Well just when you thought I was languishing in freezing temperatures I flew off to Mexico for a week on the invitation of Liz, who had points on her time share to use up quickly... so of course I felt obliged to help out!!! Sadly Peter couldn't join us as he (and about 25 helpers) had 1600 people to feed for five meals in a row plus morning and afternoon teas! Poor man, he and JP worked 40 hours straight without a break while we sunned and surfed at Baja California Mexico. Not fair I know.
Anyway, here is a photo of the marina at Cabo San Lucas, right on the southern tip of the Baja where we stayed in a resort populated by Americans and Canadians (Yanks and Snap Frozen Yanks I've been told). The resort photo of one of three pools as the sun set...
I've never done the resort thing before... and for a relaxing holiday it probably can't be beaten, especially at a place by the Pacific ocean, with Mexicans and whales for company. We did a couple of boat trips, one at sunset and one to see the hapless whales (who are chased by quite a few boats if they as much as raise their backs to get some air) and these were definitely the highlights. One trip included a viewing spot seen below which caught the mood for Liz and I... flowering desert meets the sea.
... and a shot of the humpback whales which it is hard to dismiss in terms of emotional impact despite my guilt. I did seem to notice that if the boats came to see them the whales were unlikely to come to the surface a second time... guess they are used to running the tourist gauntlet.
All the boats travel around the tip of the Baja peninsular past this natural arch (El Arco) that earns more than it's share of tourist dollars for the communities that live nearby... and it is spectacular. (Sisters: note I'm wearing my Christmas scarf thanks to you!)
And true to form, cacti everywhere!
Now that I'm back in the ice it is cold but quite beautiful when it snows as it did most of today. I really find I have the right clothes and boots and so can go out without worry.
One last post on the restaurant which is still NOT open and the apartment above which is also NOT ready! The final two licenses are not through Council. They required architectural drawings of some things that had to be improved as the builder had not done them to standard originally.... as we now discover! Council has to sign off on those changes and then they have to be completed. The dragging out is testing the partners' relationships and also their wallets. Some catering still coming in and a private dinner here and there. It does mean I get to see a lot more of Peter right now but he's not a happy man as you can imagine. Fingers crossed something good will come of it before I leave to head back to Australia!!
We also took a bus trip further north to Todos Santos which hosted a cultural fair though was mainly a shopping spot. Sadly for the local shop keepers, not a good season still as the financial troubles in the US have badly impacted on their sales. I did help out though buying a pair of beautiful silver earrings... kind of me I know.
On the return bus trip we were treated to two strange things... first a movie that was so gruesomely violent I had to cover my face and ears not to see or hear it and then a search by police of all the travelling males' identity cards. I read in the paper in Canada a few days later that two major drug dealers were apprehended not far from there a couple of days later. Mostly I was unaware of crime and the locals were quick to tell us that this part of Mexico is the safest... but no doubt it was not far away.
This the quaint thatched (in and out) restaurant where we had lunch that day.
And true to form, cacti everywhere!
Finally, in another nearby town, Cabo San Jose, I caught the gorgeous colours of this restaurant at night... we didn't eat there but bought yummy tamales from a street vendor while we looked at the beautiful restaurant!
But by day El Arco was the place to be ...
Was a bit nervous coming back to Canada (another fingers crossed entry) but again it seems I was easily admitted for another tourist visa. One of the cab drivers in Mexico said it was like going from Nice to Ice for us heading back to Canada and so I had a title for my blog. Just a few houses down from here the locals fill a dip in the park with hose water until it is solid enough to skate and play hockey... so this is definitely ICE!
But by day El Arco was the place to be ...
Was a bit nervous coming back to Canada (another fingers crossed entry) but again it seems I was easily admitted for another tourist visa. One of the cab drivers in Mexico said it was like going from Nice to Ice for us heading back to Canada and so I had a title for my blog. Just a few houses down from here the locals fill a dip in the park with hose water until it is solid enough to skate and play hockey... so this is definitely ICE!
Now that I'm back in the ice it is cold but quite beautiful when it snows as it did most of today. I really find I have the right clothes and boots and so can go out without worry.
Peter's son, Luke, is home for a few weeks from Singapore so it is fun to have him around. The dogs love the extra company too. Here a walk with Peter and Luke in the neighbourhood earlier this week.
On the weekend my photography group is going out on a 'shoot' again so hopefully I can have some good images of the winter beauty for the next blog.
On the weekend my photography group is going out on a 'shoot' again so hopefully I can have some good images of the winter beauty for the next blog.
Other than that I'm keeping fit with gym, yoga and Pilates and yesterday started a Mindfulness Meditation course that I hope might help with the chronic pain I'm still suffering after the last operation nearly a year ago. It really is great to have time for all these things.
One last post on the restaurant which is still NOT open and the apartment above which is also NOT ready! The final two licenses are not through Council. They required architectural drawings of some things that had to be improved as the builder had not done them to standard originally.... as we now discover! Council has to sign off on those changes and then they have to be completed. The dragging out is testing the partners' relationships and also their wallets. Some catering still coming in and a private dinner here and there. It does mean I get to see a lot more of Peter right now but he's not a happy man as you can imagine. Fingers crossed something good will come of it before I leave to head back to Australia!!
love to all
Lindy
We had a week at Baja California... the long peninsular below Tijuana on the west coast of Mexico. Our resort was literally on the southern tip facing the Pacific Ocean. Humpback whales come by in the Winter months to wallow in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez so we had a box seat watching them swim by every day. Unfortunately for them the water spouts necessary for their breathing alert tourist boats to their whereabouts and there's no time before a dozen or so boats come nearby. I did think though that the whales stayed down under once that happened but not sure if I imagined it.
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