January 29 & 30 - Altavista Petroglyphs

Yesterday was a quiet day but we ended it with a great dinner at Hinde y Jaime restaurant up the hill with a sunset view.

at the restaurant

view from our table

Mango margarita

Today we found a local guide to take Rick, Amy and myself into the Altavista Petroglyphs.
We took the CRV in as far as I dared to go on the rocky narrow trail (which was probably further than I should have gone) and Rick had to edge it around to turn us around again.  We did have a fine hike in the rest of the way and saw the petroglyphs.

Walking in with our guide Luis

Quite a beautiful trail

Interpretive signage along the way

Petroglyph - the spirals were thought to most likely constitute a ritual language of prayers to the gods as the Tecoxquin were an agricultural people (2000 BC to 2300 BCE)

Offerings (on the left) of petroglyph.

The Tecoxquin were eliminated by disease and forced labor by the Spaniards.  The site remains an important religious center for the Huicholes who still leave offerings and perform ceremonies here.

Much of the trail runs along a river bed with trickling water.

There was a series of small pools 

The pools were a little chilly

Looking down from top of waterfall

It was an interesting little trip and I would like to go back again and spend some time there.

January 28 - Eating Toro & Street Crepes

It was market day in La Peñita so we wandered about looking at a variety of goods for sale.

After the market we grilled the Pacific Crevalle Jack fillets from the fish I caught yesterday.

We had heard mixed reviews on how this fighting fish would taste.  It turned out that it has a dense texture but was not strong tasting, kind of reminded me of our MB jackfish.  After supper we went into Rincon to find the Crepe Lady.

Crepe cooking on pan.

She has a cart on the street and made us crepes to order.

Fresh fruit

Even with Kahlua.   It was a great way to end the evening.

January 27 - Toro! Toro!

This morning there was a frenzy on the beach.   Pelicans diving everywhere, fish jumping and sardines swimming up onto the beach.  Park folks running down to watch.  Toro, Toro!  This is the local name for the Pacific Crevalle Jack.  They travel in large schools and crash the beach chasing sardines in feeding frenzies that last about 15 minutes.   I saw Michelle pulling in fish below our site.  I grabbed my rod and raced down to the beach.  I grabbed some sardines that were running up the beach to escape the Toro and put one on my hook.  Michelle and another fisherman had already pulled about 5 Toro out one after the other.  As soon as my sardine hit the water I had one but he escaped with the bait.  I put on another sardine and instantly had another Toro. I fought with him on my 12 lb test line and MB pickerel fishing rod for about 15 minutes.  Then got him up on the beach.  Our neighbor's son was visiting so I handed him the rod and put on another sardine and he had one instantly but it stole the bait.  We were out of bait fish and the Toro were nearly gone.  the whole thing lasted about a half hour.  The end tally - Michelle got 7, another fellow landed one and lost a few, I got one and lost one.

 At last, right time, right hook, right bait.

Learning to fillet Toro.

I had to cut away a piece of dark meat on the skin side of the filet which is not very good.

One side finished.

The Mexican staff at the park will take the remainder of the fish.

We ended the day at a birthday party for a friend with pizza, margaritas and daiquiris.

January 26 -Sarandeado fish dish

We spent the day at Chacala Beach swimming in the surf (or rather having the surf slam us about), relaxing and then lunch where we ordered a dish called Sarandeado (also called Zarandeado).  A whole fish is split in half from head to tail and barbecued and basted.   The size of the fish depends on the number of people sharing it.  There were 5 of us that wanted to order this so we had a nice big fish.

we chose the greenish fish (as recommended)

Cam said they probably recommended the green fish because they only had a few Red Snapper.

Barbecuing the fish

Bottle is called the Ballena (whale), it is cheaper than ordering 2 beer and has 3 in it.

The happy crew

The meal

Tastes like barbecued smoked fish, very tasty.

Stayed at Chacala until late afternoon then back to our patio in time to watch the fishermen lift their nets just off our beach.  It was Taco Tuesday with free Margaritas at the park palapa for supper so we ended the evening there.  A couple from Steinbach joined our table.  They were spending one night then heading to Puerto Vallarta in their Great West Van.  They have travelled extensively in Mexico over the last 9 years.  Rick said you can't swing a cat in this area without hitting a Manitoban.

January 25 - Rincon's Tianguis, Kitchen party & Movie

We started off the day with a stroll through the Tianguis (market) in Rincon.  The bead work was very nice.

We weren't the only ones going to town.

In late afternoon we went to a kitchen warming party at our neighbours.  They had this nice kitchen (below) built for about $200 Canadian recently.  It is made of bricks with a tile surface.  

A little reminder it was Robbie Burns day!

We ended the day with Coconut Shrimp at the park restaurant followed by watching Revenant in the park's makeshift outdoor theatre.

January 24 - Whales, Dolphins, Tortugas, Chula (fish), no Dorado

Today, we set off at 6:15 a.m. into Rincon to meet Enrique to deep sea fish especially for Dorado.

Waiting for the boat to be brought in

on our way

Hooks for Dorado

no Dorado

However, we did see about 6 whales, several tortugas, about 6 dolphins and caught a Chula (small member of the tuna family).  Then out to Mario's, next door to Rick & Amy's hotel.  Mario's was doing a special dinner for guests of the hotel.

I haven't seen this since the 2 holer outdoor toilets in the Duck Mountains in my childhood.

Mexican music and dancing

Still made it home by 9:00, ending a long but enjoyable day.