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.
