First Week in Puerto Escondido

Our first week in Puerto Escondido is complete.  My first reflective thoughts were that not much has happened in the last seven days and then I remembered … that is the way it is supposed to be. 

Sunset and Cocktails Are An Everyday Staple

Our Home For The Month

The Pool Is Refreshingly Cooler Than The Ocean.

All The Necessities Are Purchased

After the initial flurry of activity getting the condo stocked, the sorting of the usual Mexican rental details, meeting our new neighbours, we settled into the routines of small beach town Mexican life; morning coffee, breakfast in/breakfast out, maybe some exercises in terms of a walk or flopping around on the floor, deciding whether it is a pool (in) or beach (out) day, reading, visiting, deciding on the sunset bar (perhaps the most important), followed by the choice of dinner venues and whether music will follow or an early evening.  It all flows very smoothly.

Our mid week highlight was when brother Russ and sister-in-law Viv joined us for two weeks.  They had been here once before to an all inclusive resort week but had not been impressed.  I’m sure the second experience will be much better.

Three Sibs and a Viv

Russ' First Sunset Margarita

Family Reunion at the Sunset Bar

Nightly Gathering For the Sunset

We have enjoyed several walks but walking up to the Mercado is always a must on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  The market is permanent but swells with local suppliers twice a week.  We sampled local meats, breads and produce.  As usual the sights excite and a few of the aromas nauseate.

Constant Contrasts of Old and New

Back Home - Vegetables Washed in Bleach

We have had memorable meals at the Paris, Turtle Bay on the Rinconada and sushi at Samarai’s at Zicatela Beach.

We also had a “small world” experience.  Travelling partners Randy and Doreen met a couple last years in Puerto who they had originally met in Rincon de Guyabitos (a Mexican beach town 10 degrees latitude north).  This year Jim and Linda are staying across the street from us.  Smaller world, Jim and Linda also live in our hometown of Abbotsford and graduated from the high school I taught at but that isn’t the “smallest world part”.  Subsequent to re-meeting Jim and Linda, we were sitting in a street restaurant when Doreen recognized their sister-in-law Margo’s, sister and husband walking by, Judy and Tim.  Judy was originally from Abbotsford.  We invited them to join us for dinner that night.  Later in the day we met and invited Jim and Linda to join us as well.  When we got together, Judy and Linda recognized each other as having been close high school friends.  The dinner turned into a high school reunion.

Abbotsford Reunion at the Paris

It never rains in Puerto Escondido in January, February and March, except last Thursday.  We were all set for a night of music and dancing at the beach side Split Coconut when the skies opened to a torrential downpour that lasted over two hours.  The skies were alive with lighting, and the taxi drivers drove blindly through the streets that quickly turned into rivers complete with geysers of water lifting the pavement as the earth became incapable of drinking the excess water.

Yes ...... That's Rain at the Split Coconut!

We did manage a Rock Wall Walk by the Sea from home to Playa Principal (downtown).

Bougainvillea On Way To Rocks

Lovely ... but not our hotel.

Pointing to La Punta - 8 k Walk for Another Day

The Playa Princess

Randy Rock Climber

Made It!

So there it is.  Don’t know what next week will bring but I think it will likely go something like sun, swim, snorkel, eat, drink, listen to music, and repeat!

P.S. Deborah's Food Pics

Hot Peppers For Apies

Hard At Work

Fajitas For Lunch

Our Last Days in San Miguel de Allende

The last few days in San Miguel have flown by fast.  We did a lot more walking cobblestone streets, eating in great restaurants, experiencing great art, and enjoying more than a few Margaritas.

We managed to climb to the highest point of the hill town to take in the spectacular view.  Some may say, “no big deal” but at 6700 feet above sea level, tell that to my heart and lungs.

Challenging Walk Up!

We Had To Get Skinny At Times.

A Picture For Five Pesos.

We explored two farmers markets.  One was a market for flowers, another almost exclusively of shrubs and trees, and finally one catering to those seeking organic foods.

These Ladies Here Are Very Tall

Only After Did We Discover The Trolley to the Top!

One evening we attended a concert to listen to Gill Guitiaras, a phenomenal jazz virtuoso guitar player.  We had never heard of him but his resume tells us he has played Carnegie Hall in N.Y. as well as with Doc Severinsen.  At the end of the evening Guitiaras personally invited to his ranch for a concert the next day but we had to decline.

More Alley Walks

Our Favourite Cantina

Not Spring Yet But Very Colourful

School Yard Music Toys

A high light was meeting Trish. Trish is a friend of a friend from back home.  She was a house builder in Canada but when she found herself alone after her marriage ended she came to Mexico, first as a tourist and then as a permanent resident.  She has been in San Miguel de Allende for 16 years.  She shared a wealth of information about the hot spots in San Miguel and life for an ex-pat in Mexico.  She builds houses in San Miguel and is essentially free to build what she wants due to the relative lack of any regulations.  She also helped us understand the attraction of San Miguel.  Weather wise, San Miguel has six months of spring.  December and January are the winter months and even those months have daytime highs in the low 20’s and nighttime lows in single digits but no frost.  February and March are spring with everything coming into bloom.  April and May are summer months with hot temperatures and then it is back to Spring for June, July, and August before fall. 

A highlight for Deborah (the Prinsess of Shoes) was a visit to the San Miguel de Allende shoe store.  She met Martita the shoe designer and owner of this unique offering in the shoe world.

We are now sitting in the Mexico City airport waiting for our transfer flight to Puerto Escondido.  At Deborah's insistence, we will end this blog with a small sample of meal pictures.

Of Course There is Wine With Every Meal