Our 5th Season Begins

Our first 7 weeks in Mazatlan 

Snow at Calgary Airport - on route to Mazatlan

We arrived in Mazatlan on November 5th.  It was very hot until the second week of December, then it started to cool down a bit.  We had 2 days of rain last week, but the sun is out and it's a balmy (and more comfortable) 29 celsius today.  Here are a few photo's to show you what we've been up to since our arrival 7 weeks ago.
   

From minus 2 at home to 'Feels Like' 44!

Margaritas go down very well in the heat

Saw this on our morning walk - Locust?

On our Dock - Scarlet King Snake
They're harmless - per this rhyme
Red touch yellow - Kills a fellow
Red touch black - venom lack
Yellow touches red - soon you'll be dead
Red touches black - friend of Jack

Drinks on the beach while watching beach volleyball

On the Bus - when it rains here, it pours!

Boat Projects 

Since we arrived Kim has been very busy with various boat projects, although the projects never get in the way of him having fun.  Our hot water tank stopped working so we ordered a new one and Kim is installing it now.  We had problems with our macerator too but he fixed that already.  Our dinghy seems to have a slow leak so he will be determining where the leak is originating, and patching it next.  He's working on various sewing projects too with his Sailrite sewing machine.  He's made new exterior covers for the front windows and has a few more covers to do.

One of the window covers Kim made

New hot water tank being installed

       

Day Trip with Friends to San Blas, Nayarit 

On December 19th we rented a van along with two other couples, Donna and Sandy, and Joanne and Andy.  Kim drove us to San Blas, in the State of Nayarit, for the day to do the Jungle Tour at La Tovara.  Kim, Douglas and I have done it twice already, but our friends had never done it.  It was a jam packed day but so much fun.  A guide took us on a boat (panga) through the estuary and mangrove swamps to a small zoo, then to a natural pool spring.  We saw amazing flora and fauna, a large variety of birds, many turtles, iguanas, and crocodiles.  I honestly could do this tour over and over again as it's so interesting and lots of fun too!  

We arrived!  Tailgate party at La Tovara

Ready to explore La Tovara

Travelling through the Estuary

Panga ride to the Zoo and natural spring

Huts built for a movie set 27 years ago
Mexican film 'Cabeza de Vaca' in 1991

Turtle

Turtle

Turtles on a log

Bird well camouflaged

Huge wingspan

Crocodile - well camouflaged

Swimming in the natural spring

Andy, Kim and Douglas having a swim

Kim and Douglas enjoying a swim

Andy, Sandy, Kim, Jan & Douglas, Joanne, Donna
Having lunch and beers together

Lunch and Beers at La Tovara Restaurant

What's next? 

We have lots of family coming this season starting with my niece and her husband on January 16th for a week, our son in early February, our daughter and 2 grandkids at the end of February, then my sister and parents arrive on March 9th for 2 weeks.  We're so happy to have family coming as we miss them all so much while we're away.  We booked our return flights and fly home on April 15th. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 

Kim, Douglas and I want to wish our family and friends a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2018.  Of course we look forward to reconnecting with you all when we arrive home in mid April.