Wednesday in Lo de Marcos

New header added. And 2nd post for today.

Spent most of yesterday, Ash Wednesday, here in Jennie – it POURED rain most of the day. The one good thing about it was it cooled down quite a bit. Bill cooked some of his “famous” tiny white potatoes. Yum they are so good. And smell so good when they are cooking.

One time when the rain let up I ran outside and took some pictures of the birds in the pond behind us. Three different kinds that I can see – but cannot identify expect for the Garza – the white one.

Elegant isn't it?

Later in the evening we decided to go into town to the restaurant we found the other day and have dinner.
There are about eight tables outside too - very small place.

We wanted to get there a little early so there would be a table. When we turned the corner we found the street lined from corner to corner with cars….What? Well it was Ash Wednesday the little outdoor church across from the restaurant was having a service.

It was packed.

Found a place to park and watched the service for a bit then got a table before the restaurant filled up.
This morning before leaving for PV again we stopped and left the dirty clothes at the laundromat in town.

This RV park has a washer but no dryer.

Next post I'll finish up about PV - I think. Maybe later....

Some Puerta Vallarta

So far we’ve driven to Puerta Vallarta twice and are going again today. It’s about a 35 minute drive – if you don’t get stuck behind a loaded truck. Of course we leave the motorhome in Lo de Marcos in the campground and take the Jeep in. The road is good, smooth pavement, two- lanes, and lots and lots of curves and a few hills. This makes for an interesting ride as the double solid yellow line running down the middle of the road means nothing to the local drivers. If you are going slower (less than 60mph) you will get passed – on a curve, going up a hill or with a bus coming towards you. Makes no difference.
Enlarge that picture and take a good look - 3 cars going south on 2-lane road - 1 car coming at them.
So far haven’t seen any accidents – so they must be good at it. The vegetation comes right up to the edge of the pavement and hangs over a lot of it forming tree tunnels.

Very pretty drive. Then suddenly around Bucerias you find the ocean again. From there on the area is populated. The second time we went in there was a cruise ship in – the Sapphire Princess. (a different one in today) Across from it was a huge yacht – about 175 feet long with two decks above the main deck. Rough life.

And behind it was a good sized U.S. (Coast Guard ship. Both yacht and Coast Guard boat were gone today.)
Driving through this part of Puerta Vallarta (PV) is like driving through any US city on a beach. Highrises, hotels, two Wal*Marts, Mall, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, Outback – well you get the idea. But finally the street turns to cobblestone and you’re in the old district – the Malecón – the tourist district. When a cruise ship is in it is wall to wall tourists.

The Malecon on the left - stores on the right - tourists everywhere
And all the independent vendors are out. Mostly painters setting up right on southern most side of the Malecón

I like strolling Malecón area. Except for being accosted every two feet by someone trying to sell you something. At all the businesses someone stands in the doorway and tries to get your attention. One of their favorite sayings is “Do you know that man who is following you?” Speaking to me referring to Bill. Or “There you are. I’ve been waiting all day for you.” “ Come friend, we have everything you want.” To Bill they say – cause he is wearing a hat –“Are you from Texas:” or today “Are you enjoying your cruise?” At first it’s kind of funny then it gets annoying. I heard a guy behind us talking to his wife say “They’re all your friends until you don’t buy anything.” People walking down the street with hats for sale – 15 to 20 of them piled on their head. “Psst! Want to buy a good bracelet? Cheap.” From a guy walking beside you. And he shows you a handful of bracelets that look like sliver.
Across the street from the shops is the bay. It is big – one of the biggest in the world.

Lots of boats out in it and lots of parasailors.
Last year there was quite a bit of sand art – this year there is only one sculpture. And probably with yesterday’s rain it is gone. Will have to check it today. – Went to look at it it was fine.

And someone has started to work on another one. Also some guy piled a bunch of rocks in an artistic manner.

I really like all the statues along the Malecón – discovered one we hadn’t seen before today. A dancing couple

Isn't it neat? Her dress looks like material.
– and the famous chairs and one of my favorites the ladder with the children on it.
This is one of the chairs - with feet


Stopped at McDonalds for lunch – tasted good just an ugly old hamburger and French fries. Then went to the Mega grocery store – The Driver found Swiss Cheese and real Mortadella cold cuts. Happy Days.

More random thoughts about PV and more pictures coming up.

Time in Lo de Marcos

Arrival in Lo de Marcos. This is where we stayed last year in that fantastic campground – the one that was better than any I’ve seen in the states – but was terrible to turn into – 90 degree right turn off of a very narrow street.
This year we got smart and took the car down there to check things out the day before we were planning to get there. No room at the inn – guess we just got lucky last year. They are booked full until the end of March.
So on to another place – found a nice one Pretty Sunset beach access – they had room, reserved it and arrived there the next day. US$25 – BUT, we found out after we settled in, if you want to use the air conditioning it was another 150Pesos (US$12) per every six hours. And we could not pick up their Wi-fi from our site. To get it had to walk up very rickety circular stairs to a roof with no electricity. I think NOT. Got in the car and went looking for another place. Found one right across the street – no beach access but we really aren’t beach people anyway. The new one Savage is small – about 15 spaces – the Wi-fi is very good. Moved to it the next morning.
Happy cool Jennie
If you’re only there three days the electric is free and you can run your AC as much as needed. If there longer than three days it is metered. There is a nice pool and laundry with washer only. Oops the clothes pins are in the Alfa. Oh well – there is a laundry in town. As always all but us and one other person here are from Canada. Here are a couple pictures of the place. Jennie in her spot. The community area and a picture of the bottom of the pool. Neat huh?

Last year in town they were rebuilding the main plaza, this year it is done and really pretty.

Lots of green grass – unusual to see and a nice mural on the backdrop of what looks like a stage.

Nights a lady sets up a churro stand right across from it. And next to it we found a nice little restaurant – can eat outside or in and the food is excellent. In fact Bill had lasagna the other night – it was the special of the day. Had to laugh one group came in and this must be their first trip to Mexico – they were taking pictures of the tiny lizards crawling on the wall. Tiny ones – about two inches long! They would have died if there was a big iguana pooping on them.
There is a great beach here – and mostly it’s empty of people.

There are some restaurants – more like bars along it. And it’s easy to reach from town. One day walking into town I took some pictures of things we saw – Right next to the campground there is a big pond or small lake – lots of birds there – Garzas (Ibis) and what ever this is and some smaller ones.

Now wasn’t that informative.
These guys are also our neighbors – the garza and the iguana sharing a wall.
Love this plant – there are several of them around here – but this one has its own growth.

The church – this was the church where I first saw the padre pull the rope to ring the bell. After that I noticed that most of them still have ropes. Up till then I thought it was recorded music. Dah!

One of the houses on the main street – religious people.

And another front of a house – notice there is no door – just a curtain.
Guess that is okay as the weather is supposed to be nice here all year. More on that later.
All hours of the day there are pickups and cars going by with their speakers blaring selling something. The vegetable truck is one of them. He blows his horn and tells about what he has for sale and the women come out to buy. Yes thoses are gringas from the big campground
Poor truck is about to collapse.
Bill cracks up when he hears some of them. “We have freshest watermelon – just cut seconds ago just for you. The best taste you ever had. Your life will be changed by this watermelon.” The shrimp truck “We have just come out of the ocean. Fish this morning, shrimp with or without head. So fresh it is jumping out of the truck. This is good for your problems.” The gas truck (propane) comes by early every morning – blowing his screeching horn and yelling GASSSSSSSSS! Never a dull moment - that is one of the jaring things about Mexico - the noise.
It’s rained two nights since we’ve been here. Thunder and lightening last night for a bit. In fact it is pouring and dark out right now. Clouds cover all the hills around us. A good day to catch up on the blog and the web page and maybe do some bead work.
Bill has just finished cooking a batch of tiny white potatoes – yum delicious.
We are not sure where we’ll go from here. South or inland. Probably inland first to Guadalajara then to see Jeff in Ajijic to give him his stuff. Then north to Tequila to visit the distilleries and maybe back to Mazatlan. Or … from Guadalajara to more inland to Guanajuato, Hidalgo and back towards Texas – just don’t know yet. There are a lot of towns in that area that are interesting that we haven’t been too.
It’s just getting too hot and humid for me.
More later on our visits into Puerta Vallarta.