UMTravels

I wish that was how I could describe my time in Yelapa, but that would not be correct. Two pumps and a quiver is how BamBam describes the stallion’s portion of horse sex. I’m not sure why I like that phrase so much, but I wanted to remember it here today.

Today’s shot is a pantographic shot that I stitched together this afternoon while BamBam was doing watercolors and HummingBird was on the couch reading:

The shot is from our deck. To get to the beach you walk down the hill into town, then walk up the hill to the right, then back down the other side, and then ford a river to the beach.

I’m getting my exercise – we have been doing the beach every other day. Today’s exercise was a walk to the waterfalls closest to town – and definitely the town tourist trap – with all the day boats from Puerto Vallarta unloading their charges and marching them up the hill lined with booths selling this, that, and any other thing. Most of the stuff is traditional tourist stuff that was brought over from Puerto Vallarta – though there was a nice rosewood carver that was offering a shot of the local moonshine with any purchase.

On this, my last full day in Yelapa, my impressions …

• Noisy – not a quiet life any time of the day or night. Roosters & ranchera (ranch music) bouncing off concrete buildings at all hours
• Everything comes in my small boat – no roads at all – groceries, bags of concrete, beer, everything but some of the fruits from the jungle
• There is now power here, and internet access, unlike when Hummingbird started coming here twenty years ago
• Like any small town, everyone knows everyone’s business (like Lopez Island)
• Many hills, many steps, much donkey poo to dodge – but I’m getting a workout
• Ethnically, I think Yelapa is Mexican, Canadian, and then followed by the Americans – at least in the winter
• Whereas it’s nice to visit, I still like Seattle better
• Trash everywhere – but that is getting better with collection bags hung on all the major trails
• Compost tends to go out the window or over the ledge to feed all the feral beasts
• I’m not the type to go someplace for months at a time
• Huge amounts of feral dogs and cats – PLUS those that are kept as pets. One of the locals was recommending just scooping up all the cats and drowning them
• And finally, my general ambivalence about Mexico in general – just the sketchy nature of life down here

That said, I can’t think of a nicer place to visit if you don’t mind everybody living on top of one another on the hillside. For me, it hasn’t been about the destino (destination) but the company. The boys have a very nice life down here, and are generous to make the space available. Though I have to say, rereading the bullet list above doesn’t make it sound that it’s a great place to visit. The food is great, the people that I’ve met are great, I just don’t think I’ve got that snowbird mentality.

Who knows – the boys are here until March 2^nd, so I might return if they’d have me.

Last night was taco night at one of the restaurant so we actually ate out. Tonight is camarones (shrimp) and pasta with a side of Cole Slaw… and if I have the energy, fire dancing and flan down the hill at the Eclipse.

Tomorrow is the 10 or 11am boat to back to Puerto Vallarta to wing my way home.