November 29th - Tree trimming, checking out hotels, and out for supper

This morning's excitement was our neighbour's tree trimming session.  As usual with park activity, a crowd quickly gathered to spectate, discuss, and offer sage advice.

The Tulip tree blooms continously all winter, and provides shade to Jack's site during the heat of the day.

However, it has not been trimmed for a decade, and has an issue with termites.  Every morning, they have to sweep the sawdust from their site.

The Tulip tree blossoms

Mario sharpened his machete, took a rope, and climbed up into the tree.  The rope was not a safety line, but tied to pruned branches to keep them from doing damage on the way down.

I used to think that a machete was a light duty tool, you know, for slashing your way through the underbrush, like in the movies.  It was an eye-opener to watch Mario, a very experienced man with a machete, cut through an eight inch thick limb, one handed, while sitting in an awkward position on a tree branch twenty feet in the air.  It took him only a minute or two, and the resulting cut was nearly as smooth as if you'd used a chain saw.

Cutting up the branches prior to hauling them away in the trailer behind the long-suffering quad.

Friends and relatives are planning on coming down over the winter, so we did some driving around, checking out accommodations.  This is Villa Bella Vista Del Mar, located in "Gringo Gulch", in the north end of Rincon de Guayabitos.  Very nice norte americano level accommodation, with kitchenettes, and a great beach, albeit at $80 USD/night, with a three night minimum.

They were in the process of initial cleaning and opening up, so Nancy was not able to get any pictures in the rooms.

The other end of the spectrum is a three story walk-up on the main drag in Rincon, where reportedly, for $350 USD/month, you get a simple but clean one bedroom, with your own bathroom, a balcony, and wifi!  A little noisy perhaps, but in the centre of the action.

Nancy spotted a friend

We're remiss in our dining out; this is really the first time we've gone out with friends we met caravanning down to here last year.  The restaurant is La Piña Loca; the large open courtyard area in the back is full of construction materials, and not yet open.  Rincon is abuzz with construction activity as expansions and maintenance proceed at full tilt, seeking completion as the high season looms.

November 28 - Chachalacas y iguanas

I would like to be able to say that I have something exciting to say.  However, it seems that the heat and humidity has given us something in common with the iguanas in that we spent the day laying about.   Kirk and I saw some Chachalacas at 6:30 a.m. and that was about it.

Chachalacas

Our friend's local Iguana Iggy

He loves watermelon

Hard to get any sleep around here, noisy humans

Little Green Iguana 

November 27 - Puerto Vallarta

An early start to Puerto Vallarta for me with Teri.  Grocery shopping and picking up friends flying in to live in the park for the winter.

Parts of the highway were congested where large vehicles slowed on hills or small towns.

Other parts were clear sailing with just the odd goat herd following their shepherd.

Since it was Sunday people were out at the roadside vendors in the little towns.


At the Chedrau store we found the extra large section.  Much cheaper, but we don't need the quantity.

3 liters for $67 cdn

It's a good thing we were in a 1 ton truck because we filled it with luggage and groceries.

We were mostly shopping for snacks, sauces, beer, wine and coca cola.  You can't get a good selection of canadian style snacks elsewhere and the rest are cheaper here.  We went to Walmart, Chedrau and Costco.  Otherwise, we shop in La Peñita Nayarit where there is no sales tax and many things are cheaper.  Puerto Vallarta is in Jalisco and has tax.  

cruise ship coming in across from Walmart

November 26th - Twice into town

I walked to town this morning.  I needed a pot for my poinsettia so I could keep it on the table.  The reason being that last night the iguanas ate the side of the poinsettia closest to the patio wall.  

On the way into town I met a couple of guys who really seem to enjoy their work.  They said they were making Chicharron.  Fried pork belly or fried pork rinds.  I asked if I could take their photo.  

Cooking pork rinds in the street in front of a Carniceria

Town square 

Clams anyone?

Maybe a coconut?

This caballo is stabled one block off Centro across from the Doctors office

Getting ready to go out to sell

Got home, repotted my plant and spent the afternoon with friends doing a jigsaw puzzle and drinking margaritas.

There were three female Great Frigates fighting in front of our site; one landed in the tree and waited until the other two left.

It was pretty amazing to see one perched.  It's body is not much larger than a robin, with 2 metre wings folded alongside.

We went to Hinde & Jaime's in downtown La Peñita for supper (as opposed to Hinde & Jaime's up on the hill).  Two tecates (beer), a vino blanco, a couple of fish/shrimp tacos and enchiladas for 175 peso's, including a tip ($11.60 CDN).

Simple but effective parking brake

After supper, we took a ride through Rincon to appreciate the Saturday night activities