Good bye to Randy and Doreen

Randy and Doreen left Puerto Escondido this morning.  They fly to Mexico City and then on to Puerto Vallarta.  Their friends Scott and Helen are picking them up to the PV airport and then to their condo in Bucerias.  After dinner, Randy and Doreen will take a taxi for the one-hour trip up the coast to Rincon de Guayabitos, to meet their close friends Mac and Mary-Anne at the Hotel de Guayabitos.  They have their choice room reserved and all the things they will need to feel at home on the road stored in four Rubbermaid tubs at the hotel.

 

Guayabitos is a small, Mexican coastal town; they have visited the past many years.  We joined them there for a 10-day stay back in 2012.  In the coming weeks they will be joined by a host of friends from Abbotsford.  Randy already has some gigs lined up to make good use of his drums arriving from Canada thanks to friend Dick.

Last Puerto Breakfast Until Next Time?

We met this morning for a last breakfast together at La Cafecito on the Rinconada.  It is a favourite spot for many due to its great coffee, variety of egg dishes, and free Wi-Fi.  Over breakfast I asked Randy and Doreen about their impressions of Puerto Escondido.  Their thoughts were shared for the most part.  They are both enthused about returning here in the future.  In no specific order they most liked; the variety and quality of the food in the many restaurants, the size of the town, thus the variety of activities to pursue, the beaches, the relative absence of vendors (and those that are here are easily dissuaded by a head shake), the fact that Mexican people frequent the same venues as the gringos (including the restaurants and music venues), and finally the music scene itself.  We have lost count of the number of musical groups we have witnessed in the last three weeks.  Randy added that the fact they arrived at the Puerto Escondido airport on day one, only to be met by a herd of protesting farmers blocking the exit/entrance to the airport, and their subsequent escape, with escort, out the back of the airport via the runway), only made it even more of a true Mexican experience.

Randy has made some in roads with the local music scene.  While he doesn’t have it figured out completely, he did manage to strike up relationships with the local movers and shakers and some of the talent that returns each year.  If there is to be a next time, he feels sure he will be able to get even more time playing with some of the outstanding talent that makes PE a winter stopover.  He might even have some folks lined up for at visit to his own Blind Pig in the future.  The following YouTube is Sister Rita's shot of Randy playing with local legend David Rotondo. Subsequently he was able to support some amazing guitarists from Mexico City and Milan, Italy.

Brad's Split Coconut Was The Place to be For Music

Some Softer Strumming at the Beach Club

As evidence of their desire to return to PE, we have spent the last few days looking over rental properties for next year.  There are plenty of places to stay but at this age and stage of life, we are all quite particular where we spend a month.  The west side of town, near Carrizalillo Beach and the Rinconada is the preferred place for us.  We hope to decide on something before we leave but if not, we feel assured something matching our liking will be there when we need it.

Dinner at the Condo

Kirsten & Burke Head Home Friday.

As for what we have been doing since we last wrote… let me see … eating, drinking, snorkeling, listening to music … hmm … much the same as the past.  I’ll let the Deborah’s pictures tell the story.

A Walk to Angelito Beach

From Angelito Beach to Manzanillo Beach in Background

Family Day at Don Pablo - Manzanillo

Fishing Fleet - Puerto Angelito

Locals - Weekend at Angelito Beach

Our House is the White One Left on the Hill from R & D's Beach Club

Good Food - Cold Beer

Palapa Roofers - No WCB on Site

Deborah Was Proud of Her Rummy Score

We did celebrate one of Deborah's Birthdays while we were here.  St. Valentine's Day is a Big Deal in Mexico.  The restaurants were filled.  We went down to the Adoquin (the oldest part of PE) and had a fresh seafood dinner on the beach at Manuel's Restaurant.  Part of the evenings entertainment was a fire juggling show by buskers on the beach while the semi-live band played in the back ground.  Birthday cards are not common in Mexico.  After much walking around I found a Valentine's Day card that looked appropriate.  The card had a picture of two people in love, riding a bicycle and some lovely looking Latin Spanish words.  I bought the card and then came home and had the Macbook translation program give me the literal English translation, "I would be sweet illusion that so crazy to walk about your skin and melt in your mouth."  Who knew?

Happy Birthday Deborah!

Fire Juggler

Birthday Fruit Caramel - One Candle to Keep them Guessing!

Spiny Grilled Lobster

Big Beers for Dessert

We have decided when we are returning home.  We started looking at flights and between running out of time here at the condo and finding a deal, we decided to come home on March 1. 

We Still Have A Week and a Half of Sunsets Left!