Final Tans

Final Tans
OI, so here's Patsy and her Mexican buddy!! No matter how hard I try, Al just cannot be caught. Must have something to do with Irish skin as opposed to Cossack genes

Us!! Jan. 25, 2010

Us!! Jan. 25, 2010
Look Ma - no make-up, no tan!

Patsy's tan

Patsy's tan
She's bummed because Allie is sooooo dark, but from wherer she started ... this is one great tan!

Tacos - 2nd time around

Tacos - 2nd time around
And these ones were every bit as good as the first ones!! Bueno senor.

Tuesday, Feb 23 2010 A Surprising 29C with clear blue skies ... as usual

Just hitting the pool and sun. The last 5 days have been clear and could not ask for anything better except an occasional cloud to cool off. Sat on the beach for awhile today, periodically under the palapa and enjoyed the sounds, the smells and the view. Will miss it but also will enjoy getting back home to all that white stuff. The weather forecast looks better so that is a welcome home gift.

Lots of new "Gringos" coming in daily [mostly on Sundays and Momdays] and all very white! We were the same way when we arrived 29 days ago.

Managed to get another free golf round tomorrow from Linda Kennedy who is employed by Estrella Del Mar as a sales rep but whom has become our friend first and foremost. She will meet us after our round and we'll have lunch together at the clubhouse ... with a few cerveza thrown in I'm sure.

We are hoping to get back to Villa Union for one more kick at the cat for the last few goodies we want to take home, but not sure if we'll make it.

We have met so many friendly people and a large majority are Canadians. We will probably do one more posting before we leave so all you kiddies get on the edge of your seats for the grand finale.

Thanks again for all the fun emails we've been getting from y'all! It is really fun to hear what's going on in everyone's lives while we are so far away.

AND, Happy Belated Birthday to Sharon Dorosh [we're not telling how old she is [53]. And Happy upcoming birthday to Carol Munroe - Al's sister. We're not telling how old she is either [65]. Upcoming March B'Days of Sheila Coutts [52] and of course Patricia Ryan [49] the youngest of all her friends!! And best wishes to anyone we've missed - forgive us, we're old!!

Talk to you probably one last time before we leave. .

Love ya guys,
Al & Pat



EDM shot from the beach

EDM shot from the beach
It really is a gorgeous place. We are staying in Phase 2. There is also the original Phase 1, and the brand new 3 is being finished. There are numerous condos available for purchase - most are purchased with partners, but wow! What a place to own and come to whenever the mood strikes. The weather is almost guaranteed to be perfecto, unlike so many places.

On the beach

On the beach
Four days left. We had lunch here today (Monday) and it was great - especially the beer and clamato plus the Caesars made with Canadian mix we dragged along. You can now buy Clamato mix here, and it's good if you like the original. Allie made us sandwiches and they were awesome!!

Sunset

Sunset
Each night the lighshow is different and incrediblly beautiful - just like Saskatchewan's. Funny how a few clouds are necessary to show the colors ... oh and what colors!

Sunset 2 minutes earlier

Sunset 2 minutes earlier
It changes so fast!! This is why Ronnie Coutts has decades of sunsets on his video camera - and he's only been filming them for 3 holidays over the past 3 years!! Love ya Ronniekins.

Cool flower in various stages of opening

Cool flower in various stages of opening
The whole complex is surrounded with these gorgeous flowers

Hot dog Pizza anyone?

Hot dog Pizza anyone?
Check out your choice of toppings. This is posted here and the order comes from Stone Island about 10 minutes away.

Sunday Feb. 21, 2010 29C

Hey Guys!! WE see it’s still warming up there … which is just GREAT news as we arrive home Sat. Feb. 27th – 33 days I think after we left. We could not get a direct flight home (we did going down and it was 3 hours 45 minutes … ya gotta love those direct flights!) so we have to overnight in Edmonton. We don’t leave here until 4pm so we’ll have the whole morning to say Goodbye.

I think we’re getting ready to come home, but we will *certainly* miss the view, and the temps. Probably the hardest thing will be putting on clothes again – pants, sweaters, socks, coats, boots, mitts, toques … yup, keep those high temps coming!!

We’re catching some of the Olympics, but only in the evenings we’re home, and we only get US satellite here so we only get the US slant on things. You know, it’s just no wonder these people know nothing of the ‘outside’ world! Their news sucks, big time!!
I have been going online and reading newspapers to keep up with local news, plus the Internet keeps me informed of whatever I ask. Thankfully our curlers are doing great!! Sounds like their our best bet for medals! Too bad.

Al & Pat

Macy Skyping

Macy Skyping
If a 2 year old can Skype, so can you!! She was trying to take a picture of Grandma and Grandpa so we got her too!! Tooooooo cool this Skype thing.

Skype

Skype
Any of you who have not tried Skype, get with it! It is totally free!! We talked to Coutts' for FOUR hours Sat. night. It started out that we would join each other for cocktail hour, and just progressed from there to a full blown party! Chihuahua!!

Inside an Art Shop in Centro Plazuela Machada

Inside an Art Shop in Centro Plazuela Machada
This was the most incredible place, and one of five we found and went in to.

A 2nd Art Shop in Centro

A 2nd Art Shop in Centro
In this one, the owner/artists lived on the other side of the shop. We so wished we could have seen all of the interior as there were really cool murals and everything was in super bright colors, but all balanced and blended perfectly.

Marciso's Restaurant in Plazuela Machada

Marciso's Restaurant in Plazuela Machada
We spent about 2 hours wandering around looking for this place as it came highly recommended as serving the best shrimp tacos in town.

Note above the 'a' in the map title

Note above the 'a' in the map title
A lovely little birdie left us his 'sample' as we were enjoying a beer while waiting for our tacos!! |Oh yes, and this happened right before we spotted the largest cockroach either of us have ever seen. He ambled across the floor, but was headed away from us so we didn't worry!! Dos cerveza por favor ... and keep 'em comin!!

Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp Tacos
OK, so the waitress spoke no English and the menu was only in Spanish with 11 different kinds of tacos listed. We were told to order the fried ones with coleslaw - right, try asking for *that* in Spanish! Obviously we did not succeed, BUT they were bueno and perfecto and we left happy and not sick!! The next day we found out that we weren't even at the right restaurant. Such fun!!

Mazatlan buses for Mexicans

Mazatlan buses for Mexicans
All buses, for locals and for tourists, write their routes on the outside of the bus. It's actually much easier to see and read than the Canadian method. Plus the buses come at least every ten minutes. It cost us 9 pesos (about 75cents) to ride all over the city. Pulmonias (open air golf carts) cost by distance - but are more than buses, and less than taxis, and a whole lot of fun to ride in.

Taken from inside a 'tourist' bus

Taken from inside a 'tourist' bus
The tourist busses (like this one we're on) are air conditioned and clean, so you can imagine how dirty the bus windows are in the buses for Mexicans. Their buses do not have air, are really packed, and the windows are always all open. Lots of explanations there!!

Restaurant in Plazuela Machada

Restaurant in Plazuela Machada
All the restaurants are around the 'square' [known as plazuelas], and all are decorated beautifully

Mazatlan Opera House being 'touched-up'

Mazatlan Opera House being 'touched-up'
The whole centre of the building is open to the skies. Wonder why we don't follow this pattern in Sask?

Mazatlan Opera House

Mazatlan Opera House
This place is quite famous as is their, now dead, singer. It's an interesting building with 3 balconies. It costs 12 pecos to tour the building (about $1.00).

Countryside outside of EDM.

Countryside outside of EDM.
It's pretty delolate, and extremely dry as they get virtually no moisture all winter. Most of the employees at EDM live in the surrounding countryside and come to work walking, biking, or on trucks or buses. And of course, there are always cows on the road.

Just your typical corner store in every Mexican town/city. Pharmacy stores are also EVERYWHERE!

Just your typical corner store in every Mexican town/city. Pharmacy stores are also EVERYWHERE!
Villa Union 1 block off Main Street and the typical corner store which appears to be on every single corner

Villa Union main street

Villa Union main street
Notice all the food stands! One is marked Pollo which means chicken. I really want to take a pic of a 'flattened' chicken as it's just too funny. Everyone we know here eats at these little stands and has never been sick. The smells are totally awesome! You can have a full wonderful meal for a 20 pesos - about $1.50CA

Fruit anyone?

Fruit anyone?
In Villa Union, but it's pretty typical of fruit markets here. You just have to get over the look of the place as they have awesome yummy stuff inside.

El Cuchapatas Restaurant in Villa Union

El Cuchapatas Restaurant in Villa Union
We REALLY hope we can get back to this awesome restaurant before we leave - one week tomorrow! Where the heck did 5 weeks go?

Cotton candy salesmen are ... everywhere!

Cotton candy salesmen are ... everywhere!
They are in small towns, and they are at street corners in the city. And it smells the same as at Buffalo Days. This happens to be in Villa Union.

Appliance store in Villa Union

Appliance store in Villa Union
WE forgot to look at fridge prices, but 32 inch TV in Mazatlan was $1000.00US. Yikes! Could explain the explosion in population here? In our condo complex, the living room TV is a Polaroid. Who knew?

Bakery buggy at Villa Union

Bakery buggy at Villa Union
Isn't this just too cute? I'm sure Andy's Mom could whip this up.

Allie after sunset Thursday Feb. 18, 2010

Allie after sunset Thursday Feb. 18, 2010
under Patsy's palapas!!

Golf road under water

Golf road under water
We DID have a thunderstorm that dumped a lot of rain!

7am storm sky with Sierra Madres in distance

7am storm sky with Sierra Madres in distance

EDM sky 10am Feb. 18, 2010 23C

EDM sky 10am Feb. 18, 2010       23C
After the thunderstorm that was pretty spectacular from 1:30am to 8:15am. NOT as spectacular as prairie thunderstorms, but not bad ... and Sask. oceans do not reflect the lighting quite as good!! Thunder here was every bit as loud as at home.

Living skies

Living skies
just add an ocean, palms and it looks like Saskatchewan skies

sunset

sunset
WOW

Sometimes we even make dessert!

Sometimes we even make dessert!
This is those baby bananas with Tequila, Controy (an orange liquer) with bits of chocote bar on top. It was yummy!!

Did I mention this?

Did I mention this?
I WANT A PALAPAS!!!!!!! Come on Allie - here are the plans ... all you need are palm fronds! Anyone have any idea where we can find some around Katepwa Beach? Flo? Joan? Would you cut some for us please? Maybe Ron, Sheila and Al can help me pick some up on Katepwa golf course?

Sand crab on beach

Sand crab on beach
Too bad the little guy had 'passed-on' when we found him. They are VERY tasty boiled, baked, fried, or steamed!!

Frozen Mexican Burgers - 1/8 inch wide!

Frozen Mexican Burgers - 1/8 inch wide!
We had asked for one pound of ground beef to be delivered with our groceries and they bought us a box of these paper thin things! Weird eh? And they taste like cardboard too as you should really only pass them over a lit candle which we have not done yet, so they are always over-cooked. So how many would you each order?

EDM beach looking toward clubhouse

EDM beach looking toward clubhouse
This was 9:30am Sat., but there are seldom more than 1/2 dozen people at any time on this gorgeous stretch of beach

Beach, same scene just looking other direction ... that is Mazatlan in the distance

Beach, same scene just looking other direction ... that is Mazatlan in the distance
We can see Mazatlan, but it doesn't show well in photos, partly due to high humidity. Notice the clouds, but it was already 24C, and without clouds the best place to be is by or in the pool - unless you like the ocean which I do not.

Al's HOTSTUFF homemade Taco's in Mazatlan

Al's HOTSTUFF homemade Taco's in Mazatlan
OK, Al managed to make the tastiest, hottest tacos of all time! And they will keep us warm once we're back in Sask. as we've found this wonderful little shop that sells awesome taco seasonings ... as well as some other 'stuff' we're bringing home!!

Not all Mazatlan is poor

Not all Mazatlan is poor
This is one home in a very upscale part of Mazatlan we travelled through. Gorgeous homes, but all surrounded by high fences and security, and immediately at the end of this section of town there is the usual shack. Amazing. I don't think any of us would feel comfortable living in this kind of luxury when our next door neighbours are obviously 'not'. Mexico is a very complex country.

Palapas frame

Palapas frame
It took 2 full days to put 4 poles in the sand - the bases for the palapas to be built on

Carrying dried palm fronds

Carrying dried palm fronds
These will cover the palapas, and are carried on heads. I WANT A PALAPAS IN MY YARD!!

Palapas day 4

Palapas day 4
Almost done!! And if any of us were being paid 7 bucks a day, would we work any faster?

Hibiscus

Hibiscus
I know you all know what these flowers look like, but I can't help wish we could grow them at home ... outside ... as bushes ... flowering all summer long!!

Baby Pacifico from Cuchapeta's restaurant in Villa Union

Baby Pacifico from Cuchapeta's restaurant in Villa Union
only place we've seen these baby beer bottles

viernes, 29 de enero de 2010

Friday Jan. 29, 2010

Temp 30 and sunny

Bueno dias to all. It has been a busy few days. Working on the tans, walks along the beach and some R&R. We took the shuttle to Mazatlan yesterday to get some groceries. It has been 20 years since we were last here and what a change. There is many high rise hotels along the golden zone area that only had 4 or 5 when we were here. The shops and bars are everywhere. Traffic on the road is insane. We were thinking of renting a car but after seeing the craziness on the roads I think not. We went to this new grocery store called Mega and that is what it is. It is bigger than any groc stores that we have in Regina. It was fun. Pat took some videos of the store and you can view them on this blog.

There is a full moon happening so the tide is coming in covering our long beach that we normally walk on. We will walk along the edge which will keep us cool. Sometimes we walk along the golf course which is just gorgeous, and *some* golfers styles look familiar!! Al's positive he saw Tiger!!!
I think we will go to the driving range today or tomorrow to get limbered up for the big game. Quite anxious to get out there. We are also scared as we have never played a course like this before. Cerveza time soon, it has to be noon somewhere.

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