattoo and Janet and Maryann are checking for sharks and feeling the water temperature! What you don't see are Steve and Vange getting dunked when a wave capsized them at the shore and the slightly sunburned bodies at the end of the day!

First Suppper, Not the last!

More wonderful friends arrived. Our friends Dennis and Carole remembered my muttering about licorice and sent along some wonderful licorice treats. We are basking in the pleasure of both.

Better walk this morning before it's too hot!

The meteorologist is predicting temp. around 90 degrees over the next few days so Don and I walked up to the lighthouse this morning early hoping to avoid heat stroke! Here are a few pictures taken along the way.

Keeping in touch just get's easier!

Today Don picked up a headset and opened a Skype account. We don't have a phone no. for you to call us but we can call you. If you have a Skype account let us know and we can talk. I had the joy of talking to my Mom this afternoon. A few years ago when I wanted to call home we would get a bill of $80.00 and now I can talk for 10 min. from the comfort of my home for about 25 cents.

A picture of our friend Dennis more than ready for home, the ferry we hope to take mid-March to visit friends Don and Diane Delves (hope they appreciate the luxury cruise!), and Don making his first call on Skype.

Mondays, we love Mondays

Today was quiet and after puttering for a while Don and I decided to walk down the malecon. We walked for 2 to 3 miles until we reached Valentino's. From there we walked to the new Mega grocery store and picked up a few necessities. Their new store even hosts a coffee shop and I bought expresso coffee beans to make a good cup of coffee. Tonight we had a simple supper and tonight we may try to find our friend Ed and see if he wants to go to open mike at Canucks club. Otherwise, we'll enjoy an evening of quiet and reading.

By the way, I forgot to tell you that a cleaning lady did come two weeks ago and I am expecting her again tomorrow! It is a nice bonus to come home mid-afternoon to a spotless place!

Coming and Going

Pictures from previous days as today was taken up going to the airport to take Dennis and Carole for their homeword flight, some tidying up our suite and picking up Ed from the airport this evening and dropping him off at what will be his home for the next few weeks. Good day of comings and goings.

Saying goodbye to friends

We've had a ton of fun with our friends and sadly they are leaving for home tomorrow. Here's a picture to show you that we don't just eat while we are in Mazatlan, we drink too!!!

Sunday will be a busy day, helping our Mazatlan friends prepare for their yearly party on the deck of our complex. This year 100 people are invited and our friend Ed will be here in time to join.

Happy Valentine's Day

I loved preparing for Valentine's Day. Didn't you just love that book of cards that came bright red, cheerful and gave you the fun of punching out, signing and taking to school? Looked for those books here but couldn't find any.

In honor of those childhood memories, here is a wish for you! Try to imagine it on a valentine's card.
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
When we think of how much you mean to us
We want to hug you too.
Happy Valentines Day!

Today was country tour...for you lady, almost free!

Sorry no pictures for today as our friends borrowed our camera for a few days. Their camera got left in a taxi cab and it has not been returned.
Pulled out of Mazatlan around 9:30 am this morning and returned around 4:30pm from a full day in the country. The tour always includes a number of stops which range from brick making to a home based bakery for fresh cinnamon buns. It was a full day of sun and exploration. One of the favorite lines of vendors on the trail is "for you lady, almost free".
Upon returning home I washed all the dust off and now am ready for an evening sunset and a good book!

Joke from last night at Canucks Club told by a senior who visits other seniors homes to entertain them. I was visiting a senior at his home when he turned to me and said, "I never slept with my wife before I married her", "Did you?" I said, "I don't know, what was her maiden name?" Hahaha

What happens in Mazatlan, stays in Mazatlan

There is a famous saying here, "what happens in Mazatlan, stays in Mazatlan". That could be true for those who don't own a digital camera and create blogs every day! Yes, we did go see the Garth Brooks impersonator with friends and neighbors. Who is Carole making friends with? I can't say because "what happens in Mazatlan, stays in Mazatlan". Now, with a few pina colada's under one's belt a person could be convinced to talk!

I was glad Dennis was around at supper today when Don took a nice slice out of his finger with his favorite knife (I hate that thing) because I don't do well with body fluids and medical emergencies....just ask my kids. A crisis was averted and he is sleeping well, expecting to be ok tomorrow.

Don and I will play tour guides tomorrow when we take our friends on the country tour, stopping in a no. of communities and ending up in a mining town about 1 1/2 hour from Maz. Famous banana cream pie is on the menu there.

Random things on Sunday

There is a new mayor in Mazatlan as of January who is upgrading some of the infrastructure and redoing the wall and sidewalk in front of our complex. Last week they came and painted the curbs right where the rubble is now!

It was time to make a pot of borscht...it was good.

This morning we went to La Pontilla (the pelican) for Sunday brunch. We ate many interesting things and then headed to the Jaurez market which is a giant flea market/granville Island style event. Picked up a fresh watermelon, strawberries, etc.

This afternoon found us lounging around Carole and Dennis's pool area....great place to tan and swim.

Tonight we are heading to Heather's place for their turkey dinner served with brownies for desert. Heather moved here from Surrey a no. of years ago and offers homestyle cooking every Sunday. This evening it comes along with Garth Brooks (impressionist). Should be fun....a no. of us are going.

Where has the time gone???

Don and I drove out of Abbotsford exactly 4 weeks ago. The time just seems to disappear without all that much to show for it. To keep some record of accomplishment I am keeping track of all the books read.

Wednesday Don and I were invited to volunteer at The Golden Gate English School. This is an after school/work private english speaking school where locals go to learn english. It is our job to arrive there by 4:30 pm in the afternoon and engage them in conversation for just over an hour. I happened to be paired up with Carla, whom I learned is the youngest child of the security guard at our apartment. Don got to talk to Gilberto, who is 15 years old and whose father is a train engineer and mother is a home maker. We enjoyed it so much we plan to continue.

These pictures were taken yesterday at Stone Island. The beach is endless ..wonderful place to walk and swim. We spent the day at Lety's and had their lunch special...an entire fish with tail and all BBQ'd on a wood burning grill. It was pretty nice! Thankfully we had put on sunscreen or we would have looked as cooked as the fish!!!! Our friends Dennis and Carole are with us.

February 6 , 2008

Good Morning, Lorraine says that it is my turn to make an entry onto the Blog and now that she has shown me how to "post" a picture and make an entry, here I am. This is a picture of us last night waiting around for the Carnaval parade floats to arrive. Within an hour there were literally thousands of people milling around us and after two hours we had seen enough of the floats and headed home to barbeque stakes with friends Dennis and Carol Hiebert who are here on a two week vacation.

What do 25 people do in a pool? How about arobics!

Math is not my best subject but even I know that 25 people are not in this picture. I took this picture after we were done with water arobics and so most of the participants have already left. Nadine and I take turns driving across town around 9:30 am on Monday, Wed, and Friday and by 11:30 we are home, ready to make plans for the rest of the day. Monday afternoons I also do yoga, which I am coming to really enjoy.

Today we went to watch the last parade of the carnaval. We waited 2 hours, from 5:00 to 7:00pm for the parade to begin and by the time it got underway we were too hungry and cold to stay very long. It was wonderful to be standing alongside Mexican families and share one of the highlights of their Carnaval. Right beside us was a couple with their three young children. The Mom worked so hard to communicate with us and have us meet her children. Her husband was in a wheelchair and you could tell that they were more financially challenged them some. This woman went to get her family a few hotdogs and chips and when she returned offered to share her limited food with us. We were very moved by her generous spirit and when we left felt that we had made new friends. This Mother inspired me and made me aware of some of the richness we experience while we are far away from home.

Friends have arrived!

Last night the congestion of people and vehicles caused by the fireworks display at the Olas Altas Bay didn't ever allow us to get Dennis and Carole to their apartment. After trying numerous routes we gave up and went to our place and that's where we all stayed until today.

Their unit is the one you see on the third floor, far left. It has a small deck and view from two sides...one over the city and one over the bay.

In the spirit of the Carnaval, we are on the deck and Dennis is already well into it! (Just kidding). We went out exploring the city!

True to Mexican style, this float is travelling down one of the main streets in order to get to the parade. The hot dog on the float is too high and so someone has to push a broom up against the power lines to let them go down the street. About a block further the hot dog got hung up in the wires and the bus we were on couldn't go anywhere for 10 minutes while we waited for them to unhook!

By the way Ed, there is a coffee maker in your unit but no toaster! Otherwise it is cute as the dickens!!!

Can you believe this geranium?

I checked out the local plant stand and thought that a plant would make our place feel more lived in and homey. I couldn't believe that this geranium was $2.00 and the pot $5.00. My neighbor Bruce had soil and was willing to share when I informed him that he could have it when we had to leave. Enjoy!