Changed in our car reservation for a van after seeing the size of car. mis size in Mexico is sub compact elsewhere. 11:00 am we are off, going to catch a bit of night but it won´t be in the dangerous stretch. oh did I tell you the van is older beat up, Kim took pictures, 104K km. caravan a bit of shimmy, lots of room, used the bypass around Manzanillo onto freeway up to collima, 20 km before our turn off toll booth 102 Pasos. through Tecoman and the road got small, Kim says its pass creek rd, at times, very windy so much for made up time. Drove through a village that was suppost to have an achorage, My God , only for the desperate. Stopped at the only decent spot to eat, still a Palapa resturant but new. Well I have not lost it much on this trip but, Kim said I had steam coming of me, only one other couple our food took 1 hr to get 3 min to eat. Bought a watermelon on the side of the road. got gas as it got dark still 120 km to go. took a bypass around Lazaro Cardena, a big industreal port. I think we crossed a dam Kim said the drop off was on both sides, we swapped driving I was blind with my one eye. Ixtapa was a small vilage with hotels in the distance, ZIHUTANAJO was big we miss the turn, take a back street stop for directions, 4 blocks of back allys and we are on the rd we need to be. We exit a round about and we are in La Ropa we have directions except can´t find first land mark, drive around then stop, tired don´t know what to do, looking up desperate I say there is a yellow house we drive that way the speed bumps the drive way. It redefines steep. we back it to the top and there at the gate is Nicolas. we made it 10 pm only 3 hrs late. All my neices Lorraine, Nina, Natasha with husbands Howard, Grant, and Harold, Nicolus and Mariya. we are all off to the Pizza Jungle best pizza in town. Drinks laughs and pizza ,american owned, we were truely catered to party of 13. some walked back to the casa.As we walked through the Casa with mouth open, it was huge three levels, infiniti pool ,4 bedrooms all with ensuites, privitre balconies, did I mention the view of the whole bay. It felt like a resort and only we were staying there, needless to say the kids swam that night and the adults we drank cervasas, margaritas. ect some got to bed at 5 am, what a day.
the boatless crew of gypsywind
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
buses, Burtons, and Bara
This is another catch up blog for aboard gypsywind. warning some of the content may be skewed by the amount of time the brain can keep track of things chronalogically.
We arrived in BARRA at 5 am. let me back up. the ride up to Mexico city with the 4 of us was an event. the road to Guadalahara is so windy Kim had needles going through her feet, the second part to Mexico city was smooth, we all slept. Coming back we stayed up till 11 pm, G. town, bus left Mexico city at 3:30, and could not sleep on the windy roads. second half to Barra, though Noah and Kiya managed. We catch a cab to barra from MELAQUE where our ticket was to arriving at the ponga dock 5:45 the one ponga is running workers to the hotel Grand, we wait then get to Gypsywind in the Lagoon. Nikita with little sleep waiting for a call to pick us up. we all crash wake up 11 am Evergreen , still in town, pick up Nikita and head off to the skim board comp. in Melaque. Everyone that helped Nikita was now moving around, Mishak down to manzanillo, Whatcha Gonna Do back in Tenacatita, Black Dragon left for Puerto Vallarta trying to beet the upcoming Northerly, which would make that a trip from hell. Evergreen also hoping to be in tenacatita before she starts to blow. Our friends from back home Doug and Anna Burton are in town they are building a house here, we take a cab over, Doug is sick in bed, ate the salad, we carry on to Melaque, watch the skim boarding with Nikita and Dennis and Josh from Evergreen. We walk 3 blocks to Susan and Jerrys hotel and say hi they have family down. We head to connect with Carrol {Evergeen] at the Sunset bar, guess who is sitting out front of the church Doug B. a little pale but hoping we would walk by. we make plans for next day on board. Out for drinks and supper with the gang from EVERGREEN. Doug and his girls Lashandra and Adrianna come aboard check out Gypsywind, Doug has a thousand questions, he bought a boat a 27 Santa Cruz for the slocan lake a year and half ago. We head for lunch to their house, 5 kids back of the truck. Anna awaits we have Shrimp. fish and vegge tocos. We get the grand tour, the home, beautiful in design is ready for paint. flooring, and kitchen. Doug and Anna just bought a appartment size fridge, stove and washer, down for 3 weeks and get some work done on the house. NEXT DAY ANNA, AS WELL JOINS US ON BOARD. We have lunch and invite evergreen to join us in town for dinner. We head to Felixs´on the main steet Annas cousin. Jamie raved about the spinich omelletes. With 12 in the party the table in the street gets extended out into the steet literally. veryone walking stops to talk. we meet Annas sister, Father, mother, cousins all at various times. FELIX SERVES US HIMSELF AND GIVES ALL OF US THE FAMILY DISCOUNT. another beautiful evening in Bara.
Next day who should pull in Whatcha Gona Do, we make plans for dinner, the wind that day starts to blow 20kts then up to 28kts we stay on board. Kim gets one of her brain storms, if shes got to cook whats a few more, we invite Whatcha Gonna Do for vegge burgers, Kim makes from scratch, barb brings the awsome salad. Not only we but the kids catch up on much needed time with friends.
Time flys and its time to head to Mexico city for my check up. this time I catch the8:10 that heads souththrough Collima no mountains or I should say no windy roads. A beautiful ride. movies till midnight arrive at 10: 30, 1 1/2 hrs late. catch cab. excellent check up with DR DALMA,walk down to IHOP for breakfast, hey this is Mexico city they have everything. a little shopping, can.t enjoy it decide to go to bus station early to make sure I get a good seat on the bus back. ETN a new bus line to us,nice bus super delux for trip back. catch a cab takes me to wrong bus depot, there are 4 large ones one in each quadrant of the city. I walk in, nothing looks the same, find the ETN wait in long line get to front, girl speaks no english, stadard for Mexico city but wrong station, guy stands next to me helps with interpreting. she says that bus is full. we have an 11:30 bus would I like to buy a ticket before they are all gone. Now I should let you in on the plan. I was to arrive at 8;30 where the family was to meet me, catch a cab to the airport where we have a car on reserve for 9;45 to drive that day to Zihutanajo a 9 hr drive. Ya No gracias. I catch a cab, the ones that Gringos are never to use, its OK I used them before. Mexico city has a real problem with taxi crime. the better cabs are secure cabs, or the most expensive tourist cabs, ussually outside hotels. No time to waste I need to be across town, the town with 22,000,000 people. Did I tell you these bus stations look like very dangerous places to hang out, think of Cardova st in Vancouver.Its now 6 oclock the taxi driver speaks no english seems pissed that I speak no spanish well {cervasa por favor} does not cut it right about now. The one thing I did right was to have the girl write down the name of the station I needed to be at. I give him the note. he senses the urgentcy, drives like a maniac, I can´t tell in what direction. but fast, we hit the freeway he weaves in and out utill we catch up to the Friday rush hour where every living soul is trying to escape the down town core or where ever we are. he takes a exit ramp down some allies, at high speed, now Im worried onto another free way down aother ramp, you get the picture, we arrive in 1/2 hr it ussually takes 45 min from the hotel. I tip him well Then it hits me the bus is full what am i hurrying for. I try anyway. that bus is full. now so is the 11 o clock, I run to Primera Plus, there busses are full one leaves 9 am the next day, I look around and the station is a sea of people, it´s friday night everyone is leaving somewhere. what to do. phone the wife and give her the bad news. Kim looses it that I haven´t checked other routes, what about Manzanillo.what about other bus lines, I have studied the bus lines Manzanillo and Bara are not the center of the universe only 2 bus lines even run there out of 12 or so.I hang up with kim where to start, even if I get a bus out of here by midnight i will be in at 1or 3 in the afternoon, the road to Zihutanajo comes with a warning, don´t drive this road at night. banditoes, right on the net under how to get to Z town, no direct bus even goes there, part of last weeks research. I´m screwed! where to start I haven´t even heard of some of these bus lines, and none of the girls speak english, I´m screwed! well might as well go down the line, just to keep track of where I´ve asked. Futura a name I can pronouce, I walk up in back of the girl, no line up by the way, is a sign Manzanillo, like they are running a spescial, I ask what time she shows me a screen 19:30 I ask today,she says ci, i ask like soon, she say ci,I ask how much, $715 P over a 100P cheaper I say OK she calls up the next screen I pick my seat only half full. It leaves in half an hr same as the bus I wanted. I run to the gate I´m early they are not letting people on yet, what to do. Grab a side of fries from the place you would be shit scared to eat at. Its ok, Kim myself and the kids ate there before, no one got sick. 22 pasos, you stand in line pay first, get a ticket stand in line, get your fries, cold, they are pre made to save on time. Eat them anyway, accually could not finish. on the bus, a bit run down, older, seat does not work properly. still had a tv just didnt fold into the ceiling.lower grade moves, english with spanish subtittles, my luck. Phoned Kim with the good news, wrong town but what the heck the right time. Will catch a cab to the airport and meet my Family there. And that is just what happened.
We arrived in BARRA at 5 am. let me back up. the ride up to Mexico city with the 4 of us was an event. the road to Guadalahara is so windy Kim had needles going through her feet, the second part to Mexico city was smooth, we all slept. Coming back we stayed up till 11 pm, G. town, bus left Mexico city at 3:30, and could not sleep on the windy roads. second half to Barra, though Noah and Kiya managed. We catch a cab to barra from MELAQUE where our ticket was to arriving at the ponga dock 5:45 the one ponga is running workers to the hotel Grand, we wait then get to Gypsywind in the Lagoon. Nikita with little sleep waiting for a call to pick us up. we all crash wake up 11 am Evergreen , still in town, pick up Nikita and head off to the skim board comp. in Melaque. Everyone that helped Nikita was now moving around, Mishak down to manzanillo, Whatcha Gonna Do back in Tenacatita, Black Dragon left for Puerto Vallarta trying to beet the upcoming Northerly, which would make that a trip from hell. Evergreen also hoping to be in tenacatita before she starts to blow. Our friends from back home Doug and Anna Burton are in town they are building a house here, we take a cab over, Doug is sick in bed, ate the salad, we carry on to Melaque, watch the skim boarding with Nikita and Dennis and Josh from Evergreen. We walk 3 blocks to Susan and Jerrys hotel and say hi they have family down. We head to connect with Carrol {Evergeen] at the Sunset bar, guess who is sitting out front of the church Doug B. a little pale but hoping we would walk by. we make plans for next day on board. Out for drinks and supper with the gang from EVERGREEN. Doug and his girls Lashandra and Adrianna come aboard check out Gypsywind, Doug has a thousand questions, he bought a boat a 27 Santa Cruz for the slocan lake a year and half ago. We head for lunch to their house, 5 kids back of the truck. Anna awaits we have Shrimp. fish and vegge tocos. We get the grand tour, the home, beautiful in design is ready for paint. flooring, and kitchen. Doug and Anna just bought a appartment size fridge, stove and washer, down for 3 weeks and get some work done on the house. NEXT DAY ANNA, AS WELL JOINS US ON BOARD. We have lunch and invite evergreen to join us in town for dinner. We head to Felixs´on the main steet Annas cousin. Jamie raved about the spinich omelletes. With 12 in the party the table in the street gets extended out into the steet literally. veryone walking stops to talk. we meet Annas sister, Father, mother, cousins all at various times. FELIX SERVES US HIMSELF AND GIVES ALL OF US THE FAMILY DISCOUNT. another beautiful evening in Bara.
Next day who should pull in Whatcha Gona Do, we make plans for dinner, the wind that day starts to blow 20kts then up to 28kts we stay on board. Kim gets one of her brain storms, if shes got to cook whats a few more, we invite Whatcha Gonna Do for vegge burgers, Kim makes from scratch, barb brings the awsome salad. Not only we but the kids catch up on much needed time with friends.
Time flys and its time to head to Mexico city for my check up. this time I catch the8:10 that heads souththrough Collima no mountains or I should say no windy roads. A beautiful ride. movies till midnight arrive at 10: 30, 1 1/2 hrs late. catch cab. excellent check up with DR DALMA,walk down to IHOP for breakfast, hey this is Mexico city they have everything. a little shopping, can.t enjoy it decide to go to bus station early to make sure I get a good seat on the bus back. ETN a new bus line to us,nice bus super delux for trip back. catch a cab takes me to wrong bus depot, there are 4 large ones one in each quadrant of the city. I walk in, nothing looks the same, find the ETN wait in long line get to front, girl speaks no english, stadard for Mexico city but wrong station, guy stands next to me helps with interpreting. she says that bus is full. we have an 11:30 bus would I like to buy a ticket before they are all gone. Now I should let you in on the plan. I was to arrive at 8;30 where the family was to meet me, catch a cab to the airport where we have a car on reserve for 9;45 to drive that day to Zihutanajo a 9 hr drive. Ya No gracias. I catch a cab, the ones that Gringos are never to use, its OK I used them before. Mexico city has a real problem with taxi crime. the better cabs are secure cabs, or the most expensive tourist cabs, ussually outside hotels. No time to waste I need to be across town, the town with 22,000,000 people. Did I tell you these bus stations look like very dangerous places to hang out, think of Cardova st in Vancouver.Its now 6 oclock the taxi driver speaks no english seems pissed that I speak no spanish well {cervasa por favor} does not cut it right about now. The one thing I did right was to have the girl write down the name of the station I needed to be at. I give him the note. he senses the urgentcy, drives like a maniac, I can´t tell in what direction. but fast, we hit the freeway he weaves in and out utill we catch up to the Friday rush hour where every living soul is trying to escape the down town core or where ever we are. he takes a exit ramp down some allies, at high speed, now Im worried onto another free way down aother ramp, you get the picture, we arrive in 1/2 hr it ussually takes 45 min from the hotel. I tip him well Then it hits me the bus is full what am i hurrying for. I try anyway. that bus is full. now so is the 11 o clock, I run to Primera Plus, there busses are full one leaves 9 am the next day, I look around and the station is a sea of people, it´s friday night everyone is leaving somewhere. what to do. phone the wife and give her the bad news. Kim looses it that I haven´t checked other routes, what about Manzanillo.what about other bus lines, I have studied the bus lines Manzanillo and Bara are not the center of the universe only 2 bus lines even run there out of 12 or so.I hang up with kim where to start, even if I get a bus out of here by midnight i will be in at 1or 3 in the afternoon, the road to Zihutanajo comes with a warning, don´t drive this road at night. banditoes, right on the net under how to get to Z town, no direct bus even goes there, part of last weeks research. I´m screwed! where to start I haven´t even heard of some of these bus lines, and none of the girls speak english, I´m screwed! well might as well go down the line, just to keep track of where I´ve asked. Futura a name I can pronouce, I walk up in back of the girl, no line up by the way, is a sign Manzanillo, like they are running a spescial, I ask what time she shows me a screen 19:30 I ask today,she says ci, i ask like soon, she say ci,I ask how much, $715 P over a 100P cheaper I say OK she calls up the next screen I pick my seat only half full. It leaves in half an hr same as the bus I wanted. I run to the gate I´m early they are not letting people on yet, what to do. Grab a side of fries from the place you would be shit scared to eat at. Its ok, Kim myself and the kids ate there before, no one got sick. 22 pasos, you stand in line pay first, get a ticket stand in line, get your fries, cold, they are pre made to save on time. Eat them anyway, accually could not finish. on the bus, a bit run down, older, seat does not work properly. still had a tv just didnt fold into the ceiling.lower grade moves, english with spanish subtittles, my luck. Phoned Kim with the good news, wrong town but what the heck the right time. Will catch a cab to the airport and meet my Family there. And that is just what happened.
Friday, March 5, 2010
MEXICO CITY, EYE SURGERY AND THE CANADIANS WIN GOLD
well! what a mix is that. that is just what happened the night of the day of the tsunami alert we get an email from a doctor in Mexico City, just a second i should back up a bit a few days back Harvey complained of eye issues and losing sight in the right eye. kind of going black and increasing daily. so the morning before the tsunami alert day,Barb from Whatcha gonna do, emailed a friend whose brother is a eye surgeon in Mexico City and explianed his symtoms and asked if he had some advise for us. well as it turns out the email arrived that afternoon of the tsunami alert that he must be seen urgently and it most likely is a retina detachment and may need surgery to repair. SOOOO we began making plans to be seen by dr Dalma in the city and needed to travel. we decided to move the boat back into the lagoon and head for the 14 HOUR bus ride the next day. Nikita decided to stay with the boat and mind its well being and the rest would go with Harv to the city. The night of the hockey game we boarded the bus and were off as the over time score happened and a resturant full of all Canadians were screaming with cheer Nikita amongst them. we have never been so patriotic. But i tell you it was a great feeling of being Canadians amongst Canadians. it kind of felt a kinship.
Here i must mention this community of cruisers comes to the for front again and offers of so many from them all and wanting to help , offers to take all the kids and look after them all. being there for nikita when he needed them. i think he's been invited for dinner and activities daily. He has been so greatful for them all and has enjoyed the freedom and responsibility for minding all the boat functions.
the surgery went well and we have word we are able to head back to the coast today. we will need to return next week but i think just harv will come. This doctor is apparently the best of the best and we have whatcha gonna do to thank for that! we are so greatful for their support with this connection. not sure if this is true but we think he's the presidents eye surgeon. so there you go. it was a possitive experience. and our voyage insurance did pay for it.
mexico City ? "the biggest city in the world" well that will take a blog of it's own -
back to GypsyWind to smell the wind, feel the water.
Here i must mention this community of cruisers comes to the for front again and offers of so many from them all and wanting to help , offers to take all the kids and look after them all. being there for nikita when he needed them. i think he's been invited for dinner and activities daily. He has been so greatful for them all and has enjoyed the freedom and responsibility for minding all the boat functions.
the surgery went well and we have word we are able to head back to the coast today. we will need to return next week but i think just harv will come. This doctor is apparently the best of the best and we have whatcha gonna do to thank for that! we are so greatful for their support with this connection. not sure if this is true but we think he's the presidents eye surgeon. so there you go. it was a possitive experience. and our voyage insurance did pay for it.
mexico City ? "the biggest city in the world" well that will take a blog of it's own -
back to GypsyWind to smell the wind, feel the water.
SECURITEH SECURITEH TUSUNAMI ALERT!!!
7:OO AM came the call over the VHF. i elbowed Harvey "what the heck is that" oh my GOD ! what to do now , we were alone in the anchorage in Melaque. instinct says head for high ground! we are in the worst possible position for a tsunami. okay pack the bags asap and park the boat in the lagoon and get the heck as high as you can. so began the frantic pack and listening to the VHF and tons of activity on the radio between the boats in barra and tennecitita. after a while we got the just that everyone was heading out to sea , oh my god ! we are doing the wrong thing. next thing you know we were making water and planning to lift anchor and head to sea to as deep water as possible. apparently thats what you are supposed to do. soon it was anounced that alot of boats were trying to call us and make sure we heard. and "moon tide " anounced over the VHF to all that Gypsywind was heading out to sea. what a feeling at that moment of support and a comunity we are amongst. it was a moment a bit scared and uncertain and following the ones who may know more and feeling held in it all is amazing. As it it turned out not much happened but we learnt , what to do when you get that kind of call. needless to say our fiends meshach have been living in tennicatita for over a month now and it took a Tsunami to get them out of there and we were joined by all close friends in the anchorage of melaque that evening. Whacha gonna do, meshach, black dragon,gotta go, and a few others i think it was the most this anchorage has seen since we arrived. what a nice reunion we had at the palapa that night.
The Missing Blog ( Hockey & More friends)
Who said it was going to be quiet.Black Dragon and Gypsywind sailed back to Bara, we were in need of seeing the next Olympic mens' Hockey game, at Rommones' the athentic mexican restarunt with the wide screen tv and satallite. There we were watching Hockey and who should walk past our table, Kims business partners, Sussan, Jerry, Moss and Bonnel from the craft connection. The Craft connection crew boarded Gypsywind at 10:30 for coffee. Well more Hockey, suppers on the beach at nice visit to their hotel for a swim. A plan to sail up to Tenacatita the next day was made. We met in Melaque a beach pickup in surf, 8 am well same old story, only some of us got wet. The sail up was a mother sail. a few dolphins as we rounded the point a Whale off our port bow maybe a 100 ft off. We anchored amongst friends. The crew on board snorkeled and swam. the plan was made to do a shore drop and find a cab at the blue bay hotel, all went well and that was with Harvey driving the dinghy. That afternoon we connected with our friends Micheal & Barbra on Whatcha gonna do. we caught up on 7 weeks of travelling.
Black Dragon and us (Gypsywind) joined "Gotta GO", who we had not seen since Cabo,for supper aboard Gotta GO. What a nice evening, fine food, friends and the stars in Tenacatita.
Black Dragon and us (Gypsywind) joined "Gotta GO", who we had not seen since Cabo,for supper aboard Gotta GO. What a nice evening, fine food, friends and the stars in Tenacatita.
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