Tomorrow (Jan 18/08) we will leave this playa in search of another paradise. It has been a wonderful month here on the beach. We never in our wildest dream thought that we would ever stay put for so long – let alone keep Paul on the beach!!! Our first impression of La Manzanilla is certainly not our last. When the first three vans (Jerry & Sophie – Duke, Richard & Terri – Rasta, Linda & Paul) arrived early evening of December 16^th in search of a camping spot we found a dusty little town with no bridge over the lagoon full of crocodiles and unknown access to Casa Maria Campground on the playa. We then drove toward Boca d’Iguanes to no avail except for a couple of vans getting stuck in the sand when we were exploring an abandoned hotel. We then connected with three other vans (Jonathan, Hans, Ben & Sylvie) in town. The guests (Judy & Renald, Isabelle, Anabelle & Antoine) were dropped off at their rented casa and six vans found a nest in the parking lot of a hotel in town (with electricity and a grungy toilet/shower). We discovered Jolanta’s restaurant and internet café. Sophie certainly remembers her first margueritas! The next day we found Casa Maria Campground at last. Six vans parked at the road and we set-up under the most amazing palapas (water, electricity, shower and toilets, agua delivery, propane delivery, a ten minute walk on the beach to town – what more do we need). 5km of sandy beach! Oh – two belly dancers were renting the casita!

Frank & Rita – Hunter, Ernst, Peter and Ken & Janel arrived and we were out of space. As Maria’s family was moving in for the holidays, four days later we moved to the lot next door (water only) that Ernst negotiated and we made arrangements to keep access to the facilities (electricity, shower and toilets). This lot (home for the past month) has many palm trees (full of coconuts) that provide shade – we all found a nest avoiding the “dangerous coconut zones”! The group continued to grow. The VW campground was made official with the raising of Canadian, Mexican and German flags. Other VW tenants that joined us are Jean, Ted & Cory, Mathieu, Sonia and the girls and Hans & Rita, and Don from BC (Carlos’ friend). WOW – 31 guests on this lot to-date!

I need to wrap this up as I must get back to the beach and go for my last wonderful two hour walk on the beack to Boca d’Iguanes RV Park. So here are a few notes .. (no specific order)

- Cervezas: Estrella, Corona, Negro Modelo, Noche Bueno, Sol

- Dirty mothers (vodka and Khalua on the rocks)

- Guacamole

- Lavenderia – clothes are weighed and you pick them up the next day

- 5 km of sandy beach, walks to Boca, many birds, fish jumping, sea snake, star fish, sting rays, 8 people buried in sand, sand castles, lots of tents/Mexicans on the beach over the holidays

- Mike & Marianne – VW repair, loan/repair of 4-wheeler

- Duke helped himself to our lunch in the van

- Fireworks

- Roosters (early morning wake up calls)

- Loud Mexican music

- Old cars falling apart but primo sound systems

- Mexicans’ big smiles, Hola, Buenas diaz, Buenas tardes, Buenas Noches, Hasta Luego!

- Played a trick on Ben & Sylvie (moved the 4 wheeler to another corner when in town)

- Jerry’s stuffed shrimps

- Paul’s ABT’s (Atomic Buffalo Turds)

- Ernst’s potatoe pancakes

- Campfires

- Carlos and his sons

- Donald the tenant

- Musicians (father and two sons) – Frank gave his harmonica to the dad!

- Jolanda’s Restaurant and Leon’s internet café (palapas on the beach)

- Jolanda’s pecan and key lime pie

- Open mic at Palapa Jo’s – great impressionist of Neil Diamond

- Belly dancers, pizza, bought fresh pasta – Coco Loco’s

- Feliz Navidad (18 course Indonesian Christmas dinner – Rice table at Jolanda’s and others went for Italian at Coco Loco’s)

- Thank you Santa Sophie for the wonderful Mexican bowl

- Christmas Dinner (chicken, stove top stuffing, St-Hubert poutine sauce, mashed potatoes and vegetables)

- Feliz compleanos – Richard & Linda – Thank you Jerry & Sophie for the great fun green tube

- Feliz Aneo Nuevo – Dinner with Sophie & Jerry at Martin’s (Steak – shrimp bisque, shrimp and grapes in grape sauce, pecan pie(with coconut)

- Campfire, birthday pecan pie for everyone and 2008 countdown and burning of Santa Claus

- Anabelle made New Year’s card for everyone

- Jonathan the disc jockey and dancing party

- Engine discussions, repairs, trip planning

- Tequila tasting, Frank’s Tequila glasses, and “creamy Tequila”

- Ernst’s mermaid and mermaid in training!

- Jonathan’s music in the morning

- Most of us purchased a 40 pesos straw mat

- ++ sand flea bites on legs (Jerry wins the prize)

- Sophie’s many bites

- Swimming, noodling and tubing, Sophie’ boogy board

- Frank’s canoe – fishing

- Influx of Mexicans and tourist over the holidays

- La Manzanilla won the regional soccer

- Big soccer party in town – huge band, free beer, tables with tablecloths and covered chairs with lime green bows. No money for a new bridge but lots for a party! What’s is wrong with our priorities!

- Hans patience with repair of Christmas lights

- Solar showers bags / cold showers

- Bus (10 pesos) to Melaque: bank, grocery shopping at Hawaii (some Kirkland products), fishing supplies, machete (for coconut), bakery (wholesale)

- Bus to Barra de Navidad: Market, massage

- Drive to Tenacatita: coral reefs, snorkling & noodling & snorkling from canoe), lagoon boat tour, great food – Frank’s oysters, Visit to the Tequila Distillery

- Visited Blue Bay All Inclusive Resort – Beautiful and pretty tempting. We obtained prices (reasonable) for an afternoon, full day and overnight. Alternatively we could try Tamarinda exclusive hotel (8K a night – too rich for our blood!)

- Topes, holes in street, ah that tire in the middle of the road on our way to Tenacatita!

- Hans’ shopping at VW junk yard and show and tell

- Van car wash – 40 pesos – meticulous!

- Man floating/paddling standing up

- Thank you Hans for selling us your propane stove

- Thank you Nurse Rita – purchased antibiotics over the counter

- Eggs put in bag and weighed

- Enjoyed lots of CAMARONS shrimp and fresh fish

- Ada the real estate agent

- Linda & Paul had the pleasure of meeting Maria

- Walk up the mountain to see the beautiful houses – Raymond from Montreal

- Marine biology students (30) camped at Casa Maria next door (they would go fishing with big nets in the water)

- Coconut removal (one man climbs the tree and ties/cut a bunch and lowers them down), one man down to release them

- Mexicans/peddlers selling jewelery, pottery, wooden bowls, mats, fresh bread, dessert, hammocks, etc.

- Paul’s scare with the crocodiles – Surprised and a little too close for comfort Crocodile Hunter!

- Dead turtle on beach (no head)

- Beautiful sunsets

- Change into long pants and socks right after sunset as bugs are bad for an hour or so

- Sunshine ++ all day – some intermittent clouds, wind, big waves

- Generally cool and damp in early morning and evening

- Dancing whales

- Hike up the mountain

- Hans driving on the beach and getting a little stuck

- Jumping sting rays ++

- Young couple from California cycling to Mexico. She rides around standing on the back of his bike! Makes for a beautiful picture with the sunset in the background

- Art gallery

- Met couple traveling from Switzerland with Westfalia Sprinter – our dream retirement vehicle

- Met three couples again from Villa Corona – Chimulco – who winter at Boca d’Iguanes after the holidays (Bob, Larry, …)

- Internet café, Skype, walks on the beach in the dark with our flashlights

- The square, the church, market, and all the beautiful people in La Manzanilla

Addendum:

-  Evening visit from the “tomato mexican guy” – doombuggy – sister looking for a rich Canadian!

-  Kite flying, frisbee, boomarang (oops!), Tai-Chi, Yoga on the beach

-  Sophie’s visit to the cementary with the dogs and Hunter returning full of burs

-  Coconut – grating fresh coco and coco-locos

-  Wonderful visit at Mike & Marianne’s beautiful home up on the mountain. The most amazing view of the entire bay!! We are quite envious of their lifestyle

Photos? ah maniana !!!

Hasta luego, Puero Vaillarta is tomorrow’s destination. Hope to see you Peter

Linda & Paul

Posted on January 18th, 2008 by platar
Filed under: Linda Plante & Paul Tardif