When we started this
journey two months ago we were not sure when we would return. We didn’t have a return date or
ticket. We felt that when it was
time to go home, we would know. That
time is now. We are not looking
forward to the cold, wet weather but we are looking forward to seeing our family and
friends. As well, our non-travelling
life does have its own demands and there are things that simply need doing at
home.
It is a good time to
leave Puerto Escondido. These days there are more folks leaving than arriving. The
first vestiges of the hotter, more humid weather have arrived and without air
conditioning, we would be very uncomfortable at night.
We have managed to find
some “good deals” on flights home.
While no means “cheap”, the return trip is less expensive than the cost
of getting here. We fly from PE to
Mexico City and then wait for an hour and a half before going on to Huston,
Texas. We arrive at 9 at pm. and overnight
before leaving for Vancouver at 9 am.
Spencer will pick us up at the airport at noon and we will be home by
1:30pm.
Our last week has been
spent much like the others except for being a little more careful to check off
things on our “to do" list and to ensure we visit our favourite restaurants before we
leave. We have enjoyed a few last meals at the Paris, Turtle Bay, Jimmy's at Carrizalillo, and Espadin, as well as a return trip to Flors in Zicatela.
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At Jimmy's Carrizalillo
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Red Snapper For Lunch
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Last Saturday was the
last of the four concerts in the Puerto Music Festival series. It was held at the same outdoor venue
but with a much-improved sound system over the previous. After some local cultural dancers, the
Rebel Cats opened the concert. The
Cats are a Rockabilly Band from Mexico City. While not everyone appreciated the old rock tunes from the
middle fifties to the early sixties, no one could find fault in the showmanship
of the band. The high-energy lead
singer (and drummer) lead the parade and managed to play the whole set while
standing on his feet. He even
managed a solo on the lead guitar and on the base, using only his drum sticks
to play.
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Poor Pic But You Get the Idea
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The Rebel Cats
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The Los Mighty Calacas
Blues Band followed the Rebel Cats.
The band was comprised of four Mexican guys that played a fusion of Latin,
surf, jazz, hip-hop, reggaet and soul, over a solid base of blues. I am still surprised when I listen to a Mexican guy sing the soulful sound of the blues.
Deborah and I spent
one beach day on Zicatela. Zicatela
is a five-kilometer long surf beach and known in the international surfing
community as the Mexican Pipeline.
The day we chose had some pretty big waves and it was fascinating
watching the challenges and rides the surfers experienced. Of course this was done under the shade
of our own beach palapa on the waters edge. Our hostess had a 400-meter walk across the hot sand to
ensure we kept up with our fluids.
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Our Zicatela Lunch Spot
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Chicken Enchiladas for Lunch
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Beginner Waves at Carrizalillo
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Not Zicatela - Carrizalillo Is The Place To Start
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Last Sunday we
experienced an earthquake. We were
at a gathering next door and well into our cups when it struck at around 9
pm. There were great booming
sounds like thunder and the building shook. No one seemed surprised, nor expressed great concern, as
we rocked and rolled. What was
surprising was that my sister Rita had announced to the dinner crowd that
there was going to be an earthquake, about two hours before it occurred! While she is not claiming any kind of
supernatural powers, I may listen to my sister more carefully in the future.
We have also attended
many social events and met more people here than I’ll ever be able to remember. We have hosted a few dinners and
enjoyed more than a few post dinner drinks on Rita and Mike’s palapa rooftop. Maybe it is because there are so many Canadians
in PE but everyone seems very friendly and invitations arrive continuously from
all quarters to share in sunset drinks and dinners.
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Rita and Mike's Rooftop Kitchen Palapa
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Don't Ask
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Dinner at Rita & Mike's, with Bruce, Jan, Deborah and I
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Deborah and Rita Off to Afternoon Tea.
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We had one last chore to complete before we left. Unlike our usual travel planning, we have actually looked ahead to next year and rented our same condo for February, 2015. We don't usually like to commit ourselves so early but as mentioned in earlier posts, it is just "easy" being here. There is little not to like.
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We Will Miss Sitting in the Sand & Surf
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We Will Miss The Colours
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We Will Miss The Flowers
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and of course, we will miss the Sunsets
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That is it for now ... until we travel again ... What is that Mike and Kathy? Arizona for golf and bicycle riding in April? Count us in!
