Puerto Vallarta, Jal, MX…Once again the return to the PNW in late July was over and it was time to go home. When we arrived in Seattle/Lynnwood on July 23rd it seemed that it would be eons before time to return would arrive. However, between Dolores and I getting our annual and bi-annual physical checkups and retuning, visiting with family and friends, and doing the social scene, it was suddenly time to head back to Puerto Vallarta on November 3rd. The weather in Seattle had already turned (36 degrees F) at 4:00AM the morning of our departure to the airport via a scheduled Shuttle Express pickup. The flight to PV, with a short time to walk around the San Francisco Airport, was uneventful except for a jarring landing in PV which had everyone gasping and buzzing. Dolores asked the “driver” if a cow was on the runway and we left him smiling with his thumbs up and a promise to use that excuse in the future. Even with the entire luggage load, Customs allowed us through with a green, but I noticed more than one raised eyebrow.
Our trip from the airport to our south end condo, accompanied by 8 pieces of luggage each weighing 49.5 pounds, was by a van (no room for others). Our local niño’s were waiting to deliver our baggage into the condo which our maid had opened, cleaned, and aired out. Weather was at its best and has remained perfect since our arrival! The daytime highs are in the mid 80´s (F) and nighttime in the low 60´s.
As we approach the holiday season, our plans included a trip to the mountains at Hacienda Jalisco with Pam Thompson for Thanksgiving complete with deep-pit roasted turkey; a romantic Christmas dinner with friends; a toasting to the New Year with wonderful acquaintances; and watching football on New Year’s Day. Yes, TeleCable has finally caught up with 89 regular plus 51 digital channels. And after 3 years of putting up with marginal reception-to-no reception on many channels, several visits by TeleCable technicians, we finally have perfect clarity on all channels. The problem (discovered by our “pool guy” and jack-of-all-trades) was a cross-threaded splitter. Go figure!
Essence of Cuisine Cooking Classes have started with two scheduled for December, a slow but welcome delay for the 2012 Season. At the moment we have activities scheduled daily, including the annual renewing of our FM 3´s. We first arrived at the Immigration offices, INM, last Monday only to discover that it was a holiday and the banks were closed. Since we were able to get the form to pay the bank for the renewal and the formal submittal letter format, we left after tipping the guard for his help in parking the car. The next morning we stopped at the bank, made our payment and returned to the INM Building, and parked our car. We had made the decision to get professional assistance from next door in filling out the Personal Data sheets, in Spanish, making all the necessary copies, and getting all the pictures taken. The guard upon seeing us rushed inside and got us our sequence number with the INM personnel (value of a tip and kind words). By the time we were ready with all the paper work, $200 MXN each – the best investment of $ and time you can make in this process - and returned to the INM our sequence number had already been passed by four persons. Being determined, when the next number was to be called, Dolores presented him with our number. He firmly asked why we hadn´t been there when our number was called, Dolores just as firmly said she had been in the banjo. Without any more question he processed us and we were away. Pickup is January 9th and I hope the banjo is still in service!
Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo a todos!
