Chillin' and Eatin' wit Friends

Hello all!

When we traveled as nomads, we generally posted a blog entry every 10 days. This time, here outside Puerto Vallarta, we’ve been a bit remiss. Since getting here, until our first guests arrived, we’ve been basically chillin’.

Because we’re here for three months and we don’t go out to dinner every night, we had to stock up on grocery items. There are a lot of different markets around here. Besides the small bodega-type markets, we have large mega markets, plus a Costco, Sams, and a Walmart. Our favorite place is called La Comer. La Comer has everything you need, from fresh fruits and vegetables to Japanese rice papers and even Martin’s Potato rolls (a common hamburger roll choice in Pennsylvania). It’s really a Mexican Whole Foods and thus, other than the workers, you will see very few locals.

On the 30th of January, our first guests, Larry and Missy, arrived. Larry was a colleague of Nancy’s way back in her working days. Missy is Larry’s wife from Texas. They named their ranch in Texas, Yankee Acres Farm…to the consternation of Missy’s Texan brother.  They have cattle, goats, horses and chickens!

We took them to our favorite restaurant, “Margarita on the Hill” (as we mentioned in the last blog). They loved it so much we went back another night, esp. for coconut shrimp.

Missy and Larry still work, so their days fit right in with our chillin’ mentality.

Larry and Missy at Margarita on the Hill

Mornings were generally spent talking and afternoons were spent relaxing around the pools on the roof of our condo.

One day we went to the market in a little nearby town called La Cruz. From the highway La Cruz looks like a dusty bustling town with locals’ homes along the way. But once you go into the center of town, you come upon a large marina with boats of all sizes, including monster yachts.

La Cruz Marina

The market is huge, it stretches from inside the town all the way out along the coast along a long promenade. There are merchants selling everything from candles to clothes to Dim Sum.

La Cruz Sunday Market

Halfway through the throng of Americans and Canadians is a small, tented theater. When we were there, there was a group playing 60’s songs like “Do You Believe in Magic” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag!”  Under the tent was a sea of gray-haired folks groovin’ to the music. John mentioned that it looked like this is the place Boomers came to mellow out (and rest from the long walk in the heat.)

Boomers Groovin' to the Oldies!

We even found a vendor who had Italian sausage and porchetta (check out our Eat tab for a link to a recipe for porchetta.) If you ever have a chance to go, definitely try the baklava.  Not something we would normally buy while in Mexico but it was great…thanks Missy!

Larry and Missy left on a Monday. Dave and Sue, from our marina in Portland, arrived on Tuesday. Just enough time to change the sheets and clean the bathroom!  

Over the days we spent together we did bring them to “Margarita on the Hill” for dinner again. So, now this is our fifth time at this restaurant. By now, we’re regulars and when we arrived, there were hugs and handshakes and ‘welcome back’ from our hosts.

Sue loved the glass stars that hung throughout the room.

Glass Star reflecting the Sunset

Dave wanted a shot of tequila and Nancy and Sue followed (John, since his horrible experience with tequila when his best friend, Kerry Hoffman, “dragged” him to Hess’ Tavern in downtown Bloomsburg, Pa for his 21st birthday and he downed a forgettable number of tequila shots, is not a big fan of the liquor. And for the full story, ask him about his Organic Chemistry final the next day). Anyway, when Hector poured the tequila into three shot glasses, there was a little left in the large bottle. As he was leaving our table, he just shrugged and left the remaining tequila on the table and said, “enjoy.” Several more shots were “enjoyed”.  Dave saved the cap as a souvenir!

So, our days were spent talking the morning away, lunch, hours around the pool and eating! One evening we went to a small town called Bucerias for the Tuesday night ‘Art Walk.’ All the shops that sell Mexican art and jewelry are open from 6 PM until 9 PM.  

Sue found a bracelet she really liked but it was a little pricey. The owner offered Sue a discounted price, but we still left the store sans bracelet. We wandered by the store again as we were heading to dinner.  Sue asked Dave to go back in and try to “charm” the owner into a still lower price.  If you know Dave, you can bet what happened…Sue got her bracelet.

We finished the night at a cool restaurant that John spied up a side street called La Nigra, eating a fabulous Caesar salad and PIZZA!

We spent another evening at “Thai Bistro.” From the name you would think you are going to a cool little restaurant in town.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The restaurant requires driving on lots of dirt roads and waiting for the chickens to cross the street.  The place only has five tables, and they are booked every night. Justifiably so…the food and ambiance were both fabulous! The pic at the top of the page is of us with the owner at our table.

As we were getting in our car to leave when we spotted a station wagon with a red plastic chair tied to the back.  No idea why it was there…any thoughts?

Hastily taken pic of Beverly Hillbillies Car...Granny not in sight.

In La Cruz, a nearby local town, there is a fish market every day. The market has five or six stalls each selling freshly caught fish.

For our last dinner together, Dave and John planned a feast. (Sue and Nancy only cook when absolutely necessary).  We had shrimp ceviche, mussels, and fish cooked on a charcoal fire. Yarrow, Nancy’s Granddaughter, arrived on Saturday so she was able to appreciate the meal too.

Sadly, Sue and Dave left Sunday morning and thus, could not join us for our rowdy behavior at the bar here watching the Superbowl.  We were LOUD since almost everyone else wanted Kansas City. The Mexican bar staff smiled and laughed as we screamed and yelled for the Birds!

GO IGGLES! - Everyone stay safe on Friday at the parade.

Well, as we said, we’re not having those crazy experiences we had as nomads, but we’re having fun catching up with and really getting to know old and new friends.

Love,

Nancy and John