New Year....New Trip!!!!

As much as we love you ALL, the NY winters are just too much for us and even if we haven't convinced you that we've "earned it" - we've convinced ourselves and that's our story and we're........

So here goes.

Sorry for getting a bit of a late start on it (the travel takes more of a toll than it did just a few years back), but the first couple days are still pretty fresh in our minds so we'll get you caught up to date.

Wednesday, 1/14/15 Travel day: from Albany to Atlanta to Puerto Vallarta. All our flights went smoothly, but it was a very tiring day. At Puerto Vallarta airport a college student was working at the airport on his college break. He was pushing Grandma Valentini's wheelchair and was a tremendous help for us locating baggage and getting us through customs. I would say to him, "How do you say ______ in Spanish?", and when he understood he would translate for me. Then he would ask me how to say _______ in English. I was trying to get a quick Spanish lesson and apparently he was trying to get a quick English lesson <g>! I think that neither of us learned a great deal, but we both had a lot of fun.
We then went to the Gecko car rental office to get our rental car. The man at the Gecko office tried to give us a "crash course" (pun intended) on Mexican rules of the road. (After 6 days here, let me tell you we are learning, but have more motoring work to do!)
We arrived safely at "Casa Lucia", and the house is just as beautiful as it seemed in pictures. After unpacking we ventured down the road to "Mega" (combination grocery and department store) to get some groceries. Phew!

"Casa Lucia"

Thursday, 1/15/15 This day was largely a much-needed rest day. We did drive through our village, Bucerias, to get a feel for the neighborhood. Ladd and I also walked down to the gorgeous beach. We relaxed in the sun by the pool outside our living room/dining room.

One of many beach areas at Bucerias

Friday, 1/16/15 On Friday we drove from Bucerias to Puerto Vallarta. We walked along the Malecon by the ocean. The Puerto Vallarta Malecon has many, many restaurants, shops, river-walk areas with markets, sculptures, street performers, etc.  Then, in search of a town Ladd wanted to find, we drove and drove through mountainous areas on winding roads...at night. Brave? Crazy? Combination of these? We never did get to that town (much too far), but saw amazing scenery...and thankfully without any accidents. On the way back to "Casa Lucia" we stopped at a "Wal Mart" store. (Yes, "Wal Mart" even in Mexico.) We tried to buy some Tequila mixer and learned a Mexican law we were not aware of. You cannot buy either liquor or mixers in Mexico after 9 PM! Live and learn. However, since we are not quitters, we still had our tequila with mineral water upon return to "Casa Lucia"...ha!

Puerto Vallarta Malecon

Beach performers: Mariachi Band at Puerto Vallarto

Some of the many shop stalls at Puerto Vallarta

Saturday, 1/17/15 While having our brunch in the casa we spotted a beautiful, rather large iguana walking on top of the white wall that surrounds the casa, parking area, and pool. At home I have great luck talking to our rabbits, deer, etc. They usually are not threatened by my voice, stay put, and look at me. (Some have even come closer.) So I decided to go out and talk with "our" iguana. As I talked quietly and calmly to "Senior Iguana", he took off! I told Ladd and his mom that he probably ran away because I wasn't speaking to him in Spanish...LOL!

"Senior Iguana"

We then drove to Bucerias Centro (town square) to experience part of the full-week festival going on here. Bucerias Centro is not as big as Puerto Vallarta, but there are still many, many shop/stalls, food vendors, performers. I wanted to buy a hat I tried on and the saleslady asked for $20.00 (about 200 pesos). Ladd talked her down to $12.00 (about 120 pesos). Apparently, it is the "Mexican Way", and I'm sure glad I had Ladd with me because I am NOT good at negotiating! We went to the church in the town square: "Our Lady of Peace". They not only have mass services there, but many parts of the festival as well.  At night we went to a new restaurant in Bucerias called "Culi's". It is authentic Mexican food with excellent service, beautiful decor, and two waiters that work like crazy to be "perfecto".  The older of the two waiters was training the young boy and showed him how to MEASURE for the spacing of the silverware! Being a little OCD myself, I just LOVED this...and told them that, too. We had an on-the-house baracuda appetizer and a shrimp (camarone) appetizer. For our main meals: Grandma Valentini had Camarone Ensalada (a HUGE shrimp salad), Ladd had Mahi-Mahi, and I had Diablo (spicy) Camerone. Grandma Valentini and I split a dessert: Panacotto (a custard-like dessert with raspberry topping)...yum! The presentation of all of our food here was beautiful, and it tasted just as great as it looked! The table next to us had people from England, Canada, Mexico, and Africa. They invited us to join them for an after-dinner drink, which they had brought with them. (This new restaurant, "Culi's", does not yet have a liquor license...BYOB.) So we sat with them and had some of their delicious tequila coffee and fun conversations! We left with plans to try to get together with them again. What a fun, full day and night!

"Our Lady of Peace" church in Bucerias Centro

Bucerias Centro

Bar at "Culi's Restaurant"

Outstanding Wait-Staff at "Culi's Restaurant"

Amazing Chef at "Culi's Restaurant"

Sunday, 1/18/15  On Sunday we drove to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle for their special "Market Day". This location has more expensive shops, foods, and restaurants. They also have fresh fish markets and meat markets, which are LESS expensive than in the stores. The meats and fish all looked great, and we plan to go back sometime to buy some to bring back to the "casa" to cook. Grandma Valentini sat in the center where you could see a yoga class, a Mariachi Band, some dancers, and lots of tourists. We walked the whole Market area taking in all the sights.

Senior Peanut at La Cruz

Fish Market at La Cruz

Band performing at La Cruz

We then drove to Sayulita: a surfer town! The biggest, and best, mode of transportation in Sayulita is the golf cart! They scoot everywhere! We did not have one this visit, but would do so next time. They had had surfer competitions and were setting up for the surfer awards ceremony. We explored the beautiful beaches here at Sayulita. We then walked to "Playa de los Muertos" ("Beach of the Dead") cemetery. Incredible monuments, flowers, memorials! Walking there we met Karen and Glen from Canada and got talking with them. (Talking?? No surprise for us, right??!! Ha!) They are very friendly and want to come look at our "Casa Lucia" and perhaps get together for an outing before they end their two week stay.

Welcome to Sayulita!

"Playa de los Muertos" at Sayulita

Surfers at Sayulita

Next stop: San Pancho (a.k.a. San Francisco). This is a small town with AWESOME beaches, but very expensive restaurants. We WOULD go back there for some beach time!

GORGEOUS beaches at San Pancho