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  Tecoman, Mexico
Wednesday, March 1, 2006

From Tecoman

Friday in Sayulita started off with a bang. The "Sayulita Days" parade assembled at our doorstep. LITERALLLY ! The street right in front of our camp was the staging area for the parade. Early, 8 am, the local school kids started arriving dressed in all their costumes, vehicles decked out in balloons and confetti tape and cowboys and cowgirls on horses. Around 9 or 10 , who's watching the time by now, the parade gets under way to the banging of drums and bugles. What a sight, only the pictures I will be posting can truly tell the story so don't miss them. The Parade eventually disappears up the dirt street into the village. Rita and I get out act together to make it up to the town square to catch the rest of the action. By the time we get there most of the school bands of which there were many, had done their part. A slight lull while an announcer babbled on in Spanish about what was going on and we don't have a clue as usual

Along the road south of Puerto Vallarta - 1

. A few minutes later cowboys and one cowgirl show up with their horses, about 50 of them, all decked out in gear that made our eyes bulge. What a sight ! Then the band begins to play and for the next few hours in the hot midday sun the cowboys get the horses dancing to the Mexican music. Sometimes one by one sometimes a few at a time. Each one trying to outdo the others. They are all drinking beer and pouring the beer over the horses heads. The horses have sweat pouring off them. It's what we went to Mexico for is all I can think. More verbal description is impossible, look at the pictures and if you ever get over this way be sure to stay for one of the many "Sayulita Days" throughout the year.
The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful after that spectacle. A bit of beach and swimming then diner and a stroll into town and around the Carnival to cap of the night. The town is jam packed with Mexicans from all over, browsing around the Carnival is hard as it's packed and I mean packed. At the target shooting game I get hit with a ricocheted pellet, the Tequila stands are busy as are the Taco stands, the rides all going full tilt, and the rock throwing at Cervaza bottles game to win a Cervaza is very intriguing, one rock one broken bottle you win one Cerveza, two broken bottles you win two Cerveza and three broken bottles you win a six pack ! The Mexicans know how to party ! One more intriguing element is the concern for safety........THERE IS NONE

Along the road south of Puerto Vallarta - 2

! Electrical wire strewn about the ground with only bare twisted ends at junctions, wire size and placement is of no concern, eventually the main street, street lights dim and go out and we're told the Carnival is drawing too much power as they just hook on their supply lines to the bare overhead wires with a long wooden stick and hook affaire. Yikes !
Well, after all the days excitement we go off to sleep for an early rise as the Freddy, the local car wash kid of the park, is going to clean all the Baja dirt off the Westy at 8 am. That done we set about packing and on our way to Puerto Vallarta and the Wallmart for needed supplies. On our way out of town we go to look at a piece of property for sale, 200 m x 200 m for $27,000 USD. Just big enough to park the Westy on. It's out of town a bit but only a 1/2 km from the main paved road. A flat piece of land, bordered by some palm trees, Mexicans with horses, and some Canadians building a casa and about a 10 minute walk to the beach with a nice view of the other casas being built. We get pics and all the necessary details and we're on our way down the twisty winding road to Puerto Vallarta.
Entering Puerto on a well maintained four lane expressway, there is a bicycle race in progress and the Policia are out in force on their Honda 125 motorcycles. We make our way to the Wallmart, shop and lunch then down to the Malacon for some sightseeing

Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 1

. Rit'a not been feeling too well since this morning, may have been bad fish in the Burrito she had yesterday in Sayulita. We decide to find a spot to say in Puerto and explore more tomorrow. We find our way to the Puerto Vallarta Trailer park not far from the Malecon and one spot left so we're here, the suns just come up on a fine Sunday morning with church bells ringing, Rita's feeling better and we will soon go of exploring Puerto Vallarta.
After exploring Puerto Vallarta mostly along the Malacon and a few shops and lunch at O'Briens, go figure, we head of down the road again looking for the next camping spot. The road winds it's way through the mountains and cliffs south of Puerto in a dramatic manner. Rita's not enjoying the ride plus she's a little queasy from and upset stomach possibly from some bad fish back in Sayulita. We find the lagoon where the John Houston movie "The Night of the Iguana" was filmed with Elizabeth Taylor just as Hans had told us. Big sign on the roadside invited us in for a visit. Not much there now as the restaurant and shops that were once operational looked as though they were hit with a hurricane. Long steep brick lined road down to the lagoon then winding stairs up to a knoll perched restaurant overlooking the two lagoons. Beautiful site but all the buildings were wrecked. Took some pics then down the road again we find ourselves climbing up through a mountain valley with a stream along side when we spot a huge open sided building perched on the hillside surrounded by lush gardens

Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 2

. A stop there we find a botanical garden, restaurant and bar. A walk around to calm the nerves and we meet a fellow from BC who has recently moved to Puerto Vallarta who's sister lives in Almonte. OK, just too much to take ! After conversation and exchange of contact info we're off again through the mountains and winding roads eventually reaching Punta Perula were we find the The Red Snapper Trailer Park run by a German and Mexican duo. Three spots right on the beach and one's open, it's ours for two nights ! How lucky ! And to boot our friends Ben & Bev with their '85 Westy that we met way back at Playa Perdito on Baja are there. Good reunion that night involving Tequila, good beach camp and Westy talk.
Monday morning we spy fish jumping in the surf right in front of us so I grab the fishing gear, jump in the surf and hook a few then get hit with a big wave and hanging on to my glasses I loose the rod, rescue the rod and determine it's time to retreat back to camp. Whew what a trip. I need some device to secure my glasses better before trying that again. This place is another paradise to behold. 15 camping spots, a Palapa restaurant and about 10 miles deserted beach. Not much happening here and we don't know why but a few campers besides us have found it.
Tuesday morning it's time to get going again so off we go toward Manzanillo for shopping and Internet if we can find a free spot as we never did have time in Puerto

Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 3

. Manzanillo is a big sea port with lots of container ship action plus the Mexican Naval fleet is here. We find a mall get supplies but are not lucky finding a free WiFi spot as we cruise around the city. It's getting late and we need to find a spot for the night. Our Friends Ben and Bev told of us of a place south of here at Tenicita and they might be there. We get out of Manzanillao after loosing our way a few times, towards Tecoman. We get to Tecoman and evidently missed something cause an hour later we are by the sea again but not were we were headed. We ask for directions and find we are way off our trail and must go back. It will now be another three hours to Tenicita and we're told it's too dangerous to drive there at night and it's now 5:30. We head back to Tecoman and try to find a hotel. After circling the city streets for some time and getting various directions we find ourselves now at the Plaza Hotel, very fancy with a good WiFi connection, pool and secure compound for the Westy for the night all for $47 USD. So here we are, made a few phone calls on our now working Bell cell phone just to see that it actually works. Most places by the beach were we camp there is no signal but in the big cities it seems to be working. So we will make calls only when we are in big cities - too bad if we're stuck out on the road somewhere !
One more note of technical importance before I sign off here........The Sirius satellite radio has had intermittent reception since San Blas but today it worked fairly well just loosing signal under the heavy tree cover in some spots. Winding up and down the mountain roads we change scenery quite often from lush tropical overgrown conditions to arid desert conditions where the trees are bare of leaves. Strange I know but here it is. Until next time........Hasta Lugeo muchachoes !

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Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 4	Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 5	Location of "The Night of the Iguana" - 6	Playa Perula, Red Snapper RV Park - 1
Playa Perula, Red Snapper RV Park - 2	Playa Perula, Red Snapper RV Park - 3	Playa Perula, Red Snapper RV Park - 4	Puerto Vallarta - 1
Puerto Vallarta - 2	Sayulita Days Dancing Horses - 1	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 10	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 11
Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 12	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 15	Sayulita Days Dancing Horses - 16	Sayulita Days Dancing Horses - 17
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Sayulita Days Dancing Horses - 5	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 6	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 7	Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 8
Sayulita Days dancing Horses - 9	Sayulita Days dancing Horses -13	Sayulita Days dancing Horses -14	Sayulita Days Parade - 1
Sayulita Days Parade - 10	Sayulita Days Parade - 2	Sayulita Days Parade - 3	Sayulita Days Parade - 4
Sayulita Days Parade - 5	Sayulita Days Parade - 6	Sayulita Days Parade - 7	Sayulita Days Parade - 8
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Sayulita Days Parade 18	Sayulita Days Parade 19	Sayulita Days Parade 20	Sayulita Days Parade 21
Sayulita Days Parade 22	Sayulita Days Parade 23	Sayulita Days Parade 24	Sayulita Days Parade 25
Sayulita Days Parade 26	Sayulita Days Parade 27	Sayulita property for sale - 1	Sayulita property for sale - 2
Sayulita property for sale - 3

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