06/09/05 - Puerto Vallarta, MX

We can't take another weekend in Puerto Vallarta

With no work going on at our condo (they claim they'll be starting again tomorrow after a 2-week hiatus) and all of our new friends gone (Dana and Tony left yesterday after a farewell/birthday dinner for the ladies Tuesday night), we can't stand the thought of hanging out in PV for another weekend, so we're heading to Guadalajara for a change of scene.  Weekends are the worst time for us here; not only are the stores closed and the workers not doing anything, but we can't even go to the beach or anywhere too interesting without being overrun with weekend tourists (Mexican beachgoers).

So we're off... no idea what we'll be doing or where we're staying, but it's got to be more interesting than another weekend here.

06/02/05 - Puerto Vallarta, MX (Photos of the past month in Puerto Vallarta - same as 5/30/05 entry)

New friends, new kittens and awesome digs in Sayulita

Upon our return at the end of May to the 10-room (or so) Casa Andrea, things were pretty quiet.  At certain points, we were the only guests and we just kind of hung out in our room, while this weird gringo guy would show up everyday after work and commandeer the communal TV in the lounge, where he and Andrea would watch TV late into the evening.  It was just a little weird.  The resident cats, Bebe and Natasha (aka "Bette Grande"), were a main source of entertainment. 

Then came Memorial Day weekend: construction at the condo slowed to a halt (not due to the holiday, mind you) and the American vacationers (along with a group of 70's-rock-loving Vancouverites) took Casa Andrea by storm.  (OK, this is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the picture.)  Always eager to meet new people and, let's face it, just a little bored (with no construction progress at the condo to check on) we quickly became friendly with some of the younger newcomers. 

There were Cliff and Molly, a really cool and fun-loving couple from San Francisco (practically from our old neighborhood!).  We shared drinks and laughs about Cliff's humorous last name (sorry, you'll have to ask Cliff!) with them one night at the Casa Andrea patio bar.  The next day, we even managed to get ourselves invited up to the BEAUTIFUL house they rented in Sayulita, an hour north of here, by offering to drive them up.  Can you say "infinity pool?"  With a view?!  Thanks for a really awesome afternoon, you guys!  I hope we can do it again sometime...maybe in Italy...or India...or...

And there were Tony, a Kevin-Dede-look-a-like Brit and his high-energy girlfriend Dana, from Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, respectively.  On one of their many walks, they found a shoe box full of five tiny kittens.  Because they are such kind-hearted people and Andrea is known to be an animal rescuer, they brought the kittens back to the hotel, where Andrea saw to it that they were comfortably installed on the enclosed patio of one of the guest suites.  They are so cute!  You have just got to see these little things!