Tickets to San Carlos are ridiculously expensive (sometimes as much as $1200 RT from Denver to Hermosillo). There was great hope this year that Paradise Air would have flights from Tucson or Phoenix to Guaymas, which is only about 15 minutes away, but it has not happened yet, despite promises. Patty has a sister-in-law who works for American Airlines and she gave Patty a buddy pass which saved her a lot of dinero. She had to fly standby on 4 legs and, miraculously, made it on all four. Since the road from here to Hermosillo is under construction which makes it very challenging for us to drive, she took a car back and forth to Hermosillo for about $200, plus tip. This is not an easy place to get to. That might be one of the reasons it is so special. We so appreciate that Patty made the effort to spend some very special time with us. It was especially fun because, as an ESL teacher, she speaks Spanish well, and even helped us out with our smattering of Spanish phrases. She also is appreciative of the Mexican culture, which was an added bonus for us-not everyone gets it the way she does.
Patty had two things on her bucket list for her trip here: attending a Spanish class and going kayaking. We did both on her first full day here.
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We put the kayak in between the peninsula and the island in Shangra-La
Bay, below our house. We paddled out to Roca San Nicolas,
the white rock in the picture below. |
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The water was calm and we saw all kinds of birds: cormorants, blue-footed
boobies, great blue herons, Hermann's gulls, pelicans and even followed
a dolphin for a bit. |
We met Jim at La Palapa Griega, had a nice shrimp lunch and a margarita and then Patty and Jim
went out to the left of the peninsula to view the town from the sea. They weren't as lucky as Patty and I as the winds were picking up and it was a bit of a struggle coming back around into the bay.
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La Palapa Griega
We pretty much had the place to ourselves. |
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| Look who is having a great time running on the beach! |
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| They made it! |
Spanish class is held at 3:30 on Thursdays at the local community church. I have bumped myself into the Intermediate class this year, because of the teacher but I've probably bitten off a bit too much.
I'm trying to study a little more this year.
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This is my Spanish teacher, Jennifer Hudson and her husband,
Ed. Patty agreed that she was an excellent teacher. They also live
right across the street from us and have every tool known to man,
which is great for us two renters who don't always have what we need. |
That night we had a tequila tasting and Centenario won all of our votes.
On Friday morning, Patty and I had massages with Quecha in our living room. We were both blissed out for most of the day. We went to Cinda and Win's for drinks and then to JJs for dinner. Patty had to meet the infamous JJ! She was a hit with him. (Forgot pictures there)
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| The view from the Johnsons' house. |
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| Cinda |
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| Patty, Jim and I |
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| Cunninghams and Johnsons |
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| She looks pretty happy, doesn't she?!!! |
The sunset was pretty spectacular! The next day was particularly stressful in this blissed out place because we haven't had water regularly for awhile and the tonaka was empty! We needed a shower badly and Patty sacrificed by running around the neighborhood, chasing this water truck and paying him for a tonaka load of water. What a houseguest!
On Saturday, we went to the book sale at Tecali and ran a few errands and then met friends at the marina for a great boat ride. We had a fabulous time, riding with the dolphins, exploring San Francisco Beach, the estuary and all the Rocas and Isletas in the Sea.
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| Patty and Jimbo |
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| Manny, our driver |
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| Patty, Phil and Margene |
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| Margene |
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| Patricia |
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| The Lion Rock-we were mesmerized by this rock in the setting sunlight. |
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| Many sea birds |
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| Yours truly and handsome |
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| Joe |
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| Love this picture of Jim |
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| Phil Denbar, a friend of Margene's from her college days |
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| The three sisters: islands on the Baja |
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| Back home around San Nicolas |
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| Joe |
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| Entering the marina |
The weather was mostly in the high seventies and low eighties with a cool breeze. There were some high winds on a day or two and this foggy day which made for some cool pictures again.
Before the Super Bowl, we took a walk out on the Estero Soldad, the Soldier's Estuary, at low tide.
What a game this year's Super Bowl was. Of course, I was in the minority hoping the Patriots would beat Atlanta and for most of the game it looked like that was not to be. Then, miracle of miracles, Brady turned in a brilliant performance towards the end and won the game for the home team. Joe and Margene hosted the party, as usual. They are selling their wonderful home this year-we are going to miss them a lot!
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| You'd think they were serious football fans! Not! |
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A whole day at Boo's Beach-walks, shell collecting, relaxing, watching the
dolphins and enjoying a perfect San Carlos day. |
Our painting group met at Nacapule Canyon this week. Patty came with us and strolled in the desert and meditated a bit while we painted.
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| This was the scene I painted |
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| Our finished products-these girls are GOOD! |
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Afterwards, we went for a hike in the Canyon
with Diane, Rosie and Ariel. |
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| Ariel, Diane and Rosie |
Then we went to Diane's ranch for a Campari cocktail (I'm beginning to like these!) and to cool down a bit.
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Gorgeous horses-she has about 10 of them, 6 dogs,
a bunch of cats and who knows what else. |
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Her husband came home with a cooler full of freshly caught
yellowtail. |
Afterwards, I took her to Bonifacio's Cotton Club for lunch. It was incredibly windy, but we found a protected spot outside by a wall with a mirror. I had fun fooling around with pictures in the mirror on the wall.
Then for some exercise again the next day, we walked along the Bahia to Tomate.
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| A walk to Tomate Beach-I got a little wet and so did Boo! |
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| Finally, the Soggy Peso for margaritas |
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Patty treated us to a great dinner at the Sunset Grill. We are
sitting at the swing bar here. |
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| Getting dark-but you get the idea-great table, food and ambiance |
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| Caught the sunset just in time to see the three sisters again |
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| Love the reflection in the windows |
Friday, Margene drove Patty and Cinda and I into Guaymas for market and a few errands. Then we went to the Pearl Farm where Patty bought a beautiful ring and pendant.
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We were lucky to run into Douglas today, a pal of Norma's,
who had just finished the surgery part of the operation to
create the beautiful Sea of Cortez Pearls. I have written about
this procedure before-check earlier trips to the Pearl Farm. |
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These are the oysters after surgery. Next they go back into the
water for awhile. |
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| This is where they clean the oyster shells. |
Patty's last night here was the San Carlos Music Festival featuring Bobby and Leslie Sahlen, Chris Montez, Lorena Robles, The Twins and, best of all, a beautiful full snow moon!
Te extrañaremos, Patricia! Buen viaje y visitenos otra vez!
