February 23, 2013 - Saturday
I made the long drive (about 15 miles!) to Sayulita by myself - mainly to honor myself and my new RV life of adventure. Fred and Barbara planned to leave very early; I didn't feel the need as the trip would be so short, so I slept in and left about 10 or so.
There had been an early parade in Sayulita earlier in the morning and the town was very crowded. As I didn't know exactly how to get to the Sayulita RV park - again right on the beach - I took several extra forays within the limits of the town; at one point I turned onto a one-way dead-end street that wasn't wide enough for my Toyota Dolphin. A very nice gentleman 'helped' me, verbally, maneuver my rig backwards out of the street. [A lesson well learned, without too much consternation: Know where you're going or stop, get out and look/research!] Finally I radioed Barb and she and Dee drove up to meet me at the Pemex station to usher me into the park. It's a very busy park with lots of big rigs and also something I haven't seen before ...
There are several kinds of 'trailer-sized' little bungalows, that are built by visitors who no longer want to make the long drive from Canada / USA in a big rig. So, they fly in to Puerta Vallarta and either take a cab or rent a car for the 45 minute trip to Sayulita. [Dee and Mary Jane, both in their early 80s, no longer drive a big rig, but prefer to drive an SUV and stay in a rental unit. I guess there's some kind of monetary arrangement between the park owner and the visitor where they share the cost of the building and then the bungalows can be rented when that particular visitor isn't in residence.
It's evident that Sayulita and the likes along the Coast are very busy throughout the Winter months; then clear out, almost completely, the rest of the year. Several merchants and restaurant owners in Sayulita are actually US/Canadian citizens who work here in Winter, then relax either here or elsewhere during the off season.
A little about rental prices .... generally speaking, hotel rooms and / or bungalows range in the $600-1000 a week. That's a little steep for my budget but by US standards, it's pretty inexpensive. Restaurants, I find to be reasonably priced and the food is good. Los camarones (prawns) are to die for. And so reasonably priced. Although I choose to be careful always, about water, ice cube and lettuces, the food is 'safe.' A word about food and water safety: Gringos tend to think that the water is 'unclean.' After having now traveled all over the world, my thought is that 'foreign' water is not unclean as much as it's 'different,' having, for us, foreign bacteria, minerals, etc. that our digestive system isn't used to. Often, water and water-containing vegetables are not BAD, just different. As I stay longer in places, I can gradually incorporate more local water and fruits and vegetables into my daily diet. I have to say that in all my travels to 'third world countries,' I never been sickened by the water.
Offshoot story: Three years ago, while traveling in rural India, I accepted a Chai tea from a lovely lady in a small village. And, that night I developed a fever, headache and diarrhea for about 5 hours - maybe salmonella. I'm not a milk drinker, never have been - I think the unpasteurized and non-refrigerated milk in the Chai drink bother me. My companions drank the same Chai with no negative effect.
Our week in Sayulita was enjoyable - lots of sunbathing and visiting with family and friends. On Friday, March 1st, Barb, Fred and I visited old friends of theirs, Maria Ruiz and __________, at their home in Puerta Vallarta. This is an American couple, in their early 70s, who had traveled around the world for ten years, then decided to settle in PV, where they live in a little house in a Mexican neighborhood. They are both writers who started a Gringo writing group several years ago and very actively participate in it to this day. They live very simply on about $1K a month!!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Danger or Adventure - you be the judge
This video explains how I feel about new adventures - nothing ventured, nothing gained. Enjoy
Hi All:
Hi All:
This video is analogous to those experiences in life that we'd not ever experience if we weren't able to face a little fear first.... a very touching video ....
Mazatlan, Sinaloa to Lo de Marcos via Rosario, Escuinapa de Hidalgo, Acaponeta and Tepic on Mexico 15
2/16/13 Saturday
Oh, oh! I'm beginning to realize that the driving days are not going to be as relaxed as I'd like to experience them. I would have been very happy to spend at least one night along this part of the adventure. It was a long, tiring day. We've paid for a week here, a little to the North of Sayulita, at an RV Park called "Pretty Sunset." Again we're right on the beach and it is a lovely beach too - maybe even a little hotter than Mazatlan.
This is a small RV park, only about nine spaces. It's very close to Guayabitos, where I visited friends of Jerry Heinze in 2003. It's an area that I'd call 'real' Mexico with lots of concessions to the snow birds during the Winter months. But, the little town of Lo de Marcos is not fancy and I'm going to enjoy visiting with people who live here. There are other RV parks here - more sumptuous than ours - but we're comfortable here and will go on to Sayulita next week to meet up with Gregg and Claudia and Dee Medd and his girlfriend, Mary Jane.
My next door neighbors are Len and Sharon, from British Colombia, here for the whole Winter in a camper van. They have really economized on space and stuff and are completely content with their lot. This is, I believe, their second or third Winter here .... a lovely couple. There are couples from California and other states as well as more from Canada.
Oh, oh! I'm beginning to realize that the driving days are not going to be as relaxed as I'd like to experience them. I would have been very happy to spend at least one night along this part of the adventure. It was a long, tiring day. We've paid for a week here, a little to the North of Sayulita, at an RV Park called "Pretty Sunset." Again we're right on the beach and it is a lovely beach too - maybe even a little hotter than Mazatlan.
This is a small RV park, only about nine spaces. It's very close to Guayabitos, where I visited friends of Jerry Heinze in 2003. It's an area that I'd call 'real' Mexico with lots of concessions to the snow birds during the Winter months. But, the little town of Lo de Marcos is not fancy and I'm going to enjoy visiting with people who live here. There are other RV parks here - more sumptuous than ours - but we're comfortable here and will go on to Sayulita next week to meet up with Gregg and Claudia and Dee Medd and his girlfriend, Mary Jane.
My next door neighbors are Len and Sharon, from British Colombia, here for the whole Winter in a camper van. They have really economized on space and stuff and are completely content with their lot. This is, I believe, their second or third Winter here .... a lovely couple. There are couples from California and other states as well as more from Canada.
Email home from Mazatlan
2/12/13 Email to Jeff, Kari, Spencer
Hola de Mazatlan:
We're still here and having a fantastic time - doing NOT MUCH!
The weather is incredible - low 80s every day and 60s at night; when we
get up the energy we stroll to the beach (about 100 yards from the RVs)
to tan and do NOT MUCH. We're been here four weeks and will leave
sometime within a week or so to travel South to meet up with Claudia and Greg
in Sayulita for a week or two and do NOT MUCH. Then we'll head to the
states of Jalisco and Michoacan for some different atmosphere - lots less
Americanized - lots of opportunities to visit real Mexico.
Hope all is well with all of you - I love news!
mimi
Mazatlan -Learning how to blog!
2/12/13 Mazatlan
Trying to get my act together. Do I want to blog or write short stories? I guess right now I'm doing a little of both - stories are good for grandchildren in my opinion, but not so interesting to blog followers. Let's see how it goes.
My stay here in Mazatlan is not fulfilling my desire for encountering the 'real' Mexico. The beaches are lovely; however, I come from beach country so it's perhaps not as rewarding for me as it is for others coming from inland areas. I'll have to 'catch up' on my actual travel experiences as I go along ....
This area of Mexico, essentially the whole west coast, is very commercialized and caters to a USA and Canadian clientele. So very many snow birds escape the harsh Winters in the North and settle down here for months at a time, not being very interested in a new culture, etc., but more in warm, sandy beaches and friends from "home." Some of the rigs here are enormous; my little Toyota Dolphin is overpowered by magnificently appointed Class A motor homes of 36-40 feet long, with every convenience one can imagine.
However, I'm a month into this adventure and I love my little house on wheels. It's certainly adequate for one lady and her pets. I will say that I'm very warm here in Mazatlan without an awning for shade during these warm and humid days. I haven't turned on the air conditioner, but do have the fan going most of each day. The evenings and nights cool down considerably and sleeping is very comfortable.
I guess I'm a little of an oddity - and a little out of place here. Don't get me wrong! The beaches are fantastic, the historical part of the Mazatlan is interesting, the food is good (although not exactly strictly Mexican - usually), the language is essentially English. I tend to respond to Mexicans who speak to me in Spanish - at least I'm getting some practice even though it's not always necessary!
Ideas for stories - blog followers may want to ignore this part!
Meriden, Connecticut 1917
My dad, Leo, and the Dentist:
One day, when Leo was a boy of about 13 years old, he informed his mom that he had a toothache. She gave him $2 and told him to go to Dr. O’Brien, in downtown Meriden, to have his tooth filled. [It’s interesting that in those days my grandmother didn’t accompany him to the dentist like parents do today]. As Leo was walking to towards the dentist's office, he realized that he could go to another dentist who had an office in the “low-rent” district of town, have his tooth filled for $.50 and pocket the $1.50 for himself. He went to the low rent dentist, who, indeed, filled the tooth for 50 cents and he didn’t give his mom the change. Grandpa Leo was raised in, what he referred to as an "Irish family" – with a German mother! That is to say, he was raised by a very strict and authoritarian mother; his father had little to do with discipline; his mom, Agnes Kuus Ryan, was the B-O-S-S! As it turned out in my family, Leo was the BOSS, taking after his mom.
One day, when Leo was a boy of about 13 years old, he informed his mom that he had a toothache. She gave him $2 and told him to go to Dr. O’Brien, in downtown Meriden, to have his tooth filled. [It’s interesting that in those days my grandmother didn’t accompany him to the dentist like parents do today]. As Leo was walking to towards the dentist's office, he realized that he could go to another dentist who had an office in the “low-rent” district of town, have his tooth filled for $.50 and pocket the $1.50 for himself. He went to the low rent dentist, who, indeed, filled the tooth for 50 cents and he didn’t give his mom the change. Grandpa Leo was raised in, what he referred to as an "Irish family" – with a German mother! That is to say, he was raised by a very strict and authoritarian mother; his father had little to do with discipline; his mom, Agnes Kuus Ryan, was the B-O-S-S! As it turned out in my family, Leo was the BOSS, taking after his mom.
Although he never disclosed to his mother his dishonesty of that day, I’m
sure it was something that bothered him for a long time - like all his life. Being raised by an authoritarian parent and the concurrent influence of the Catholic Church and schools, he would carry the guilt of that
deception, maybe forever.
Skip ahead about 45 years ….. One morning at the breakfast table Dad related to us that he had a toothache;
this was the only time in my memory that he felt he needed to see a
dentist. Doctor and dentist visits
were rare in our family; there was no such thing as a yearly physical or dental
exam. Interestingly, we had free
medical and dental care available through the military; but to use it was not
common. Anyway, at dinner that
evening Leo told the family the story of his long ago disobedience. At first we weren’t sure just why he’d
chosen to tell this story; soon we understood. It seems that that morning, when the dentist anesthetized his jaw and
drilled out the 45 year old filling, he found the cause of the pain. 45 years previously, the “low rent” dentist had drilled the cavity and blotted the
drilled hole with a cotton pledget – which he forgot to remove before filling
the tooth with a silver filling.
The tooth had finally succumbed to infection caused by that very old
pledget of cotton! And, Dad told
us the story to indicate the moral. "If you lie to your parent you will be punished – maybe not immediately,
but certainly sometime!" For him it
was 45 years!
More story ideas.....
More story ideas.....
John and the piano Tuner
Kari and the clink clink coins
Kari and dancing recital
Jeff sharing aspirin with his
sister
Spencer and Jim Burton’s tools
Spencer and the garbage man
Spencer and pillow in the bed????
My 70th birthday - Mazatlan, Sinoloa, Mexico
Feb 3 – Maravilla RV Park, North of Mazatlan, Mexico
My birthday – or the anniversary of that day in San
Francisco 70 years ago – Feb 3, 1943.
World War II was raging. I
wish I’d paid more attention to my dad’s stories about the War. I know he was home in SF for my birth
but I don’t really remember all the details of how long he was with us. I know Jim was conceived when I was 9
months old and I know Dad wasn’t with us when Jim was born on August 2, 1944.
But for that day in 1943 in SF. Mom told me she’d experienced a long labor, after a long
pregnancy – I was overdue, not sure how much. But, as I’ve learned in my nursing life, due dates weren’t
so dependable in ‘those’ days. I
question how overdue I was as we know now that overdue babies tend to ‘lose’
weight – and I weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds 12 ounces – and 21and 1/2
inches long.
Mom and Dad were also celebrating their 9th
anniversary on that day. They had
married in Plattsburg, NY on a very cold February night – 40 degrees below zero
I was told. Mom was almost 26
years old and dad was almost 29.
He was stationed at the Plattsburg Army base and Mom worked in the Post
Exchange.
Let’s see – a little background - Dad, Leo Francis Ryan, was the fourth child, and only
son of Agnes (née Kuus) and James Francis Ryan. Grandpa was 100% Irish, born in Meriden, Connecticut – as
was Dad. I’m working on Ancestry.com
to try to find out more about my paternal grandfather’s family. Grandpa, as I recall, was a slightly
built gentleman with thick snowy white hair. He was quick to smile, liked his beer and really fun to play
with. Grandma Ryan was a stern
regulated lady who always looked put-together – her long long long gray hair
braided and wrapped around her head.
I loved to watch her put her hair together in the morning and also brush
it out at night. She joined Mom in
encouraging me to brush my hair 100 strokes every night before going to
bed. I think I did – most of the
time. I was in awe of Grandma when
she came to ‘visit’ us in Campbell – 771 Winchester Road – when I was about
8. She was a German lady of about
78 or 79 years, always neat and clean looking with ‘old lady shoes’ that were
polished and well taken care of, always wore a dress and stockings, had long
long gray hair that she braided and wound around the perimeter of her
head. It waved from her forehead
back to the nape of her neck and from there it was braided and wrapped around
her head. I remember she used
hairpins, not bobby pins but it was very difficult to see them in her hair /
braid, as they were gray in color and well hidden. I don’t recall ever seeing a hair out of place. She took the train from Meriden by
herself; that must have been quite an adventure for her – crossing the
Continent ‘alone.’ I remember that
she stayed with us, in Campbell, so long that my Grandpa decided to come out
about 6 months after she arrived.
For both arrivals we drove to the Oakland train station for their
arrivals. When Grandpa was
expected his train was either late – or we got to Oakland very early, I don’t
remember which. But I do remember
that, to pass the time, we went to a movie, “Born Yesterday” with Judy
Holliday. I seem to remember that
the reason for her ‘visit’ was because
Dad had re-enlisted and was stationed at the San Francisco Presideo. Although I loved having my grandparents
with us, I suspect Grandma caused much trepidation for Mom, somewhat similarly
to her angst dealing with Dad too.
The Germanic “Achtung” way of living life appeared to be a bit unnatural
for Mom. She spent her whole married
life essentially following other people's orders – my Dad, my Grandma, etc. And, I opine that she tended to a
morsel of ‘passive aggression’ where she’d always seem to have a streak on one
glass after the dishes were done.
Or, another example would be my dad’s story (true? I don’t know!) about Mom’s hat being on
backwards when they attended a reception for General Douglas MacArthur at the
White House in about 1947, I think.
That’s another story – first babysitter for Jim and me……
Without aid of Ancestry.com I’m guessing there would have
been about six months difference in their ages – I want to say that Grandpa
would have been born in about 1872 – I think in the Summer. And Grandma would have been born on
January 21, 1873, I think. Funny. They died within six months of each
other – Grandpa first and Grandma soon thereafter.
Celebrated this 70th BD with Barb and Fred and campers from Canada and the US with this beautiful BD cake Fred and Barb bought at Soriana:
But birthday dinner was outdoors at Ray's Barbecue at Cerritos
and it was so delicious
MP in red cap,
Celebrated this 70th BD with Barb and Fred and campers from Canada and the US with this beautiful BD cake Fred and Barb bought at Soriana:
But birthday dinner was outdoors at Ray's Barbecue at Cerritos
and it was so delicious
MP in red cap,
Mexico 2013 - First RV Trip - Mary-Pat, Lacy, Eleanor and Lincoln
February 2, 2013 - Mazatlan, Siniloa, Mexico
Ground Hog Day.
One day ‘til the big 70. Last evening we went to old town for the once a month art
walk. We visited several galleries
/ stores of mostly trinket type chotchkies for sale. Didn’t buy anything but did watch a man who finger-paints
and his work is amazing.
This is the beginning, finally, of my blog for Mexico 2013 - First RV Trip
I want to dedicate this blog to my family, especially my grandchildren, so they can follow the adventures of their Mimi during this wonderful time of my life when I can just pack up and go just about any time I want. I have a Bucket List of places to go, people to meet and adventures to try. I'm of a mind that a Bucket List is not intended to ever be finished; it simply allows one the opportunity to live life to the fullest with whatever possibilities come our way or those we seek out.
This RV trip actually started when I retrieved my Toyota Dolphin from Jeff's yard, after having left it there for many many months during my adventure in Guatemala. I stayed in the RV, outside of Jeff, Alice, Malia and Samantha's house for almost a week, visiting, provisioning and making some repairs and adjustments to my RV - you'll hear in this blog that my RV needs a name. Please make suggestions.
This is the beginning, finally, of my blog for Mexico 2013 - First RV Trip
I want to dedicate this blog to my family, especially my grandchildren, so they can follow the adventures of their Mimi during this wonderful time of my life when I can just pack up and go just about any time I want. I have a Bucket List of places to go, people to meet and adventures to try. I'm of a mind that a Bucket List is not intended to ever be finished; it simply allows one the opportunity to live life to the fullest with whatever possibilities come our way or those we seek out.
This RV trip actually started when I retrieved my Toyota Dolphin from Jeff's yard, after having left it there for many many months during my adventure in Guatemala. I stayed in the RV, outside of Jeff, Alice, Malia and Samantha's house for almost a week, visiting, provisioning and making some repairs and adjustments to my RV - you'll hear in this blog that my RV needs a name. Please make suggestions.
This photo was actually taken in Sayulita Campgrounds, but gives an unstaged look at "Diana Dolphin," or "Deborah Dolphin," or: Miss "Delfina Dolphin," or .........
As I began this trip I thought that if I liked the RV lifestyle, I'd trade this rig in for one a little larger, possibly a small Class A or maybe a little longer Class C like this one, with just a few more bells and whistles. The longer I am living in my little palace, the better I like it.
My traveling companions - relaxing in the cab-over loft
Lacy - 2 years 10 months
Lincoln - 7 months - American Shorthair
Eleanor - about 2 and a half year old British Shorthair
The rescue people told me she is a purebred
As I began this trip I thought that if I liked the RV lifestyle, I'd trade this rig in for one a little larger, possibly a small Class A or maybe a little longer Class C like this one, with just a few more bells and whistles. The longer I am living in my little palace, the better I like it.
My traveling companions - relaxing in the cab-over loft
Lacy - 2 years 10 months
Lincoln - 7 months - American Shorthair
Eleanor - about 2 and a half year old British Shorthair
The rescue people told me she is a purebred
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