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Sunrise Over The Rockies |
We did it! We dusted off our passports, got on a plane, and left the country. We are in Mexico. It has been almost two years since we deplaned in Vancouver after our anxious, sometimes panic-ridden return from Australia. Little did we know that the COVID 19 pandemic would hold us, hostage, to our home most of the time for nearly the past two years.
This past January, while at the peak of the Fourth Wave and with the seemingly ever-mutating virus, we decided to take a chance. It was prompted by an innocent comment from grandson Nash. He had recently had his fifth birthday and asked me when my birthday was, “March 16th”, I replied. He then asked me, “How old will you be?” and I told him I was turning 70. He thought about that for a while and then in the innocence that could only be that of a five-year-old, he said, “You’re almost dead.”
After thinking about that for a few days, we thought it was time to put a foot forward in the hopes of returning to more normal times. We booked a trip to Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, southern Mexico. We paid a little extra to ensure we could cancel if need be. After consulting our doctor, getting a booster vaccination, and watching the downward trends of transmission, we pulled the trigger and committed to a February 16 take-off. We left Deborah’s brother Perry to watch over the house and arranged a taxi ride to the Abbotsford Airport for a 6:00 AM WestJet flight to Calgary and then on to Huatulco, Oaxaca.
Just a note to myself here. WestJet asks you to be at the airport two hours before a scheduled domestic departure. DON’T DO IT! We arrived at 4:20 and we were part of the first 8 people to arrive. Security doesn’t even open until 4:45 and we were the first ones through. Most people arrive between 5 and 5:15.
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A Bitterly Cold Morning Greeted Us In Calgary |
It was great to be on an airplane again and we enjoyed seeing the sunrise somewhere over the Rockies. We had a short layover in the Calgary airport before embarking on our non-stop flight to Huatulco. It was a full plane and the five hours and forty-minute flight passed quickly. Most everyone wore a mask throughout with only a few younger Albertans needing reminders.
Sister Rita has been in Puerto Escondido (her winter home for the past 30 years) since December 5 and she had organized our driver Oscar to transport us an hour and a half north to the Zandoyo B&B in Boccocho, P.E. This is our seventh trip to Puerto Escondido and our third stay at the Zandoyo with our host Tony. He only allows for two guest rooms and we essentially have the pool to ourselves with Tony and his wife Mone taking turns preparing our breakfasts of fresh fruit, freshly squeezed orange juice, and Oaxacan coffee to accompany our cooked, authentic Mexican morning dishes. These meals are a highlight of our stay.
Our daily routine has not varied much from previous visits. During our sixteen-day stay, we are up at 7 am for coffee, out the door for a 7:30 hour and a half walk. Breakfast is served at 9:15. Pool time starts at about 10 followed by lunch, more pool or beach time, a pre-dinner board game, dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants, maybe some music, and home to bed.
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We Have The Zandoyo Pool To Ourselves |
Everything is not exactly the same as previous visits. We are a little more cautious about the virus. Masks and temperature checks are mandatory at larger establishments like Telcel and the larger supermarket. Many Mexicans wear masks on the streets but few gringos. We have spent a little more time closer to home than previously but feel comfortable most of the time.
Deborah has had a pleasant surprise. It turns out that Mone is as big a tennis fanatic as Deborah. They are off to tennis lessons three times a week together and are evenly matched in skills. Despite not being able to speak the other's language they seem to enjoy one another's company.
Due to the repetitive nature of this trip, there will be few entries and hopefully, the challenge of entering pictures into the new Blogger App format will be figured out.
