A Wonderful Visit

SISTERS

 

Iguanas are ubiquitous here.  To say, "I saw an iguana!", would let us know that you are a tourist.  Nothing wrong with that, Bucerias needs your dinero.  But most folks here do not get that excited about them unless they are causing some sort of damage.  Some of you may recall that one time we had an iguana run across the courtyard into the pool to avoid the cat.  Crystal had fun catching it, the iguana that is.  (There are pictures is some previous post.)  We have two kinds here:  black and green; I doubt that is a scientific classification, just the difference in color.  The green ones are decidedly more interesting.  It is easy to see how close-ups of them were used as dinosaurs from 1930s into the '60s in such movies as King Kong – the original! - and Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Iguanas can go just about everywhere; they have these long claws/toes that can grip just about any surface and they can squeeze into rather small cracks.  There is one thing they cannot climb: glass.  As noted below a large green guy has taken to showing up right outside the kitchen window.  When he actually attempts to climb the window he makes noise that I would liken to fingernails on a chalkboard – ouch.  This was one of the new experiences for my sisters who visited us for a week.  They and Rebecca squeezed in just about as much activity as possible.  Mrs. T's story covers most of the action:

 

 

We had a lovely visit with Dan's sisters, Rachel and Janice.  We went whale watching (The women that is – dt) and saw lots of whales including a baby, who Oscar, the marine biologist and whale specialist, said was about 2 weeks old.  You could tell it was a baby because he was just learning to hold his breath and could only stay down for about 7 minutes.  We followed them – two adults and the baby – and every 7 minutes they came up.  The adults normally stay down for 20 to 30 minutes.  Oscar can recognize individual whales by their tails.  He said maybe he would name an unnamed well one after me.  What fun! (This is due to Mrs.T's underwater encounter which even Oscar has not had –dt)  We also followed a mating pack.  Simone was leading 5 males on a merry chase.  The youngest eventually dropped out.  (This sounds too familiar to me –dt) We didn't stay for the conclusion which would happen in deep water.  Oscar gave us the details of what would happen.  (These are too explicit for the general audience that might read this -dt)

 

On another day we went shopping in Puerto Vallarta with the two Judy's.  There were no cruise ships so PV was less crowded.  Rachel and especially Jan made a valiant effort to support the local economy by buying all kinds of amazing things which are not generally available in Ohio.  They got into the spirit of shopping in Mexico with bargaining on prices.  We saw some amazing sand sculptures, enjoyed walking on the newly improved Malecon, and climbing the metal sculptures.  When we got overheated we enjoyed stopping for a cool drink.  And we had a nice lunch overlooking the Cuale River.

 

The girls were quite taken by the green iguana who recently has taken to perching on our kitchen window ledge.  But mostly we just lay around by the pool or at the beach, listening to the waves.

 

We did take time away from our serious basking to walk into town for the Fiesta.  This is the week we honor Our Lady of Peace, the patron saint of Bucerias.  Every night there is a little peregrination – parade – sponsored by a different barrio.  There are mariachi bands and dancing, Indian dancers – usually children dressed in native costumes.   (You may have read about our participation in one of last year's events.  –dt) The church is full of flowers and music.  And of course there are fireworks.  I missed the dancing horses in the parade on the last day because I was SCUBA diving.  And unfortunately for them the sisters had already left by then.  But reports were that the horses were great.  The fiesta lasts about ten days and then we slow down to enjoy our routine life in Mexico – warm and wonderful.

 

Here are lots of pictures, many courtesy of Jan:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/9151458@N07/sets/72157629069421837/

 

We have heard that real winter has visited a few of you.  Keep warm and dry.

 

Dan and Rebecca

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