My, they sure grow up fast. And, at
12, Dakota is already as tall as Grandma Glorine. In addition to our
traditional birthday visit (Hunter turned eight), February included a trip to
Palm Springs to visit
Claudia and Lou, a three-day trip to the coast and other Mexican highlights with
cousins Jerry and Mary from Seattle, Glorine spending time organizing the third
Annual Career Day for the Lake Chapala Society (March 15), and travel planning
for a ten week--six
country tour of South America, beginning on the first day of Spring.
We began the month with a three-day get away in Bucerias, with a great view of
Puerto Vallarta and all the yachts moored along the
shore of our all-inclusive resort.
The
ride over to the coast was planned for just under five hours, but this roll-over
on the toll road cost us an extra hour and a half. Anyone want any
corn????
Along our stroll on the historic mile-long Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, we
got treated to wide sidewalks filled with lots of statues, outdoor
restaurants, pubs and lots of gift shops and an ocean view.
The
sand sculptures were awesome, both big and colorful. This guy was putting
the final touches on this giant iguana and all for tips.
We didn't see anyone using this "tour bus" but it look intriguing.
We
spent a night in Tequila, which sports this new sign in the town
plaza, where we all posed for the picture.
These
fields of blue agave fill the country side and yes, they are still picked by hand.
It takes 7-11 years for them to mature. We learned the older ones are
use for more premium tequilas.
We toured the Jose Cuervo
Distillery, founded in 1758, making it the oldest producer of tequila in the
world. It is still family owned and has 35 percent of the world's market share.
Note the prohibition era cars.
We stopped at the Guachimontones pyramids located two hours from Ajijic.
The information center told the story of the Teuchitian civilization
beginning in 300 BC and abandoned about 900 AD, (more or less!).
The
circular stepped pyramid in the background were used for spiritual rituals, with
homes built in the outer perimeter. From here, we returned to Ajijic, said
farewell to our guests and spent ten days in California.
When we
left California in October, this pool was on the drawing board and it is now
nearly ready for Hunter's birthday party.
The
girl scout troops that Dakota and Sierra belong to were part of the flag
ceremony at a women's basketball game at California State University-Fullerton.
Five days and counting until Hunter's birthday. On this day, there must have been
a dozen workers texturizing the pool and hot tub. And what an awesome job they
did.
Meanwhile, we found another body of water to spend time with the kids. The only
one that went swimming was Penny and she went after a duck, but she soon learned
that they can also fly.
Hunter and Sierra spotted this turtle in the lake. Somehow, they
convinced it to come near enough for them to pick it up and play with it.
Next
stop was this cool time share in Palm Springs to visit Larry's sister Claudia
and Lou. It is midway between Fullerton and their winter home in Arizona.
Along with hot tubing, we visited a local casino, played lots of
cards and got to do lots of reminiscing.
By
the time we got home, the pool was filled and the hot tub being prepped for use
that evening.
By the time Larry was done leveling and installing 30 concrete blocks, he was
really ready for
the hot top.
Once
Mike and Larry got started on this garden tool shed, it snapped in place in no time.
Birthday traditions (breakfast in bed) are cool and this one includes the
whole family, including the dogs.
This
will be a new tradition--pool birthday parties. The water was over 80
degrees and the hot tub was 98. Note the dogs were in there also.
The kids took turns jumping in the trampoline and swimming in the pool.
Some of us
sat around the new fire pit enjoying all the action.
Piñata time, birthday cake and opening the presents were the final
touches to another wonderful birthday party. The next day, we flew back to Ajijic.
Larry volunteers to drive for the "Behind the Walls Home Tours" and got to
see this pool tied nicely into the owners' patio.
"Don't
Cry for me Argentina" was one of the songs that captivated us during
Mariana's monthly performance in Ajijic. Argentina, Chili, Brazil,
Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador, are the countries where we will be spending most
of this spring.
Ajijic is home to Mexico's National Chili Cook-off, which started in 1978.
The three-day festival included live entertainment (like these Folkloric
Dancers), an art exhibition, food and beverage venders, venders of ever kind and
the signature Chili Cook-off along with a Margarita tasting competition.
We joined friends Rick and Sandy for a round of Hand and Foot. We play
house rules and they owned the house so, it was exciting to learn a new way
that this game can be played. From there we enjoyed a great meal at
Alex's Pasta, and discussed upcoming travel plans.
Friends Gary, Kay, Peter and Sybilla were our special guests at this Monday
Night Adelita's. We had them over to our new casa for cocktails and
appetizers. By the time we got to Adelita's, we were so full that we stuck
with more cocktails and appetizers.
February's web page includes February 1 through February 28.
