November 2019 - Back to La Paz

Back to the blog again. We've been in La Paz for 2 weeks now. All in all our arrival was pretty smooth, but inevitably there were things that needed sorting out. We finally got the car charged up and going, then the gate seized up and we were stuck at home with very few groceries - cheese toasties 3 times in a row!

The weather is lovely of course... but regular readers will be glad to hear we have had some rain, and more expected tomorrow.

Paul played at the La Paz Blues Festival again yesterday, but the La Ventana version on Sunday has been postponed due to the approach of tropical storm Raymond (very late in the season)

If you are interested with did a Spanish blog over the summer months in Canada.

https://losfreemansenvancouver.blogspot.com/

We were shocked by our Mexican neighbour's new pool lights! Luckily they only have them on once in a while.

Agaves flower with a 15ft stalk. Then they die.

The 'Gate Guy' to the rescue

Termites have destroyed part of our kitchen cabinets!

Always our first place to visit - McFisher's for lunch

Misha weighing up a grouper for the menu

There has been so much rain over the summer, it's really 'lush'

Beautiful moth

In the neighbourhood - the Brutal Gym is next to Alcoholics Anonymous

It's nice to wake up to this.

And the moon rise 11 hours later

Carlos 'the palm guy' has been busy tidying up the garden

Cool new whale shark statue on the Malecon

What can we say... at least they have a marketing plan 

Roadside shopping has peaked pre Christmas

Karen & Celia have started doing house-concerts on a street near us

We watched this storm cloud move away north of us. Lots of lightning, no thunder.

This lot arrive on Sunday evening, if tropical storm Raymond allows. Fingers crossed!

Vancouver here we come!

Wow …..6 months goes quickly. It has been another fantastic winter here - lots of visitors, music, tennis, Spanish lessons (slowly improving…), and always new experiences and discoveries along the way. 

This last month we had a blast with friends Dina and Simon and also Brian and Cheryl - chillin’ at the pool (it's hot now!), beaches (parties and volunteering for clean ups), boat trips, music festivals, the mandatory Margaritas, Pizza party, and Ed (our neighbour's) 98th birthday party to name a few…..

We fly next week (April 25th). Jonathan and Kendrianne have very kindly allowed us to sneak back into their basement suite in North Vancouver - we hope to “earn our keep”  by helping them re-do their backyard.  

Nicky and Phil are expecting their second baby (a boy!) early August so we are getting excited to be “Aba” and “Abo” to another bundle of joy! Rylie is excited to be a big sister too. 

We will be around until November (except for a quick trip to China in June) so hope to see you over the summer!  Our cell is the same so please get in touch…604-948-8859

Willie's birthday party on the beach at La Ventana. Top class live music.

A cheeky little number on a side street in La Paz. 

With Mike and Willie at the La Paz Blues Festival

Post rehearsal with the Terry Townson Quartet. On the left, Federico Le Penis (actual name!)

Ed's piñata was appropriately a very large bottle of red wine.

Beach clean up - we (the group) amassed 2 tons of basura

We will join the group again next winter.

Woodpecker at the Cactus Santuary

These guys are old (and so are the cactus)

Thank you Cheryl for the beautiful mexican themed quilt!

Sunset on the roof at Harker's

Post-dinner mezcal sampling, with orange slices.

The artist behind all the murals at McFisher is doing several new ones

Mike's boat - Amiga. 

The start of a great day on the water

Dina & Simon surprised us with these lovely turtles!

Folkloric dancing in El Triumfo

The view of the town from the top of the hill

Tequila tasting with Jorge - he just left the bottles on the bar!

It's rare to catch 3 identical pharmacists on the street at one time.

We will miss this place.

See you next November, La Paz

See you next week - cheeky face!

Mid March

We had a few weeks of down time after Nicky, Phil and Rylie left us mid February - we miss them a lot but try to Facetime as often as possible (like, everyday!)

Jonathan & Kendrianne and Kathy & Iain arrived March 4th for a fun and sun filled week - La Paz Carnival, Day trip to the islands on Mike's boat, lots of great food and, of course, the mandatory sunset margaritas. Loved having them all here at the same time. 

We are re-grouping this week and getting excited for Dina and Simon to arrive Wednesday. We will be whisking them away (literally off the side of the highway!) overnight to La Ventana to go to Willie & Carol's fund raising party with a great live band from LA! Brian & Cheryl Cowan (Phil’s parents) arrive the following week. 

Paul has played a lot of music this month, last night it was a set at the La Paz Blues Festival. 

As always, the photos tell the story…

Does anyone know what these yellow things are growing in a local bush?

According to Carlos (the gardener) this is natural "They'll all come back" he says... 

We went to a real local's bar to listen to a fantastic singer (friend of Georgina's)

The new glass recycling place... organization is not their strongest point

Mummy & baby carrots, plus zucchini and tasty tomatoes

We were tempted to sit and relax...

Who knew there was an actual brewery in our neighbourhood! Albert is my new best friend.

Hanging out with our neighbour Ed. 98 years old in a couple of weeks.

Heading out on 'Amiga' for a trip to the islands

We stopped for a swim at Balandra beach... the water was 'refreshing'

Then a barbecue

Mike, our Captain (and guitar player/singer!)

We were lucky to have the best sunset on the way back.

A modeling session at the local shops. 

Peyote on the roof at Harker's

The Carnaval!

Nice presentation Jonathan!

Don Julio after dinner...

Raúl's birthday cake

His birthday coincided with the 15th anniversary of the tennis court at Ed's

Thank you Mexico!

And we're looking forward to seeing this little beauty at the end of April.