YALAPA

Several days ago the folks on Windsong, Taking Flight, Odessa and Grace took a trip to Yalapa.  Looking at the photo you'd think Yalapa is just another beautiful village nestled between a gentle surf breaking on white sands and surrounding tropical jungle, with a multitude of thatch roof palapa resturants following the curve of the beach, all caressed by tropical zephyers, with handsome young Mexican waiters rushing cervesas served in ice cold mugs to your table already laden with an abundance of chips, salsa and guacamole.  And you'd be right, it is like so many of these villages, except that there are no roads to Yalapa.

The only way to get there, and possibly the main reason Yalapa is such a popular destination, is by

panga. The forty minute ride skirting along the shoreline is  beautiful and interesting.





 



We were all enjoying the ride, until the panga made a stop to pick up additional passengers, including a Mexican Kokopelli trickster bringing aboard a lizard and his favorite snake.

Some of us had a bad feeling about the new arrivals.  With good reason.....

We had a close encounter with Banderas Bay pirates.  Fortunately they were snoozing under bare poles as we sped by.

KARA

We had a great day, hiking up to a small waterfall, wandering thru the village, and cavorting in the surf.

THE TAO TE CHING

The last few days I've been reading the Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tsu.  Some 2600 years ago he left China, seeking solitude in Tibet.  The story goes that the gatekeeper at one of the passes into Tibet knew of Lao Tsu and asked him to record his views for posterity before disappearing into the high mountains.  Lao agreed and produced the Tao Te Ching.  It became one of the seminal works of Chinese philosophy.  The Tao Te Ching is  short.  It can be read in less then an hour, but I have a feeling I will be reading it for the rest of my life.

I would love to quote a bunch of it,  but won't except for one verse:  

A good traveler has no fixed plans

and is not intent upon arriving.



IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Contrary to reports life goes on down here. 

We are biding our time waiting for our Mexican FM3's.  An FM3 allows us to stay in the country as long as we like, except that it has be be renewed every year.  We had to prove we have a permanent address, in our case La Cruz marina, and a steady income.  The income requirement in 200% of the minimum wage, or about 14,000 pesos per month.  Not much, about $1150 USD.

Sorry about not updating the blog.  Just not much happening except for the normal drinking, carousing and aimless living.

A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR

Went to Bucerias yesterday to see Dr. Mauro. He is highly regarded by the cruising community as he speaks better English then I do, will make boat calls if necessary and has a great reputation as a physician.

I am well, just went in to check on some moles. One has to be especially vigilant down here living as we do in constant sun. Everything was ok.

Dr. Mauro filled me in on what to look for.  #1. Size. Moles larger then the diameter of a pencil should be watched carefully. #2. The mole should be fairly regular in shape. If it looks like a map of North America things are not good. #3. The color should be uniform.

Entrance to the Doc's office

Waiting room

The Doc

CANIS MEXICANIS UBIQUITOUS

In Mexico dogs are everywhere.  Some are pets, but most seem to be feral.  I think they take up the niche that racoons are rapidly filling in the States, urban wildlife living off the detritus of civilization.  Unlike racoons Mexico's dogs are quite comfortable hanging out in plain sight, living on the streets and sidewalks, usually being treated with benign neglect.

Dogs that are lucky enough to be pets pretty much have the run of the place.  They are welcome almost everywhere.  About the only place I have not seen a dog is on a bus.  

Quite often they get fed right out of the dog food container.

This lucky fella ended up in the lap of luxury.  He is owned by a guy single handing his boat here in Mexico, and earns his keep as a chic magnet.

Mexicans by and large are extraordinarily easy going people.  About the only thing that could cause a rebellion down here would be a leash law.

TSUNAMI DAY IN BANDERAS BAY

Yesterday I learned how to spell tsunami.  I also got to join a mass marina exodus, as most of the large boats moored in marinas around Banderas Bay headed for safety in deep water.

A few of the boats headed for safety

Nobody knew what the risk was, as reports varied quite a bit.  Apparently the wave intensity is not equal everywhere.   Fingers of higher waves radiate out randomly.  Most folks figured a day sailing in the Bay was a good option condsidering the uncertainty. 

Our marina at La Cruz

One real possibility was if the tsunami was intense in our area the marinas could empty, not completely as did this one in Japan, but enough to put boats on the bottom.  The flow would soon reverse and the marina could be refilled by a violent wave surge.

We spent the day sailing back and forth across the bay with a severely reefed headsail, hoping the tsunami surges would end and we would be allowed back into port.  About 6pm the port captain announced the marina would remain closed until Saturday morning.  Dave and Anne on Taking Flight were nice enough to invite us to raft up with them for the evening.  Not only that, Anne had dinner ready when we arrived, along with ice cold cerveza.

Homes overlooking our anchorage

I feel a bit guilty for being so consumed by our little inconvienance, when so many in Japan are suffering so much.

SANTIAGO TO BANDERAS BAY AND LA CRUZ...AGAIN

The weather was warm

no foules, just a life jacket

while on deck

A few of an enormous
pod of dolphins

Cabo Corrientes
Seems like there is always
a cape to get around

We had to resque this
when I lost it overboard
Yeah, it's that good!