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Our new "Ajijic" normal is
spending time with friends, a couple at a time. Here we are catching up with
Todd and Susan, who are selling their home and moving to Sierra Vista, AZ.
Todd is Larry mindfulness coach. |
While visiting with friends Chris and
Barbara, Barb showed her latest artwork. She paints a door each year, this one
she entered in the local art show. |
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We met Mark and Liza as
volunteers with FoodBank Lakeside, that Glorine helped found when COVID
began. They are both immersed in the organization, helping with fundraising
and finance and both doing a wonderful job. |
We drove to Puerto Vallarta with
Maureen and Wayne to spent four days catching up with Glorine's three nieces,
Cindy, Tammy and Linda, along with their husbands Gary, Jeff and Terry. We
stayed at this all-inclusive near Mismaloya, south of PV. |
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We took a water taxi to Yelapa, a
tiny fishing village and beach town in the southernmost cove of one of the
world largest and deepest bays called Bahia de Banderas. |
Yelapa is also a tourist attraction,
so we started with Guacamole, chips and refreshments, including lots of cervezas. We also got pie from the world's famous pie lady. |
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We hiked about two miles up to
the famous Yelapa Jungle Waterfall, wading through a small stream,
then through the village where the steps were uneven and no handrails. Watch
out for the doggy poop! |
Once we arrived, Linda, Cindy and
Glorine wasted no time to swim in the cool pristine waters fresh from the jungle
mountains. The boys decide to have some refreshments and watch. |
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Linda (next to Glorine) is from
Colorado Springs and has been in PV before. For Cindy and Tammy, both
from Rapid City, this trip is their first trip to PV, and were surprised
with how primitive some Mexicans live. |
We took this bus on a tour of Puerto
Vallarta and the surrounding area. The upside, no one had to drive. The downside
is the first part of the trip was primarily shopping for silver and other
trinkets. |
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Our tour included a walk along
the mile-long Puerto Vallarta Malecon (Boardwalk), with an awesome view of
the Pacific Ocean, featuring some famous statues including "The Boy on the
Seahorse." |
Puerto Vallarta, is the most visited
resort town in Mexico and second largest city in Jalisco. This statue recognizes
the past governor Ignacio Vallarta, for its namesake, and in the background is the Basilica of our Lady
of Guadalupe. |
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We toured Mr. Tequila that
included several samples of Tequila liqueur (blended with flavorings),
Blanco (not aged), Reposado (aged 1 year) and Anejo (aged 3 years) all grown
and distilled in the state of Jalisco. The picture is of the state of
Jalisco and what is unique in each area. |
Mr. Tequila knew how to treat his
guests, as our group alone spent no less than $1,000 USD on the limit of alcohol
allowed to be brought into the states. We look forward to touring Colorado
and South Dakota soon! |
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Our last stop was at the end of a
dirt road called El Eden and the site of Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie
"Predator" We had lunch here, where Gary found a cockroach in the chips.
They did not charge extra. |
We got back to Ajijic in time for
Glorine to attend the Grand Opening of Kids Kitchen, where kids in five different
locations on Lakeside have a meal five days a week. This program is
sponsored, in part, by FoodBank Lakeside. |
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Larry had our 2005 Honda checked
out to make sure it was "road worthy" for 1,900 miles trip to San Antonio,
Texas and back. Our goal was to pick up the "stuff" we wanted to keep but
didn't fit into our new RV and share Thanksgiving with Carmen and family. |
We split the drive to San Antonio
into three days, with stops in Zacatecas and Laredo. We had some awesome
views like these near Monterey. The tow road was great, but a bit spendy.
Once we got to San Antonio, we flew to Phoenix for a week. |
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When we crossed the border into
Texas, we picked up this road, which eventually splits, 35 goes to
Minneapolis and 83 goes on to Bismarck, both major roads we know well. |
We spent a couple of nights with
Larry's cousin, Darrell and Kathy at their snowbird home in Mesa, AZ. They
treated us to an amazing time showing us the sights and sounds of their winter
wonderland. |
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After hiking a cactus lined trail
near their home, we stopped at Goldfield Ghost Town on the Apache Trail with
Superstition Mountain in the background. |
Larry took a picture of their photo
which is the homestead of their mutual grandparents, Jacob and Maria Bernhardt in
North Dakota. This home is no longer standing. |
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We rented a VRBO in
Scottsdale, with a pool and hot tub with Carmen and family for five days.
Here we are hiking Saguaro National Park near Tucson. Dakota is 16 years old
and a high school junior. |
We walked to Camelback Park,
about six blocks from our rental. Hunter is 11 and a sixth grader and was
in seventh heaven when we found this playground. Grandma Glorine did not hesitate to
join in on the fun. |
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Their middle child, Toby is now
14, a freshman in high school and exploring the experiences of life as a
teenager. She pitched in to produce an excellent Thanksgiving dinner.
Friday morning, they gave us a ride to the airport and they headed back
home. |
We were so busy packing and shopping
in south Texas, that we did not take a single picture. We got Maureen a
new computer, bought some meds and odds and ends that are hard to find in
Ajijic. The night we returned, Wayne and Maureen had dinner waiting. |
