Mother's Day Dinner - yum, yum

We had another great day in the sunshine and pool. Hana, Suzanne and I lounged on noodles.







Last night, James sent Suzanne and I out for a special Mother's Day Dinner. We went to Mark's Bar and Grill and I believe this was the best dinner I've had in my life. Jan, the owner grew up in New Zealand and learned to cook by taste using everything from her father's garden. She also has a Home
Decoration shop across the street so the restaurant and outside patio where we sat was just delightful. There were 2 special Tasting Dinners. Suzanne started with Watermelon Gazpazcho with Lobster Creme Fraiche, a cold soup while I had a Tomato, Blue Cheese and Walnut Panzanella salad. We'd eat half and then trade. The main course was Seared Salmon with Coriander Risotto, Beets and Red Wine Reduction, Asparagus with fresh lemon dill sauce. The other was Herb Crusted N.Z. Lamb Chops, Roasted Potatoes with Onions and Poblano Chile, Braised Endive and Green Beans, Reduced Natural Lamb Sauce. I started with this and Suz said be sure you leave me my share. Dessert was a Mango Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse with Whipped Cream. It was probable the best meal I've ever had. The presentation made them almost too good to mess up and eat.

Blue Footed Boobies on Marietas Islands

Today we hired a boat to take us out to this UNESCO protected nature reserve. It was astounding! It's about an hour's ride to the wide array of coral and marine species. Our first sighting was when we went into a large open cave and watched the blue footed boobies and also saw yellow footed ones. It looked so different. Their legs and webbed feet are the color of robin's eggs and sunshine yellow. You will have to look very hard and enlarge the picture to see this. This is the only place other than the Galapagos Islands where you can see them. There were also hundreds of brown pelicans and other birds. The water is the most incredible tourquise blue color. Then we landed on a small beach and crawled through a couple of small caves. They are sculpted out of the coral rock. These small islands are mostly rock and the tops are completely covered in bird dung. Our next stop was outside an arch where we donned snorkels and fins and fell into the water. There were hundreds of fish around us. No fear - they swam right beside you. Suzanne, James, Hana and I snorkeled under the arch into a small beach. There was only about a 4 foot clearance and you had to really swim into the outgoing water and wait for the incoming wave to push you through. There we explored another cave which came out on a different side and the waves rushed through. The whole day was a wonderful experience.

Wonderful Colors

I have always loved the colors in Mexico and all the places we go, we see more. I also find the doors and windows to have the most delightful shapes. There are fresh fruit sellers right on the streets and fellows carrying them down the beach. Delicious.

Sayulita

We drove 20 miles up the coast, winding over a a few low mountains. Not strictly a rain forest,
but rather a well watered jungle, the roadside foliage is attractively lush, with many huge vine draped trees forming a leafy canopy over the road. The small villages have topes - the Mexican speed bumps that slow traffic to a crawl through them. This funky little beach town has clean waters, perfect for surfing and play. Hana and I do her math homework under a palapa in the shade. She and James took a surfing lesson. It was very comprehensive, on land and in the water. They both did very well.

Puenta Mita

Today we woke at 7 and sat on the patio watching the sun rise as we overlooked Banderas Bay. This huge bay, one of the deepest and largest natural bays in the world is what protects this coastline from even the worst storms of the Pacific Ocean.
We played in one of the eight pools at this 5 star condo complex in the morning and then drove to Puenta Mita to a new beach. As you drive along the highway, you are enveloped in the jungle atmosphere with trees flowing over the highway forming tunnels all along the road. The different flowers are beautiful. In the early 1990's, the Mexican government concluded a deal with private interests to build a Four Seasons Resort here. Unfortunately, it was on communally owned land, the base of local fishing and boating. The locals were all moved away and the local ejido people are still challenging the government. It is a beautiful beach area and we ate at El Dorado right on the waterfront all done up in yellow and greens. Lexi and Trey learned how to eat limes. We enjoyed the small turtles in the water fountain as we walked out.

Going to Mexico and Bucerias

Today Ron, bless him, dropped me at the airport at 5:30 a.m. to go to Puerto Vallarta to join Suzanne and James and family for 6 days. I was delighted when we flew over the Grand Canyon, an amazing view. Because they didn't know the area, I was going to take a cab to the kid's condo. At the airport, I didn't know where I was and didn't know where I was going!! Surprise - 3 kids ran up to me with a dozen red roses! I hardly recognized Hana - she had her hair done up in 26 corn braids. Because it was 5 p.m.and they'd rented a van and we were already on the road, we went directly to Bucerias to their favourite restaurant on the beach. Burcerias, Place of the Divers, is 12 miles north of P Vallarta with lovely golden sand beaches and palapa beachfront restaurants. It was magical. 80 degrees, the waves hitting the shore, the mariachi fellows playing and the sun going down behind us. Loved it. A fellow came by on his house and the kids each got a turn sitting in the saddle. So much fun.

Cinco De Mayo

Last night we had this party at our park. Darlene and her crew had done a great job of decorating and the Mexican dishes everyone brought for pot luck were outstanding. It was fun socializing with our park crowd. Lots of sombreros around.