Left Coast Cowboys

Hope I’m not going to be drummed out of NaBloPoMo. I wrote this post in Mexico, hopped on the plane and assumed I would upload it when I got home. I assumed wrong. My host, who seems to have chosen THIS month to do an extensive migration, wouldn’t give me access. So, in the interest of full disclosure, this is yesterday’s post today. Post-dated. So sue me.

This is as good a time as any to wrap up our four day attitude adjustment in Puerto Vallarta. I would highly recommend renting a villa, as we did, rather than staying in one of the many vaguely Stalinist high rise hotels. First, the economics were right. With a private chef, the cost came to about $150 per couple per night (with three couples staying in a villa that could have held at least three more couples.) For my money, Puerto Vallarta isn’t THAT exciting a destination in terms of historical sights (none that I could see), architecture (not much of interest), historical artifacts (none), so you might as well just hang out in the sun by the pool and the beach. Which I can take for about three days, so this was perfect.

Our villa was Villa Celeste, which I would highly recommend.

I should mention that not all of us draped ourselves over deck chairs and vegged out. Andy and Keith did go on a two tank dive near an off-shore bird reserve. The most interesting thing they saw under water were sea turtles. The most interesting thing above the water were these guys:

It's the Blue Footed Boobie! And this is one of the few places you can see him outside of the Galapagos. Photo: Shutterstock.

Meanwhile, those of us manning beach chairs marveled at the huge Frigate Birds:

Our final wildlife encounter involved feeding bananas to our friendly neighborhood iguanas.

Here's the little female iguana.

Here's the male iguana.

About those pictures. Note to self: if you boost the ISO up to 800 for a night shot, change it back to 100 before you start taking pictures under bright sunlight. Guess my photography is still squarely in the amateur category at this point.

I’m not understanding it. Travel should, and usually does, give me loads to blog about. Not this time. Or maybe it’s the type of vacation which is 100% relaxation and no schedule or agenda. So until I leave tomorrow, you’ll have to put up with what I had for breakfast. Although breakfast was pretty unusual: fruit sculpture.

After that point, the day devolved into relaxation, massages, pool, more relaxation. Until we had a spot of excitement at midday.

One of the caretakers came to ask my permission for something. But since he doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish, I had no idea what I’d agreed to.

Suddenly, a group of cute Mexican teens, all dressed in white, showed up with a film and camera crew. They posed around the courtyard, then took off. Leaving me wondering if these are the next Mexican Idols. Or Mexican Bandstand. Or Mexican Dance Party. Or a Mexican toothpaste commercial.

Some of the teens wait their turn in front of the camera. And mug for my camera.

The stylist at work on two cute kids who needed no styling.

I always swore I would never be that blogger who had nothing to say but what I had for breakfast. My big stumbling block with blogging has always been that I felt I couldn’t blog until I had something profound to say. Or at least something to say that took up 1000 words. Now that I’m on a long weekend in Mexico, I’m that “breakfast blogger”. Having a wonderful time. Had Heuvos Rancheros for breakfast. See ya later.

Yup. Blogging from Mexico means absolutely nothing to say. You’re lucky you have pictures. The only thing of any vague interest is that there is a music festival going on down here in Puerto Vallarta. And one of the featured bands is perhaps THE premier Mariachi Band in Mexico, Mariachi Vargas de Jalisco. Just so happens, with my incredibly ecclectic music collection on my iPod, I have several albums of Mariachi Vargas. So to have them playing in town is like having the Stones playing at the bar next door. I’ve been unable to convince my villa-mates that this is something that is must see. But I’ve got my iPod fired up in homage. And my lighter ready.

Our friendly neighborhood iguana appreciates the full selection of Mariachi music on my iPod.

There are loads of butterflies, but they aren't as cooperative as the ones in Sonoma. Hey, hold still so I can take a picture.

That is a faux parrot! But who cares? I love the idea of painting in the wildlife you want to highlight. Note to self: paint burros and goats on the walls at Two Terrier Vineyards.

 Considering we live in California, we have been to Mexico surprisingly few times. Usually when our friends organize it. Luckily, we have very organized friends. One of them, Christine, organized a villa with a chef for a ridiculously low shoulder season price. We’re right on the Pacific. Guacamole and Margaritas were waiting for us. Don’t care if there is nothing else on the agenda. We’ve got a pool. We have a nice open plan villa. We’re being brought food. And the ocean is just steps away. Best of all, no wine to pump, stomp, babysit or measure.

Waiting for us when we arrived. Food of the Gods.

The patio of our villa. Every room opens out to a view of the ocean.

Parrot chairs. Are these from Margaritaville?

We've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.

Thanks, Christine, for planning everything.