Ocean Perils

I just heard the best reason to stay out of the ocean. Snakes-poisonous snakes. One of the guests was walking on the beach and saw eleven washed up there. Also he saw what looked like jelly fish or blobs of jelly with a black spot on them. That's enough for me. The waves have been very rough and we've had a red flag for almost a month. The waves have been so powerful that our sliding doors shake as do our chairs and bed when they crash. I think I'll stick to those calm bays and keep saying the snakes are more scared of me than I am of them. They are very scared snakes in that case!
On the other hand we see whales, dolphins, rays and other fish almost every day. They are far enough out that I don't worry about them. Actually if a dolphin swam near I'd been enchanted.

Our Plans for Next Year?

I'm not sure I have shared photos of our condo so I've added a few. We are enjoying our outdoor life for the most part and every evening we have a beautiful sunset. I know I've shared photos of that! We are in the process of checking out rentals for next year. Yes we love this place enough to consider returning next year. We are considering a two bedroom and bath and perhaps with another view. We have decided that we want some walls! How conventional we are after all. On the very few days that it's too hot, windy, or noisy we only have our bedroom to retreat to. Not that it's bad but we would still have a large balcony that has large sliding doors that could be open. We are loving our spot here but are considering options. We will keep you updated. We still have another month to see possibilities. Most importantly we have ruled out a number of options. There is a lot of building going on here. The clubhouse is almost finished and will be by next winter but a new pool and building will be going ahead. We would like to avoid the noise of that area. We haven't decided how we would get here next year. Would we drive again? Fly and rent a car? Rely on the resort's shuttle service or the "kindness of others" (Blanche Dubois, Street Car Named Desire). All to be revealed at a later date.

Our Condo

Our Balcony and View

Our Living, Dining and Kitchen - All Outside

Kitchen Closeup

More of the Kitchen-With a Great View

Bedroom with Air Conditioning

Bathroom

Another Great Day

We met Tara and Rod last week and planned to go to several calm beaches in the area since our waves were crazy high here at Vivo. Today was the day. We drove to Playa Manzanilla and an adjacent beach Playa Angelito this morning. We started our day at Playa Manzanillo overlooking the fishing boats moored in the bay. We settled into some loungers under umbrellas in front of a restaurant. We lounged and swam in the calm bay and enjoyed cervasas, pina coladas, and delicious peanuts for snacks. We walked over to the adjacent beach, Playa Angelito, and enjoyed camerones and ceviche for lunch. A tasty appetizer that they provide for no cost before serving lunch is tortillas with chipote mayonnaise and lime. It's a winner that I will serve at home this summer. National families were enjoying this beach today. They had arrived in about four or five large buses from as far away as Mexico City. We shopped in small stalls before going home about 5 PM. Tara and Rod have to leave tomorrow for Nanaimo, BC. We are so glad to have spent the day with them.

Super Day with Friends

Children Playing at Playa Angelito

Lots of Activity at Playa Angelito

Looking from Playa Angelito to Playa Manzanillo

Handsome Couple on Fabulous Beaches

Playa Manzanillo

Fishing Boat

Quiet Bay at Playa Manzanillo

Beachfront Restaurant

Our Day with Friends and the Chila Festival

Agua Blanca

Our lunch at Aqua Blanca
Right on the Beach

The Pool at Casa Rubio

The Beach Property at Casa Rubia

Fireworks at Chila Festival

Bull, Horse and Minature Horse at Chila
You Could Have Your Picture Taken on Top of these Animals

More Fireworks at Chila

Midway Rides at Chila

Ready for a Slow Day

That's kind of funny because all our days are relaxed! We are enjoying our quiet days and our excursions. Last night we were invited to a sunset party - it's a real plus, another beautiful condo overlooking the ocean. We brought some drinks and beer and enjoyed their hospitality. The hosts are from New Jersey and we have had numerous conversations about my former state. The company was great as was the food! No need to cook dinner after the feast. Everyone seems to favour low key entertaining. It's a real plus. If you don't want to prepare anything you just order from the restaurant here. Very nice! We aren't invited to all parties but we never say no when we are!
On Monday we are going to Playa Manzanillo. It's another beach that is safe for swimming and is public as most beaches are. Monday won't be as crowded we think. We are going with a couple from Nanaimo, BC. She is a former world class volleyball player (international gold for Canada) and now manages various municipal recreation sites. She also trains her friends. She led our aquafit classes twice and was great. We had a real work out today. It's so easy to meet interesting folks here. A real plus we think.

Wild Ride on the Beach

Our neighbour Lorne took six of us on a wild ride up and down the beach in what is called the safari mobile. It is a converted 1994 Suburban with no sides and a roof that looks pretty rickety. They had driven it down from Calgary many years ago and had parked it under a carport covered with bouganvilla vines. The plant was watered everyday and eventually the roof of the car was destroyed. Lorne had it made into the safarimobile. It can go on the beach and also can get stuck in the soft sand. Lorne skillfully drove it and the men only had to push it out of the sand a few times. We were covered in sand by the time we returned. Between the exfoliating properties of the sand and the bouncing massage like ride we thought we had been to the spa! It was lots of fun with friends. On the way back we went through the streets of Chila. It seems the whole month is devoted to celebrations and festivals of one sort or another. Tonight there are fireworks and we are going as a large group from Vivo. It should be fun. I hope I can stay awake! The fireworks aren't starting until midnight.

Update:

Last night we did go to Bajos de Chila for the entertainment and fireworks.

"Chilas' biggest Celebration by far is the February Festival. It Covers 15 days of parades, fiestas, rodeo events, horse racing, cockfights, a midway with games, rides, food and all manner of merchandise offered on main street turned midway. In the midst of the February festival, Dia de la Amory de la Mistad on February 14th is celebrated as the day of love and friendship, ending with fireworks."

Elaine organized a large group from Vivo and we had seating in a restaurant area from 9PM-1AM. We took cars and found parking near the entrance of Chila and then walked through all the amusement area, food stalls, shirts, shoes, housewares, etc. to find our place right near the town square in the shadow of the church. It was packed with nationals and a very few others like us. It was exciting and loud. I wished I knew Spanish so I would have been able to understand the commentary that went along with the dances and performances on stage. They told stories of traditions that would have been interesting if I understood them. Beer was 20 pesos as were soft drinks. No wine just tequila was on hand. I stuck to coke. The fireworks started earlier than expected and were amazing. They were loud and bright and seemed to go on for a very long time. We had prime seats for viewing yet just far enough away to be safe. Sparks and smoke were flying every where. We ate tacos and pizza. The evening ended around midnight and to my surprise I was wide awake. It was a fun, interesting evening because we were able to share in a genuine Mexican festival.

Today we are off to Agua Blanca for lunch and swimming. Before that we will tour a large villa called Casa Rubia that belongs to the developer of Vivo, Cary Mullen. We are going with Elaine and Lorne (Carey's parents and our next door neighbours here).

Our Day at Playa Carrizalillo

At Playa Carrizalillo with Gary and Polly

Enjoying Our Day at the Beach

Beautiful Spot

Such a Contrast From Our Crashing Waves at Vivo

Playa Carrizalillo

Our visit to Playa Carrizalillo was wonderful yesterday. Our friend Gary with the beautiful home and his friend Polly who was visiting for the week from NYC went to Playa Carrizalillo for the day. We left here about 9:30 and after a few detours we parked at the Villa Carrizalillo where that nice restaurant Espedin is located (see previous posts). We used their steps to get down to the beach and back because we were told they were easier. It was fine although today my thighs are letting me know. Once down on the beach we found loungers with umbrellas and set up for the day. If you purchase 300 pesos worth of food and drinks you get the loungers for free. Otherwise you pay 300 pesos! A definite no brainer. They make fresh drinks out of oranges or limes mixed with agua minerale or naturale that are so good and refreshing for 35 pesos but the beer was less expensive. I don't like beer but the price of beer in Mexico is a reason to develop a taste! We had papas fritas and our friends had fried fish and shrimp. They both said it was very good. Gary's fish was a whole fish and Polly's shrimp still had their heads and tails-eyes looking up at you. We finished off the day with ice cream from a vendor on the beach. It was delicious. I had coconut and the others had vanilla and strawberry. All the flavours were so fresh and wonderful. The vendor had a large barrel like insulated container on wheels that he pushed through the sand. We wonder how he ever got it up and down the 157 steps.
The water in this area is relatively calm. It is easy to get in and out without being tossed around in the surf. There is a long surf where surf boarders can ride in on relatively small waves and learn to surf. Some of them are so skilled and I kept worrying that they would crash onto the rocks. It was fun to watch. We were in and out of the water many times and enjoyed ourselves so much. Despite the walk up and down it was delightful and we will return.

Another Day in Paradise

At our Little Mercado Here in Vivo

Small Church in Chila

Wild Ride With Lorne

Small Restaurant on the Beach

One of My Paintings

Tom Playing Volleyball in the Pool

On Our Balconey

Photos from Puerto Escondido

Playa Zicatela

Tom with Puerto Escondido in Background

The surf  at Playa Zicatela

Hotel Carrizalillo Courtyard

Playa Carrizalillo

Sharing the road with Mucho Cows

Catching Up

I thought I would try to catch up with what we are doing. The internet is so slow and spotty that I can't always keep up to date. Our social life is great here. It's a very friendly place. We have hosted three dinner parties so far for some of the folks who have been most helpful and friendly. We only have four place settings and four dining room chairs so we can't have a crowd at any one time! We have been invited to a large party at our next door neighbours. Their son Carey is the developer of  Vivo and his parents are very much involved. They have a beautiful unit overlooking the ocean. It's huge and comfortable. They also have the floor below them where their son and his family stay while here. The occasion for the party was odd, Rosca de Reyes. Here they call it the Baby Jesus party! More than a month ago, near Epiphany, there was another party with a cake that had a figure of the Baby Jesus baked into it. (The way we bake birthday cakes with coins in it). Whoever gets the Baby Jesus had to host a tamale party to celebrate Candlemas Day on Feb. 2nd. What really happens is the figure is passed around until someone says they are willing to host! It was held at the beautiful condo next door to us but the hosts were Bob and Carey who provided the tamales (made by the mayor of Chila's wife!) and sangria. Everyone brought an appetizer or dessert. and some wine or beer. It was so much fun and the setting was perfect.
Then there was the Super Bowl Party attended by lots of people right here and organized by one of the owners. There was a betting pool (we lost) and a small auction. All fun. There is another party coming up in early March with entertainment and dinner. That also should be a good time. We have aquacize twice a week, a market on Friday's organized by our friend Bob. A local fruit and vegetable seller from Chila comes about 8AM and our crowd forms. We buy almost everything he brings. Fresh berries, lots of different veggies, and eggs. It is very fresh and very cheap.
There is always someone going into town for dinner and you can join them if you wish.
A few days ago Tom and I went to Espadin for lunch. What a lovely setting overlooking the ocean. We will return to walk the steps down to Playa Carrizalillio. We have revisited Playa Zicatela, a tourist area with restaurants and shops and have enjoyed lunch at El Habanero on the beach. It's friendly waiter Santiago treats us very well.

This Week's Excursions

My sister Pat visited us this last week and we really enjoyed our time together. Pat especially loved our morning swims in the ocean when we thought the waves weren't too crazy. While we haven't mastered getting in and out we have become better at timing our entry and exit. I still get a load of sand stuck in my bathing suit but no matter. Everyday we see some wonderful sea life - Humpback whales and Orcas, dolphins, rays and fish leaping out of the water. It's very exciting and we don't seem to tire of the daily show.

We went on a boat tour of the Manialtepec Laguna to see the many birds that inhabit the area. We were surprised to see how big the Laguna is. We saw many different kinds of herons, kingfishers, egrets, eagles, vultures, storks and of course cormorants. We went into the mangroves that are along the shore and spotted very well camouflaged birds inside. Ernesto, our boatman, was very skilled at finding these birds. As sunset approached we made our way to the ocean and it turned out to be the same place we had gone to a week or so ago, Puerto Suelo. We just got there a different way. We watched the sunset and met some other people who effortlessly built a bonfire on the beach using some dried palms and coconut husks. After it got dark we went back to the boat and stopped in a small area. Ernesto drove the boat in circles stirring up the water. When you put your hand in or jumped in to swim (Ernesto did the swimming) bioluminescence  appeared like bright lights in the water and followed the disturbances in the water. It was so amazing to see. As we picked the water up in our hands and let it fall it was like fairy dust. I'm so glad we got to see this.
My sister Pat had to leave on Thursday and there were no turtle releases for her to see. As luck would have it they released some on Thursday night.
On Thursday Tom and I went grocery shopping but decided to look for a beach he had heard about called Agua Blanca past Puerto Escondido. We found it and were happy we did. There are volcanic rocks near the shore that break the waves and form pools where fish gather. You can put on a mask and in very shallow water see many fish. We didn't bring our bathing suits or snorkeling masks but we enjoyed it anyway. There are many restaurants along the stretch of beach. We had a cold drink and excellent fries. Then we drove back and did our shopping. A good day indeed. Pat would have liked Agua Blanca. 

Photos From the Last Few Days

At Agua Blanca

Tom at Agua Blanca

Kitchen Area at the end of Laguna

Sunset Over Laguna

Beautiful Reflections 

Roosting Storks

Stork Taking Flight

Snowy Egret

Ernesto, Our Captain