We hope you've had as festive a holiday season as we've had, enjoying the company of new friends and old. We're still tied to the pilings here in MNV waiting for a repair on our fuel injection pump. In the meantime John is working on other minor projects, and we're taking advantage of great internet connectivity right from the boat thanks to the wireless service offered by an old Hans Christian friend, "Radio Rob."
The holidays started off with an invite to a Christmas Eve dessert party at one of the condos overlooking MNV. Friends of our neighbors on Sea Tern, also tied to the pilings, were gracious enough to invite us to join them in their home for brownies, mince meat pies, and the Seattle/Baltimore football game on TV. We had a quiet Christmas day and then shared a taxi to Marina Vallarta with Entropy for a fixed menu cruiser's dinner at one of the many restaurants lining the harbor.
As we took our seats and introductions were made, who should we find ourselves seated across from but Ken and Nancy Roper of Harrier. Ken is a sailing superstar from the pages of Latitude 38, well known for his many entries in the Singlehanded Sailing Society's Trans Pac (San Francisco to Kauai) race. It was an honor and a pleasure to spend the evening with them both.
Last night we took two buses and a dinghy ride with Sweet Lorraine to get out to Southern Belle, a catamaran anchored off the town of La Cruz. Ten of us were there for Texas Hold 'Em and Melinda's home made chili. I watched while John gave Dave a run for his money, but Dave took the pot for something like the fifth time in a row mostly due to his wild and unpredictable ("I know nothing about playing poker!") wagers (he especially likes saying, "All in!).
We skedaddled after 11 PM to grab a taxi back to MNV to see the NY's Eve fireworks at midnight. (Radio) Rob and Mary, formerly of Sweet Thing, had access to a friend's seventh floor condo overlooking the public and Paradise Village breakwaters. From there we had a view of the resort fireworks stretching around Banderas Bay all the way from Puerto Vallarta to La Cruz. Paradise Village banged theirs out so close together that it was all over in about 10 minutes, but we were right underneath them and it was a beautiful show. Thanks to Rob and Mary for including us and providing champagne for the midnight toast.
This morning we dragged ourselves out of bed early so that John could run the Amigo net, after which we attended the New Year's Day Bloody Mary, black-eyed peas, rice, and cabbage "brunch" hosted by Dick Markie, the Paradise Marina harbor master, and Radio Rob at the Vallarta Yacht Club. Dick cranked out the spicy Mary's and Rob was responsible for the peas. I know it sounds weird but the foods each have some significance having to do with luck and prosperity, and it was all delicious - and free, as a thank you to all the cruisers and YC members.
Nights are still too cold for resort wear, but the past few days have been sunny and clear with light breezes keeping daytime highs in the 70's. We went for a walk on the beach the other afternoon and were careful not to let the icy waves catch our bare feet. But the pale tourists were having fun in the surf, or at least their children were!
Feliz y prospero ano nuevo a todo!
Linda and John