February 29, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Moving Day.

This is the first time in my life that I have travelled on the day of Leap Year. At least, not I remember. Today I leave this lovely place in Mexico. I like it here but now I am looking forward to seeing my Mississippi family and my lovely home on the Reservoir. My time at Playa Royale has been delightful and I have enjoyed my company. Now my guests are gone and I must move on. I fly to Houston, then to Jackson where I will take a Lyft home. Last time I forgot to take my phone off airplane mode so was unable to connect to Lyft but I bet I do not make the same mistake today. Now I must make one last trip to the locker, eat my breakfast, left for me by Rita, then get dressed and take a taxi to the airport. The day will be long but I will work hard to keep the journey interesting. I am set for moving on to my next adventure.

February 28, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. My Last Beach Lunch.

Kathy and Ted are good friends. They both helped me when Ken was in the hospital. We had only met them the year before and they visited us in Nova Scotia the same summer along with Ted's grandchildren, so they were not long time friends. But they were good friends. They took turns visiting Ken both in the hospital and when he was recovering in the condo and they brought me dinner several times when I returned from the hospital. They helped in a practical way as well as emotional help. They were a Godsend. And two summers ago they visited us in Nova Scotia and were astonished to see Ken going up and down the stairs with ease. Ted had to admit that he felt that Ken was never being able to get out of the hospital. So they are dear, good friends. They have been here the whole time that I have been here and I have been with them many times but I have never been with them with just the three of us. They had company and I had company and I chat with them at the pool but today, for my last day, they invited me to the beach restaurant for lunch. We caught up on our families. And we talked. Last year they spent 3 months in New Zealand and Australia so I did not see them. Their plan was to visit me in Nova Scotia but their plans c hanged and when they could come our place was full. This year, they have a busy summer with weddings so will not be able to come to Nova Scotia but they will definitely be here at Playa Royale next January and February. And so will I. The setting is spectacular and the food was excellent but the company was the best. Thanks to Kathy and Ted for taking me for lunch on my last day. Now I look forward to seeing them next time.

February 27, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Italian Ladies.

Rosa sits at the same palapa every day. When I go to the pool I sit with Rosa too because last year after Ken died she invited me to join her under her palapa. All the other Italian ladies sit with Rosa too. Because I am sitting with Rosa, the new ladies do not know I am not Italian so I listen to their conversations which are half English and half Italian. This afternoon was a perfect example. I was sitting talking to Rosa when one by one, four Italian ladies came by to join in the conversation. One of the ladies has an ill mother in law who lives in Italy. She started to talk about the food she eats in the home of her mother in law that she can not eat anywhere in the world. The ladies joined in. It was very funny. Then they talked about the food their grandchildren will not eat. One by one they were laughing about the food they have eaten all their lives but they can not serve to their grandchildren. They all thought it was a hoot and described how they disguise the food to trick the children. The topic of dishes came up. Rosa said that her father wanted dinner served on the best china every evening. And they used serving dished on the table and multiple plates throughout the meal. But Rosa laughed that her children and grandchildren will not hear of it. They want the kitchen dished for every meal. The other ladies all agreed. And no one wants the beautiful dishes. The ladies think it is a big joke and the conversation was hilarious. I enjoyed every minute.

February 26, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Balcony Neighbors.

Our complex here consists of five towers of condominiums, built into a large horseshoe. The large center houses the pool and shrubs along with all the palm trees. About ten feet from our balcony rail, at an angle is another balcony rail. We work hard to not intrude on our balcony neighbors by keeping our dining table well away from their balcony and they do the same with us. These folks own their condo and have done so all the years we have been here too. So theoretically, we should be good friends but that is not the case because they never come out onto their balcony. Suzanne R. had a conversation with the man years ago and I have chatted with the lady only once, until this year. When they have company, they eat outside but never when by themselves. This winter, Rita has had two conversations with the lady and I had one. She is very nice but it is mystery what they do all day. Day after day we never see them. At night, the lights are on in the living room and we suspect that they watch TV every evening. This afternoon the man was sitting on a chair talking on the phone. But he quickly went inside. Our balcony neighbors live in Calgary where he owns a business. He is very short and very round. The Health organization in Alberta refused to pay for him to have his bad hips replaced so he had them done in Mexico during the winter, which cost him $27,000. each. She is delighted which is probably why she was keen to chat with us this season. We eat all our meals on the balcony and we never see them. Because they have full ownership, they come frequently through the year. But we never see them. We call them our mystery neighbors. But at least they make no noise so we are happy.

February 25, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Moving Out.

Thursday morning, Rita and Ian leave to return to Ontario. They wish to assist me in loading my belongings into the lockers just down the balcony. This morning I organized my clothes and set them on the dining table and I put stuff in carrying bags like shoes and shampoos etc. Tomorrow we will load the lockers. Last week I returned to the locker any thing I had not used this season so one shelf is already almost full. I will do a final laundry on Friday and load the rest of my things to the locker before leaving for Mississippi myself on Saturday. We were left with three bottles of unopened wine so we invited our friends for a goodby glass tomorrow night. Unfortunately we are out of sunset food. I was happy with only inviting friends for a glass of wine with no food but Rita took over and bought guacamole at the market. And she found some cheese at the back of the fridge. We have lots of crackers too. So we are having a party. My neighbors Margaret and David who just arrived on Sunday will be here, along with friends Kathy and Ted. Jim and Joan will be here too along with their daughter and her fiancé, who will arrive tomorrow. So we will be 11 people here. We might run out of wine. But on Saturday I am moving out once again. I am already looking forward to seeing my Mississippi family.

February 24, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Morning at the Spa.

Rita and I indulged our selves. When I turned 50, the agents gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure, a manicure and a facial. I have been having pedicures ever since but have never again gotten either a facial or manicure. But this morning, Rita and I went to the spa at the golf club for our morning at the spa. First we sat on lounge chairs drinking cucumber water and eating nuts while wearing a beige gown. We were so busy we forgot to have a hot tub. They keep the place dark which meant that I needed to keep tight to Rita';s arm. After more cold cucumber water we went for our treatment. First was the massage. I had not had a massage for years so I enjoyed it thoroughly. There were many reasons why I had not been having massages but now I am hale and hearty so was up for a massage. About ten years ago I was having a massage when the therapist pushed extra hard on my shoulders and tipped the cot with my head heading to the floor. Fortunately, I was caught because I certainly was in no position to catch myself. Nothing untoward occurred today. After my massage, all I needed to do was stay on my back for the facial. I have no idea what the therapist put on my face but I know my facial took as long as the massage. Many different things were out on my face and then removed. I actually fell asleep during the process. We were both told to not wash our faces for four hours. Ian, Kathy and Ted met us at the golf club for lunch. All three told us that we had been transformed. But I do not believe them.

February 23, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Pool People.

The folks around the pool have changed. This week a whole new group has moved in. I hardly recognized anyone today. In fact, on Monday when I was in the hot tub a lady came over to speak to me. She said she was delighted to see me again and was pleased to see that I was again at Playa. Today she passed me again on the deck of the pool and hugged me as she and her family were heading to the beach. My problem is that I have no idea who she is and when I got to know her. But pool people are like that. This week I chatted with a couple from Winnipeg. It takes me 45 minutes to get through my exercises in the deep water and we talked the whole time. I have not seen them since but when I do, I will feel as if they were old friends. . My friend who I do not know told me that she had been looking for me all week but did not see me so she was delighted to spot me today. Now I must figure out who she is and where I got to know her, all the while I must pretend I know her. Whew. Since I arrived January 5 the same folks had been at the pool. Ted and Kathy I see and I always sit with Rosa. But even she noted that a whole new group has arrived. The Italians who stop to visit her are new this week so I have had to get to know a whole new group. In the early years here most people were owners but now many folks are renting. I suppose the full time owners have gotten old so rent out their units. The new groups are younger too. My hot tub friends of this year have gone home. And soon I will be home too. The caste of characters at the pool are always changing. Except for my friend Rosa. She is always at her same palapa which pleases me.

February 22, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Balcony.

The new furniture has made all the difference. We have always enjoyed the balcony. Until 3:30, the balcony is shaded and as we live on the 7th floor, we get a good breeze so sitting and talking or reading was always pleasant until the sun hits it so we come inside until 6:30. But we did not eat our meals there. The round table was small and the chairs were flimsy so we ate meals at the dining table. But not this year. We have eaten all our meals outside. The new table is rectangle and sits 6 comfortably. The chairs have cushions and so are comfortable. The new furniture is good looking and sturdy. When Wendy, Ken and I arrived, it took us until the third evening before we started eating dinner outside. We go right from eating sunset food on the balcony to eating dinner outside. The evenings are delightful. And we watch Venus every evening. Eating every meal on the balcony is a delight. And all because our furniture is better. Amazing.

February 21, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Il Pescatore Ristoranti.

We five had a wonderful time. Rachel wore her new red dress which gave us all a sense of elegance that carried through the whole meal. Everything was extra special. We walked to the restaurant and we walked back which is a trick for me walking in the dark. But we made it safe and sound. The restaurant is beside the marina so while you eat you can look at the beautiful boats sitting at the dock. Right in front of us was a large sailing vessels with two big dogs and one cat on the deck. Their antics kept us all amused. First thing we did was to order a margarita to celebrate our successful visit. Gaby and Rachel leave on Sunday and Rita and Ian on Thursday. So this was our official Last Supper in a restaurant. We dined in style. My appetizer was delicious: shrimp, hearts of palm, artichokes and greens. I ate salmon for my main course with lots of vegetables. Tirimisu for dessert. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. Il Pescatore is a fine restaurant. I was delighted to see they are still doing well. Tonight their service was excellent and the food superb. We five were happy campers.

February 20, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Whales.

We look out at the Bay of Bandares. We see boats but we never see the life below the water. Gaby and Rachel went on a whale watching excursion and saw a glimpse of what goes on under the water. Gaby reported an even better trip than when she went with Randy. A baby whale came right over to the boat. They saw many whales breaching and many more slapping their tails. They also were told many facts. In our Bay can be found over 800 whales plus babies. The came to calf and mate. They begin heading north in mid March but for now, the whales are here but we seldom see them because they are out in deeper water. But this evening, just before sunset, Gaby spotted a blow hole right in front of the condo so we went to the balcony to see what we could see. The whales put on a show for us. They were close enough to see them easily. We think we were looking at two adult whales and one baby, at least as best as we could determine from the size and frequency of the blows. We saw rolling along the top of the water and many tail slaps. From the information that Gaby learned on the excursion, the mother whales take their babies into shallow water to teach them to communicate which they do by slapping their tails. After 15 minutes of the display, the whales gradually moved out to deeper water. Eventually they disappeared. We often see the spouts out in deeper water but we have never seen them so very close to shore. Fortunately, Gaby spotted them at just the right time. We had an exciting time watching these whales.

February 19, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Flooding.

The Pearl River is flooding. The River goes right through Jackson. Our reservoir was formed by building a damn on the Pearl River. The River is at the third highest level ever recorded. But this is a pretty bad flood in Jackson. Many houses had to be abandoned. But now the river has crested so the river should go down. Unfortunately, rain is forecast for this week and next. The worst flood was in the 1970's. The next was in the 1980's. So since we moved to Mississippi the Pearl River has never flooded...until now. Unfortunately, I am not there to see the action. My house is on a bluff so am high and dry. Christina and her Mother also live in high ground. But some very nice homes not too far from Christina have several feet of water in their homes. Not good. The Mississippi is at flood stage too. The rain for the past few weeks has dumped a huge amount of rain on the Mississippi basin. The Missouri River is flooding, which drains into the Mississippi. The Pearl does not. It ends up in the Gulf directly. Water is a freak of nature when it unloads its wrath. This time, the Pearl River has flooded for the first time in over 30 years. It must be quite a sight.

February 18, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Rachel.

This evening , just before sunset, Rachel treated us to a fashion show. I was delightful. Gaby and Rachel went to the Market this morning and Rachel went shopping. Her birthday was celebrated last week when she was at University so this morning was her gift from Gaby. We all got to see her purchases, along with the two new dresses she had purchased in Guelph. She just turned 20 and expected to go out for dinner every evening but unfortunately we eat at home. First she put on her new bathing suit cover up. It is cute and could double as a light coat. It is black with flowers but also is a bit transparent. Next we saw her new dress, which she will wear at dinner at home. The dress is a typical Mexican dress with a tie that can be used behind your neck. On her, it looks great strapless. Next she modeled her two new dresses from home. One is bright red and comes just above her knee. We are going out to dinner on Friday and she has already decided she will wear that dress. We must go to some place fancy. Her last outfit was a skit and top with a pair of shorts under. The color is dusty rose and is beautiful. Also at the market she bought a hat. It is white with a floppy big brim. On her the hat looks charming. Every time she puts the hat on with any garment she looks elegant. It was a perfect hat for her. She was thrilled with her purchases. We all four agreed that she has good taste. We are also enjoying having a 20 year old in our home. She is in her second year at Guelph Agricultural School where she is studying landscape design. She is full of vim and vigor. And she is enjoying her stay at Playa Royale. Pretty nice situation for all of us.

February 17, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Heat Stroke.

The sun is hot here in the Tropics. Even when the sky is overcast, you can get hot. You can get fooled because the breeze always feel cool. Lots of folks at the pool and the beach sit out in full sun all day. Still, we have yet to have a case of heat stroke...until now. Saturday was partly cloudy. Rita and Ian went to the pool mid morning. They both sat in the shade of a palapa. They came up for lunch, then returned to the pool. Rita was reading in the shade when she fell asleep. The sun moved but Rita did not. When she woke up she felt hot so immediately got into the swimming pool to cool down. She stayed in the pool for 30 minutes. But she did not feel good so at 5:30 she came over to me and we both went to the condo. But she felt queazy so I suggested she lie down , which she did. Gaby cooked dinner and we ate while Rita slept. When she woke up she had an upset stomach so she drank a cup of chamomile tea and ate 2 crackers. And she went back to bed. We all decided that she had gotten overheated while she slept in the sun and that she had an old fashioned case of heat stroke. Yesterday Rita kept a low profile. She ate a piece of toast for breakfast and promptly took another nap. In the afternoon she watched golf on TV. By dinner time she was able to eat. This morning she and Ian went for a long walk but she stayed away from the pool. We are so careful to stay in the shade but this time, no one else was with Rita to tell her to move. And she suffered the consequences. Heat stroke is not a good thing. By tomorrow, Rita will be back to normal. And we will be more careful in the future.

February 16, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Valentine's Day.

I said NO. We are not going out for dinner on February 14. The restaurants are too crowded. Ken and I never celebrated Valentines Day anyway. I assured them that the four of them could go out. But I would stay home. No one liked the idea. The problem was that they were taking the trip to San Sebastian that day so even going out for lunch to celebrate was impossible. I twice refused. Gaby wanted us all to go the the Fajita Republic just down the street. The restaurant is on the canal, and the tables go down in steps, which makes it difficult for me to get around. So I said no to that too. But we compromised. We went out for breakfast on Wednesday at La Isla, the Mexican restaurant right beside the road. And we celebrated Valentines Day early. It was perfect. We could walk in the daytime. The placed was not crowded and her food is excellent. Our late breakfast was delightful. We all ate large Mexican breakfasts and drank their good coffee. And we got home just after noon. No lunch for us. I was happy.

February 15, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Change.

The only thing I know for sure in life is that things will change. I seem to have all my ducks in a row, then all of a sudden, things change. My Cuban cook, Dreyses, has moved to Florida with her family. So I have no cook in Mississippi. This past autumn she actually cooked too much food, which I have put in the freezer. I plan on eating that food this Spring so I do not intend to replace her. My friend Butch has been house bound for 5 months. He has been using services who bring meals to his door and he has loved it. I might do the same. And Stewart has just told me that he will not be able to cook for me this summer in Nova Scotia. His catering business has expanded and he will be too busy to bring me meals. I have only used him when I had company and as no one has told me they are coming to Nova Scotia, perhaps I do not need catered meals. In Mexico, the good folks who visit me also cook the meals so perhaps I should institute that system. Or maybe we could go out for dinner. I will have to figure it out. Friends are staying in the Guest House for two weeks in July but they will look after their own meals. I will ask and see if I can find another cook willing to prepare our dinners. I will figure it out. Change has happened in our condo too. Randy flew home today as he has an important meeting on Monday. And Rachel, the younger daughter of Gaby and Randy, will arrive tomorrow at noon. So our cast of characters in the condo will change. I always enjoy having the younger generation living in the house so I look forward to her company. I am always amazed how many changes occur in my life. Now I must figure out what to do about Nova Scotia. Not easy.

February 14, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Another excursion.

One excursion is never exactly the same as the last one. Rita ordered the trip to San Sebastian, using the same company used by Wendy and Ken. She asked for the same driver and guide. They expected the same tour. But it was not the same. Wendy and Ken arrived home just before 5, which meant it was an 8 hour tour. That was what Rita was expecting. Again, I stayed home. Rita and Ian, Randy and Gaby and Joan and Jim took the trip. But the trip was not the same. The van was the same. But the guide was different. The first thing he said when they left was that they needed to be back at 2:00. The driver was reluctant to stop at any places that were not on his list. They did see San Sebastian but they did not have time to have lunch. They did stop at the taquilla factory and the coffee plantation but they did not stop at the pastry shop. Once they stopped to buy fruit. But on the way home the driver was eager to get them home. I suspect that as today was Valentines Day, the driver needed to get to the store so he could buy a valentine for his wife. They arrived home at 3:15, long before I was expecting them. Everyone did enjoy the trip but I sensed that none of them were excited. The price for the trip was the same per person that was paid by Wendy and Ken. But the trips were not the same. I was the only one that was irritated and I was not even in the van so I have kept my mouth shut. But next time someone books the trip, I will advise them to be sure of the length of the trip. Also Rita specifically asked about paying by credit card and when it came to pay, the driver had forgotten to bring the credit card machine, so they were left scrambling for pesos. But everyone enjoyed the trip so that is all that matters.

February 13, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sting Ray.

This week, Randy had not yet gone into the ocean so this afternoon, he and Ian took the plunge. The waves were rough. When they were in four feet of water, a wave forced Randy to leave his feet. He had been in the water for five minutes. When he caught his balance and stepped down, he stepped on something squishy. He knew immediately this was not good. Immediately a shooting pain could be felt on the side of his foot. He had stepped on a sting ray and he was in pain. Immediately he went to the front desk. The man sent him right to the hospital. So after coming to the condo for identification, he headed over. The hospital contacted his insurance provider and set up the system. The service at the hospital was excellent. Within 15 minutes, his leg was plunged in hot water. And they gave him a shot of antibiotics. He also was given a pain killer. After monitoring him for an hour they sent him home. Also they gave him a prescription for three days of antibiotics and pain killer, which he received at the pharmacy. Both the treatment and the prescriptions were covered by his insurance. Randy was pleased. He was supposed to keep heat on the sting. Gaby used rice in a sock which worked well after a few minutes in the microwave. By mid evening, Randy's foot was no longer numb and the swelling had gone down. When you get stung by a stingray you know it. Randy said that it felt like a bad bee sting but much worse. But all is well. Whew.

February 12, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Whale Watching.

This morning Randy and Gaby went whale watching. They took the trip with Villarta Adventures, a company just down the road. Their trip was splendid and everything went according to plan. They took the first trip at 7:00. They ordered and paid for the trip with Marlin, the lady in charge of Playa Royale. They took a taxi to the headquarters. Everything was well organized. They boarded by number and sat on the back of the boat because when asked, they responded that they had a quirky back,. The boat was an inflatable Zodiac with a wooded floor. The chairs was small and the boat was full but it was comfortable. The trip was a great success. They saw many many whales. On the way out and close to shore they met a mother and baby. According to the guide, new babies must breast every 3 minutes so the mother whale was teaching her baby to breath in the shallow water. Further out, they saw breaching whales both close by and in the distance. The most numbers of whales they saw was out by the islands, the ones we see every day. They arrived home just after noon. Their excursion was a success and they were happy to have spent the money. We look at the expanse of water and we see nothing but under the water and out far from shore is a whole world of creatures. Today Randy and Gaby got a small glimpse of the whales. And they loved it.

February 11, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Fajita Dinner.

I was sitting on the balcony. The sun had just set and I was enjoying the after glow in the sky. Bowls started appearing on the table. First bowl was guacamole. Next was a plate with hot tortillas wrapped with a tea cloth. Then a big bowl of sautéed onions and peppers. And finally was chicken strips. Then I knew that we were going to eat fajittas for dinner. Already on the table were small bowls of cheese, salsa and sour cream. We sit on the balcony to eat dinner. Our new furniture is much more conducive to dining that the old one. For the first two nights, Wendy, Ken and I ate at the dining table but on the third evening we decided to dine on the balcony. We have been outside ever since. We watch as the boats more across the black water. And we enjoy the warm evening air. Our fajita dinner was delicious, thanks to our cooks, Rita and Gaby. Eating Mexican food seems just fine here in Nuevo Vallarta. I ate two fajitas and enjoyed them both. Pretty nice.

February 10, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Randy and Gaby.

Randy is the son of Ray Dickie, who is a first cousin of Ken. Technically, Randy is a first cousin, once removed. At least that is what I think he is. Gaby is Randy's wife of many years. They have two lovely daughters, Jennifer and Rachel. At our 50th and 55th celebrations, our 6 granddaughters along with the other two cousins called themselves "The Dickie Chicks". So we know Gaby and Randy well. They have visited us in Nova Scotia and we enjoy their company. In the past, they have stayed at the Vidanta, in the Grand Lux but never at the same time as us. I e mailed Gaby to tell her when we were in Mexico and asked if they would be there at the same time. Gaby said she had not booked anything this year as she had been too busy. It took me several days but it eventually dawned on me that I would have an empty bedroom. So I invited them to join us. Ian is Randy's uncle and both Rita and Ian know them well. So we are just a happy group of cousins enjoying ourselves in the warm air. Randy and Gaby own a cottage outside Parry Sound, which was ken's home town. The cottage is on a lake and they now spend summers there. Randy works from home so it works for him to be at the cottage. And they own a time share in Florida which they have exchanged all over the world. So we have a lot in common. Tomorrow, all four will go to the market across the street. But I will stay home and await all the goodies they will. bring back. I am delighted they have come to visit and am pleased that I finally invited them. I am enjoying being with Randy and Gaby.

February 9, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Vidanta.

Vidanta is a large resort on the other side of the canal. Once upon a time, it was called The Mayan Palace but it was purchased by Vidanta several years ago. And it has gotten bigger. There were 3 towers., Now there are 4 up and running and one under construction. Randy and Gaby have stayed in the Grand Lux, the last tower to open. It is luxurious for sure. Our neighbors friend moved over there yesterday. Ken and I own two weeks at Vidanta. We bought the two weeks several years ago but have yet to stay there. The year Ken was ill we were supposed to move there for our last two weeks in Nuevo Vallarta but we cancelled and stayed at Playa for two more weeks. One reason we bought at Vidanta was the annual fee. When we bought, we paid no annual fee unless we were booking a place. Now I understand that their system has changed. Now you pay an annual fee whether or not you come. The place is huge. You must use a golf cart to get around. You can walk on the board walks but distances are great. Also when you get off the bus on the main road, it takes over a mile until you get to the main entrance where you can ride on a golf cart. Vidanta has become partners with Cirque du Solet and two shows are being completed. Bug neither are ready. They are selling tickets for the first one so they will be ready soon. The towers are well away from the beach so you must take the golf cart to get to the beach. Randy and Gaby enjoyed their visit at Vidanta but they never made it to the beach. I just received a call from Vidanta giving me an extra free week if I could come and stay 2 weeks. But I declined their invitation. One year I might get there but not this year. Actually, it does not seem appealing. But one year I will book two weeks, just to try it out. Perhaps when the Cirque is up and running it would be fun. Maybe next year or the year after. Vidanta will keep.

February 8, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Fish Tacos.

Gaby is a good cook. She actually enjoys cooking, which for me is astonishing. The first day on the beach we went to the Beach Restaurant for lunch. Gaby was wanting fish tacos. Unfortunately fish tacos were not on the menu so she ate a burrito. But last evening for dinner Gaby cooked fish tacos. They were delicious. Evidently, at home she combined three recipes from the internet to make her tacos. Here she did not have several of the seasonings she uses but they tasted good to me. I ate three. Fist she makes a type of coleslaw, using cabbage, sour cream, a bit of mayonnaise and some other things. Next she cooks the fish in a frying pan and seasons the fish. After the tortillas have been warmed Gaby gave me a plate with 2 fish tacos. I then added the cabbage mix. And I ate my two. They were delicious. And I asked for another. Hats off for Gaby. She is a good cook.

February 7, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Jet Ski Accident.

This afternoon, 2 jets skis ran into each other right in front of our resort. They hit head on. The large bay in front of us is always empty of boats and how these boats could run into each other is unbelievable. But they did. Folks on the shore think that the two men were playing chicken and someone forgot to swerve. One man was badly in cured with facial lacerations. He also lost all his teeth. Stupidity in action I think. No boat accident has ever happened here. Once two people were unable to paddle back to the canal with their kayaks. They left their kayak and walked back. Eventually the kayaks were picked up. But today was an exciting and scary afternoon at Playa Royale. Ted and Kathy were walking the beach when the accident occurred. The two jet skis were going at full speed heading toward each other when they crashed. Fortunately, two other jet skis were in the area and picked up the injured man. But the whole thing was ridiculous. With a huge open body of water to play in, these two fools had to play chicken. Everyone at the shore were terrified. Certainly was the excitement of the day.

February 6, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Beautiful Day.

Finally, we had a wonderful day with our weather. Clear blue sky and sun makes everyone happy. Where I am sitting at the dining table, a game is going on at the other end. They are playing "Threes and Fives". Ian and Randy are playing against Rita and Gaby. The men are winning. Randy and Gaby arrived yesterday afternoon from Toronto. Today has been a better day. This morning all four went to the pool, which they enjoyed. Rita took Gaby on a tour of the place which Ian did with Randy. Now they know how to function, even to where to put the trash. We five ate lunch at the Beach Restaurant. The place was crowded but we enjoyed ourselves and the good food. Sitting looking out at the beach with the children playing is always a treat. I came up to put my feet up while everyone stayed at the pool. Ian accompanied me to the condo before returning to the pool. And tonight we had a real sunset. Dining on the balcony was also delightful: roast pork and vegetables. Now the four are playing a game and having a good time. It has been a fitting end to a beautiful day.

February 5, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Wonderful Wendy and Ken.

Wonderful Wendy lived up to her name. She and Ken looked after me during their weeks in Mexico. Ken cooked dinners until Rita and Ian arrived. After that time, they look turns cooking dinner. Wendy did everything else. Last thing at night, she set up the coffee for the morning. She was always the first one up so she pushed the button to brew the coffee. When I got up, I poured myself a cup of coffee, then joined her on the balcony. Next Wendy fixed my breakfast of toast and cheese and fruit. Today she made me avocado toast and yoghurt. Right after breakfast, Ken went to find them a choice palapa. Wendy joined him after a second cup of coffee with me. By then, Ian and Rita would have joined us. Around 10:30 or 11, Wendy would join Ken at the beach while I stayed and read. Sometime after 1:00, Wendy came up to make lunch. She took a sandwich down to the beach for them. And she left me a wonderful lunch. She joined me by the pool late in the day and I held her arm as I walked up to the condo. Whenever we walked anyplace away from Playa, I look her arm to keep me steady. Ken always walked ahead of us to tell me of any rough patches. Wonderful Wendy and Ken had a good vacation in the warm air and my life was made easier by their presence here in Mexico. Their visit with me was mutually beneficent which makes for a good system. But most of all, we had fun. Now they are home in Ancaster. The cats are happy. And I miss them.

February 4, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Neighbors.

Finally, we invited our neighbors to join us for sunset food. I have met them several times over the years but for some reason I never got to know them, other than to say hello. We have overlapped many times. Other neighbors I know well but not the ones who are there now. Last evening, we invited them to join us at 6:00. In addition, they had company so we were a group of 9 eating sunset food and having a drink. We had a good time. My neighbors are from Omaha while their friends live in St. Louis. They are nice folks. Both men worked as home inspectors. In fact one man still does home inspections. I tried hard not to let them know what I had done for a living. They asked me but I merely said I had been in the real estate business...and then I changed the subject. Our sunset food was excellent and had come home with us from Porto Bello, the restaurant we had lunch yesterday. We did admit eventually that we had not prepared the food. We had invited them to have a drink and to eat sunset food. They arrived at 6:00. All the food was gone by 7:30. But they stayed. I thought they would never leave. Eventually at 8:30 they left for home, which was right next door. I almost used my father's tactic by standing up and thanking people for coming, then shaking their hands. Of course, the guests always stood up and shook my father's hand, and left. But I could not figure out how to do it gracefully so I sat and said nothing. I am glad to have gotten to know my neighbors, but as Wendy commented after they left. "They are nice people but I do not think they will become bosom buddies." But we did our duty and we all had a good time. Finally, I did my duty.

February 3, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. Rain.

This is the dry season in Mexico. Since we have been living here in Mexico, in the dry season, we could expect beautiful weather. We have had rain only twice for all those years, and only for a short time. But it has rained for the better part of three days. Right now, the rain is pouring down. It rained all night and all morning. Normally we could count of sun. But now we feel as if we were living in the rainy season, which is during the summer months. Because Wendy and Ken could not go to the beach, we decided to go to my favorite restaurant for lunch, to celebrate our splendid vacation. Porto Bello is an Italian restaurant on the other side of the canal. We five took a taxi. And we celebrated in style. Fortunately, their outside eating area is covered so we sat outdoor and listened to the rain. It was chilly so the waiter brought me a shawl to keep me warm, which turned out to be a table cloth. We started out with an anti pasta platter. It was so good that I ordered another to take home as the neighbors were coming over for sunset food and a drink at 6:00. We each ordered a different dish. My salmon was delicious, as was my apple tart for dessert. For an hour late afternoon the rain stopped and people headed to the pool, especially the children. But by dark, the rain started and it has been raining ever since. Tomorrow we hope that Wendy and Ken can have their last beach visit to palapa 509, but my phone tells me it is supposed to be stormy. For someone like me, who never sits in the sun, rain is no problem but most folks here are not happy when the sun does not shine. We have had no sunset for three evenings. And we are having lots of rain. It is all unexpected. But at least we do not have snow!!

February 2, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Super Bowl.

This afternoon, Rita discovered that a Canadian from Montreal was playing in the Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs. Immediately we all five decided to cheer for Kansas City. Also she discovered that the same gentleman was the first MD playing in the Super Bowl. He attended college at McGill and played football for four years. By taking summer classes and extra hours through the year, he graduated and then attended medical school, also at McGill. He completed his Medical training during the off season. He was drafted by the NFL in the sixth round five years ago, which made him the 200th player selected. He plays as an offensive lineman. At 6'6'' and 310 pounds he must be an impressive individual. Since being drafted, he has always played in the NFL. He is also only the 3rd Canadian player to play in the Super Bowl. We five had our own Super Bowl party. We ordered pizza which was delivered. It was delicious with a very thin crust. And we have enough left over for breakfast. During the half time, we ate ice cream, which Rita bought at the market this afternoon. For quite a long time we thought our team was going down to defeat but they pulled it out and Kansas City won the Super Bowl. None of our five cared who won the game because we had no skin in the game. But we latched onto our Canadian Doctor, and we stuck with our new team and were steady right to the end, which was exciting. Hats off to the Kansas City team, who last won the Super Bowl 50 years ago. It was worth the wait.

February 1, 2020. Playa Royale, Mexico. San Sebastian Excursion.

Today, Wendy and Ken hired a driver and guide and drove to the old town, San Sebastian. On Wednesday, Ken asked the men at the front desk about hiring a driver and they recommended Mario. So it was all arranged for Saturday. Wendy and Ken left at 9:00 and returned just before 5:00. They were pleased with their journey. Mario turned out to be an excellent guide. He has a degree in the tourist business and has been guiding people in the area of Puerto Vallarta for 20 years. His English was excellent and he gave interesting information about the area. On the way they stopped at a pastry shop and ate small pastries stuffed with mushrooms that they said were delicious. They both enjoyed the drive. Just seeing the homes and farms was interesting. San Sebastian has been a mining town for hundreds of years, well before the Spanish arrived and took over. At one time, the population approached 30,000. But the mines closed so now 700 folks live there along with many seasonal people who come to the mountains to get away from the heat. Wendy and Ken ate lunch there. On the way down the mountain they stopped at a coffee plantation and a tequila factory and they were able to watch the liquor distilled. Wendy and Ken invited me on the excursion but Ken and I had taken the journey several years ago so I stayed home. They were happy with Mario and happy with the whole excursion. Rita and Ian are thinking they will hire Mario next week. Also, San Sebastian has improved with more old homes restored. Progress has been made in San Sebastian.