Feliz Navidad!

We are sitting here in Cabo Airport waiting for our flight back to Vancouver for the holidays. Seems the perfect time to update the blog after another few busy weeks.

Nicky, Phil and Rylie had a great 10 days with us which included celebrating Phil’s 30th birthday Mexican Fiesta style!  No Fiesta would be complete without a Pacifico Beer piñata, and the mandatory “mordida” (small bite) face full of icing! 

Rylie also had her first visit to see Santa Clause here in La Paz. He was the “real” Santa for sure, straight from the “Pola Norte”! She sat quietly for all the photo ops and it was a success.

Paul played in the Annual “Pavo”  (turkey) tennis tournament with Carlos last weekend. Although they didn’t win the turkey, Raul did win, and we cooked up an early Christmas dinner with all the trimmings with our Mexican friends a few nights ago.

Kylene (Kendriannes sister) and her friend Linh arrived from Cabo last Monday and stayed with us for 5 days. They are “foodies” so we took them to some of our favourites… Taco truck stop, roadside Hot Dog stand, and McFishers (a must) 

Paul played in the 2nd Annual La Paz Jazz Festival Friday night. He is flying back to La Paz Dec 30th to play at an exclusive New Years Eve private party at Las Cruces Resort (google it - looks pretty amazing).

Merry Christmas to everyone! We will blog in the New Year.

The Pacifico piñata was a 'big hit'

The 'Mordida'

Rylies first visit to Santa

Me and my partner Carlos (in purple) after yet another defeat...

a good fire...

...bakes 6 pizzas in 15 minutes! 

muchas piñatas!

Kylene enjoying a donut in the pool

the Jazz Festival

Ready for the 'pavo party'

cool mural in a backstreet of La Paz

beauties at Balandra beach

McFisher never lets us down

Can't wait to see this little person again!

End of November 2017

We can’t believe it’s over 2 weeks since our first blog, we had such good intentions.  

Blame it on our visitors Alan & Paul, Naveen & Jill, and of course Miss Rylie Jane Cowan and her two assistants.

We have had a superb time and are genuinely sorry to see our two Spanish pool boys return home tomorrow. The pool has never been in better condition, especially after Alan cleaned the filter and blew dirty water all over Leanne’s washing on the line!

Thanks to Naveen and Jill for hosting us at Hacienda del Mar in Cabo, what a wonderful experience.

Anyway, no more words are needed… here come the photos.

Paul got a last minute call to play the La Paz Blues Festival

The stage was a disused cement silo - like playing under a Saturn 5 rocket!

Buddies

The new pool boys freshly flown in from Spain.

Underwater inspection is all part of the service! 

Alan & Paul bought us a new humming bird feeder.

Everything on...

I mix a mean margarita

Cocktail time on the roof

Naveen and Jill (who Leanne has known since they were about 5)

Apparently installing the new A/C was 'muy complicado'

Dude, where's my A/C?

Alan is not phased by any form of chili... 

Regular readers will recognize the Aramburo bull - this time in Mexican Independence Day costume 

The Baja 1000 race actually finishes in La Paz.

A super relaxing weekend in Cabo.

Each day ends in the infinity pool with 2 for 1 margaritas (don't ask Leanne to carry your drink though)

Just what every bass player needs!

Seared tuna in the kitchen

Naveen gets to grips with a Burro Maya at McFisher's 

I chose "Belly & Suckers" off the menu - it looked like something off Dr Who! Very tasty.

A big contrast from diving with 12 Bull Sharks the previous day!

LuLu's famous chicken and Al's famous shorts.

Their last day - a ride along a deserted beach

Rylie is relaxing nicely.

Nicky & Phil give Rylie her first dip in the pool

Getting warm under the palapa prior to another nap.

Back to La Paz - November 2017

We are back in La Paz!

What a summer we had - we were transient to say the least! We counted our moves and discovered we packed and unpacked 16 times in 6 months! Yikes! Not just our clothes, but the Freeman Design Office and Molly the dog! We felt like we were living out of the car on occasion, and certainly living out of a bag most of the time. It had it’s high points, and its challenges, but on the whole the summer was fantastic!  Thanks to our many friends (you know who you are!) who offered us housesitting gigs, and spare bedrooms along the way. 

High points - August 19th - Jonathan and Kendriannes’ wedding…… what a weekend - everything was perfect and they make the most beautiful couple. We could not be prouder of them both and loved every minute of the celebrations.

September 25th - Nicky and Phil’s first child and our first grandchild Rylie Jane Cowan arrived into the world!  10 days late and 9 pounds 4 ounces later the most gorgeous baby EVER is now part of our family. 

We have been back in La Paz for 6 days now and are settling back into our house. After being so nomadic this summer, this really does feel like coming home this time.  Our stuff, our space… lots to do though and learn as we open the house again after being closed for 6 months. No hot water for the first 2 days, hardly any gas in the tank,no internet for a day, some things have rusted and need re-painting….. it’s a learning curve. “Stu” the Subaru started first time though, and is running well (despite all last years challenges)

Yesterday was our first day back with the Mexicans for “Tennis Sunday” and I (Leanne) joined in! I want to learn, and the best way may be to just jump right in there!  Thankfully they are all such kind people, and encouraged me all the way. I need to practice for sure though before next week so I don’t embarrass myself 2 weeks in a row!

We have our first guests arriving this Thursday - Alan and Paul are travelling from Alicante, Spain and will be here for 2 1/2 weeks. We are so excited to see them, and to spend time eating, drinking and being merry! 

Jill and Naveen will also be here for a few days next week before they head to Cabo. And, Nicky, Phil and Rylie are hoping to get here sometime in the next 2 weeks! We will have a house full but the more the merrier!

That’s it for now - Pauls first Big Band Rehearsal tomorrow, and a gig coming up on Saturday with Terry.

Mr & Mrs Freeman

Rylie Jane Cowan

It's hard to think this is only one week ago!

All our stuff in the back of a Mazda - stored in Leanne's Mum's garage

Molly starts her journey back. She's such a good traveller.

Goodbye Vancouver (rain) 

Cocktail hour on the roof! 

Morning walk in the desert

Hard at it again!

Ready for Rylie!

The coveted trophy is up for grabs again!

Thank you Raúl & Georgina for our welcome back flowers.

The Telmex guys, getting it fixed.

There's always a group photo

Leanne's first experience of 'tournament' tennis

Ed - court side

The evening progresses...