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We stopped near Chapultepec for breakfast in the restaurant Jarro, where the Via Recreativa takes place. You can
see folks on bikes--every Sunday miles of roads close in Guadalajara and the hikers and the bikers and the skaters take over.
There was a "Golden Rain" tree in front of the restaurant. We want one for the park.
At a rest stop along the way, this palm was in flower. The climate changes a lot between cool, dry Guadalajara
and the humid coast.
There were plenty of folks on the beach, but people here tend to clump in front of their hotel. If you walk a way
in either direction, there was lots of space. Even better--Monday everyone went home and we had the place to ourselves
for three days.
...and of well-tended tropical gardens.
We rented a "bungalo" for four, with a nice kitchen so we can cook up all the fresh fish and fruit. Pots and pans
and dishes are provided (but we bring a lot of our own, because we are fussy cooks).
Our bungalow rented for $54 a night. The price was up because of high season. Still not bad when we split
it with Ceci and Pablo!
We'll never get down this way.
Restaurant Row. There is no shortage of grilled fish, shrimp, fruit, or bread--banana, coconut, yaka, or nut!
(More on yaka later).
Sierra, swimming in the sea a few hours before.
First lots more hot sauce.
OMG that's good!
The sun's light was just gorgeous.
Omar and Pablo play beach volleyball...
Coco gets cuddley. Almost bedtime!
At night we sat on the beach...
Up early next morning, to meet the fishing boats and see what looks tasty for lunch.
Big ones and little ones...
Odd buck-tooth parrots....
Dangerous denizens of the deep...
Coco wanted to see this guy...
We finally decided on this beautiful manta ray fillet. He said the fish was about 40 kilos (88 pounds). It
was incredible--meaty and fresh and tasty.
Quick as a wink, we are on the high seas, four feet from shore. No--actually we got pretty far out, for landlubbers.
Our goal was to explore a distant beach that can only be reached by water.
Our unexplored beach! Omar and I are ahead (for once). We had tried walking through the jungle to get here,
but it is very steep and muddy, with 4 pound mosquitoes. We are really excited to make it here by kayak!
The beach was ALMOST deserted. We snorkled around the rocks, floatinvg with the currents and visiting with the
fish and crabs.
Exploring near the shore. A wonderful adventure. Can you tell which of us is Omar and which is Daniel?
(Yeah, I'm kidding).
She ends up throughly breaded and ready to fry. Coco looks like a mistreated and abandoned pup from "Annie" or
something, but it is just her drama kicking in. She is happiest when she is covered with sand. After all her exertions,
she wants to take a nap in our bed. Not before another dip, though. "But I took a bath yesterday!"
There's plenty of time to rest between adventures.
The view Omar is seeing. The deserted beach is just around the hill in the background.
Cuddling...
We even tried volleyball again.
And watched our insect control system at work.
Today the island! Actually there are two islands--La Penita and the smaller Cangrejo.
Happiest when we're on an adventure!
Cangrejo Island is named for it's crabs. If you look close, there is an iguana at the top.
To the big island. It's coral reef was damaged by a storm, but it is coming back. It isn't the Great Barrier
reef, but we saw lots of colorful fish, including globe fish and eels, and other neat creatures like sea urchins.
Home sweet home. In a little while a boat pulled up and a lady came to sell us fruit, ham sandwiches, and beer.
We never go hungry.
A happy Mexican boy.
Pablo has an idea...
Snug as a bug in a rug.
Back to the bungalow.
Dan teaches Omar the "Pledge of Alligence" as they look at the stars. Wrong hand, Dan.
Yaka is breadfruit, I think, but instead of being starchy it is full of thumb-size fruits an orangey-beige color, with
flavor of melon and bananas and papaya and mango and cod-liver oil (just kidding on the last one). They also have a
very sticky latex that will ruin your knives--it was used to caulk ships.
They offer a wide variety of sweets, most made from coconut or cajeta.
When you are done you give back your empty coconut, and they open it and take out the meat for you. Usually the
meat is rubbery but this coconut was young and it was almost like pudding inside. Very tasty with chile. Cost
for the experience? 45 cents.
Altogether, a wonderful four days.
And enjoyed every minute.
Great friends and new experiences in a beautifull setting...
Postscript: Many of the unspoiled beaches in the area--including our favorites--have recently been sold by the
government to developers, including second-richest guy in the world, Carlos Slim. We are hoping they set aside and protect
these rare and beautiful natural areas, and plan their resorts carefully (although we will never be able to afford them).
Here Coco gives the raspberry to the whole idea.
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