Back in La Paz

Back down South and ready to blog!

We arrived back in Mexico Nov 7th after a fantastic summer in Vancouver. There was much to celebrate - Leah & Rob's wedding in England in June, Jonathan and Kendrianne moving into their new house in North Vancouver in July, and Rylie’s first birthday party (Hawaiian Lua theme)  Sept 25th! 

We lived the first part of the summer in a rental suite in Tsawwassen. It was great to be back in our old “hood” and to visit with many of our friends. 

In the September we moved into Jonathan and Kendriannes’ basement suite - LOVED Lynn Valley and North Vancouver!  So nice of them to put up with “Mom and Dad and Molly the dog” downstairs….

Since we arrived there has been lots of activity - Gardeners Carlos and Ramon have been busy  pruning and tidying up the garden,  and tomorrow will be back to build a raised garden so we can start to grow vegetables! 

We went to Raul Jr’s wedding Sat night - a Catholic ceremony but very modern with lively music. We were so honoured to be invited as we were the only “non Mexicans”. The Fiesta afterwards started at 9 pm and we ate dinner at 11:45 pm!!! We were the first to leave at 1:15 am… it was a great party!

Paul is back to Big Band tomorrow and a rehearsal for the Blues Festival which is on the beach this coming Friday night. 

Wednesday we start our first Spanish lesson - it is time to learn the language properly rather than “winging it”! 

Meeting Grandpa for the first time.

Leah & Rob's wedding day in Ripponden

The night before at the "Big Six" pub was epic!

A wedding present was acquired on the way home!

Flower girl Rylie and her assistants

J & K's home in Lynn Valley

First breakfast in the new kitchen

Walking round the seawall on Leanne's birthday.

Lunch in the park with Rylie and "Aba"

"Martini Thursday" on Boundary Bay

Rylie's Hawaiian themed birthday cakes

Her first ever taste of chocolate cake!

In Deep Cove on her actual birthday

Lynn Valley suspension bridge - right outside our door!

Local wild life is literally outside your door - bears too (but no pictures!)

The 'Cow'ans on Halloween in Steveston

Two Nerds in North Vancouver.

BMcG at Frankie's. Im so honoured to play with these guys. 

Still trying to get the gate fixed!

"Pepperoni" was pleased to see Leanne

Getting the bare necessities is important

First Friday Margarita on the roof.

Raúl & Paulina's wedding

The venue was quite something on the inside

Things are livening up!

The happy couple

I think I've found the gold!

Back to tennis at Ed's - what a sunset.

Walmart is getting geared up for the season!

And finally... Rylie

End of another 'season'

We are writing this after being back in Vancouver for a week. Our place here is a fraction of the size of our place in La Paz, but it will do nicely for the summer. It's great to see family and friends again and the weather is lovely - so no complaints. And, no more blogs now until we head south again in November. Adios.

Captain Antonio takes us out in to the Bay of La Paz

As soon as I took a turn at steering the wind dropped! 

The cardon cactuses are flowering. They open at night and close when the sun gets hot.

For our party we had Jorge's taco truck provide some of the food

I think we should do this every weekend!

Dulce and Greta serve up great home-cooked tacos and quesadillas. "Muy rico!"

Tone giving us a song after dinner. Not bad for 87 (and one of the best tennis players too!)

There's no stopping Terry - even on a night off!

Briefly, temperatures went over 40C, so Molly had to be hosed down

The last Peyote at Harker's. When we get back, I want one of these enamel posters!

The Aramburo supermarket bull, dressed up for Mother's Day. He looks a bit 'sheepish'!

Every boys dream - a whole truck load of baja trucks!

Isuzu dealership going big on self promotion.

I will miss playing at La Morante. (photo: Fernando León Ruiz Figueroa)

It was great to share our place with Jorge and Anna and their families.

We served paella and pizza.

On the night of our party we had the best sunset. 

And... it's so great to be back with this little person.

The cheapest drugs and snorkeling with Jacque Cousteau!

We’re nearing the end of our time here, only just over a week to go.

So we’ve been trying to squeeze a few things in before we fly back to Vancouver on May 12.

I actually went to the beach last week, for the first time in over a year! We got to try out the full-face snorkel masks that Alan & Paul gave us in November. Leanne is busily organizing an ‘end of season’ party this Saturday - you know how she likes ‘logistics’!  We’ve invited all the tennis people, plus a bunch of friends and neighbours - pizza for 40… Yikes!

The 'cheapest drugs' 24 hours a day. Plus a free doctor consultation!

Cool mural depicting Mexican history at El Zarape

At the El Zarape 30th anniversary, we were serenaded in style

Leanne hit it off with Urma, Ed's doctor!

Rockin' my new red Barcelona pants with the band at La Morante

Raúl is in trouble (again)

The cowboy shop (as we call it) has a bit of everything 

Including these large mouse traps!

La Paz hosted an international volley ball tournament 

A poser on the Malecon with Jacque Cousteau

'El Triton' differs from other charter boats - it has an out house!

I would be seriously tempted to take this fella home (he's Archie reincarnated)

Lovely local delicacy - crickets in chili and garlic

Steve Jobs' boat. Very striking design... if you like that sort of thing

El Mirador, near Todos Santos. Ive played in worse locations! 

We have a 'problema technica' with our water supply  - nothing for 8 weeks! 

Leanne's new car.

The palapa at Ed's with the full moon rising

Leanne snorkeling at the famous mushroom rock.

Lots of fish!

And of course.... Rylie waiting to meet her Grandma from Toronto.