January , February and March 2005 (My
November and December Journal can be found here.)
We
meet and live with amazing people from all over the world.
Looking back in the last few weeks...
There was our in house kindergarten teacher and good friend, Terri
Jo and Laura, master internet marketer and her daughter Holly, a wonderful
family from Toronto, Tim,
Claire and Jack, the sweet and fun, Dayna and Mark from
Colorado, Lili, Chris and Mary, acupuncturists from Berkeley, more friends
than I can name from Fairbanks, Alaska, Paul, Lucia, Joe and Kate from
Tok, Alaska, Cindi, Dave, Dawson and Callum from Tofino, Nancy and Bob
and family, Jan and Hank, Phil from Oakdale, Stacy of Vancouver, The Farley
Clan representing Sebastopol and relatives from Clearlake, Angie and her
family from New York and Oregon, Famous Adventurer, Peter Peru, Sayuri
and fam from Alaska, Lena and her boyfriend from Sweden, Cynthia from
Nor Cal, John from Texas, to who I'm forever indebted for finding and
bringing our washing machine parts and believe me, this is just a few
of our recent guests and now part of our family.
I'm really kicking myself for not keeping up on my journal. So
much has happened this last month. I turned 44, last week
and had a wonderful party full of good friends, food and cold beer. I'm
thankful that my family is happy and healthy. I'm hoping February allows
me to spend more time on this site.
New Yelapa
Forum!
Brand spankin new is a
Yelapa Forum to answer questions and for all to post info on your
adventures to Yelapa. The forum is located on the allvallarta.com
site run by the amazing Brenda. Helping me keeping up answering questions
is David of Yelapa.info.
I am positive that it will grow into a huge database of information on
our wonderful community.
New Pier in
Yelapa
The other day while visiting with a friend on the beach, I noticed some
type of heavy-duty drill in action on the far left side of the beach,
sitting next to me was the engineer of the their project. In the first
quick round of my questions I learned it will be a pier located off the
beach, not in the location of the old pier. It is a project funded by
a few different government agencies and is expected to take three months
to complete. I will return this week and get more info and pics.
Musician Visit
Last night while answering emails, a musician from a past life visited.
All the sudden I heard my guitar strum. As I turned my head, I heard my
banjo ukulele strum. What in the world? I looked closer in shock as I
saw the praying mantis that was visiting and it jumped from instrument
to instrument. Very cool.... who knows maybe it was Jerry Garcia or Michael
Hedges reincarnated?
Tsunami Help
Yelapa is also offering assistance in the midst of this crisis. As our
current family staying in Casa Iguana returned from their day at the beach,
two little kids from the neighborhood approached them with a can... "please
help, we are with the red cross, collecting money for Tsunami victims".
Gabriella offered 2 pesos...they ran off cheering and laughing with their
new bounty! Not a great thing to do but we all agreed, definitely ingenious.
Rough Seas
For the last few days and usually close to the full moon, the seas get
rough in Yelapa. Here's a few tips to make your voyage easier. Put a plastic
bag as a liner in your bag or luggage, that way you wont have to worry
when your bag is getting hit by the waves. Of course I'm sure everyone
knows to sit, as far to the back of the boat. If your totally into planning,
a bit of candied ginger from the States or Canada does wonders. It's a
fact that we have never lost anyone to the seas, while traveling on a
water taxi in Yelapa History. Do your best to enjoy the adventure.
Martita's First
Show... At Home in Yelapa
One day famous artist, Martita is alot closer to fame with her upcoming
show at the Hotel Lagunitas Gallery on March 10th, 6pm. I've personally
watched my friend and fellow social misfit , fine tune her skills of pen
and ink drawing here in Yelapa. If your in town that week make sure to
check her recent work out. It's
real nice...She is showing until April 10th.
It's my computers
fault!
I had a rare computer problem and want to apologize for any delay to emails
I've received. I proud myself on rapid reply's and every once in a while
something gets in my way... I'm now going through backups and responding
as fast as possible.
Off
to Tuito
Tomorrow, we are off to Tuito, our municipal city. I am honored to be
meeting with the President of the Cabo Corrientes. For the past months,
I've been brainstorming an idea to build tourism and I finally get a shot
at pitching it. It will be good to see some some new sights and learn
new things.
Tuito
Every
time I visit Tuito , I wish I had three days to visit instead of one.
It is so clear that it is full of culture. The day was really amazing.
We met Fiti, Mayor and Sheriff of Yelapa and his family on the muelle
in Yelapa early and Fiti needed to do a small errand and asked that we
wait. His son tied a rope from the boat to a large propane tank sitting
on the pier and then threw it the ocean and Fiti pulled the tank out to
the point where his son carried it to the casa that was out of gas...
way cool! Back to the day... We took his ponga to Boca and from there
took the bus 45 minutes to Tuito. Upon arrival to the town center, we
ran into a bunch of familiar faces. There was all our friends that work
in Yelapa as police. The police in Yelapa rotate every 15 days and usually
during that rotation, many work in the pueblos close to Tuito. It was
odd to see them out of Yelapa but a treat for all of us. I was a bit nervous
as we headed up to see the Pres. It was my good fortune to meet Blanca,
who's main responsibility is to build tourism in the Cabo Corrientes.
With her english skills and her support , I was able to outline my ideas
for tourism. In addition, I met the gentleman who in charge of technology
for the Cabo. I left the day excited and full of positivity. The president,
Leon was kind enough to give me a map
of the Cabo Corrientes and I'll share it with you.
Katrina,
the basketweaver...
More than a year ago in Occidental, I had a flash about Katrina and her
skills. She forages in the woods and collects plants and materials to
be weaved into baskets and shakers. It turned out that she too had an
dream to work on her weaving in an Indigenous community. No more dreaming
for the two of us... Katrina is here for a few weeks and we have been
collecting materials from all the area. My in laws visited last night
and we talked mostly about plants . It always amazes me how much a Yelapense
knows about the earth. Today's adventure brings Katrina and myself along
with Gabriella, Andrew, Piute and Terra to the mountains above Pizota
to collect plants.
Mateo and Vanessa, Alicia and Daly are going to learn how to make the
baskets and shakers too. More info soon...
Rain and Wind...
It
has been raining for a few days... The world and it's weather is definitely
wacky.
Rain here in February isn't common. We survived. I was feeling sad for
my friend Roy and his Yoga Group of 20. They too survived but it isn't
what any tourists ordered, although rain for Yelapa is great. Wind on
the other hand, can cause chaos to our open palapa. This morning after
a thundering rain, the wind paid us a visit. It's not like we haven't
seen wind like this but it's not often we see it with a casa full of guests.
The kids went wild, screaming to the skies above. Cups and dishes, papers
and assorted things flew, not to mention the branches and leaf materials.
Andrew had a close call with a branch in the head. An hour later with
the power out , the skies slowed to a halt. The water is now like a lagoon
and all the weather is gone and forgotten, except for the massive cleanup
needed after we take a much needed nap...
Here it is,
the next day and it is going to be glorious today! The sun is magnificent,
especially after three days of not seeing it...the ocean is calm...birds
are singing...
Overheard
While on the path, over a walkie talkie in Yelapa....
" I'm there and it's closed! " Where? " Rolley Polley "
no it's not Rolley Polley... It's Polo Bolo!
....... If you have never been to Pollo Bollo (pronounced Poyo Boyo) you
should! Open Wednesday - Sunday nights. Serving Great Dinners of Chicken,
Fish and Ribs... They also have a vegetarian plate. Meals are 40 pesos
for a half order and 60 pesos for a full order.
Great Weather
We are having a great round of weather here in Yelapa. The unusual February
rains have brought back more of the greens that were fading. Birds are
everywhere. The Sun has been shining daily with a little sweet breeze.
Do whatever you can to get on a plane and visit. You deserve it!
Back in the
USA
I'm
off to Sonoma County for two weeks to take care of business and to cross
the border, after my six month visit. After fifteen years
of visiting Yelapa, I have finally figured out how to live here full time!
I'll be checking my email and hope to see you all in Yelapa soon...
Back in one
piece
I
made it back safely from a 12 day visit to the States. The weather was
lovely. I have lots to say but can't right now. I have a ton of email
to respond to! Please be patient, I'll be caught up soon. I will hopefully
able to once more respond to emails the same day I receive them. There
are lots of great Casa's available in April in Yelapa! Come on down!
Caught up!
3/20/05
I spent an entire day answering emails and am completely caught up. My
response time is now minutes!