Around The Neighborhood

It's time for some photos as sometimes it's hard to get done and not particularly happy with results but some of these are decent. It's just as important what's in them too. Below are several from Puerto Vallarta's Independence Day parade.

Click on the pictures to get a better look. Twice if you want.

 

Dogs are the most loved things here I swear.

                                        Not far from the big waters it get's steep quickly.

                                                             Steep like in straight up.

                                                             It's that time of year.

The architecture here blows me away. I do not tire of looking at it and try to capture some aspects but can't really. This one is different for sure.

                                        There is a lot going on here but not sure just what.

                                                           I like this one.

I just like this picture as well and above the house there is some grass not jungle.

                                                        Anything here you might need?

              Although out of focus been eating a few cocktails like this. This stuff is soooo good!

                 Quite a few of these around both in town and along the rivers outside of Vallarta.

                                                      Didn't even see the second one.

                                  From the Day of the Dead. These were all over the place.

                                              You can't hardly take a bad picture of this.

I have moved from a little place four miles south of Puerto Vallarta to an area called Benito Juarez of Remance a 10 minute walk to the mercado on the south of Vallarta known as Emiliano Zapata. My place is just to the right of the palm tree in the center of the picture and down. The casa with the curtains in the window.

Pretty decent place all in all and much less money than before. There are 68 steps which are not a problem and when you get outside it's a different breed of cat I tell you. My self and a couple from Washington state are the only gringos in this neighborhood. 

Google map

Surfing Rays

It's my understanding that rays do this. Many have seen this type of behavior and maybe you have too but not me and found this to be totally enjoyable.

Watching for marine activity in the Bahia de Banderas  has been lacking a bit. But a couple days ago there was plenty going on with at least a dozen whales around and at least six tails in the air. There were many rays with plenty of jumping going on as well. Saw a HUGE ray jump in another place which was cool too.

It may not be much but it's something anyway and I just get a huge kick out of things such as this.

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For A Friend

I returned to Mexico 1/7/17. On the 4th received a call that Andres had collapsed in Puerto Vallarta. He is the one sitting and the photo is from this post. He never regained consciousness and passed away on the 18th.

Never would I have thought this guy would go out like this. Just figured he'd be around like forever. Many took a big hit losing him. It's a different place around this tiny burg but the shock is wearing off. We had a lot in common and this has me seriously looking at life and what's left of it a bit differently.

So this ones for you mi amigo! He would have liked this. Adios.

You Never Know Who Might Show Up

Hiking Above Nogalito

Glad to be able to do this. It is not easy, slippery and one can sweat plenty! But it has cooled down and the days have been very pleasant.

I can't capture what it's really like. It's different from canyon lands. What is here though is an anomaly at 18 sec. Very easy to watch more than once. This thing wiggles.

I think it is a rod although Wiki debunks such things.  

Colors And Stuff

If not you should know pictures of anything are taken around here at times. This guy was inside and a bit over a 1/2" long. This new camera does not do macro's near as good as the three Pentax camera's that came before it. Still worth clicking on to get a better look though.

And yes there is quite a diversity in plants and colors.

This fellow was no more than an 1.5" long. Do not have a clue what he was going to grow up to be. This could be it.

Took a cruise a bit north of Vallarta and then east into farm country and there was a lot going on. There is no lack of food around here that is for sure.

Behind these mountains not seen here are some massive scraggly fourteener's. Do not have a picture at all. Just looks interesting and here is maybe a few hundred feet above sea level.

The job to have around here may be a tractor operator.

Many inexpensive places to eat. None out in the country though like Costa Rica.

The place I live is almost dead center.

The mountains around Nogalito are pure jungle that's all there is too it. To get to the other side here would not be easy.

Brothers In The Jungle

Pancho and Andres. These two grew up in this environment. Their father owned much of the area above town where they farmed hiking much much farther than Andres and I do to get there several times a week. Can't begin to imagine the intensity of what that must have been like. This is tough terrain to raise crops and a few animals. These fellows are two tough hombres!

Click on the pictures to hugen up then agen.

That continues for Pancho who in this case harvested four pieces of bamboo that is transported like this back down to town. I did not attempt to take the fourth.

This is a wider part of the trail.

Quite a bit of bamboo and some can approach 5-6 inches in diameter.

Somebody from Vallarta picks it up and Pancho gets 1500 pesos or about $90. That can go a long way here.

Patricia And The Rest Of The Story

In one word nothing. This is all new to me but at times I do think I have a clue.

First this came so fast and many just heard of it Wed or after. For most there were few choices if any of getting away and the question then was where because of the ocean and the way it was tracking.

Simply the tension here Friday afternoon in Nogalito was easily felt and no macho shit here this guy was scared even with having probably the best casa in town for an event like this. There were others who felt the same.

In the afternoon it was sprinkling and raining lightly off and on. Walking around talking with others in other words taking up time till the first effects of the "biggest hurricane" arrived.

Had lunch and went up and got things food and other, secured it best I could and went back down to my friends and landlord's to wait as was not going to go through this thing alone.

Was watching the track very closely as the internets and electricity have remained on and here is my take -


Patricia was headed due north directly at Puerto Vallarta with the eye maybe 80 miles away approximately.

15 to 20 miles before making landfall just west of the 105th longitude the eye collapsed. It made land where the eye would have been 60 miles due south of here. We were within the perimeters of this thing and it drifted to the east. A little after 6 I came home.

The wind never blew nor was there intense rain. It rained most of the night but sleeping was good so don't know how much.

The storm weakening PLUS mountains were key without question. That's my story. I really don't know what this has done inland.

Walking around yesterday thought but only for a fleeting second of taking pictures for a before and after comparison. No way was the door going to opened into that realm. Maybe it's because of not doing so that made a difference as well. Just as plausible as other reasons that get thrown around to my way of thinking. In any case -

I am very happy. Not been out but sure many others are just as elated. I will be happy for a long period I think.

This whole coastal area north and south of Puerto Vallarta has been spared. Have not been out yet as the peaceful feeling this morning is wonderful. Cerveza will be had today and more than one.

Feel extremely fortunate and my hopes that others inland faired as well. It truly amazes me that this monster of a storm and so close that if you didn't know it was there you wouldn't have.

New Girl Coming To Town

Her name is Patricia and it's unknown whether she is going to be naughty or nice.

The sooner she takes a right turn is all good with me.

This was bothering no one in Vallarta this morning but one gringo I spoke with was pretty nervous.

Simple Pleasures

Went into Vallarta this morning after several things. It's easy to do. Walk a half mile pay eight pesos and take a seat on a bus for a less than ten minute ride into town where your shopping and/or business is then done on foot. Very easy to get done. There are many just like you. Many.

The things I was after was realized on the ride in are all straight forward but the difference is that it's all the good/better stuff at least to me. Here you go different places for different things.

Wanted some of the yellow mango's seen below. These are some of the best ever. There were six and three got missing to friends on the way home.

Fresh baked bread from this tiny hole in the wall place. There were two loaves but one of those went missing as well. This stuff is veeery good.

Then a bunch of chicken wings. The chicken here is the best. It is always very fresh. Just a treat to have these they're that good.

And here's the lady who sells me my chicky.

My pineapple guy has not been on this certain corner last two times. His pina's are the very best. So sweet and with all the food mentioned it's like with every bite you say "this tastes sooo good". I will take some of that frustration what little there is if any out on the three remaining mango's.

It's true. Simple things that bring a lot of pleasure. Mucho gusto! Life has been and is good.

Four shots took care of a respiratory issue many get here. Returning first week of March. Probably kick myself for that one.

Don't think Fly - only just a little bit. 

Out And About

A few pictures of what goes on in my world these days. Find these flowers to be rather pretty.

My new casa. I live on the bottom which is a studio with the top being a two bedroom.

I buy fish here and several other places as well. There are quite a few around and bought fish much further into Vallarta this morning. Spent $19 including almost 5 for some reading glasses as don't have any spares left.

From the upstairs apartment. Mine is just as nice but much smaller. I'd really like to live up here but for one guy it's too much and too expensive.

All I can say here is that these are sooooo good and eat them with most meals. Costs a buck.

I walk with Andres and Maria who own the property. Gracious and hospitable always as everyone seems to be here and anywhere else. Pretty cool actually. I expect this new friendship to continue even after I leave. Maria is holding avocados in case you were wondering.

Color For A Friend

Click on these so they get BIG. Twice

My friend Linda from Delta who doesn't have her corn in yet (they do now - happy days)suggested I get out there and find some color as it's drab in Colorado and many other places as well and brighten things up a bit.

A bit of motivation doesn't hurt sometimes so out I went and produced several half decent pictures for a change and definitely not in order. It takes a loooong time to upload these. All were taken today 12/13.

This is on the other side of a small river where the school is located. Typical life. 

There is color many places.

Soon many of these will be in bloom.

A common flower and took pictures of the same in Costa Rica.

The next four pictures were taken in a neighbors garden. Everybody cooperated. The dragonfly didn't move the whole time I was there. Either he was on his way out/hungover or something of that nature. It sure wasn't from being cold.

Took one shot of this spider and got it. Very hard with my camera to get something like this in focus.

Went for a hike on a trail and cannot emphasize enough how intense it is and this picture does not do justice not even a little bit. It was fairly dark and need to leave earlier than what I did next time. It's a work out and wasn't quite prepared. The highlight was when I came to a very small area where the sun was getting through and I saw another one of these the first being in Costa Rica. I just figured I would never see another but I did today. It's happenings like this that makes things go round for this guy.

Very pretty-hard to capture and you will not just walk into this greenery. Not sure what kind of forest this really is and it very well may be called something other. Will find out.

The way it was driving out of Walsenburg 11/16 but since then the weather has been quite  mild.