A long overdue update!
Part of the problem is that I have very limited Internet access and part of the problem is I’m starting to think like a Mexican….mañana has become a favorite word!!!
Thursday evening we invited our neighbours over for drinks. Our next door neighbour Muriel is a delighful lady in her late 70’s and is from White Rock BC! She has been coming to Puerto Vallarta for about five months a year since the mid 90’s, originally with her husband, who has since died. Muriel is quite the gal because she has a car that she leaves here year round and drives like a Mexican taxi driver! She is fearless! Our other neighbour, Larry, is from Colorado and lives here all year. Of course Marilu came and later, David, who is first nations from Bella Coola. David had just arrived from BC that day and decided to stop by to see Larry and Marilu. Because there is no intercom system in the building the only way to get in is to stand on the street and holler until someone hears you! We heard shouting from the street “LARRY!!!!” “MARILU!!!!” Muriel and Larry brought their dogs and so, in our little apartment we had a small Christmas party! Thanks Carol for bringing a tin of your Mom’s baking, it was a big hit, especially for Marilu who had never had a mince tart or shortbread in her life!!
Friday, we spent packing and getting ready for our move to Bucerias. We stopped by Café Roma to let everyone know we would not be around much anymore. We signed up for Christmas dinner there though, as Fox told us he closes the restaurant for the day and has about 100 people come for turkey and ham which he provides and everyone else brings a potluck. He asks for a $100 peso donation to go to the “Children of the Dump” charity here in Vallarta. It should be fun!
Saturday morning when we were finished getting organized both of us smelled smoke. There was a fire directly across the street! We ran out onto the balcony to see plumes of black smoke pouring out of the roof and one lone fire truck with about four fire fighters dealing with it. It was mayhem because the police had to block the traffic on our street, which is a main bus route and is always very busy. It took about an hour to bring under control, all the while everyone in our building had ring side seats. Muriel and Larry had planned to go to Home Depot in the morning. HD has just opened here and it causing a sensation! The things they carry have never been available in PV before now! We had arranged to meet the owner of our Bucerias apartment at the central bus station so she could take us to our new place. We were planning to take a taxi but that was impossible with the street blocked off but Muriel offered to drop us on her way shopping. Her car was parked just outside the building so we were able to go. And that is how I know what a wild driver she is! Just like everyone here, you play “DARE ME” with everyone else on the roads!!
Linda met us at the bus stop right on time and took us to our casita. It is very tiny and very cute and equipped with everything we need. There is a lovely pool and fountain right outside our door. Terry, the owner had to fly home to South Carolina last week for a family emergency so she sent her friend to meet us instead. There are two apartments here: a larger one and ours plus the top floor is where Terry lives. A family from Oregon was in the other unit but they left Monday. We now have the entire complex to ourselves until Boxing Day! We are thrilled to have this beautiful place, with gorgeous gardens, BBQ area and lots of hummingbirds all to ourselves. It is so peaceful and quiet after the hussle and bussle of Vallarta.
I've added a few pictures of our little place in the south side of Puerto Vallarta which we will miss very much. They are from Bob's webpage not mine but are very accurate!
I’ll do another update on Bucerias and what we have been doing here later this week.
