January 31, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Cruise. Autumn. 2023.

This morning I accomplished a lot. I booked a cruise for the Fall of 2023. I had been thinking about options. And Wendy found a cruise from Halifax south along the coast, ending at Fort Lauderdale. This morning I spoke to the folks at Silverseas to fill in the details. The ship is small with 240 passengers. And it is an expedition/historical cruise so the ship will be carrying an historian and 2 naturalists. Before any excursions, the naturalist and historian will fill us in on the details of what we will be seeing. This certainly pleased me. And a naturalist is usually on the bow of the boat at any time, spotting for birds and sea life. Last summer, friend David had said that he would go on any trip with me, both to help me and to see new sights. So I took him at his word and I booked the trip for the Autumn of 2023. After I had paid the deposit and finalized the booking, I called him to let him know what I had done. Fortunately, he was thrilled. Right now he is excited about our cruise up the St. Lawrence River and the Great lakes which begins on May 14, 2022. In addition, I upgraded our room at the Hard Rock Resort and booked a Presidential Suits. Wendy and Ken will be in the Presidential Suite with me. Wendy is happier being in the same suite with me and the Presidential has a living room and dining room which will make it easier for Kenny and Anne to meet us before going to dinner. I made a mistake taking the cheaper option with 3 separate rooms. Now we have the Presidential Suite which will be much more comfortable. Ken would have never booked the cheaper option. Over night I decided I was being silly. Life is too short to pass a better option. Now I have only piece of the puzzle for the winter of 2023 which is February 11 at Playa. I will request the 4 weeks on Feb.11 and then see what happens. So far, the year 2023 has worked out well and I am pleased.

January 30, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Another Lovely Day.

My day began drinking coffee on the balcony with my family. The weather was perfect. Our favorite restaurant, La Isla, is just down the street, so we five walked down for an 11:00 brunch. Ken Bthen . walked quickly ahead of us in order to arrange for a table, which proved to be wise because by we arrived and were seated, the place was full. Our brunch was delicious and the breeze was cool so we enjoyed ourselves. And we walked home with no trouble, especially with Anne on one side of me and Wendy on the other. I can walk faster when holding on to two arms. Next Ken and Wendy went to the beach while Kenny went to work on their boat. Anne read on the balcony. I took a nap. Then I walked down to talk with my friend Rosa at the pool. I also chatted with my friends Kathy and Ted, who have been ill since their arrival. So I had a good visit. After drinking my orange drink on the balcony, I read my book. One by one we gathered and soon we reconveened on the balcony for sunset food and margaritas, the guacamole dip made by Anne. Dinner on the balcony was excellent: left over Risotto, made by Kenny yesterday, sauteed squash, salad and chicken grilled by Ken B. This evening our house is quiet, with everyone reading. By itself, no activity was dramatic but when put together as a whole day, it leads me to say that I had a lovely day. The whole was greater than each individual part. It was indeed a special day.

January 29, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. More Planning.

Other than organizing my winter in Mexico, I have no other plans for 2023. I plan as usual to spend the summer in Nova Scotia but other than Mexico and Nova Scotia, I had done nothing to organize other excursions. This Spring I will not spend time in Texas because I am taking the cruise of the St.Lawrence River and the great lakes, beginning May 14, so I would like to spend May and part of June in Texas with David and Suzanne at the lake. That leaves me with the autumn of 2023. This evening while sitting on the balcony eating sunset food, I posed my question to the rest of us. And we came up with some ideas. I have never travelled down the Atlantic by boat. Ken and I have driven along the coast but we have never seen the land from the sea, so I posed it to the group. Wendy immediately found a cruise that starts in Halifax and ends in Fort Lauderdale. I will check it out tomorrow. I also need to know where the ship will go next. The cruise is for 12 days. And she found another cruise beginning in Quebec City and ends in Peru. 40 nights and 41 days in a small ship sounds perfect but I do not wish to begin in Quebec City. The good part is that I will have options if I select a cruise in the Fall of 2023. First I must gather information. Then I will ask if friend David is interested in taking another cruise. He is accompanying me on the cruise in 2022. I think I can manage to take a cruise on my own but it will be easier for me with his company and his help. All five of us agreed that taking a cruise is the easiest way to take an excursion so I will explore my options for the Autumn of 2023. It is great fun trying to figure out opportunities for travel. Next I must make a plan.

January 28, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Planning.

Today I have organize for next winter in Nuevo Vallarta. Today was an extension of what I have already done. Months ago, I booked a Villa in Paradise Village. Several years ago, I booked a Villa and Wendy and Ken joined me along with Katey and Brock and Alana. The unit is big and beautiful and has it own small swimming pool. We enjoyed staying in the Villa so I have booked it again, this time from December 18 to the 30th. I am hoping that Wendy and Ken along with Katey and Brock and Alana and Nick will join me. Next I booked a two bedroom unit in Paradise Village, this ending on January 7, 2023. Wendy and Ken will stay with me. Early in January I was able to book my unit in Playa Royale, from Jan.7 to the 28th. And today I requested the space for February but someone got there first so I was not able to book my space. But next door is an all inclusive resort called the Hard Rock Resort. Ken and I have membership there and I knew I still owned free weeks so I contacted them. Ken and I have stayed there several times and once several years ago, Wendy and Ken stayed there with Ken and me. The service and the food is supurb. I booked three rooms for two weeks at the Hard Rock Resort, from Jan.28 to February 11, 2023. We could get no Presidential Suite but we will have three separate rooms, which includes all the food and beverages, along with the wonderful service. And I used my free weeks. Kenny and Anne will be sailing down the Mexican coast and will join us at Playa Royale on Jan.7 and move next door with us to the Hard Rock Resort. They will have a good rest before heading to the south seas. For me, on February 11, I will request the use of Playa Royale for the next 4 weeks. Bit by bit, my winter next yesr is shaping up. We are all pleased. But I have one more piece of the puzzle. I have faith.

January 27, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Porto Bello.

The Porto Ballo restaurant has always been our favorite. Ken and I have dined there many times, but usually for lunch. This evening we five happy souls had dinner at Porto Bello. It did not disappoint. To get there we took a taxi, all five of us in a big van. And we were seated right along the railing so we could see the iguanas in the trees on the opposite side of the canal. The evening was lovely so we were happy to be outdoors. One thing was different tonight. Normally the number of patrons were small but tonight the place was almost full when we arrived at 6:30. And by the time we left there were diners eating inside too. Tonight we were celebrating. Alana had been accepted to work on the ICU floor at her hospital. Yesterday she had an interview. Today she was offered a position, which she accepted. So we celebrated in her absence. Our food was delicious. We all ate a three course meal which included a dessert. I had ordered veal but when the food arrived it was a steak. I never order beef in Mexico but I decided to keep the steak which turned out to be tender and tasty. I brough half home with me. Next time I dine at Porto Bello I will order veal. But we all five enjoyed our dinner. And a quick van ride back brought us home. We will definately eat at the Porto Bello again before we leave at the end of February. It is a good restaurant.

January 26, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Balcony Birds.

Every morning we five eat breakfast on the balcony. Bit by bit, people drift away. Ken B. is the first to head away to their palapa. Next Kenny and Anne go to their boat, which leaves Wendy sitting with me while I finish my coffee. We watch the ocean and we talk quietly. And sometimes a bird will come to visit. The Great Kiskadee was the first to visit. He landed on the post in the corner, then hopped along the railing until he was right in front of us. We stayed very still. Finally he let out his high pitched song which made us jump. For such a beautiful bird his sound is ridiculous. Three times since I arrived he has come to visit which pleases us. He is a beautiful yellow breasted bird. This week, a mourning dove came to the corner post and stayed a long time, cooing the whole time. We eat on the balcony which means we drop crumbs so the birds are looking for breakfast. The dove never did jump down to the floor, perhaps Wendy and I were there. Grackles come frequently, trying to find our crumbs. Sometimes we will have several at the same time. We see a sparrow come regularly too. We think it is a lark sparrow. He always flies directly to the floor of the balcony all around the table, then flys off. Last week, an oriole landed on the railing. And he came along the rail until he was directly in front of me. He was bright orange but not much black so I knew what the bird was not, but we did not know his name. The bird jumped down to the floor. I quickly pushed a small piece of my toast with banana across the table. Much to my surprise, the bird jumped right on the table and proceeded to eat my breakfast. First he ate all the banana, then pecked away at the toast. After a few minutes, his mate joined him but would only stay on the railing. Soon their baby appeared on the lower rung of the railing. They put on a show for us. Wendy looked through the bird books and decided that our bird was a streak back oriole. Wendy had taken a picture so both Alice Anne and Jim confirmed the identification. Wendy and I have enjoyed our morning visits with the birds on the balcony which we think is unusual. We like their visits.

January 25, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Our Routines.

Not only do we have routines, here at Playa Royale, we also have rules. Our systems work very well. When we fist arrived, Wendy and Ken would not allow me to buy groceries. Neither would they allow me to accompany them to the Mega grocery store. In the past, I would accompany them to the store and I would fill a cart. But this year, they told me that as I was providing the condo, they were going to buy the groceries. So they did and have continued to do so. In addition, Ken cooks dinner while Wendy prepares breakfast and lunch. Since Anne and Kenny have arrived, Anne helps with meals and groceries so everyone is happy. That routine did not set so well with me so I made the rule that we would eat out at lunch once a week and I would pay the bill. And I recommended that we would eat out once a week for dinner, something that Ken and I almost never did. We ate lunch at restaurants but never dinner. So on my dime, we go out once a week for both lunch and dinner. The cooks get a break and I feel better about my relatives buying all the groceries. Our system works very well. We all five enjoy the decision as to where we will dine out this week, and then selecting the days when we go out to dine. Many times we walk to the restaurants and they help me with walking. This Thursday we are going to Porto Bello, the Italian restaurant across the canal. On Monday, we ate lunch at the golf course, one of my favorite places for lunch. All I do is sign the bill after we dine. And everyone is happy. No fuss or muss. We all know our role. Our routine works well for everyone. Pretty good system I would say.

January 24, 2022. Playa Royale. Sarah Funt.

Sarah had everything. She was energetic and enthusiastic. She was an excellent real estate agent. Her home was beautiful and gracious. And shw worked hard with group that she belonged to and contributed to the success. In addition she had a loving husband who was always supportive of her endeavors. And that is why her death will make a huge void in the life of many people. Her passing is a shock. She was ill in the hospital and on a ventilator and on the ICU. But she seemed to be getting better and we were hopeful for her recovery. But it ws not to be. Sarah passed away yesterday. Being without Sarah in our lives will be difficult. She was unfailingly positive and helpful. I and hundreds of others will be mourning the passing of Sarah. She was a wonderful lady and we will miss her. She will leave a void. It just does not seem fair.

January 23, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. The Boat Naida.

The boat was named after a nymph in one of Shakespears plays where she was transformed from fresh water to salt water. The former owners of the boat had lived in Edmonton so the boat sailed in fresh water lakes. But they were retiring and took the boat to the west coast, where it would be sailing in salt water. Anne and Ken kept the name because they were from inland lakes and would now sail in the Pacific Ocean. So Naida sailed from Vancouver to Nuevo Vallarta. They left Vancouver September 1, 2021. But they left their boat at La Cruz when they came for the 90th celebration. Now the boat is in our Paradise Village Marina. The boat is 40 feet long and is a sloop. And it is outfitted with all the electronics known to man. The boat has two cabins plus a galley and a head with everything in a precise place. Since they have been here with us, Kenny and Anne have been working on the boat. Anne has been busily repairing their dinghy which means cutting and sewing. Her sewing machine comes along in their boat and Anne is clever with the machine. A boat is similar to house , except more so. Thee is always things to be done. Kenny has been checking all the machines prior to their next journey, when they will continue down the Mexican coast. In addition, a man is cleaning the boast, scrubbing with a tooth brush every outside piece of metal. After scrubbing the boat, the man will wax and waterproof the whole boat. Right now, it looks pristine. In addition, Anne asked a local lady to re cover cushions. They should be returned tomorrow. Eventually they will head north and will investigate the Sea of Cortez. They will leave their boat at the top of The Sea of Cotez in a marina and return to Vancouver for the summer. In the Fall they will return to their boat and again come to Nuevo Vallarta. Then they will head south to the south seas. The Naida is a sturdy boat and they are enjoying their journey. For me, I just cheer them on.

January 22, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. My Day.

Here in Nuevo Vallarta I am lazy. I am keen to avoid getting an infection so I stay away from groups of people. In the morning, I eat breakfast on the balcony with all five of us. Ken B. is the first one to leave and he heads down to their palapa, the one that Wendy ordered the day before. Next Kenny and Anne leave for their boat. Anne has been working hard all week to make a repair to their dinghy, that required sewing. And Kenny has been working on various and sundry tasks. Today he spent all afternoon in a closet on the boat with electrical issues. Finally, Wendy heads down to their palapa while I stay in the condo. Immeditely wnen alone,I go to my i Pad and check my e mails. And I respond. Then I read. Later in the morning I clean up and dress. And I walk a couple of laps on the balcony before lunch. I also talk on the phone in the morning too. By 12:30, Wendy and Ken come up from the beach and Kenny and Anne come back from their boat. Today, Anne prepared tostodoes which were delicious. Wendy normally prepares lunch for us all. They all return to their repective tasks while I stay home. Next I take a nap. I try to give my legs a break for about an hour. I actually I have no idea if my legs are better when I put my legs up every afternnon but I do it anyway. If I want to visit Rosa at the pool this is when I go. If I am staying home, I read either my magazines or my book. And I walk more laps on the balcony before dinner. At 6:30 or so we eat our sunset food, set out by Wendy. Then I walk another couple of laps before dinner, which we usually eat around 7:30. I have company at every meal so I have no need to watch television. In the evening we either sit and talk on the balcony or we all read. My life is pleasant and never boring. But I certainly am a lady of leisure.

January 21, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Walking.

One of the good aspecs of living in our place in Nuevo Vallarta is that you naturally do a lot of walking. We always walked to the market in the Plaza. And we always walked to the time share/hotel. Just getting to the pool is a bit of a hike. And we always walked out to dinner. So just by going here and there, you walked a lot. And people walk the beach every day. Wendy and Ken always walk the beach every day. In the morning, they walk one way and in the afternoon they walk the other direction. So the walking comes naturally every day. You did not intentionally go out for a walk to get some exercise. Anne and Kenny are working on their boat so they walk to their boat at the marina after breakfast, then walk home for lunch, then repeat the process in the afternoon. So they get a fair bit of excercise just getting to and fro from our condo to their boat, which they like. Ken and I have always enjoyed all the walking here in Mexico. Of course, my legs are not what they used to be. I try to walk between 3000 and 7000 steps a day. If i walk over the 7000, my legs give me trouble when I sleep. And if I walk under 3000 steps a day my legs just hurt. So the happy medium is what I look for. I must be careful on the days we are walking out for dinner that I do not walk the balcony during the day. Normally, if I am not required to walk to lunch or dinner, I walk on the balcony. It is the safest and easiest place for me to walk. Unfortunately, my legs hurt when I walk. I always hope that my neuropothy legs will feel beter the longer I walk but that does not work. The longer I walk the number my legs feel. And they hurt too. But I just keep on going but always careful not to walk too long. This year, I have strong arms to help me walk. I can walk faster when I am holding onto two peoples arms. Pretty nice for me to have this help. And the best part is that I can walk down the street for dinner, with the help of my friends. Nifty.

January 20, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Il Pescatorie.

The setting for the restaurant is lovely, alongside the Paradise Village Marina. While you dine, you gaze out at all the magnificent boats, which now includes Kenny and Anne's boat, Naida. Ken and I were having dinner at the same spot when we first suggested they bring their boat to Nuevo Vallarta and visit us. That was 2016. Now we are all here together so to celebrate last evening, we went for dinner at the same restaurant, IlPescatorie. The evening was perfect, 74 degrees with no wind. We enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious. Over the years, the food has been spotty. Sometimes it was great and sometimes not. But last evening everyone enjoyed their meal. The soup I ate was especially memorable while my fish, mahi mahi, was good. And we enjoyed sharing dessert. We celebrated in style. We had made our reservation for 6:30 so we would be able to walk at lease one way in the daylight. Walking in the dark is difficult for me but with Ken on one side and Wendy on the other, I was able to get home in the dark with no trouble. Actually, when we were walking to the restaurant I had Kenny's arm on one side of me and Wendy's arm on my other side because I can walk faster when holding two arms. We had no trouble walking to and fro. Our evening was delightful. With perfect weather and a lovely setting along with good company, how could we go wrong.

January 19, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Complications of Sailing.

Getting from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta is complicated. And I am not thinking of the sailing part. I mean the logistics of leaving one country, Canada, then sailing south through American waters and clearing customs into the US, next doing it all again to get into Mexico. Then at each harbor where they intend to stay the night the must check in with the harbor master to get permission to stay. It is all very complicated. And that is above and beyone sailing the boat, which in itself is a complicated business. But Kenny and Anne were up to the task. They were prepared and were given a passage to Mexico from the authorities at Port Angelis in the US which meant they were free to travel along the coast and stop into any American town without furthur checking. At the first town in Mexico they cleared customs, then stayed in several Mexican harbors on their way south. At Nuevo Vallarta, after docking at their birth at the Marina and checking in officially at the Paradise Village marina, they needed to pay a visit to the Harbor Master to stamp their papers. At that point, they were legal to stay in Nuevo Vallarta. The Harbor Master took his job seriously. He wore a uniform and was professional with his demeaner. At all times, you are required to let the authorities know where you are and what you are doing. It is all very complicated. But they are here!!

January 18, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. The Balcony.

For most of the day, the balcony is wonderful. There is always a breeze during the day and of course, we always look out at the Bay of Bandares, which is a part of the Pacific Ocean. We look out at all the little boats throughout the day. We eat all our meals on the balcony. The temperature here in Mexico is perfect so we are comfortable in a light shirt and shorts. Until around 5:00, we are in the shade which makes our life comfortable out on the balcony. Beginning around 5:00, sitting on the balcony is impossible because you have the sun in your eyes so we come inside. But beginning 20 minutes before sunset, we return to the balcony to eat sunset food. By then, the sun is low enough that you can stand to watch the sunset. And we enjoy the rest of the evening on the balcony. Even if the temperature drops a degree or two, the air is still warm because the breeze stops blowing. We eat our dinner on the balcony while the night descends while we sit there. And we talk and watch for lights out at sea. Evenings on the balcony are just perfect. We listen to the waves crashing into the shore and we enjoy the quiet of the night. Evenings on the balcony are perhaps the best part of the day. We five feel so fortunate that we are all together in Mexico enjoying the warm air and sunshine sitting on the balcony. Nothing better I think.

January 17, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Tulum Restaurant.

The restaurant Tulum is a favorite place for me to have lunch. It is also a place that few people go for lunch so there is often just a hand full of people having lunch at the same time as us. This is one of the reasons I go there for lunch. It is never crowded. But the main reason is the location. It is at the very end of Paradise Village, right beside the river/canal leading up to the marina. It is also overlooking the beach and the water so the views are always good. Paradise Village has several restaurants. One in the middle, is right on the beach, surrounded by thick plexiglass. It was the first time Ken and I had seen these thick plexiglass sheets used as a wall. We immediate contacted our builder George in Nova Scotia to install the same thing at our hot tub at Western Head. We figured that if it could be done in Mexico, surely it could be installed in Nova Scotia. George had to bring the plexigass all the way from British Columbia but it is still in place. Another large restaurant sits between the two large pools. Many of the festivals are held there. Dinners always include entertainment. And another Italian restaurant sits overlooking the marina. We will dine there on Wednesday at 6:30. The Tulum restaurant serves a huge buffet breakfast every day which is probably why most folks do not go to the same place for lunch. Also people order lunch at their place by the pool. The waiters at the two pools are busy. But no place is as beautiful as Tulum for lunch. The service is good and the views are spectacular. And of course, there is always a breeze. So far, I have had lunch once at the Tulum restaurant and I hope to return before I depart at the end of February. It is one of my favorite places for lunch.

January 16, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Christmas in January.

For Christmas, Wendy gave Kenny and Anne a gift to be given to them in Mexico. She did not want them to have to carry a gift back to Vancouver with them. Instead she would take them out for a meal in Nuevo Vallarta. I thought it was a splendid idea, especially when she took all five of us for brunch today. Two weeks ago, the day after we three had arrived, we went to La Isla for brunch, which we enjoyed enormously. We repeated the meal today, but now we were five. La Isla is our favorite restaurant. We can easily walk. And the place is outside although there is a roof made of palm fronds to keep out the sun. The restaurant is right beside the road. The place has only 10 tables. The kitchen is open to the rest of the restaurant so if you are inclined, you can watch the lady cook. Everything is made from scratch so you must be prepared to be patient. But when the food arrives, you realize that it was worth the wait. The food is delicious and very Mexican. Our meals were delicious. We were delighted to share in this gift to Kenny and Anne. It was a splendid idea at Christmas and an even better idea today. I loveed this Christmas in January gift.

January 15, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. January, 2018.

Kenny and Anne came visit us at Playa Royal to spend a week of fun in the sun. It was January, 2018. Ken was in the hospital so instead of having fun, they helped me visit Ken in the hospital, and they cooked dinner every night. They visited Ken together and they visited him by themselves so Ken was able to talk with them at length. In addition, Kenny and son David helped set up my on line banking, which along with Christina, kept my bills being paid. They also took an excursion or two and also sat on the beach a time or two, but for the most part, they helped me. They were a godsend to me in January 2018. One of the topics of conversation with Ken was the proposed trip taking their sail boat from their Vancouver home to visit us in Nuevo Vallarta. The plan was to retire, sell their house and sail. But first, many decisions needed to be done. And we discused all possibilities. They have done every one. They sold their house and bought a condo. They upgraded their boat. They retired. They gathered information about life on a sailboat. One by one, all the questions were resolved. Fast forward to January, 2022. This evening we sat on the balcony and gave a toast. Here we are, together in Nuevo Vallarta. They have sailed down the coast and today have docked their boat at the Paradise Village Marina, the same one I e mailed them about when Ken and I were dining at the Italian restaurant overlooking the marina. I had spotted many Canadian flags and right at the spot, I invited them to bring their boat here. That was in 2016. Now they are here and Wendy, Ken and I are delighted to have them here. It dook a while. But here we are and we are all as pleased as punch.

January 14, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. The Neighbors.

I live on the 7th floor of tower 3. Tower 2 is right next door, on the next section of a horseshoe. I cam see the balcony of the unit in that 7th floor of tower 2. From time to time we have chatted but we are certainly not close friends. Suzanne R. was the first one to strike up a conversation with my neighbors in the next building and Rita has talked with the lady several times but for me, I mostly just wave. They own their condo all by themselves so come for long periods of time. Also they live in Calgary where the winters are severe. Last year they did not come. In fact, when they came this year for the first time, they had not been here for 20 months. Over the years, we have observed their patterns. When they are by themselves, mostly they stay indoors. We do not see them out on the balcony for days at a time. We knew they were there bbecause we could see a light. But when they have company, they eat on the balcony and they talk. Since last Saturday, they have had company, a couple from India. The owner told me that they met their friends at a large chuch gathering years ago but this visit is their first to Playa Royale. Being nosy, I would want them to speak up just a bit so I could hear more easily what they are saying. We are not used to hear many sounds coming from the condo across the way from me. Ken and I often wondered what they did all day. Do they watch TV? The only time the man came out to the balcony was when he was on his phone. One interesting aspect of my neighbors is her fascination with iguanas. She looks for them in the palm trees in front of her unit. The first thing she asked me when I first spoke to her this week was to ask if I had seen any iguanas. I said no but that Wendy and Ken has spotted one by the pool. She had already found one on the grass and of course, pointed it out to me. Their friends left this afternoon so of course, we did not see them on the balcony tonight. I bet they were watching TV.

January 13, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. The Plan for Tomorrow.

We have a plan. I need to change dollars to pesos so we three will take the shutle to the main building of the time share/hotel to complete my business. You must take your passport so I must be sure to take it from the safe. Then we will walk along to the end of the complex and have lunch. It is a favorite place for lunch so I am looking forward to seeing the place. And I hope the food is still good. I am already anticipating that I will order a fancy salad and tortilla soup, which in the past has been wonderful. And we have a reservation for lunch. We expected to do the same drill on Monday, but the officials are much stricker about access. We walked to the hotel and at the gate, the guard refused us access to go for lunch because we had not made a reservation. Evidently, the restaurant is only allowed to serve a specific number or diners and in order to control their numbers, you must make a reservation a day ahead, which I did. We were told by the front desk people at Playa Royale that you can gain access on the shuttle in order to get pesos. Then we could have just wandered along for lunch and no one would say a word. But tomorrow, we are legal and I will be interested what happens in the shuttle. The government has recently changed the ruls so the hotel must comply. We are not keen to get into the crowds of people at Paradise Village but we are doing it anyway. We will have masks at the ready. Wendy and Ken will visit their palapa in the morning. Then we will take the 12:30 shuttle. After I have pesos and we have had lunch, I feel sure we will walk back to Playa Royale. I am looking forward to our outing.

January 12, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. The Lost Shoes.

The morning after our mini party at the pool, Wendy could not find her shoes. She looked everywhere in the condo. But no luck. Eventually, we decided that she must have left her shoes beside the chair at the pool. We were so concerned about getting upstairs in the dark that Wendy walked upstairs in her bare feet. And we laughed about it. We had such a giddy, happy time with our food and our drinks that we paid no attention to her shoes. And when we came upstairs, she had gone straight to bed. The sandals were of the Teva type, and well used, but she did not want to lose them. I felt sure that the cleaning people in the morning would have turned the shoes into the lost and found. But I felt sure that the shoes would take a day or two fo appear. And I was right. Every day Wendy and Ken checked for the shoes. They asked at the front desk and they asked at the check in place for the palapas. And they asked the security people. No shoes could be found. Wendy and I both felt that the shoes had just been stuck in some drawer but no one had opened that drawer. Finally the man at the front desk spoke to one of the cleaning folks and directed her where to look which was everywhere. And he told Wendy that he would call with information. Not long after, the phone rang. The shoes were at the front desk. Success at last. It just took three days.

January 11, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Kenny and Anne.

Today, Kenny and Anne flew from Vancouver and now are on their boat at La Cruz, a town on Bandares Bay, just 2 towns along from us in Nuevo Vallarta. In the next few days, they will join us at the condo but first they must clean off four weeks of dust from their boat. That will happen in a few days. Then they sail down to the Paradise Village Marina. where it will stay while they visit with us in the condo. They left Vancouver September1, and have been sailing down the coast, stopping at harbors on the way. In San Diego, they enjoyed a family wedding in late October, then continued south, eventually arriving in Bandares Bay, where they were able to get a birth at La Cruz, the largest marina in Mexico. They flew home to Vancouver to collect clothes for the 90th anniversary. Next back to Vancouver for Christmas. And then back to their boat in Mexico. We are pleased to have them here. Several years ago, Ken and were having dinner at the restaurant that overlooks the marina. I noticed many Canadian flags flying on the boats so I e mailed Kenny to suggest they come here to bring their boat and visit us here. They have been planning it ever since. Now it is happening. I am delighted.

January 10, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. An Exciting Evening.

Yesterday, we three decided to eat our sunset food by the pool and have a cocktail too. On our balcony we normally drink water with our sunset food, but not by the pool. The nachos were so good the last time that we deciced to do it again. I came down from the condo a bit after 5:00 and Wendy and Ken joined me from their palapa on the beach. And we ordered. But things do not happen quickly by the pool. Eventually our drinks appeared followed by the nachos ten minutes later. And we enjoyed ourselves. The drinks were strong and the nachos were just as good. Bit by bit, people left the pool, leaving us by ourselves having a good time. Then we were given the exciting news by Wendy. Katey had just told her that she and Brock were going to have a baby in July. We were so excited we ordered guacomole, which we love. So after devouring all the nachos we dove into the gaucomole dip, hooting and laughing with the good news. It was so very exciting. Katey is Wendy's elder daughter so the first grandchild for Wendy. Wendy is going to be a grandmother. The future of the family is secure. My brother and sister in law, Dave and Irene, will now have 4 greatgrandchildren. This was a good evening. We were thrilled. By the time we ate all our food and celebrated by drinking all our strong drinks, it was very dark. Fortunately the path to the building was well lit so with my arms firmly attached to Wendy and Ken, we wended our way home in the pitch black evening. I ate a piece of toast and yoghurt for supper while Wendy and Ken went directly to bed. Our excitement of the evening tired them right out.

January 9, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Families at the Pool.

Both the mothers and the fathers play with their children at the pool. For me, it gives me great pleasure watching. At this point, most school aged children have returned to school both the Mexican families and those from North America. So we see the young children probably under five, the ones who are delighted to be in the water. One whole end of the pool is shallow so that is where they play, endlessly throwing their balls and floating objects. The parents play with the children, especially the Mexican families. I watched three little boys playing with their father. Each of the boys had a ball. Each boy would throw the ball to their father which he would catch, then throw the bakk back to the little boy. The kids were perhaps 3 or 4. What astonished me was that the boys were not able to catch the ball. Never. The ball either bounced off their hand or their shoulder. I watched for ages and I thought that eventually the boys would catch on to holding onto the ball. But they never did. The father also never give them any instructions. He just patiently threw the balls back, one boy after another. From my background in athletics, I tried to find out when boys begin to catch the ball when it is thrown at them. I know that many children are never able to catch a ball. These little boys were trying. But they were unsuccessful. But it did not matter. They were enjoying the game of catch with their father. Everyone was enjoying the game. The mothes and fathes seem to be having as much fun as the kids. The play was always quiet. No loud shrieking or yelling. Just lots of giggles and laughter. A swimming pool is the best play area for families. I have certainly enjoyed watching the fun. It is another of the simple pleasures I enjoy in Mexico.

January 8, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Meal Time.

I am the most fortunate person in the world. I never step foot in the kitchen but every day, three meals a day, I enjoy eating delicious food. We eat on the balcony so after we nibble on sunset food, I sit on the balcony and talk with Wendy while Ken always prepares dinner. This evening we ate a Mexican dish. He sauteed peppers and onions and browned and cooked ground pork. After seasoning them both, he served the mixture on tortillas which we rolled up and ate. Last evening he cooked chicken on our new grill, which has been on our balcony since we arrived. Along with the chicken, we ate a salad, made by Wendy, and fresh bread. Our dinners are excellent. First thing in the morning, I come to the balcony where Wendy is reading. Immidiately, Wendy brings me coffee. While I am sipping my coffee, we discuss breakfast. This morning, Wendy cooked bacon so I ate toast and bacon along with fresh pinapple. By the time I am up, both Ken and Wendy have finished their breakfast but they talk to me while I enjoy my breakfast. Yesterday for breakfast I ate avacado toast on really good Mexican bread. The day before Wendy prepared toast and peanut butter with bananas on the top. Every breakfast is different and every breakfast is good. After breakfast, Ken and Wendy head down to their palapa, which Wendy had reserved the day before. I stay in the condo and read but by 1:00 Wendy and Ken come up for lunch and Wendy prepares something interesting for our lunch. Today we ate good bread filled with cheese, avacado and tomatoe. Delicious. Yesterday we ate two small tortillas with sheese and tomato perched on the top. Again we eat on the balcondy overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Our meals are the hit of the day and I especially appreciate both Wendy and Ken supplying with my meals. Things do not get much better than that.

January 7, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. My Resort.

Playa Royale is the name of the resort I live in Mexico. It is a made up of five towers of condominiums. I live in tower 3, unit 701. By far, most condos are owned by one owner, just like any other condo. People either stay in their unit or they rent them out. My ownership is different. When the place was first being built, Ken and I looked to buy our own unit but Ken did not want another property to manage. Ken said,"I do not wish anothe dishwasher ." So that was that. Instead, several years later, we purchased a fractional ownership in tower 3. Only 4 floors on the tower 3 were turned into our type of ownership. Floors 7 to 10 only. And you were allowed to buy 5 weekss at a time. We bought a total of 10 weeks. We have been happy with our purchase. If something is not working, we call the front desk and they send a man to fix it. We have two lockers where I keep my belongings. It is a turn key operation, which is what Ken wanted. Today I requested the use of the condo for January 2023. You are allowed to book a year ahead so at 8:00am Pacific Time, I submitted my request for January, 2023. Two hours later, my request was granted so we three expect to be here in a year. Pretty nice thought. Now on Jan.27, I will submit my request for February, 2023. And that is how the system works. The rules do not allow an owner to get the same time one year to the next but as we own ten weeks, I am able to switch off year to year. The system has worked for me. Several other owners of our unit live in Mexico City and do not wish to come in January and February. Instead they want to come during the sumer weeks when the children are out of school. My friends tell me that they struggle to get the weeks they want but we have never had those troubles. This fractional ownership is a spin off of the time shares. The difference is that we actually own 10 weeks of the same unit so we always come back to the same unit. With a time share, you are assigned to any unit. The system workes for me. Today I got approved for January 2023. Now I will try for February soon.

January 6, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Dining Out.

We have made a plan. Once a week, we three will go out for lunch. Last Sunday we went to our favorite restaurant for brunch. And tonight we dined at The Riviera Grill, our closest reataurant just across the street and down the block. With a strong arm on each side of me, we walked. Getting there in the daylight was easy but getting home in the dark was not as easy. But we did it. And we enjoyed ourselves. Ken and I always went out for lunch but this year and with the help of Wendy and Ken, we are trying to go out for dinner once a week. Ken cooks dinner for us each evening, so once a week, he will be off duty. Every season, The Riviera Grill has improved. This year, all the plates and glasses were made of glass with lots of different designs. It was impressive. The foliage in the place has grown up so that you can not see the other folks. When we left, we realized that the restaurant was full but there was no sense of being crowded. And much to my surprise, the service was excellent. Often Mexican restaurants do not wish you to be rushed so they do not pay you much attention. But not tonight. We ate a long leisuely meal. Once i dropped my napkin. Our waiter noticed and immediately brought me a clean one. I was impressed. We overordered but we are glad we did because we all brought home a box of our food, which we will enjoy tomorrow for lunch. And the food was good. Now we must decide where we will go next week. Our plan is in place.

January 5, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Perfect Timing.

Sometimes, the timing is perfect. Even though the timing went all out of whack, in the end, everything turned out to be perfect. Just after 4:00 this afternoon I arranged with Marlin, the conseiege, to get membership cards for Wendy and Ken. But first they needed to stop into her office to take a picture for their cards. I walked down to the pool and sat, trying to figure out how to reach them at their palapa. I knew I could never to be able to find them on the beach. So I asked one of the security men to find them but even after several attempts, Wendy and Ken could not be found. Marlin leaves at 5, so time was on our side. I ordered nachos and drinks brought to my chair, hoping that eventually they would appear. Finally, Wendy went to the restroom so I called her over to tell her what I needed her to do. So she and Ken went up to meet with Marlin. By now it was after 5:00 which is Happy Hour at the beach restaurant. Finally our waiter appeared, just after Wendy and Ken had returned to the pool, carrying 6 cups of margarhitas for us and one plate of nachos, full of cheese, avacado and refried beans. Nothing moves very fast in Mexico so by 5:30 our little table was loaded with all six drinks plus the big plate of loaded down nachos. It was 2 for 1 drinks. We just got lucky. The evening was delightful and we enjoyed ourselves sitting beside the pool enjoyed the delicious nachos and sipping our drinks. The timing could not have been better even though nothing as I expected. Some days you just get lucky.

January 4, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Helpers.

I am getting spoiled. My helpers in Mississippi and Nova Scotia work 16 hours a week. Both Anna and Kashina are excellent workers and they help me a lot, which I appreciate. But here in Mexico, Wendy and Ken are with me every day so they look after my every needs, every day. And I am beginning to like it. Today is a perfect example. Wendy prepared my breakfast of avacado toast and coffee. I just got up and went to the balcony when Wendy brought my food. She had already put a bit of our laundry in the washing machine and before she went to their palapa, she put the clothes in the dryer. I stayed home to read. Next, Ken and Wendy went across the street to the Farmers Market. When they returned at noon, Wendy fixed me a sandwich of fresh rolls with ham and lettuce along with a half a dozen slices of cucumbers. In between, she put all my clothes away in the drawers and closet. Then they went back to the beach and their palapa. After my nap, I walked down to visit my friend Rosa, who now has pure white hair. Eventually, we three ended up watching the sunset. Ken prepared our sunset food of avacado dip and chips which was delicious. The sunset and the food were both spectacular. Next Ken cooked dinner which we ate on the balcony in the dark. Wendy cleaned up the kitchen while I stay out of the kitchen. I never even open the fridge. After dinner, I walked on the balcony, accompanied by Wendy. So you can see that I am being thoroughly spoiled. And I am enjoying every minute.

January 3, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Palapas.

A palapa is a little thatched roof hut on the beach. They can also be seen around the pool. The resort keeps lounge chairs around the palapas so folks can stay out of the shade. In the past, Ken would go down to the beach with towels and books to reserve their palapas for the day. The rule is that if you were away for more than an hour, someone could kick you out. But this year, due to Covid, they have new routines. The Mexican health authority requires the resort officials to know who is sitting at each palapa so this year, you must reserve a palapa the day before to reserve a specific palapa. Beginning at 7:00am, Wendy can call to reserve a palapa for the following day which they can use all day. If you remove all your belongings, other people are free to use it. The new routines have something to do with contact tracking, which we know does not work. Of course, the palapas and umbrellas around the pool are up for grabs and require no reservation. Every year the routines change. Some years, my guests are required to wear a bracelet. This year, none. Wendy and Ken were not even asked to sign in. But we are here and comfortable. Wendy and Ken have enjoyed the beach palapa today and I sat beside the pool. Our fridge, freezer and pantry are full of good food. We are set to enjoy ourselves for January and February. So here we go.

January 2, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico. A Day of Organizing.

The day after travelling is a day of recovery. It is also a day of organizing. Ken and I have never unstood why travelling is so tiring. All we did was sit and wait before doing nothing on the plane. But for some reason, at the end of the day we would be very weary and not good for much. We would always feel better the day after a trip but we would still need a day to recover. Ken used to say that it takes him 2 days to recover. So today Wendy, Ken and I are recovering. And we are also organizing. After breakfast, Wendy and Ken brought everything from the lockers and we put everything away. To be totally accurate, Wendy and Ken opened up all the kitchen supplies and put things in place. Last year I was by myself so I packed everything away but they remember everything from the yesr before so knew where everything should be placed. They needed to know what was left over from last year so they would know what to buy at the Mega store, which they will visit tomorrow. Wendy helped me put away my clothes, some in the drawers and some hanging in the closet. And some of my garments were put into the trash. With her good eyes, she could see what shirts had spots or were ripped. Now I have no shirts with spots or rips which is a good thing. We were finished our tasks by 12:30 so we three walked to our favorite restaurant just down the street. It is outside, owned by a little Mexican lady and is just beside the road. She opened selling tacos for $1.per taco. Every year she improves her place just a bit. The addition this year was a large enclosure with two squacking macaws. Her food is delicious and we ate our main meal there. Tomorrow, Wendy and Ken will spend some time at the beach sitting under a palapa. And later they will visit Mega to fill our fridge, freezer and pantry. When that happens, we will be totally organized.

January 1, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Pretty Nice.

We are weary but we are happy to be here. Let me count the ways. We ate our late lunch sitting at the beach restaurant watching all the children playing in the water. The temperature was 78 degrees. The sun made the water sparkle. This evening, we sat on the balcony and watched our first sunet. It too was spectacular. The balcony is pretty with several balconies still decorated to Christmas. And later this evening we ate our light meal when the temperature was 72. While we were eating, a cruise ship left the harbour so we watched as the lights dwindled away out of sight. Tonight the temperature will go down to 65 which is a perfect night for sleeping. Last year the place was mostly empty. No one could come. But not this year. The place is bursting with people. Every palapa was full today and the pool was crowded too. We are hoping that with schools going back on Monday, many of those families will leave. The grounds still appear to be in top condition. The flowers are lovely so it gives pleasure just to walk around. This evening just after sunset, Wendy and Ken walked to the market to buy just enough to last for tomorrow. It too was crowded. None of us likes to shop at the market in the Plaza but we all agree that we are happy it is there and we are able to buy emergency food such as coffee, bread and cheese.. On Monday, we will shop at the Mega and stop up with our real food. For the moment, we will get organized and rest our weary body from our trip today. But we all agree that we are delighted to be here.