Janet and Tony in Mexico

Well, Janet and Tony's bags finally arrived on Friday (They got here on Wednesday!)  Those several days were spent tracking down their bags and getting the run-around!  We, of course, did entertain ourselves with good meals at home and out, some nice walks and an afternoon at San Francisco Playa.  On the day we knew their bags were in Hermosillo and coming to San Carlos in a cab (though we still didn't believe it), Jim, Janet and I took a walk to and from the beach at Tomate.  We had forgotten to take keys with us but we knew Tony would be here so didn't worry too much.  When we got home, we yelled up to Tony to come down and unlock the front gate for us.  When he did, the door to the condo slammed behind him and, yes, it locked!  No one was around and we had no phone and none of us had keys.  Considering that it was close to five and the Remax office could close, Janet and I decided to hitchhike into town and leave the boys here to receive the bags.  I wish I had a picture for you because it was just hilarious.  Janet, holding her thumb out tentatively at first, and cars whizzing by us with full loads finally convinced her to throw that whole arm out there and fairly soon a driver in a pickup full of a Mexican woman, her infant and mother in the front and an old (at least 90!) toothless Mexican man in the back.  He motioned for us to hop in the back.  We could hardly make it up to the bed of the truck-it was so high and he took off with me hanging onto a toehold in front and Janet lying on her back in the middle, next to the old man.  There was no rear gate on the truck so we were holding on to each other for dear life.  End of the story:  we made it to Remax, made it home in time for the baggage and we could finally relax.  However, in true "chihuahua factor" fashion, last night the water main broke, the swimming pool and hot tub are unusable and we are to conserve water.  We are getting used to these things.

We spent yesterday at Palapa Griega, a wonderful Greek restaurant on the sea with fabulous seafood and margaritas.  They had a great band there playing all songs we knew, so we entertained most of the people there with our dancing and singing abilities.

Janet and Jim cutting a rug on the beach

Likewise, Janet and Linda

Silly Tony and Boo

Janet all smiles

Boo shielding his eyes from the sun

Janet and Tony with Boo on the balcony

Christmas

A very different kind of Christmas this year.  We really missed our kids a lot but managed to have a lovely, very different kind of holiday anyway.  Christmas Eve we went to a party with friends in a gorgeous home overlooking San Francisco Bay here in San Carlos.  There was a parade of about a dozen boats which were all decked out in Christmas lights and bands.  My camera could not do justice to the event but you might get an idea from a few of these pictures.

Killing some time at Algodones Beach while waiting
for Janet and Tony to arrive-a really windy afternoon

Our friends' house overlooking the bay

Santa asking Jim if he has been naughty or nice

Linda getting a smooch from Santa-and he owns a campground
outside of Banff where we hope to be this summer!

Watching the boats parade by

Very bad picture of one of them but this is the best
my camera could do.

After about 20 hours of traveling, Janet and Tony finally arrive.
We had a great dinner at the Embarcadero Restaurant at the Marina.

Boxing day we spent the morning trying to figure out where Janet and Tony's luggage was.  We think it will come to Hermosillo this afternoon but have our fingers crossed because of the "Chihuahua" factor.  Stay tuned.

Music, Beautiful Young Girls and Pearls

On Wednesday night, we had the pleasure of going to the Civic Center Auditorium in Guaymas to hear an outstanding Christmas concert by the Azteca Esperanza Choir and Orchestra.  Our friend, Rachelle Zola, is responsible for coordinating this and other events of this kind. It is a very successful experiment in Mexico to take kids, ages 5-18, from poor neighborhoods and give them an opportunity to participate in a symphony orchestra setting.  After only 18 months exposure to the program, they were able to produce a professional symphony experience-WOW!

The next day on our way through town, we happened upon several girls who were celebrating their Quinceanara, a celebration of their fifteenth birthday and entrance into young womanhood.

Don't you wonder if that young man could handle those girls….?

Wow!  Only 15?!!

The girl in red was going to her reception at a grand old hotel in Miramar, Playa de Cortes.

This room was decked out as if for a wedding.

Miramar is also home to the famous Perlas Del Mar de Cortez on the Bacochibampo Bay.  Two students at the University there came up with a way to cultivate pearls from oysters using a very complicated and natural (unprocessed) procedure.

These are buoys indicating where the oyster beds are located.

Irridescent colors from the rainbow lipped oyster

La Manga and Another Celebration

La Manga is a small fishing camp down a dirt road, past all the bars and restaurants of Algodones Playa.   They have no running water, no sewer system and no electricity.  They certainly have some incredible views and fabulous people.  Several people and businesses in San Carlos have been working diligently to bring much needed supplies and education to the children of this community.  They now have a school there and many patrons donated toys and clothes for Christmas.

One of the colorful homes there

One, not so colorful, but with an incredible view

The school

As a thank you to donors, La Manga teacher, Monica Luna, and many of the local children and parents presented a Christmas Posada and thank you dinner for us gringos.  The children presented dances and songs in costume and enjoyed showing off their shell sculptures and Christmas ornaments that they had created themselves.  Boo was very popular with the kids.

The community center

Alfonso, showing me his picture on the tree

The reindeer

Boo with his new friend, but having eyes only for me

Monica, the kindergarten teacher, leading the children
through the neighborhood, looking for room in an inn

The traditional posada is a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's quest to find a room in an inn. We followed the teacher through town to several homes where they sang songs asking for a room.  Being turned down repeatedly, they finally are offered a place in a stable.

The innkeepers singing that they have no room

Another "no" from the inn keepers here-check out that view!

Finally!  And look at that sunshine on the baby Jesus!

Jesus was a real live baby!  He looked really happy to get out of all that light.

The festivities ended with the children singing the piñata song and each child taking several whacks at this huge piñata until candy was shared by all.  All the households of La Manga brought food for a  meal they served all of us. 

After we left, we understand that Santa visited the children and that all the toys were distributed.  Boo was getting a little bored with everyone touching and petting him, so we went on our merry way.  It was a delight-full day!

Celebrations

December 12th is Dia de la Virgen Guadalupe, a national holiday in Mexico.  It honors the appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego and, thus, the Mexican people. There is a little altar painted in the rocks above the fishmongers' place beside the bridge down the road.  We walked there and lit a candle.

Boo has his eye on the gulls and pelicans roosting nearby.

The 13th was our 44th wedding anniversary.  We celebrated by spending the afternoon at one of our favorite beaches-Piedra Pinta (We think that means picturesque stones).  Boo had a grand time chasing the sea gulls who taunted him endlessly.

Check out Boo and his paw prints in the sand.

The water is beautiful, crystal clear and so sparkley today!

We watched as 3 fishermen came in, anchored their boat off shore and on the beach and and then set up their nets to catch the biggest crabs you've ever seen.  When he held one up, it reached from the top of his head to below his knee!

That is all netting in the middle of the boat.

They were very friendly and happy to show off their catch in the
front of the boat.  They tossed me a gift of a starfish
that was caught in their nets.

The pelicans arrived in force to dine on the leftovers.

After a shower and a short siesta, we took off for Bonafacio's Cotton Club where we watched the most incredible kite surfers enjoy a windy late afternoon in the sunset while we enjoyed some margaritas and dinner.

The happy couple in the mirror at Bonafacio's and our
table out of the wind

Walking to Tomate Playa, Frenchman's Cove

There is a little beach at the end of the bay where, we are told, many of the young boating crowd gather for parties.  We think it is named Tomate, Frenchman's Cove.  We decided to walk there yesterday.  It is about a 1/2 hour walk down cobblestone streets lined with seaside villas-most for sale or rent and many just unoccupied.

No parties here today

On the other side of the beach to the right in the picture above is the Sea of Cortez.  Boo was the only one brave enough to test the chilly waters.  He goes absolutely nuts when he gets near waves-even little ones like we saw today.  He bites at the surf and barks like crazy, as if there is some evil monster that lives in the sea.

There isn't much left of him when he's wet!

December 9th was the memorial service at Chautauqua in Boulder for our good friend, Gary Muehler. We were so sorry not to be able to attend, so we decided to build a cairn out of heart rocks we collected on the beach as a way to honor his memory.  We felt his presence in the pelican that kept encircling us.  It's hard not to be home at times like these.