So what happened yesterday and today.

Monday…

Well to start off we were tired.  Go figure.  The day started off quiet.  We did get some sleep even though the dogs barked because we had…silicone ear plugs.  There is a time change here and it’s an hour later.  Big deal, who cares when you are retired.  Off to look for breakfast about 10am….their time…our time….who knows! 

We ate at the same restaurant where we had eaten two years ago (Tres Hermanos) and this time they had pancakes on the menu.  If you are on a short vacation it’s nice not to have to eat eggs every day. Eric had pancakes and I had an omelet.  They don’t speak English but they now have an English menu to help us out.  There is a huge Gringo or tourist population here over the winter that makes a large difference to their yearly economy so every little bit helps.

Looking toward the kitchen and …..

out at the square.

After breakfast a walk down the beach road to have a look at alternate accommodation.  We stopped at the Savage RV park to look at the RV sites and then we had a look at his cabinas.  Nice small suites with kitchens at a reasonable price (300 pesos a night) and after a quick look we decided to move from Tlaquepaque tomorrow.  The school kids come to Tlaquepaque tonight so it will get noisy.  We did walk down and look at La Parota where we stayed two years ago and it is almost full.  No gracias.  Back to the room for a rest and then a short walk on the beach.  Too tired to swim today. 

Tall coconut palms that needed a trim.

Eric was watching this Mexican go up and down the tree with ropes.  Very high up.

Down he came.  No problemo!

The evening meant another search for food and tonight we tried Carolina’s just off the square.  It was reasonably busy and quite a few people left when they didn’t get fed fast enough (Mexican and Gringo.) No problem for us as we have lot’s of time.  Fish Veracruzana for Eric and breaded fish for me.  We wandered around and got an Ice cream bar at the Farmacia and there we ran into Nick and Rose and their children.  We’ve met them on past occasions and will probably see them on the beach as they are renting a house right on the beach.   Back to the room for bed. The teenagers showed up late but we put our earplugs in and night night. 

Tuesday

We were awakened to a faint sound of the teenagers leaving this morning and then to a huge noise out in the courtyard.  A very loud French Canadian was teaching “pickle ball!”  Oh well, time to get up, find breakfast and move. 

After breakfast we walked some of our belongings down to our new room at Savage and then back to get the bike rolled out of Tlaquepaque so Eric could ride it out .  It is loose pea gravel so it is always a bit dicey. 

Eric admired this door along the way.

Down the street and turn left.

  I picked up some groceries when I walked back and we were set.  

The new room.

Courtyard, small pool and Palapa.

We are up the top on the left.

Eric has a little lap top time.

The other large rental above the office.

View from the upper deck.  There is a lagoon right beside us with ….

birds and behind that….

a grazing horse. 

I wasn’t fast enough to run upstairs and get my camera when the cows were being herded home up the street by a Mexican on his motorcycle.  Maybe tomorrow!

Eric surveying his new domain. 

We walked down the beach road for a swim this afternoon and there was quite a  swell and the waves were gnarly…fun but not relaxing.  We did run into Nick and Rose and their kids like we thought we would. 

The beach in front of La Parota and Cruz Maria RV parks is the favored spot to swim so it is loaded with “gringo’s and their Schmoopy dogs.  As usual they were running all over unattended and crapping on the beach.  Bad manners no matter how you look at it and it really spoils it for everyone.  Nuff said!

We came back to our new abode and had a nice quiet Happy Hour up on the upstairs deck by ourselves and it was really relaxing after the noise of Tlaquepaque.   Just our speed. 

We were off downtown for dinner again tonight and we tried a new restaurant called “Tony’s” that has just opened. (Sorry I didn’t remember my camera.)   He is trying an upscale chef approach to the food and it was quite good.  We watched the young people across the street in the square practicing their traditional Mexican dancing with tap shoes.  Free entertainment!  There was an aerobics class taking place in a different part of the square and that really caught Eric’s eye!  The downside to all of this is that Eric is getting chewed to death by the mosquitoes here every time we go out to eat.  I have been spraying which he doesn’t like to do and have been doing okay but he got chewed right through his clothes.  Not good as he has been swelling up as well as itching.  Tomorrow off to the Farmacia for something to help. 

Once again….home to bed. 

We are in Los de Marcos.

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This is our approximate route today.  The Bing map attached to Live Writer is not accurate but neither is Map Point so this is as good as it gets.  A pretty decent ride for a couple of oldsters!  About 250 miles!

We left the park at 8am which was right on time and it was cold. Not freezing but cold which is more noticeable when you are whizzing along on the bike.  Layers of clothes are the answer and that’s what we did.  We had to be careful not too wear anything too heavy because when it warms up you have to find a place to pack it away.  It all worked out fine.  It is actually much better to be a little chilly rather than too hot which is really exhausting.

Heading out of Mazatlan.

It’s early and hard to take a picture with the sun in our faces.  Here we are heading to Villa Union. The traffic wasn’t too bad through Mazatlan as it is Sunday morning and not a work day.

Looking behind us coming through Villa Union which was also quiet. 

Left to Durango or Tepic on the Toll road or south on the Free Road to Tepic and it was the free road for us.  Easy to do on the bike as you can pass easier than when you are hauling an RV.  The toll road has two lanes north and south and the free road only one each way.

Heading south….look at the size of that Guanacaste tree.

Villa Union to El Rosario.

Gas station pit stop and bum break in El Rosario.

It is Sunday and you will see lots of Mexican Indians in town.  This truck was full of mothers, fathers, small children and babies.  It seems to me that the Mexican children have to have a little bit of monkey in them as they are always holding tight to something so they won’t fall off.  A bicycle, a truck a person etc. 

Over the bridge out of Rosario.

Coming into Esquinapa.  One way street south and one way street north and it is the main truck route if you are heading south. 

Turn right to Teacapan if you wish.  No thanks….not today.

Flower shop.

Ley’s on the left and it’s busy on a Sunday and we are just about through town.

Open highway ahead.  It has warmed up a bit but is still cool enough we haven’t removed a jacket yet.

Another small town with lots of topes and the ever favorite camarones secos or dried shrimp for sale.

Many of these small towns or poblados are getting raised pedestrian crossings.  It is unlikely they will have much use as the people would have to walk a long way to use them. 

Tidal flats past Esquinapa….that’s the toll road down below.

Getting greener and prettier.

Windy road.

And then construction and we are forced off into the loose gravel.  No bueno!

Here we are passing a small water truck…can you imagine how heavy that is.  No wonder he can’t go very fast.

Welcome to Nayarit.  We are now in the next state south of Sinaloa.

Eric says this was probably a natural gas processor.

Parked for lunch in a Pemex just north of Rosamorada.

Giant fiasco at the pumps.  They just had a fuel spill on the far side and then a raging idiot with California plates was tearing around the pumps trying to get fuel in a hurry.  He roared up to the pump knocked over a case of pop bottles and then there was a glass spill which he then drove through and left heading north.  My guess….a flat tire up the road.   What’s the hurry!

  Lunch on the curb.  It’s warmer now and off with a couple of layers of clothes. 

Right to Tuxpan or on to Tepic.  The traffic is busier now as it’s after lunch.  Maybe everyone is out for a Sunday drive!

We leave Mex 15 here to head south to San Blas on highway 74.  We have been climbing from Rosamorada to Tepic.

Crops to the left.

Winding tree covered roads much like the section from Xalisco (just south of Tepic) down to Compostela only a little narrower.  Lots of raging traffic from Tepic…again maybe because it’s Sunday.

Just about down to San Blas. 

We turn left to head south instead of going into San Blas.  It is a beautiful town and we have eaten there but it is well know for it’s “jejenes” much like a noseeums but it leaves a big red itchy sore.  No gracias!

Just north of Aticama.

Pemex just south of Aticama along the Playa Los Cocos area.  What are these bugs….termites? ants? 

The beach is just across the street.

We stopped and had a Coca Cola, bum break and pit stop.  Getting tired now but the ride is very beautiful in this area.  Once we got past El LLano which is the other road going to Tepic from the coast the traffic died down and the ride is treed, cool and pretty. 

Lots of vegetation.

When you get south there are fruit and vegetable stands everywhere.  Lots of breadfruit.  In the Mazatlan area it’s always pollo on the barbecue. 

Brightly painted Carneceria or butcher shop.

Along the way to….

Zacualpan.

Coming into town…

Every town has a big church.  It is quite quiet in town and you have to make a 90 degree right hand turn at the church to head south.  Could be tight in an RV. 

A bicycle cart selling….?

A right turn at Las Varas towards Los de Marcos.  We are now back on Mex 200 which is the main route Puerto Vallarta.

The highway is lined with fruit and vegetable stands. 

Heading into Los de Marcos and Tlaquepaque Villas where we hope to stay tonight.

Success.  We are tired but we have a room for two nights.  Not cheap by any stretch at 850 peso’s a night….almost $70.  Tomorrow we will look around for something else.  As usual the school kids will show up here tomorrow and will stay in the rooms below us for the week so it will not be quiet by any stretch.  A nice facility here, largely French Canadian in the Villas and the RV park. 

 

The view of the courtyard and tennis/pickle ball/basketball courts.  We can see the bike (that’s Eric) on the other side.

We have had a few cold cervezas and now it’s time to find some dinner.

Lobby and front desk.  Very ornate. 

We wandered up the street and as it’s Sunday night some places are closed.  On past occasions we have eaten at Saul’s (the vegetable seller) restaurant but it is gone.  Tonight we will have….

Tacos.  Very popular tonight and they were good.

Five each with one drink to share and 130 peso’s total. 

We are tired and it’s time for bed.  Earplugs in to drown out the barking dogs and night night!