Confessions of a former anti-vaxxer

The first half of my life I was anti-vaccines.

My father decided for our family that he would not vaccinate his kids. He was an educated and caring man, he was biochemist and worked with vaccine production himself.

He had his reasons. 

He passed away from Dengue fever when I was 5 years old (36 years ago to this day). So, I never had a chance to talk to him about his reasons. All I had was his choice for me, that affected me, physically and ideologically, even after his death.
His death affected me. In the obvious ways, of course, but also in ways that have made me the curious and disease obsessed adult that I am. I find viruses, parasites, bacteria, cell mutations, genetic diseases, both fascinating and terrifying. I can't look away, I want to know everything. I regularly listen to several science/disease podcasts, read books and science journals, ask endless and annoying questions to any medical professional that will give me a moment. In addition I am pretty up on conspiracy theories, partially due to my belief as a young child that Dengue was a man made disease that was released by the US government in some sort of biological warfare in central and south America. I don't know where I heard this at the young age of 7 or 8. But, it stuck.
I needed to blame someone, something, anything but the chaos of loss. It was scarier not to have some scary government villain to blame.
I also learned of the forced sterilization of Indigenous communities, about the medical experimentation done on African Americans in Tuskegee and on Jewish people in the holocaust. I had a healthy fear of "they" and did not want to be subject to "their" evil. 
And, don't get me wrong, I know that there are evil government powers. But, now I also know that all diseases are studied in labs, otherwise we would never know how they work and how to treat or cure them. That a lab with diseased mosquitos is not inherently evil. Two things can exist at once.

I remained a staunch believer that vaccines were not necessary and that there was no way that my father could be wrong. If I questioned his beliefs, then I would be disrespecting his memory. I didn't really have a reason beyond his reasoning, and I didn't really know what his reasoning was.
We spent much of my childhood school years using religious exemption as the reason we were not vaccinated. We are not religious. But I held onto my "right" not to be vaccinated with a religious fervor that could not be challenged.

My mom was younger than my dad, she was not college educated, she was brought up in a time when a women's opinion was secondary to any man's. She went with his strong and educated opinion regarding vaccines. We often used natural remedies before going to the doctor, which often worked. Except when they didn't, then we went to get those antibiotics, or pain killers, or x-rays, etc.. She did her best (which was better than most) and is the rock of our family. She hardly had time to worry about some antiquated diseases affecting her healthy kids, when trying to make sure we had resources to survive.
She and my dad decided to live a life outside of the norm, far in the jungles of Mexico. Then he died. Everything changed, and we were now part of the public school system, getting government assistance, no longer just in our own little family, but more actively part of a community.

Health is public. We do not exist in a vacuum. This is what I did not understand until I started working at health center at 19 yrs old. When I was asked about my vaccine status and I proudly said "not a one!". This got a side-eye response that I was used to. I think "of course this nurse is judging me, she is so mainstream, she doesn't know the real truth", never mind her having given her whole self to taking care of this community for the last 20 years. Then I talk to my trusted doctor who was a naturopathic physicians assistant, and a colleague at this health center. Thinking "of course he'll understand". He was less side-eye-ee but still not impressed, instead he said "have you considered that you could be a carrier of a disease and put one of these patients a risk?" in other words, I could kill a new born, an elder, an immunocompromised member of our community. People I was charged with caring for.
No, I had NEVER considered that. It was always about me, and my safety and my beliefs. The privilege of being healthy and not considering my community washed over me in a wave of shame. It seemed so obvious, but literally no one had ever framed it that way for me.
He gave me a couple resources and ideas of articles to read. He understood that I was curious and would want to understand how vaccines work and how they have affected our population over the years. We then had a conversation about which vaccines I should have to keep our patients safe. 
After some time, reading and more conversations I decided it was the right thing to do. I got all the recommended vaccines.

I had gone against the wishes of my father. And, instead of feeling like he would be disappointed, I felt he would be proud. I can imagine he would have wanted me to be someone that has my own curiosity and comes to my own educated conclusions. I like to believe that he would be happy I cared about others enough to challenge my own strict belief. 

Some important people in my life are not vaccinated for Covid-19. It has been difficult at times. I had hoped they would see that it was safe and that it could stop further mutations into dominant variants. I argue science and public health with them. I also know they care about people, they do not deny this virus is deadly, they take precautions not to spread it to others. That has to be enough for me. I used to be one of them, probably even more adamantly opposed than they are.
Again, two things can exist at once. You can be hesitant about vaccines and also know that this virus can be deadly or cause long-term illness.

My father had his reasons and I have mine. I wish I could ask him what his were. If he were alive we could have a discussion about our difference of opinion. He might try to convince me, and I him. At the end of the day I'd like to think that we would still respect each other's reasons. Because, two things can exist at once.

Adventures of a (Quarantined) Technical Mexican - The One About The Pandemic

Well, it sure has been a while. I guess it takes a pandemic to get me back on this blogging platform.
I wanted to write this as an update to whats going on here in Mexico and with me personally.
As the world knows, Covid-19 has taken over our thoughts, airwaves and many bodies.
This is an experience that is new to us all. We all wonder how long it will last, what we are really supposed to do, what does this mean for our heath, relationships, jobs and the world economy.
I am no authority, but I can tell you what it means to me.
Fortunately I work for a company that is entirely remote and provides a necessary service. However, we work with elderly people needing long-term care (Home Care, Assisted Living, Nursing Homes) to be paid for through Medicaid. Now, this will not stop all together, but we are already seeing issues with facilities not taking new patients for months to come and some county Medicaid offices being (even more than normal) overwhelmed to the point of a standstill.
As of this moment, we still have lots of work to do and will keep doing it as long as possible.
Puerto Vallarta is an interesting place to be right now. We have a huge population of retired Canadians and United Statesians (I refuse to use the term Americans as that includes all of the Americas) as well as many traveling foreigners from across the world. We have a huge influx of cruise ships here all through the high season as well.
We get so many visitors from San Francisco and Seattle, where there has been a large number of confirmed cases of Covid-19.
As of today they are still saying no confirmed cases in Vallarta, which feels like a bit of a false sense of security. There are 203 confirmed cases in Mexico.
The culture here is very social, very physical and very distrusting of the government. These things combined with the fact that most people truly live day to day and have to work to survive (there will be little to no help for most from the government, if they ever decide this is a serious situation) makes for a very difficult transition to self quarantine.
The federal government is not taking action as I see it necessary and the president is flailing around almost more than Trump.
Luckily our governor of the state of Jalisco has taken decisive action and is very serious about curbing this potential health disaster. And disaster it will be. If you think that the public health system in the USA is unprepared, that is nothing in comparison to Mexico. I am truly frightened for the people who this will most affect, the poor and elderly of this country. The people who go out into the streets to sell candies and trinkets, the elderly people who bag groceries for tips to supplement their meager pensions, the people who work and live in the dumps. I hope that when the time comes I can be of some service to this population of people that are so left behind by the system.
That brings me to my situation currently.
I have been extremely careful since this all became a situation in San Francisco as I have ties there and also know how many people visit Vallarta from there. Also my history of working in health centers and hospitals prepared me for the sanitation measures needed.
Hand washing, sanitizer, no buses, no ubers, not much outside contact with people, stocking up on groceries slowly, washing said groceries as they came into the house, wearing certain clothes outside and hanging them by the door, cleaning the house, using bleach and lysol and all the chemicals I never buy, more hand washing, boosting immunity with healthy food, very little drinking, less pot smoking, more pilates, breathing exercises, allllll the things.
Tuesday night I had a bit of a headache, but it was mild and figured I was just stressed and been working too hard. We had our show that night and I went knowing it would be the last I would be doing. I was extra careful, no physical contact, wiping down my station before and after using it, little bottle of hand sanitizer with me at all times, a shot of tequila to kill throat germs (kidding, I know it doesn't work that way).
Wednesday I started feeling a bit of a scratchy throat and still had the slight headache. I figured maybe it was the tequila or just not sleeping well. I finished the last of my errands to be able to shelter in place for while, as well as worked a long day. I felt pretty tired and went to bed early.
Thursday I went to deliver stuff to the boat to Yelapa for my mom and brother who are self isolating on the mountain (not too different than regular life out there). By the time I got home I felt exhausted. I had a busy work day with a lot of meetings and stuff that needed a pretty high level of concentration. When I finished at 6:30pm I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Still with the scratchy throat and headache, but now adding body aches to the fatigue and a low grade fever of 99.1/37.3. I drank some Theraflu and went to sleep at 8pm.
Friday morning I woke up feeling like the truck that hit me, backed up over me a couple times. All the same symptoms as before. But no cough, no mucus, no swollen throat, none of the usual cold or flu symptoms we all know and hate.
I was able to speak with a doctor on the phone, he was very nice and said that many people will think they have the Covid-19 virus, but unless I've traveled recently or been in direct contact with a confirmed case there would be no testing. I did let him know I have (controlled) high blood pressure as well as mild asthma. I also explained that I know when it is necessary to go the ER and when it is not.
He said I probably have a flu, and if my breathing gets bad then we would reassess if it was the famed virus.
Now, I understand that there are not enough tests, I also understand that many people are panicking and thinking they have this thing when they have allergies or a hangover or whatever. But I am not that person. This is not like any flu or cold I've ever experienced.
I also know that most diagnostics are a process of elimination. You test for certain things and if they don't have that thing, you test for a different thing. In this case, testing for different strains of flu would seem like the best course of action. I'm not saying I want to go out into the world to do this, it just seems like continuing to say there are no confirmed cases in Vallarta cannot be confirmed. I also want to make it very clear, I in no way think the doctor or people dealing with this situation are doing anything wrong, I know they are doing all they can with what they are provided and within the guidelines they are given.
I am also a very socially responsible cautious person. I err on the side of caution even in the most banal of situations. I will not leave my house now for 2 weeks, regardless of what I have been told I have. But, if I was a different kind of person, and was told I just have a flu, it seems likely that as soon as I felt a little better I would be out and about. Or even, be out and about now. I already was out and about before feeling sick and felt it the right thing to warn my cast mates and the other people I had been in touch with, that I was sick.
Today is Saturday. I feel like total crud. I am so tired, dizzy, headachy and it feels like I smoked a pack of cigarettes in the last hour. Still no coughing, still no high fever (I am preemptively taking meds), my breathing is normal. I have lots of healthy food, appropriate meds, neighbors checking on me, and the best sick-bedmate in the world (see pic below). I want to say I hope it is the flu, but in a way I hope it is the Covid-19 virus so I can get this damn thing over with...but that wouldn't matter anyway cause I will not be tested as to be able to know.
What I do know is I will not be able to see my family and friends for a while, I will not know if I have immunity so it may not be safe for me to help at hospitals when this thing explodes here.
I feel frustrated with world leaders, this is not a surprise, this has been known to be coming for a long time. What I can only hope is that the lesson is learned from all of this. We must have a global public health security plan in place. We must all be on the same page. We must heed the warnings when they are given to us, because next time it may well be much worse, more easily communicable, a longer incubation while being communicable, more rapidly moving across the world and more deadly to a larger demographic of people.
Be safe my friends, and for the love of Cheesus the lord of Lactose stay home if at all possible.

A letter of farewell from the los Sueños family.

It is time to tell you my dear friends, guests, supporters of all kinds, that casa de los Sueños will be closing it's...gates (we don't have doors really) at the end of this month, April 2017.
It has been a wonderful and life changing experience running this beautiful, historical, and at times very challenging, jungle hotel.
We took over the business 5 years ago in March, not having one clue what we were really getting ourselves into. A real "fake it til you make it" journey. Now, as much as we feel we have "made it", we have been forced to make a change, and in that we have decided it is the right thing to do for us.
We have had the honor of hosting many retreats, family gatherings, friend reunions, engagements, weddings, honeymoons, babymoons, and every other kind of vacation or trip imaginable. Each of those have been a part in this crazy dream and we cannot thank all of you enough for your patronage. You are what makes all this hard work worth it; when a couple sits in the garden leaning in closely, talking, laughing and being able to just be in love without distraction, beside pausing while the the parrots swooping over head chatter loudly; when a family comes back from the beach, sunburnt and tired, parents a bit tipsy on margaritas, kids exhausted from playing in the waves, everyone relaxed and happy; when a year of planning culminates in a wedding day where everything falls into place, the guests arrive in awe of the beauty, the couple says their vows in the evening sun, then the lights blink on as the dusk comes, the party begins, and lifetime memories are made; when a widower comes with a group of yogis and tells you this experience changed his whole outlook, that being in the jungle for a week made him see life keeps going no matter how much we might try to make it stop or go backwards; when you tell a guest they won't be able to come back next year because we are closing and they hug you, wish you well and say "change is always good, but transition is hard"; these are the moments and human experiences that remind us why we battle back the jungle to make gardens, scrub the mold off the walls at the end of every rainy season, schlep the groceries in a cab, in a boat, in a wheel barrow, and up the hill, why we work so hard to make this place an oasis of calm and beauty in this crazy world.
All of those moments will be coming with us, all of our experience of success and of strife in this endeavor has been an education, all of the future possibilities we imagined happening at los Sueños will be transferred to new dreams and projects.
Yelapa will continue to be our home always, there are so many lovely places to stay here and so many wonderful hosts, we are always here to give you advice and insight on a trip to this wonderfully special, little cove south of Puerto Vallarta.
If you always planned to, but were never able to visit los Sueños, or made it a yearly tradition, please don't let this stop you from visiting Yelapa or dropping us a line, we'll be here scheming about our next plan and loving Yelapa as much as ever.
So thank you to all our friends, guests, employees, neighbors, and the community of Yelapa for being part of this wild ride we called Casa de los Sueños, may the dream continue to flourish.
Onward and upward!

My two abortions. #shoutyourabortion

This blog is connected to my business website. Everything I do in my personal life, I do proudly and do not hide, everything I do in my business, is colored by my own ethics and who I am. I cannot, and will not, separate them.
I realize that this forum is mine to use as I wish, but I also have held back in the past. I didn't wish to offend, to alienate, and frankly...to lose clients.
But that has to change. If I do not speak out then I will be doing a disservice to myself, my community, and womankind in general.
In light of the current political state of the United States of America, I have realized the importance of not sitting idle, or staying silent, the importance of sharing our stories.
I have written and erased this blog many times. It is a deeply personal experience. It is an experience that so many share. So here is my experience.
When I was 24 I moved to Yelapa Mexico, from San Francisco California with my best friend. I was thinking I'd get a job, fix up a little casa, maybe meet a guy. It was a care-free time of my life, but also a very wild and uncertain time.
It all began well, I got a job, fixed up a little casa, and met a guy. We were having a great time.
A couple months in I realized I was pregnant. I had used protection, it did not work. The relationship also did not work, things had gotten bad and I was extremely upset. For just a moment I recklessly thought, what would happen if I just had this kid? Maybe things would work out with me and the guy. Maybe my measly pay would get me through if it didn't. Maybe...it would absolutely fucking ruin my life!
I knew very quickly that I had to return to the states and terminate the pregnancy. I was broke, and I had no return ticket. I called my mom and told her I needed her to help me get back. She didn't ask why, she put it on her credit card, and she got me back to California.
I had arranged for an appointment at Planned Parenthood (where I had been getting my paps and birth control since I was 17).  I arranged for my good friend to take me. The day before my mom asked me if I was pregnant, moms know these things. I felt ashamed that I didn't successfully avoid it, that I had to ask for her help, that I was slinking back home with my tail between my legs. But I felt no shame or remorse about the procedure scheduled for the next morning. I only felt relief. And no person in my life, including my mother, made me feel anything but supported. I was extremely lucky and privileged in this.
The worst part about the whole day, was having to wait in the office, the procedure was easy and smooth (later classified "like butter") and I was treated with nothing but the utmost kindness and respect. Thanks to the doctors and staff that risk their actual lives to provide that safety for us.
A couple months later, I moved back to San Francisco, I ended up working as a photographer, doing burlesque, learning to swing dance, making amazing art, curating and producing shows, and gaining a whole group of awesome friends, I had a full and wonderful life of freedom, living in one of the most amazing cities in the world. That all, because of my rights, that someone fought for.
Almost a decade later I, once again, moved back to Yelapa. Now a very different person and for very different reasons. I began to run a large property with rentals, it was a huge undertaking. After 2 years of running the business and just getting the hang of it, getting out of an abusive relationship, and reconnecting with my old flame from 2004, I found myself pregnant again. I was on birth control, I had not gotten pregnant once in my decade in San Francisco, go figure. I was, once again, very sure that I was not ready to become a parent. This time I was able to buy my own ticket, and had wonderful girl friends to stay with in SF, to come with me to my appointment, I planned to visit family after and then return to Mexico and work in a week. It was to be an "abortion vacation", all was set!
3 days before my departure I started heavy bleeding and debilitating cramps, I was still in Yelapa, I was scared, and not sure what I should do. I called Planned Parenthood and they talked me down, gave me really good info of what to watch out for, and told me just to keep my appointment. I was having a "spontaneous abortion" which is the technical term for a miscarriage, which apparently happens all the time without women even knowing they are pregnant.
So still in a lot of pain and feeling very weak I got on a boat, got on a plane, took the train to my friends house, and relieved went my appointment the next day.
When we arrived, we saw protesters out front. It actually didn't dawn on me until I saw their large photos of mutilated bloody fetuses, that they were pro-life protesters. I could not believe it. This is the Mission district, in San Francisco California, in 2014!
Do these people have no lives? Do they really think they are going to deter people? Do they realize that their photos are totally inaccurate? Do they have a reason to be playing Bing Crosby christmas music? These were my immediate thoughts.
As I walked by, ignoring them, a woman approached me, close enough to touch me, and told me "You have other choices", I responded "You don't know what the fuck is going on with me! I happen to currently be miscarrying!" she then advised me that Planned Parenthood wasn't a real doctors office. Instead of further engaging, I just turned around and walked in.
The poor receptionist apologized and I told her it's fine, they don't phase me, it's like a crazy drugged-out person yelling at you on the bus.
But as I saw each girl come in, many young, alone, looking very distraught, I remembered my privilege, my luck of amazing support, my absolute surety that I did not want to become a parent at that time. These girls might not have that surety, they may be being pressured by family to continue with a pregnancy, they may want to be parents but know it isn't the best thing for them or a potential child at that time.
I wanted so badly to tell them it was ok, it was nothing to be ashamed of, they could be parents in the future if they wanted to. But I stayed quiet, had my uterus cleaned out, went back to my friends house, ate ice cream, had some visitors, and felt just fine the next day. Happy, ready to move on and get back to my routine. Which I did, and have, and not with one tiny bit of regret or shame. Until I saw the campaign #shoutyourabortion by "Lady Parts Justice League", people were telling their stories. I felt it was too personal, too controversial, that I would be judged. So even though I personally have no shame around it, I still felt shamed.
Why should I feel shamed by people who do not know me? And if I am judged by those who know me, do I want them in my life? Should I feel more shame because it wasn't that big of a deal for me? Would it be better if I had been wrought with guilt and if it had been a hard decision?
The truth is, I should not, I will not, I do not feel shame. If one wishes to shame me that is their burden to bare, not mine.
I do not disrespect women who wish to be mothers. I think it is something amazing, scientific and magical. To grow a person inside you. To love and nurture that person into adulthood. It is wonderful thing. I crave it at times myself. I am lucky to be an aunt/tia to some incredible offspring. I adore children and they adore me.
But unless a person is ready and wants this, it should not be forced, that in itself is a start to a hard and painful life.
I will not force women to have abortions, no one will force me to have children. It is our right, as women, to decide when we become mothers. You will not take that from us.

Exploring the many layers of Mexico

Click here for the whole Flickr album

Having recently returned from an adventure of visiting the interior of Mexico; Puebla, Cuernavaca, and Mexico city, all I can think about is what a truly beautifully layered country Mexico is.
From it's cities, to it's food, to it's people, amazing me that the layers never cease. There is a feeling of something hidden, secret, achingly painful and elaborately beautiful. Cities built upon other cities, cathedrals built upon pyramid temples, plain building facades hiding exquisite gardens and homes filled with foods of pre-hispanic roots, spiced with flavors of the orient, augmented with meats of animals introduced from far away lands across oceans.
There is a kinetic energy of creativity and movement that never stops in these ancient cities, as if it would fall right apart under your feet, or explode in a rain of volcanic ash, if you don't keep moving. People work so intently, sweeping, selling, story telling through murals, weaving, food, dance, everything they do. People stroll and chat, hawk their wares, sing and dance, and generally bustle in a strangely contradictory relaxed way.
I had the chance to spend a few days in Cholula, Puebla with some of the most lovely artists I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with. Welcomed into their shared living space with all the beautiful traditional hospitality of any good Mexican home. As I arrived late on a rainy night, I was delighted to find they had prepared both pipian and mole sauces, with fresh bolillos (rolls), we drank home made lavender infused Pox, moonshine made with corn and sugar cane (I had arrived with a gift of our own moonshine from the Yelapa area, Raicilla), and was given a cozy room to call my own. The next morning well rested and ready to search out breakfast, I find in the kitchen there is pan dulce, coffee, juice, and eggs being made.
I realized the thing that I thought was special treatment the night before, is just the way it is. It's the way it is in almost every house in Mexico I've been in throughout my whole life. Of what little there may be, offer half, always have something to offer, always have tortillas, bread, beans, coffee, juice, something...and most importantly, always graciously accept what is offered.
These artists work constantly on new projects doing murals in the streets, around every corner is a surprising colorful piece of art. Cholula's walls are covered in murals, many new and vibrant, some peeling off the wall, all unique and equally enticing to the eye. Beautifying their city and at the same time protesting the oppression that is felt by the people of Mexico. Fighting the same fight that ancestors fought, over land, over exploitation, over religious repression, always working to conserve and celebrate indigenous culture.
There are so many levels of different creative pursuits that I had the luck to experience on this trip. After leaving Puebla I arrived Sunday evening in Cuernavaca, Morelos and knowing that Sunday in any plaza in Mexico will be full of life, I went directly there. I happened upon a group of young dancers doing traditional dances of Mexico. These dancers didn't miss a step, even when the heel on the shoe of a girl broke, she continued dancing perfectly, smiling and putting her full heart into it. I saw dances from at least four regions of Mexico, each one with it's own ceremony and significance. Each one danced with the expertise and heart that clearly showed the love and passion they felt for their heritage.
It was a lovely few days of wandering the terraced, verdant, and hilly streets of Cuernavaca, the city of eternal spring, with it's many gardens, amazing food, museums and a people that are clearly proud of their beautiful city, and very happy to share it with visitors.
With the true luck of a journey meant to be, I happened to be staying my last night in Mexico city on the same night the Cracovia 32 swing club has their weekly social dance.
Welcomed into their space where they hold events from swing dancing, to circus school, I stayed the night, met new friends, joined in on their dance class, and finally tired from travel, I went to bed and was lulled to sleep by the big band music drifting upstairs from the dance floor.
My last day before flying home I spent wandering the streets in the area of Coyoacan, drinking coffee, eating pan de muertos, buying mole in the market, soaking up the feeling of being in the blue house of Frida and Diego, somehow feeling as if just being there connected me to the culture and creativity that they cultivated and thrived on in that space.
I felt overwhelming emotion a few times while roaming through the restored rooms of this historic home. I wasn't sure why I felt my chest tighten and my eyes sting with tears when I walked into the kitchen, or when I saw the bed where Frida painted her self portraits, laying there using a mirror she installed in the canopy. It struck me as odd that I would have such emotion for a place, for people, for a time that really had nothing to do with me and my life.
As I sat in the lush and lovely garden where so many people of interest, famous, not so famous, artists, politicians, philosophers and various vagabonds had surely drank morning coffee, shared mescal while lamenting lost loves, strummed guitars, argued opinions, generally celebrated and mourned the complicated human existence, I realized the emotion I felt was not just nostalgia for things past, it was for the experience I had over the last week, it was for the longing I have to continue traveling, creating, loving, and the knowledge that right in that moment, I was one of those people in the lush and lovely garden, and that knowledge reminded me that I have my own garden, my own art, my own companions to argue opinions with, my own complicated and layered history, just as every person in this world does. That feeling is equally wonderful and overwhelming, to know that we are all complicated, connected, perfectly imperfect, layered and many faceted beings.
Mexico is a country that does not let you forget that. On every corner, in every house, in every city, there are unique and distinct traditions, and at the same time, there are traditions that are the same in every place here, one being the hospitality that is a proud part of this place, the hospitality that brought down the great empire of Aztecs who welcomed the conquistadors into their cities, hospitality that eventually integrated all the colonizing cultures into one fascinating, vastly varying, and completely lovely layered country that is Mexico.

Prepa school Artist at Los Sueños

On Wednesday night we had the honor of hosting the art class from the Prepa school here at Casa de los Sueños. Nadia, the teacher, and her students came with beautiful pieces they had painted to show and sell to our group of Yogis.
These are some really talented and inspired artists, you can see that they were so proud to show their work and excited when they sold something.
Nadia is extremely motivated and hardworking, not to mention an absolute sweetheart. I have had the privilege to get to know some of the teachers from the school and they are all hard working, fun and motivated people.
The teachers in this country are up against very difficult odds, coming from government regulations that are un-helpful and un-realistic, circumstances of teaching and living conditions, down to daily issues of all teachers that can be frustrating and demoralizing.
We are so happy to help in any small way that we can and look forward to a continuing relationship of collaboration (we are talking murals, workshops, and much more here at Sueños).
Some people ask me, "why are you interested in the Prepa?"...my reason is simple. I remember being high school aged, I had the luck of going to a school where the teachers made an impact on my life in the best ways, I was allowed to be myself, to be creative, to grow into an adult that feels confident and supported.
I helped start a teen center when I was fresh out of high school, I did this because I knew I was lucky and not everyone had the same support I did in school and at home. I wanted to be there for youth that was lost and in need of someone just to talk to, to see them as a person.
Being a teenager is, I think, the most difficult, delicate, and important passage in life. It is a time to learn who you are, who you wish to be, who your friends are, and what path you would like to take into adulthood. For that reason, I hope to support the people that are supporting these kids, these kids that, with any luck, will go out into the world to learn and grow and come back to their little town with inspiration and hope for the next generations. And most certainly that would be a much less likely possibility if we don't have a high school here in Yelapa. For that, I will continue to support as much as possible. Stay tuned for ways you can help to.

Here are a few more photos.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/jesseroseroberts/36G9e8

What a difference a day makes.

This morning I was here. In the lovely cafe at the Posada del Cafeto. Where, for the last week, I have shared morning chatter, coffee and bread breaking (amazing pan dulce!) with so many wonderful bambuseros (maybe my favorite term learned this week). This group of scientists, cultivators, conservationists, enthusiasts, innovators, legends, and lovers of this crazy pre-historic, resource rich, enchanting plant. (Of which I will wax poetic about in future blogs) who are so warm, welcoming and really just a good time.

I was one if the last guests of the group. It felt a bit rushed and lonely this morning, after such a savoured time with so many great companions.

Then began a long travel day, 4 hour bus, insane rigamaroll around the Mexico City airport (made worse by too heavy and bad luggage choices), and an easy but full 1 hour flight to Puerto Vallarta.

Arriving I felt tired, hungry, and a bit lonely. As post travel blues are wont to do.

But I knew where I was going, what exactly I would do upon arrival, and that felt nice.

I taxi'd to my apartment in PV, dropped my too heavy/bad choice luggage off, and walked over to Joe Jack's Fish Shack for my favorite Niçoise salad and a ginger mojito, greeted and served by friends and familiar faces. 

Satiated and ready for rest I walked home in the balmy breeze of this cobbled seaside town. I remembered that the best thing is traveling and having an amazing experience, and then feeling absolutely wonderful about coming home. 

Tomorrow I return to Yelapa, to the real start of the busy season, to even more friends and familiar faces, armed with a motivation and inspiration that, at this moment, makes me feel like I will achieve my highest dreams for myself and my community. 

Movies, hurricanes and bamboo.

Its been a long week, one of those weeks that feels like a month.

A week ago I went to pick up my dear friends Jessica and Dave of Wooden Lens productions. They arrived to film a promotional video for Los Sueños. 

We got right to work, filming, cleaning, sweating. It was hotter than I ever remember it being at this time of year. Still and sweltering.

Weds night the power went out, no fan, no sleep.

Thurs morning we learned about a hurricane named Patricia. At that point it was strong and headed our way, but they always head our way then pass us by. Everything was pretty much business as usual.

That evening a small group of people who practice karate arrived from Guadalajara. I spoke with the boat captain and he said all the ports were closed, we'd get big winds and a lot of rain, pretty normal for us.

All the boats were being put into the lagoon, also not totally abnormal...although a sure sign of a doozy of a storm.

Since there had been no power, phones were short on charge and there was no wifi. So no news or warnings reached us that night.

In the morning I took down the mirrors and breakable things at the more open casa arboles and we went over to Los Sueños, which is lower on the mountain and more protected.

At that point we got the message that they were evacuating. However, it was too late, at that moment I heard the whistle from the Sarape (the large tourist ferry they had sent to evacuate people) indicating it was leaving...a sound I have always equated with happy time as a child, it indicated it was time to go home from wherever we were out playing. That day however, it indicated doom, bad choices meaning I had put my friends and guests in potential peril by not making sure they were evacuated.

Time for plan B, the secondary school was the designated place of safety, we turned on the generator, charged phones, packed go-bags, and filled water jugs. My wonderful employees helped until I told them to go home to their families. They deserve a hurricane bonus!

At that point one of the karate group came down from their casa and asked for rope...curious I went to see what they were up to, rope in tow. They were in the process of turning casa Buena Vista into a hurricane shelter. Tying mattresses to the windows, setting up the back bodega area with food, water, candles and of course wine!

So everyone began to carry all the mattresses (luckily we have plenty!), heavy furniture and supplies up there. It felt good to be busy, schlepping things through the rain, finding all the rope we could, setting up house. The karate crew was diligent, very well organized, and in good humor, we followed suit. Soon there was a safe spot, we all felt good about it, if not exhausted.

Then we waited. Watched the rain. Watched the trajectory of the eye of the storm. And waited some more.

Late in the evening we got the news that Patricia had hit land south of us and was moving into the mountains. We were out of serious danger, but knew we could still get a lot of wind and rain depending on where it went.

In the end we went to bed around 2am, to the sound of a light cooling rain and a few gusts of wind.

Woke up to a sunny day, with not a fallen branch or a flooded patio. Employees filed in, and exhausted but relieved we got back to filming, cleaning, sweating.

It is a truly strange thing, to know that destruction is hurtling toward you, to imagine this destruction, to hope it will only be material things destroyed, and to wake up to nothing changed, to return all the mattresses, supplies, and people to their usual place. Strange and wonderful.

The towns to the south and in the sierras were not spared destruction, and we must help them to rebuild...but by some miracle of nature (or whatever you want to name it) no lives were reported lost due to the storm. Incredible.

We finished filming (the video is going to be amazing!), headed into PV, Jess and Dave back to San Francisco. 

And I to Xalapa, Veracruz. Now I am sitting in a beautiful mountain city on the other side of the country. Falling in love with it's misty multi-leveled streets, it's sweet friendly people, and it's artsy university style.

Ready to learn all about the amazing bamboo plant and connect with people who love and study it.

As my godmother Peggy (who I believe shooed away Patricia, saying "not my house!") always said onward and upward! 

I am left with an overwhelming feeling of relief, love for my community, appreciation for what I have, and the knowledge that I live a charmed life.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

Guadalajara adventures.

Just back from a very successful, fun and exhausting trip to Guadalajara. With shopping for artesenal crafts in Tonala, incredibly delicious gourmet dinner with our friend Alex, trip to the centro, stumbling upon a stone carving exhibition, triumph of finding a store I went to once 3 years ago, buying stones at said store, more shopping in Tonala, and finally a very cramped 5 hour ride back home in a friends truck, and a night ride back to Yelapa!

If you are ever visiting Puerto Vallarta and you have time, take the bus to Guadalajara, it is a wonderful city!

Happy World Tourism Day!

So today is World Tourism Day. Who knew?!

I found this out while searching "trending hashtags" (something I never thought I'd do, but marketing a business these days and you know...the internet)

So I came upon #diamundialdeturismo, then #worldtourismday, and instead of just randomly using it, I decided to read up on it.

Partly cause I'm trying to figure this whole hashtag-situation out. But mostly because tourism is what I'm doing right now, it's not just a job...it seems to be a way of life. When I'm working it's tourism, but when it's my own time, it's travel. Because we all know, no one wants to be a tourist! How many times do I hear (myself say also) "I don't want to go anywhere too touristy" which we know usually means big chain businesses, or just really crowded places.

But it's ok to be a tourist! I want you to tourist in my town and stay at Casa de los Sueños! 

When traveling we tour and therefore we become tourists, it's just gotten a bad rap. 

I may be trying to give to much meaning to my job, but I feel it's important. I think global travel is important and should be done as much as possible, and done in a way that positively impacts the destination. I want to promote, provide, and participate in responsible tourism.

So below is a quote about this that really sums it up nicely:

"Tourism is more than just about reaching a destination – tourism has a global reach. Every time we travel, we become part of a global movement that has the power to drive positive change for our planet and all people.

This 27 September, let us celebrate the value of the 'One Billion Tourists' and work together in making tourism a true instrument of opportunity and inclusion. Let us all turn the power of one billion into a genuine force for good." 

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai on World Tourism Day 

The Night Of The Iguana 1964 / Making Of The Film Featurette

"Benevolent Tourists Save Town!"

Beware, this blog is a little ranty. Read on at the risk of also feeling the contagious need to rant...

You may wonder at the headline of this blog. It is subject that is touchy for me in various ways. All my life I have lived in beautiful places, which because of that beauty are tourist destinations.
First here in Yelapa, then we moved to Sonoma county California (wine country that used to be apple country and before that some other crop country). Then 10 years in San Francisco California (international tourist destination, as well as many many many other things). And now the last 5 years back in Yelapa.

Basically, each of these places have special draws to visitors, which is great. I truly love sharing my beloved spots, best hikes, favorite restaurants, etc. with all who wish to share. Hopefully visitors love and respect these places as much as I do.
Obviously since I run a business that relies on tourism, I want tourism to continue and grow in Yelapa. However, it needs to be done in a responsible way, responsible to the ecosystem, to the laws of the country, and to the sustainability of the community we are part of.

There have recently been some public discussions on social media about some certain large tourism companies that visit Yelapa (and the surrounding areas). My only personal issue with these companies ever, was that they are a monopoly, and I believe (any kind of) monopolies are very bad. They are bad for communities, economy, agriculture, and just culture in general.
But I am not trying to attack or even disparage any individual company. Rather, I would like to address something I saw written in one of the comments about this issue;

"Quieres que Yelapa desaparezca? Porque al no tener turismo no podría existir Yelapa, depende del turismo"
Translation: "Do you want Yelapa to disappear? Because without tourism Yelapa could not exist, it depends on tourism"

Ok, absolutely Yelapa depends on tourism in it's current state of economy. On that point I totally agree. But to say that it "could not exist" without tourism...it's just crazy, not to mention offensive! Of course it could exist! It has and will for very many years. There are more edible plants, seafood, fresh water, and sustainable economy (not tourism) than you can imagine in Yelapa! There are many things that have gone by the wayside due to having a tourist economy. Many skills that have been lost or forgotten. But they are still there, and I have every hope that we will continue to be a self sustainable community.

It is exactly these sentiments that lower a communities self reliance, self esteem, and ability to survive without the need of outside assistance. This is colonialism at it's worst. Insidious colonialism that disguises itself as helpful, caring and benevolent.
It is not for anyone to come into any community and decide what is best for it. Nor should anyone ever assume that because a town is a "tourist town", that that is all it is.
Please, be aware of the places you visit, see that there is a whole world of things going on that you may not realize. Respect that even though it may look different than your life, it is not wrong or in need of help, and also that is is not perfect nor should it be expected to be.
Be aware that every culture has it's own merits, and that when visiting you are absolutely welcome to share in that culture, as well as to share your own. But please, do not force it, do not assume, and learn from the people of the place you are visiting.
Tourism is a huge and amazing part of our global culture, please use it responsibly.

(Side note, I have never heard one person say that Sonoma county or San Francisco bay area could not exist without tourism...just saying)

This morning I took a drive up into the mountains to the county seat of Cabo Corrientes (the municipality that Yelapa is part of) to the town of el Tuito. I had to deal with some renewals of paperwork and some questions. I had put it off for a long time for fear of issues, big payments, and just general bureaucratic annoyances.
But as luck would have it, there was no wait, the paperwork took 10 minutes, the fee was absolutely reasonable, and all my questions were answered with answers I liked!

The offices for all of the permits, licenses and other clerical needs are just off a lovely little plaza. The town itself is small, but very pretty and temperate all year long. It reminds me of the colonial towns you find more in the interior parts of Mexico. Before running a business I really had never been there. But I am so glad to have spent more time there and hope to do so more often. Especially in this hot time of year!

After making short work of my errands I was able to go to (my now favorite) patio restaurant just off the Plaza for breakfast. Where I had cafe de la olla (cinnamon brewed the old fashion way), machaca (scrambled eggs with shredded beef), and one of my favorite things in this world, hand made tortillas.
A real treat that I hope to share with friends and guests soon!

All that and back home by mid-day...success!

Fun with fundraising and building with bamboo.

Well, I abandoned my post posting here for some time. I guess I got distracted running a business, but what a great distraction!
We have had a great few years here at Casa de los Sueños and look forward to many more.

This coming season 2015/2016 we will be focusing on fundraising and community development. Our biggest project will be working towards the funding and facilitation of a building for the preparatory school (10th through 12th grades).
Currently they share the building with the secondary school and there are issues in accommodating both sets of students.
Having a preparatory school is a huge deal for a small community, it means that those kids will have the opportunity to go to university or a Technical school, and hopefully bring their knowledge and training back to the community.
This preparatory school project is very close to home for our team here a Los Sueños, as we have kids who are recently graduated (congratulations Yosuny!), will be graduating next year, and more that will be going there in the coming years. Apart from a general need for the community, we personally have a great desire to provide a wonderful learning environment for the youth of Yelapa.
We will announce fundraising events as the winter/high season begins. There will be dinners, music and dance shows, art auctions, and much more!

Another very exciting project is BAMBOO! We have been working with bamboo here at Los Sueños for some time, as we have a handful of large groves.
BUT we need a lot more education in cultivating, curing and building. Bamboo has major potential to bring a more sustainable way of life (both environmentally and economically) to Yelapa and other communities in Mexico (and the world!).
In October I will be attending the annual meeting of the American Bamboo Society in Xalapa Veracruz, and I could not be more thrilled!
A whole weekend of education, networking and community that is all about all bamboo all the time! Call me crazy, but I cannot wait it's gonna be a blast!

I'll be writing more often and really hope you all keep reading.
Saludos from the team at Los Sueños, and of course, everyones favorite Technical Mexican!

Bamboo planters built by our guys at Los Suenos

Escaping Paradise

In just 2 weeks I'll be heading north to California for a couple months. I am so happy to see my friends and family and do some fun stuff while I'm there.
I will, however, miss my little village. There are many reasons (as I'm sure in a different mood I can think of many reason to not miss it) that make it a bit sad to go. These reasons aren't all quite what you'd think they would be. For instance I, of course, will miss warmth, swimming in the ocean, and my boyfriend. Those are the obvious ones.
I will miss the slow pace and in some ways the lackadaisical way of doing things here.
For instance, after thinking I finally had all the paper work I needed for registering my business under my name, it was done wrong. Who's fault that was I can't say exactly, but no matter really.
So, yesterday I took a beautiful walk up river to the house of the Delegate for this area. When I arrived no one was at the "desk" (a computer sitting on their patio) so I called out. I then saw a group of women sitting at a table under a tree around the side of the house. It looked like they were crafting. One of the young ladies came over and I explained that I needed some changes on the paperwork. She said no problem with no questions asked. However, would it be possible to come get it tomorrow as they were using the only extension cord, the one for the computer, for a hot glue gun for crafting cloth flowers.
Now, maybe because of my deep appreciation for crafting myself, or just because...what else could I do. I said, of course I'll come back when the only extension cord in your "office" is not otherwise engaged.
We'll see if it's ready when I go in today, hopefully they finished all their flowers. Or maybe I should bring my own extension cord. Either way, I'll be stopping on the way home to pick up some passion fruit, so whatever happens it wont' be a total loss.
I have to go to the DMV when I get to California, I have a feeling there will be no crafting being done.
And the following photo has nothing to do with anything, it's just a cute frog hanging out in my doorway. Another thing to miss.

Floods, frogs and crocodiles, oh my!

It turns out I didn't win the "when will the rains come" pool. I found out the hard way, by waking up to a flooding house. About 2 inches in my room. All is well, no damage and now we have fixed the issues that caused the flooding. I forgot what real tropical storm rain was like. When you are in it it's like someone is following you around with a hose that has very good water pressure.
We've had a very productive few days since then. Nothing like the aftermath of a flood to get you to do a good deep clean of the house.
I also forgot the intensity of the crabs and bugs just after a storm, the crabs I don't love but at least they are a bit comical. The bugs, now they are not comical. Sometime ones reaction to them flying into their face is comical. But generally, ick!
Another fun thing is all the frogs they really love the rain! They also really love making love in my room on the floor next to my bed. Shown in the video below. 

Now the conversation has changed, no more, "when do you think it will rain?". Now the conversation includes things like, "there is a guy selling pineapples for only 20 pesos and they are big, sweet, and juicy!" and "did you here about the crocodile in the lagoon?", "yes actually, I heard there were two".
Yes, actually I did hear there were two. In the rainy season the crocodiles from way way up in the jungle sometimes wash down into the river here. I think they are pretty small, but in the mean time we are going to keep my brother's dog out of the river...just in case.
Apparently the government wants a photo of it before they send someone out to get it...get out your cameras everyone! And keep your limbs inside the boat at all times.

Summer in Paradise

Well, after dusting the cobwebs off of everything in my house I will now do the same for my blog. There has been a lot of action since I last wrote.
I have moved into Casas de los Sueños, have had some guests, done some traveling, and as of late a whole lot of sweeping up dead bugs every morning. Not to mention dodging toads and land crabs.
Summer in the tropics is a constant battle against nature, and it always wins. Think of it as one of those time lapse nature videos, that...but in real time. You can spray on bug spray, sit in front of the fan, sweep out cobwebs, but all of these measures are purely temporary. When the spray sweats off, the power goes out, and the cobwebs are back in 20 minutes, you are just where you started...hot and bug bitten.
I know this sounds bad. And to some it would be. To me it is a test of my endurance and I am thoroughly enjoying it. (Not the bug bites, those just itch). The heat lends to my natural laziness and allows me to sleep during the day without feeling guilty. The ocean is calm, clear, and warm. I have been swimming a lot and it is one of most simultaneously invigorating and relaxing things in the whole world.
The jungle around me is alive and full of interesting beautiful wildlife. At dusk the sound of the night creatures are deafening. It is a mystery as to what is making each noise to add to the symphony of sound. I equally want and don't want to know what is making every individual noise.
The rains have not come. There was a storm  a couple weeks ago when I was not here and was sad to miss it. But the real everyday rainy season rains have not come. We are working towards shutting down the houses for this. That means, cleaning, wrapping in plastic, checking roofs, and generally putting stuff away.
The talk on the trail usually includes a comment on how hot it is "Que calor, no?" and when the rains will come "Parece que quiere llover" "No, no va a llover hasta el 25 de Junio". I am always amazed at the exact dates people give...are they taking bets? If not, maybe we should start a pool in town.
Personally I think it's going to start raining on the 19th of June. 
I'll let you know who wins the pool.

A sueño come true.

When I was a just a small kid and was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up I would say I wanted to be Garfield. When I got a bit older (8 or 9ish) I would say I wanted to have a restuarant and farm. Apparently I was way before my time with the whole "slow food" thing. Back when folks just called it "food".
It's a strange feeling when you've vaguely dreamed of doing something for most of your life, without knowing what it really looked like, and suddenly it's what you are doing.
No I don't own a farm, or a restaurant, and it turns out I don't really want to. But what has happened is that I am now the proprietor of a bed and breakfast style villa in the tropics of Mexico.
Rather my brother Mateo and I, and really the rest of my immediate family as we tend to do things together.
I, however, have the honor of being the Ava Gardner a la "Night of the Iguana" character in this story (seriously if you haven't seen it, do so), the hostess atop the tropical hill above the sea.
We are proud and excited to say we will now be taking the reins of Casa de los Sueños in Yelapa. Some years ago we met Shannon and David (and family) after they acquired and beautifully restored the historic yet very neglected Shapiro house. The property right next door to our own Los Arboles. We became dear friends and happy neighbors for a good couple of years. Sadly, for us and the community of Yelapa, David and Shannon have decided to end their time as business owners here. There are offers they can't refuse, grandkids, and apparently they like being cold a lot of the time, so they are packing up and heading back up to Canada. There are not words for how much I, and many more, will miss them here (luckily it's actually in the contract that they have to come visit).
The serendipity of this transfer is, to me, the most perfect of things. A real reminder that when we put our minds to something, even when we aren't quite sure what it is, we have the power to make it happen.
There is a lot of hard work, true challenges, really fun times ahead, and we are very excited to get to it!

Time moves both extremely slowly and quickly in the tropics.

I feel that I have neglected my duties as an internet presence. I realize here that when it feels like a week has passed it sometimes is more like three. At other times it feels as if the end of the day or week or month will never come. Time crawls and then it sprints and then crawls again.
Since I last posted we have had what seemed like month of cold and rain, really about a week. The sun has finally returned and I am so happy for it. At first I really enjoyed the rain. It's kind of cozy, it's beautiful on the water, it cleans everything, and it smells amazing. Then your clothes won't dry, your salt turns to salt water, the boat rides are wet and very bumpy, and you can't close the door on the rain because there isn't one.
There has been a lot of action here in the last few weeks. My brother Mateo got pretty sick and my mom decided to come down spur of the moment. It was wonderful to have her here. She is an extremely capable and knowledgeable woman, but especially when it comes to living here in Yelapa. She has information and ideas that are immensely helpful to running a house here. Also, I just really like her and was so happy to be able to spend time with her.
We had our first scorpion sting this week, our friend Julian had the honor of being the stingee. He said he was glad he could learn the lesson for the rest of us...be ever diligent! It was in his shorts that had been hanging over a bed post. He is actually one of the most cautious guests we've had...unfortunately it takes just one small mistake. Now as far as he is concerned there is a scorpion on everything...really a pretty good way to think of it.
We have some very big and very exciting projects on the very near horizon. I will dedicate a blog to this subject very soon. I can say that Yelapa will be my more permanent home from now on.
Friday I have guests arriving and I am very much looking forward to that. I will get back on posting photos and more blogs soon. For now I am going to enjoy some of this sun that we finally have. Hasta el proximo blog!
P.S. The bees are good, just being bees for the moment. I hope to have more time with them soon.

Guest writer Shannon Yates on shopping adventures in PV

Yesterday I had to make a flying trip to Vallarta for supplies, toilet paper being first on the list. In one week with only 12 people on the property we went through 40 rolls of toilet paper. Mind you, they were all women so I guess no shakey, shakey with them. Since the pier is still NOT finished in Vallarta, I take the boat to Boca followed by the bus to PV. I board the bus in Boca and about 10 mins into the ride, it stops to pick up Elvis Presley, yup an exact look alike complete with shiny guitar. He boards and starts singing and strumming just like Elvis. Now this guy is smart; he gets on before all the pick ups, mostly gringos, from the villas, hotels and condos along the way. Within the 30 min ride to PV, from my vantage point he collected about 250 ps (25 bucks).

In PV, I get off the Boca bus and board the city bus for Sam's Club and Walmart. About midway, we stop at a light and next to us is a police pick up truck with the truck bed full of gringos (young, white men) handcuffed and tied up with rope. Some are bloodied up, most look hung over and/or still drunk. There are 4 police standing on the 4 corners of the truck bed with guns pointed at the yahoos. Right behind them is another police truck, this one loaded with a bunch of young Mexican women, some with black eyes and bloody mouths and all handcuffed and tied up. Same number of police. Everyone on the bus, mostly Mexicans, are yapping away about what all this means. The conclusion drawn over the next 15 blocks was a prostitution house gone wrong. Ohhhh, sure hope this doesn't hit the press -- another reason why tourists should not visit Mexico.

I get all my shopping down, about 100 lbs of it and am packing it into the good ole Mountain Equipment Coop rollaway bag. Once done with that I talk with the cab driver about the fare straight to Boca. In the middle of my conversation with this guy, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turn around and standing there is a Mexican guy from Tino's Hacienda up around El Tuito way. He trains horses to dance and a year or so ago Mateo, David and I took a trip with Brad up through the mountains. We stopped at the Hacienda and drank some of the best tequila (brewed there) and watched this guy with his dancing horse. About 3 weeks ago he was in Yelapa with the horse as part of the entertainment for the campaign fiesta. It is election year and some of the candidates were holding a forum up by Manguitos. I went up and listened to some of it and talked with this guy and his horse again. Back to Sam's Club now -- he remembered seeing me both times and wanted to know if I was going to Boca. If so he would give me a ride. I was bit nervous about accepting but thought 'what the hell' all is likely good. Got to his truck and there is his wife, a gaggle of kids, 2 more men and a pile of shopping too. All the women, including me and most of the kids jumped in the truck bed and the rest in the front. Wowso! I always wanted to ride in a truck bed in Mexico, preferably without handcuffs. Got lots of stares from Mexicans and gringos on the road to Boca. They dropped me at Boca in time for the 3 p.m. boat back to Yelapa.

A day like this could never be planned. Made the dreaded shopping day loads of fun. Thank you Mexico!