Last days to home...

"I wouldn't go that way if I was you..."

The last days were filled with a lot of good food, including fresh ceviche, fresh tuna, shrimp tacos, fish tacos - you get the point, a lot of fresh seafood. And of course, jugo. And, a final palleta de chocolate de coco y crema de fresa. They were also filled with pool play, and school work. Beach time and packing time. Our last sunrise in Lo De Marcos.

And then. The drive. We finished packing the car, had our breakfast, got our money and paperwork in order for the drive and the border. Made lunches and got food ready for a few days. And then we got a call from Natalie, our neighbor in Guayabitos. She signed for mail for us. Our sweet Valentine's day cards from Joshua's First grade Teacher and Momma Pat arrived, they only took 2 months! So of course we HAD to stop by to get them and officially say goodbye. Plus, Hugo got to say his final goodbye's to his Mexican girlfriend Mamba. They truly do love each other.

After play, and goodbye's and promises to see one another again (road trip anyone?) we pushed off and made our way to stop 1, Culiacan, Mexico. We passed our tolls, stopped a few times for inquiries from Federalles and made it by 5pm to our Hotel. It was a lovely break as it had s few acres to it and was filled w/lush grass and greenery everywhere. Right in the middle of the City. And, it had room service with beer! And a million cats. Our hotel room with cottages surrounding us.

We were up and at it early the next morning since we gained an hour in time. We were driving on the toll by 8am. Which was good since it was 108 by 2pm. 108. Damn, I'm not going to lie, that was hot. But Mexico always has shade to be found and so lunch time was spent in a shady, breezy place along the freeway. I love pulling over near small puebilta's. People always stare at us. With the look of, "what IS this lady doing". The puppy dog was a little hot, but he was such an awesome road tripper.

As I drove North I noticed a big difference driving in the States of Sinoloa and Sonora versus Nayarit and Jalisco. This is where it always gets fun in Mexico. In fairness, many other Countries are dicey to drive in - I've just driven quite a few times in Mexico so have better knowledge. I have always taken the toll roads, while you pay a fee, things are generally safer and there are services to help you if needed. Plus they are faster and roads are WAY better. But, for some reason some of the tolls in these States are not currently being run by the Mexican Government? So sometimes someone will be inside the booth but windows are closed and someone else is outside with a can, shaking it to get your money. I slow down, smile and proceed through. I basically follow the lead of any Mexican plated car. And THEN, there are the guys in the middle of nowhere that line the road on both sides with their cars and have a rope across the road. Or big construction barrels. As you wait your turn to go through they may pull the rope up or put a barrel in front of you to stop you. And then they put a can to your window. Sketchy. Yes. Will I pay them. No. I shake my head, and say, I'm not paying, I'm driving through. Typcially I may say I have no money but toll booths only take pesos so most traveling will have pesos with them. I'm more of a target because I have an American plated car - but - I'm still not going to pay. Mostly because I did not want to roll down my window with Covid happening. And, I don't want to encourage this behavior. Always they moved the barrel and dropped the rope. I also never came to a complete stop so they may have thought I reallly would hit them? No idea if this is the correct thing to do...but we made it safe and sound. Remember-guns-illegal in Mexico. And, this is typically small towns trying to get some money. Still - it feels a little movie like. An illegal toll booth. I was not dumb enough to photograph the rogue tolls!

Our next stop was Guaymas, Mexico and then a short 4.5 hour drive to border. We made it in 3.75. We cleared the Banjercito. We cleared the border and got to in-laws for dinner. And saw papi for the first time in a couple of months. Everyone was so excited. And then a few days later started the final leg to Seattle. We took the back way - through AZ-NV-OR-SE. Very few people or cars. Still hot. But we made it in one piece. Did some math on way home.

Maybe we should work on our math skills. Or, our car cleaning skills.

Notice the down jacket and insulated shirt. I had pants on too. Sweats. Wowsie - that had been a long time. But in Pendelton, Oregon it was like 46 degrees! I could barely take it. And my Father in law gifted me a pair of his newest designs - earrings. So I had to model those!

Now we are back home in Seattle. It's supposed to be 80 today. Yee-haw. We Are still unpacking and reacclimating to our rooms, our toys. American food. To mowing lawns. Weeding. Washing clothes. Cleaning house. And all that other fun stuff...Like basically I'm not on vacation anymore. Ha. It was not really an endless vacation in Mexico - there was the single parent aspect. The School aspect. The puppy having aspect. And all that other stuff - but - we got to do it in the sun. We got to do it in another Culture. With another language. We got to feel the feels of being isolated from not understanding what people were saying. Or understanding how something may work in a different Country. We got to learn new customs and ways of thinking. We got to meet new people and try many different new things. That was a blessing in these Covid times. And we did it safely and consciously. We feel lucky that Mexico welcomed us, and the Mexicans and hope that they all understand their impacts into our lives. Stats from Etta: $80 in tolls on way home 2100 miles home Salud! Until the next adventure.

Just a little drive....

Can you see the tear spots...? Starting to plan the trip home. First leg, Lo de Marcos to Marana, Arizona. Hopefully they will have some licuados for my kids, I'm not sure what they will do without them.

water play, then eat, Mexicana style

Whenever we can, or mama has the stamina for it, we go to the beach after School. I call it PE. Since the weekends are pretty busy we mostly stay away, other than a few Sunday mornings when we drove to other towns for early breakfast and wave play. Chacala and San Pancho mostly. So our newest thing we have been trying out is boogie boarding, which is pretty fun once you get the hang of. Remember when you were a kid; how you kept trying and trying. And you got rashes. And were tired, but just had to try ONE more time. Well both kids have finally made it to shore! Up on the waves and into shore. Such excitement and accomplishment.

The best part are the huge smiles. The sad part is they realize that they will never do this with the waves at the family cabin. Ha.

And, of course all that wave play makes grumpy, hungry kids. Or, maybe grumpy, hungry mama. (I did mention a beer might be in my backpack for the beach, didn't I)

Street food in Mexico is always done so right! And, our kids LOVE it! From the tacos (fish, shrimp, chicken or grilled meat), to the gringas (pastor with pina y queso quesidilla). They also love the night treats; pies or cakes by the slice. Helados. Churros. And Bionicos (yogurt and fresh fruit topped with coco and raisins and condensened milk o dulce de leche). It took us about a month plus to get out to venture due to Covid, but we now mask up, place an order and sit away from others to enjoy our treats!

Our next thing we tried; tostilocos, which translate to crazy chips. And, yep, they are crazy. Annnndddd, not my favorite. Who thought, take a bag of tostatos, add cucumber, jicama, japanese peanuts, mango, chamoy, SAUSAGES and some other stuff and call it a snack? Apparently the street vendors in Guadalajara. That was definitely a one and done. I can still barely get the taste out of my mouth...where's that beer?

Art - behold

We are so lucky to be in a Country where art is brilliant; the colors are brilliant, the pieces are brilliant and so many of the Artists are brilliant. For the last 2 months the kids have taken an embroidery class in Lo de Marcos. They have made friends, they have learned the colors and different styles and I have learned I need to do a better job of teaching one of my "students" his, ahem, their, letters.

But, we also were lucky enough to go yesterday to San Pancho (San Franscisco) and do an art project at a place called Entreamigos. This place is fabulous and is so involved in the kids and helping out. If you ever are down in the area, please stop by. Donate. Buy things. Its awesome. More importantly there are lots of art classes weekly both for adults and kids. Our Teacher, Julie, is really an art Teacher on sabbatical from the lovely NW. She also happens to be the wife of my husband's best friend growing up. So, yeah, we traveled 2300 miles to take art classes and hang out with Lorin's best childhood friend and his wife. So worth it. They are both so talented and amazing with all the kiddos! This is part of a huge display they are making. It's going to be fabulous when it's done.

And, we learned how to RECYCLE!

Car wash + addresses

If you've been to Mexico before you know that it can be dusssstttyyy. Villages, coastal or otherwise typically have habits of "watering" down the dirt roads in front of their houses daily because of this. It seemed so second nature to me until Joshua asked me the other day, "momma, why are they throwing water onto the road?". While dust not only gets into your house, it also covers your car. In steps the car washes. This Country does an exceptional job with car washes. You can grocery shop and come out and someone will have cleaned your car. No mater the size of town, there just might be a "auto llavado". I swear, you could be in the middle of nowhere and....a car wash. Like this one, off the highway, along Mex 200. It calls itself, "express"...I mean, we all have different ideas of "express". Mine might not be 45 minutes, but, whatever.

And, while there. I had entertainment. I even gave them some toys and oh my gosh, they were kinda adorable.

All in a days work. I mean really, it took almost a day. Ha.

Have you ever tried to find an address in Mexico? It's not easy. I really don't know how I found my way around this Country before without a cell phone? Or online maps? Streets are confusing at best. Halfway through the street it may even change names. Street signs are purely optional, as in, you may opt to have one every 1o streets. And the numbering....ayayaya. Here is our house, and then next door. And then next door to them. Huh! But yet, I found it.

You know your in Mexico when

a horse follows you to Town. And, the military is there, getting garrafon's of water "Uh, yea, yeah, that horse is following us Etta." Poor little Hugo. He is unsure what to think about that big ol animal following us. Though he was born next to horses so maybe he was thinking, "mama?"

Note to self, even the Military gets thirsty. Military has been in all the towns since we've been here. Lots of reasons why, mostly cartel. Note big guns. Not all have bullets.

We left Guayabitos/La Penita

Wednesday was a sad day for us. We left our lovely old, white house in the zona de residencia. No more 5pm birds in the trees. (Every day at 5 the birds go beserk in the trees around us-as in we drove up the first day around 5 and Lorin was like "holy...these birds. All day will it be like this?". Funny thing is we came to love them and good news, we knew when it was happy hour!). We left our neighbors and, equally as important, their perra's. We left our walks over the Bridge of Life. We left our OWN ROOMS. Etta had even decorated hers with a poster she made to celebrate National Womans' Day (all Latin American woman), and her lovely handmade dream catcher. We left knowing where the tienda to buy half-n-half is, or where to get plastic items from, where the best chorizo de la casa is, or our favorite juice lady, the best place to be on the beach. Where to find the fisherman selling their fish. We left our Spanish Teacher and other students; Charlotte, Heather (those were their American names as they were learning English). We will miss the Ecological area, and the Avenida Sol Nuevo where everyone walks/runs/bikes, including us with Hugo. We will miss our secret back door that leads to our path to the beach...and so much more!

Did I say our neighbors? Did I say that it's impossible to get a photo of 3 dogs, 2 of which are puppies? Our last night we had dinner on the beach to say goodbye. Ah, what pretty colors

But, we moved South, by only 15 minutes. And a time zone. Thankfully it's to a village we are familiar with. We were here 4 years ago with our friends, the Schumakers. And, the kids and I come every Friday for a class. So, we will feel happy about it. And, the lovely house has a pool. And a tire swing.

And a hammock. Maybe a ferral cat or two. It's next door to a lady, that of course know my Aunt and Uncle (I swear every time I'm in Mexico someone knows my Aunt and Uncle). We have friends in the town. We have beach play dates and an art class play date arranged. Life will be normal here in a quick second. And, I have already bought a kilo of....coffee. We are very thankful to our hosts, who are sadly in a battle of cancer, for allowing us to stay in their house. Especially as semana santa comes up...which get ready people. I may have a lot of things to share because Semana Santa....whew....