Feliz Navidad - 2012

Feliz Navidad!  Santa found his way all the way to Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, Mexico http://goo.gl/maps/942gT

On Christmas Eve, Arturo and I went to La Penita for some last minute shopping. 



some fresh produce perhaps???

maybe a fresh watermelon . . .



..... how about a grande pinata!!!

no shortage of pinatas here!
 

 Just like anywhere else, it was busy, busy . . . until about 3 pm and then the shops began to close, resaurants pulled in their chairs and the Mexican people head home to celebrate Christmas Eve with their families.  In Mexico, Christmas Eve is really the 'big day'.

On Christmas Day, tables were set up under a couple of shelters, and we shared a fantastic Christmas meal with our Canadian, American and Mexican friends here at Cruz Maria RV park.  As always, lots of great food and good company!

Arturo all dressed up for Christmas dinner . . . .
 

Christmas Happy Hour at the palapa!

Setting up the dining room!

Yum, yum .  . . .
 

Our front yard on Christmas Day . . .

Hope Christmas was good for everyone . . . and looking forward to good health, happiness and prosperity for 2013!

Arturo y de Beeb

Blue skies smilin' at me . . . nothin' but blue skies . . .

 Don't ask me where the time goes - some days are just filled with I don't know what!  We are totally settled into Lo de Marcos life now.  It feels like the right place to be.   












Here is the view of the trailer park from on top of our fifth wheel - Arturo was up there fixing the vent cover that we "accidently" ripped off on the power wires coming into town - talk about a de ja vu!  Luckily, the cover came off but the power lines stayed in tact so real harm done.

Cruz Maria RV Park - from the top of site #6 - our winter home!

It took a few days to get aclimatized, but we're good with everything now.

 A couple of weeks ago we travelled into Bucerias to visit friends from Vancouver Island - Doug and Jan & family.  They rented a great little spot just a couple of blocks from the beach . . .

Plenty of space for everyone - and a refreshing pool, too!

We needed to go for a little cerveza on the beach - Mexican style!



Bucerias - Mexican style - and, no, there is not a baby in that stroller!





I draw the line at baby's in the back - Meg and Sasha got to ride in the truck!

 

 

Most mornings I take Kipper for a walk - down this road to another beach.  The local fisherman are always up and out on the water early getting the catch for the day. 

 

 

 

Afternoons are usually spent at the beach - Kipper has made new friends . . .

 

Kipper and Wilson

 

Kipper, Wilson, Fiesta and friends . . .



 

A couple of evenings ago, some of the local moms and their kids came through the park "carolling" - OMG - the kids we just so cute!  I'm sure some of these little ones weren't more than two years old!  We really enjoy the local people!

 

 

 

So not much else to report - pretty low key, eh?  I've been doing a bit of sewing - puts new meaning to the title "sweat shop"! 

 

 

Arturo's been playing ball and has been golfing a couple of times already - we are getting things ready for Christmas and look foward to continued great weather.

 

Last night about 7 pm

 

Feliz Navidad to all!

 

Arturo y de Beeb

 

 



Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes . . .

Last Friday in Water Valley . . .

We've been in Mexico for just over a week now, and it's feeling more familiar and comfortable every day. 

Things are more simple here - what you see is what you get and people make do ...



Whatever works!

From San Carlos, we travelled south through the state of Sonora  - I've nicknamed the state of Sonora - the state of no shoulders - it's brutal!

Passing into Sinaloa was welcoming . . . yahoo! shoulders, but still the roads seemed a bit rougher than what I remember from the past.

Next stop, Los Mochis, Sinaloa . . . a typical Mexican city.  We had two choices for places to stay . . . the Pemex (gas station) on the south end of town, or the chicken/rooster crowing/dog barking RV park on the north end of town.
 We chose the latter - and really, it was a good decision.








 Somewhere on the travel, a cross brace broke on the underside of the fifth wheel.  It was likely during the "oh my frigging God" pothole filled dusty bypass around Navajoa . . . never again!!  I couldn't even take pictures as it was so rough and dusty.  When we arrived in Los Mochis, Arturo and travelling partner, Gary, were able to take off the bar, and made an attempt to weld it.



Kipper likes to help . . .
 

A couple of workers at the park were very helpful, offered the use of a portable welder .....
 

.....  that wasn't going to work, so the guys went in search of a welding shop - found one, got the brace fixed and back on the fifth wheel.  These guys were so helpful . . . and we have found that all along the way.


Next stop, Mazatlan for one night - but before then, our travelling partners blew a tire on there fifth wheel.   We managed to pull off to the side of the road (thank goodness this was not in Sonora!), change the tire and we were on our way.  While we were working on the side of the road, a fellow from Germany stopped to make sure we were OK and offered help if we needed.  We didn't, but it's good to know there's still people out there that are there if you need them. 

. . . then head south along 15D to Tepic.  You may remember from past trips, the four lane toll road known as 15D changes to Hwy 200 (heading to Puerto Vallarta) and it goes right through a residential/commercial area - I'm not kidding!

Then down the windy, narrow 30 mile or so trip down, down, down to Las Varas, La Penita, Guayabitos . . . getting more familiar each mile til Lo de Marcos and our winter home - Cruz Maria.

We are just getting settled in, and will update the blog again in a couple of days  to keep you up to date on all the happenings around Lo de Marcos . . .

Until next time - Salud!!!

Why do we love Mexico?





So we won't talk about the Grey Cup . . . . other than to congratulate the Toronto Argonauts . . .

 

 

We left Casa Grande at 0630 to get a jump on the day . . . got stuck in Tucson rush hour  - that was OK . . . then hit the Mexican border.   First sunrise of the trip -

Not the greatest pic, but no snow!

The Mexican border is always an adventure . . . you have to go to an Immigration office - then to a copier booth - then to a caja (cashier to pay all your entry permits), then back to the Immigration office . . .and then, you are on your way.  This all took about an hour, which I guess wasn't so bad, but the problemo was that we didn't turn in our RV permit sticker back in 2011 so according to the Mexico records, Arturo already had an RV in Mexico - and you're not allowed to have more than one RV at any given time (prevents people from importing and illegally selling) . . . so, now with the new 5th wheel, it can't be imported under Arturo's name.  Again, problem is, that the registration is only under Arturo's name . . . what to do???  Well, if you have your marriage certificate with you, it can be registered under you espousa's name . . . why would you travel with your marriage certificate???  As luck would have it, we did . . . so we showed that we really were married, and even tho the 5th was registered to Arturo, they let ME bring it into Mexico.  So now neither of us can ever bring another RV to Mexico unless we surrender the 10 year permit . . .Like I said, it's always an adventure . . .

We are travelling with our friends from Kamloops - who just happen to have the same rig as us . . . how cute - twins! 

Travelling south we made it to San Carlos in good time - it was a long day - + 10 hrs of driving and the roads in Sonora aren't great.  No problemos - we arrived at Totonaka RV park, got set up - visited with friends Dick and Mary from Colorado . . . and then off for Camerones at the restaurant next door.

Today, Kipper went for his Mexican hair cut.  We asked for a #2, but I think he got a #1 . . . it's short, but WTH, it'll grow back.  I think we should change his name from Kipper"soff" to Kipper"spot" - and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of Dalmation in there somewhere . . . have a peek!

 Kipper was able to have a swim in the ocean - with his friend, Lola the Labradoodle . . . it got a bit competitive for the stick!

Kipper and Lola



San Carlos Beach
 

Tonight we had a wonderful visit with our Colorado friends who now "winter" in San Carlos.  We will be sure to visit with them on our return north at the end of February.


Tomorrow will be pretty low key - maybe a trip to Guaymas for groceries . . . but other than that, nothing in the plans.

These are our "bibles" for the next three months . . .

High today - +29 . . . lows around +15 . . . perfecto!  Why do we love Mexico???? . . . keep following the blog!