Self-Care

     After breaking my ankle a year ago in April, I was sedentary.  I gained weight, much more than I ever wanted to, and was tired all the time.  Then I got sick and tired of being sick and tired.  When I came here three weeks ago I knew it would be a challenge to begin walking on a regular basis, let alone climbing hills and stairs.  Add the drastic change in climate and elevation, flora and fauna, and I have come to the conclusion that this is probably a much healthier situation for me personally. 
     I am no longer in an artificial environment, meaning, indoors with air conditioner, or in an automobile with air conditioner.  Nor am I in a restaurant or a store with climate control.  Being near the ocean the climate here is temperate, meaning the fluctuations in temperature are not drastic.  A 10 or 20 degree change might take place in a day, but nothing like the fluctuations in the high desert environments of Utah where a 40 degree change is normal.    The humidity here in Yelapa is high.  It's nothing like Okinawa humidity, but maybe something closer to Georgia or the Carolinas.  That being said, dehydration can still occur, especially with someone like me who spent time in a field hospital in Iraq for heat stroke. 
     I'm not trying to be instructional here, I just want to share my personal experience.  In order for me to feel good, I have to drink a lot of water, or liquid.  I try to drink something at a minimum of every half hour, and a maximum of an hour.  Water, pineapple juice, other juices, etc.  I will have a coca cola as a treat around lunch time, not every day, but every few days or so.  Soda is probably not the best thing to drink all the time.  So if you ever come here please drink a lot of fluids, and limit the alcohol.  It's not quite the "Pith Helmet Hot" that it was in Okinawa, or in the Philippines, but it's warm enough to cause dehydration very quickly.  And if you bring children, they are even more susceptible, so make them drink fluids... a lot.  Most kids don't like to drink water, I know my son didn't, but juices will work.
    Another thing I've learned along the way, not just here in Yelapa, but in other places as well, is take it slow.  Walking slower, looking around, looking down at where your stepping... here in Yelapa, everywhere here, the paths are uneven. 
    Bug repellent.  Shorts and light colored tank tops are the norm, but obviously being outdoors all the time I share the space with mosquitos and other insects.  A good repellent is in order, especially on the legs. 
    Lance has a fine water filter for the tap water here, so there's no need to haul water up the hill.  I drink at least two pitchers of water per day, plus juice.  Yesterday and today it was pineapple juice, tomorrow will be cranberry juice.  I have drunk tons of water here, including in the restaurants.  The Yelapans drink filtered or bottled water too, and the ice is filtered water, so don't panic.  I've been here three weeks and have had no problems.  I don't know of any other people who have had problems here either. 
     So far so good.  I take as much time as I need to move around.  I walk slower, I take time.  It's amazing what you observe when you take your time.  So knocking on wood, and taking all the personal precautions I can think of, I think I'm set.
     The food here is pretty amazing.  So far it's all been fresh, and I would even say it's mostly organic.  So if you come to Yelapa, eat up!  Enjoy! 

Sounds

While I was doing some of my chores today on the highest part of the hill behind Casa Arriba I kept hearing a very loud car alarm.  It was a piercing sound, and very annoying as most of you know.  Then it dawned on me, "There are no cars here!  This place is not accessible by car!"  The noise I heard was some kind of bug.  Probably a beetle of some kind... who knows?  Now I am safe within my mosquito netting preparing to turn the light out and go to sleep.  The crickets and whatever else are chirping away.  I don't hear the frogs tonight...  Today was uneventful really.  I stayed home and worked on the landscape, made supper for myself, and this evening sat in the sala and watched the cats try to catch the dragon flies that seem to appear at dusk.  I can hear the waves breaking against the rocks and the beach down below... there is distant polka-style music playing at the cantina, I can hear a dog bark every once in awhile, and an occasional mango will fall from the tree and hit the ground with a hard "Thud".  It sounds like a baseball falling from the sky and hitting the ground.  It's Sunday, and it was relatively quiet all day.  I am thankful for this opportunity, and I am so grateful to my friends who made it all happen. 

To My Readers

I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who are following my journey in Mexico.  For those of you who know me and are reading this, and aren't familiar with this blogspot, take a minute to look around and find my earlier blogs.  There are a few interesting reads.  I try to keep them as concise as possible, but sometimes my emotions win, and I end up blurting out all kinds of things... Have patience with me, and just come along for the ride.  Hopefully as you read these things you will be able to at least picture, or feel what it's like.  If you have specific questions, or you're curious about different aspects of my journey, please feel free to email me or contact me on facebook.  My email address is:  crowsoldier59@yahoo.com.  My name on facebook is Leslie Ramonas-Ortiz.  And for those of you wondering where the "Ortiz" came from, I was married in California three years ago, and changed my name legally in Davis County, Utah, two years ago. My passport and my driver's license says Ortiz, but my military records and a few other things are listed under "Ramonas"...  Hey, I'll go by anything!  I am just another "Critter" on this planet that I love...  Namaste

Getting It

Whatever "It" is, I'm beginning to get a feel for things... There is a rythem to Yelapa; it's not fast-paced, it's just a soft, mellow cadence that kind of goes along with the tides... It's hard to explain, but it's something deep inside me that feels it... One does what he has to do, but not in a frenzied hurry... It's at a natural pace, probably the way nature intended. 

I got on the boat today to go into Puerto Vallarta.  I sat there with a guy I met and we visited for a moment, then several others climbed aboard.  The Yelapa Bay is not very big.  A couple of women tourists came aboard  dressed to the nines for such a place, and began complaining about how they hoped the boat would reach Vallarta so they could catch their plane.  The skipper slowly pulled away, slowly moved toward the south part of the bay, and I saw a gringo waving from the shore.  The skipper acknowledged him and slowly turned to go back.  He picked up the gringo, and another local.  He dropped the local off on another boat that was moored in the bay.  The women behind me were beginning to get nervous about their flight, and I felt the stress I haven't felt for awhile:  "Gotta get there, gotta get there now!"

The skipper made another stop on the beach, and a guy waved as if to say, "Hey, hold on a minute!  I'm coming!"  We waited a few more minutes for him to make it down from a house to the beach.  Then we casually made our way to the center part of the beach where a few more were waiting.  As they boarded the tourists behind me were getting nervous and frustrated saying:  "If we would have known we could have booked a later flight," etc.  So we casually made our way to the other pier across the way and picked up a couple more.  That took a few minutes... Even I thought we were finished and would be headed for Vallarta, but no, the skipper turned the boat around and picked up yet another couple of locals at the original pier.  We once again slowly made our way through the bay in between many other boats moored.  The skipper stopped at one boat and a local passenger got off onto the other boat.  Then we made our way to another one and a local got off on that boat.  So needless to say we spent at least thirty minutes in the bay assisting others with their Yelapa transportation needs... The women behind me were frustrated and continued to complain.  We finally lit out on our way to Vallarta with a full boat.  I counted about 24 people total, and the boat bogged and tried hard to push through the water.  We followed the coastline and stopped at another beach and let one guy off, then headed out again.  Once we got to Boca T., about halfway, most of the passengers got off so that they could take the cheaper bus into Vallarta.  Now the boat could move, and without incident we made it.  I couldn't hear the women complaining anymore because of the noise of the wind and the motor.  I got off the boat in Vallarta, got wet up to my rear end because of a rogue wave, and made my way to a beachside restaurant to get breakfast.  I cleaned off my sandals of the sand and salt in the ladies restroom and had a pleasant late breakfast of huevos rancheros... most excellent!  I made my way to an ATM to get some cash because I just got paid, and asked around for the Pharmacia Guadalajara.  I took about an 8-block stroll and got what I needed and headed back.  Without incident I made my way back "Home".  I was very happy to exist without a plane ticket, without a specific time to be somewhere... I flowed with the natural rythem that is Yelapa.  I am liking it very much.  While bugs and critters abound, I find myself in harmony with them, the plant life, and all that surrounds me... I showered and slipped into my white Mexican sun dress, and felt one with the rythem of Yelapa... Tomorrow I will feed the wonderful cats, water all the plants I can find, and then maybe go to town... if I feel like it.  After Iraq, this is bliss...

My Frog

I have come to embrace the wildlife here... well, at least most of it.  Tonight, after a short journey to get a bite to eat at April and Jose's place, I came home and sat in the sala to watch the sunset.  I had a glass of water by my side, and a bee of some kind, not a honey bee, kept flying around the glass.  I would shoo it away but it continued.  So I thought, "Well, maybe the thing is thirsty, and if it gets a drink, maybe it will just go away".  I didn't feel like getting up and having a war with a damn bee.  So sure enough I left the thing alone.  It wandered down into my plastic cup, got a drink, and then flew off to who knows where.  As the sun went down, nearly completely dark, I saw something by my lounge chair near the foot... it was a very large bull frog.  I started talking to it as if it were a cat, or a dog:  "Hello frog.  Why don't you go in my room and eat some bugs."  I know you won't believe this, but the thing turned and hopped into my room.  I am just hoping he ate some bugs.  Now he is back out here on the sala with me... a curious creature...  I like any animal that eats the bugs that want to eat me!  Frogs Rock!

Where to begin!

     So much to talk about, but where to start?  How about the weather?  Well, the majority of the time it has been very warm.  When there is a breeze off the ocean it's comfortable, but when the breeze dies down it can get pretty hot and muggy.  The remedy is cold lemonade and a fan...
     I am beginning to get to know a few people here, and my Spanish, although limited, is improving.  The people here, so far, are wonderful.  I was fortuate enough to receive two wonderful friends, Tami, and her son Sam.  Tami's hubby, and dear friend of mine, Dennis, was unable to come.  Dennis and Tami and Sam have been coming here for years, and young Sam has grown up coming here.  He has grown up with several of the Yelapan boys here, and I'm sure that every time he comes and goes, they miss him... and I know he misses them.  Tami and Sam introduced me to several of the restaurants and many of the local natives they know here.  They fully embrace the culture, a beautiful one at that, and are enthusiastic about exploring every nook and cranny of Yelapa.  Thank you Tami and Sam for everything!  I love you guys!  And Dennis, if you read this, I missed you! Your family rocks!
     While Tami and Sam were here we had one very interesting morning:  while in a dead sleep I was awakened by a loud screaming noise.  It sounded as if it were right next to me!  "What in the world?", I thought.  When I awoke I understood that it was either a burro or a horse.  Then I heard Tami laughing somewhere in the house.  I laughed a little and zonked back out again.  When I got out of bed, Tami and Sam said that about six horses had come from the hill behind the house and had come into the house and made their way down below to the mango tree.  What I had heard was a very loud whinny.  Sam said he thought one horse was right by my bedroom... poor thing was probably stuck in the house and didn't know the way out!  They wanted the mangos I guess.  I don't know how none of them broke a leg.  It's quite the drop off... I guess they used the stairs!  If I lived in Yelapa I would have a burro or a horse.  They are invaluable here.  I posted several photos on facebook today... I hope you check there to take a peek. 


    

First Week...

I had a little trouble at the airport in Salt Lake City because they couldn't find my ticket.  I had to pull out my lap top, try to get connected (you would have thought it was easy, but it took quite awhile), and then pull up the information on the email.  Once I was able to do that and show the airline rep, he realized that my ticket was booked under my old last name... my new passport had my new name.  When I applied for my new passport (because I couldn't find my old one) I applied at the Davis County Courthouse who originally did my name change from Ramonas to Ortiz.  Needless to say, and of course, my name is legally Ortiz, therefore my new passport came back that way...  I had forgotten that when I got my plane ticket way back when I used Ramonas.  Aye Dios mio.

So I made my flight, landed and met Susana who was standing behind the glass with a giant sign that said: "LESLIE".  I was off and running.  People here who I met were surprised that all I had was a backpack and a laptop.  Six months?  Heck yeah!

So now I am here, Lance has gone to New York, and I am taking care of his beautiful Casa Arriba...
Yesterday was my first real excursion anywhere... I went back to Puerto Vallarta (PV) for some supplies.  I needed a few things that I can't really get here (Nicotine gum, decent sponges, a 3-pronged extension cord, a good pocket knife, etc). 

Luis told me I could meet the PV water taxi at 1030 at the Puebla pier, so I took off around 9:45 yesterday morning.  I finally got to the pier around 1010 and waited only a few minutes before the water taxi pulled up.  I got on, and we rode over to the beach where a handsome young Mexican man lifted a pretty young blond girl, about 23, into the boat to help prevent her feet from getting wet.  She sat next to me and I asked her where she got such a nice guy.  She immediately smiled and said he was her boyfriend.  We struck up a conversation, her name is Kristina, and I think she is from Washington State.  She lives in PV with her boyfriend's mom.  We eventually exchanged email addresses.  I found it odd that the boat was hugging the shore line as we made our way north.  It stopped at a couple of beaches, and eventually ended at Boca T.  Hmmm... everyone except me got off the boat.  A guy asked me if I was planning on going to "Vallarta" and I said yes, and asked if the boat was going there.  He told me no, that the next boat wasn't going to PV until 3PM.  Crap.  So I caught up with Kristina , we hiked up a really steep hill, and I was huffing and puffing the whole way.  We caught the bus for seven pesos (about sixty-seven cents), and drove north.  The bus stopped along the way at various stops for several additional passengers.  One older guy got on about ten minutes out of PV.  I thought it was odd.  He was carrying a small boom box and was holding it to his chest with the speakers facing out.  He was about seven or eight feet away from me.  He cranked on the boom box and this delightful Mexican music came on... It was instrumental.  I thought the guy was just on the bus and was kind of quirky, and was just listening to his music for entertainment while he rode into PV.  Haha!  The guy starts belting out a song... like Karaoke, only he sang pretty darn good.  After the song was finished he went around asking for tips.  I didn't give him anything.  Maybe next time.  There's always someone to tip.

So I got into PV and made my way to the restaurant where I was to meet Susana.  Kristina walked with me and showed me how to get there, and I introduced the two.  Susana was very gracious and gave Kristina a ride home.  Susana and I had plans to shop for my supplies, and I wanted to buy her lunch.  We went to Costco, Walmart, and Pharmacia Guadelajara...  By the way, the stores are almost identical to those in the states, so if you ever come here you'll be able to find what you need, and what you know.  Oh, and by the way, it is appropriate to tip the baggers... I think that's all they get paid.  Ten pesos is plenty.  Thanks to Susana for telling me that.

Our next thing on the agenda was lunch... OH MY Goodness!  What an extraordinary taco stand!  (By the way this is not in the tourist area... it's deeper into town).  A woman was literally making the corn tortillas for the tacos one by one... I had camarones (shrimp) tacos... The most exquisite shrimp tacos I've ever had!  The place was clean, the women were nice, and the food was to die for.  I am going to have to find that place again! 

After lunch Susana dropped me off near the boat landing, and low and behold there stood my new friend, Claudia, a large bag of dog food, and another bag in tow.  We made our way to the little restaurant by the landing (I call it a landing because there is no more pier... they are building a new one, and you must board the boat from the beach).  We sat down in the restaurant and I ordered a cold Modelo, and Claudia ordered guacamole... the best ever, and a lemonade.  Then up walked Judith, a woman I have heard about, my neighbor actually, but whom I've never met.  Both were very happy-go-lucky, lovely women.  Judith's place is the Sky Temple... a yoga studio up on the hill just south of me...  I will learn more about that as time goes on.

We made our way onto the boat, and on to Yelapa.  My pack weighed about fifty-five or sixty pounds, and of course I thought I was going to die hiking up the hills.  And when I finally made it to the notorious steps at Casa Arriba... I stopped... breathed, listened to my heart try to pound its way out of my chest, and then trudged on.  I stopped about four times coming up.  I am hoping I can get to the point where I can charge up the steps without too much effort.  I was soaking wet with sweat when I arrived home.  Luis, Susana's husband, was here waiting for me; he was watching the place until I returned.  I left a puddle of sweat droplets on the tile, and flung my backpack onto the table.  I chatted with Luis, and then he left for the evening.  After a shower, and some cold lemonade, I planted myself in the sala on the lounge chair. 

It was a beautiful sunset, and almost dark.  I was watching the cats come and go, and then Blue, one of the five, has something long and wiggling in his mouth and he comes within about ten feet of me with it, looking at me, and then at the thing in his mouth... it's a small snake, and Blue is putting it down, picking it up, batting it around, while the thing is trying to get away.  But Blue didn't let it get away, he just kept playing with it.  Me and the other four cats, from a safe distance of course, were all curious and we watched Blue and the snake.  They made their way into the kitchen.  I think the funniest part of this whole thing was the fact that I, and four other cats, stood watching as if we were an audience, and Blue was performing some risky act to entertain us.  We watched for ten minutes or more, and the snake made its way underneath a ratan rug... But Blue was brave and lifted the rug and picked up the snake and brought it out for us to see again.  He continued playing with it until he bit it and I could hear the bones crunching... ah, he was going to kill it. The snake wouldn't wiggle much anymore; he was moving in slow motion, so Blue lost interest.  What really cracked me up was after Blue left, Max approached the snake with great caution... he reached out slowly at tapped the tail of the snake with his paw... the thing moved a little... and Max jumped back.  I laughed outloud and Max looked up at me as if to say, "Hey, I don't see you doing this, ya big chicken!"  So I praised Max for being very brave... and so the night went. 

This morning the snake was in the place Max had left it, and strangely there was a dead geko near.  One of its legs was torn off.  I am assuming that some time in the night one of the cats, maybe Brave Max, brought in a geko to prove he could do it too.

I'm Here!

Whew!  I made it!  Just a short blog today to say that overall my trip has been great!  There were a few bumps along the way, (I will explain later), but overall things went well.  I will write more later when I am settled.  I will say here and now that Yelapa is absolutely gorgeous.  I don't know if there are enough adjectives to describe it properly, but I will try over time... Here are a few:  Enchanting, Rustic, Alive, Friendly, Magical, Beautiful, Natural, Flowing, Living, Flourishing, Earthy, Vast, Taxing, Manual, Physical, Real, Organic, Diverse, Humble, Exotic, Moist, Varied, Hilly, Mountainous, Endearing, Pleasant, Old, Gracious, Respectful, Fluid, Moving...

So I will leave it there for now.  A mango just fell from the tree and scared me.  It hit the floor of the Sala, then rolled toward me... I guess that's one I will save to eat!  More later!

Hello All!

I'm sorry I haven't written the last several days... I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to my property in northern California to camp, visit, and enjoy the gorgeous surroundings.  There is no place on earth more beautiful than the Pacific Northwest, and I have a small piece of it.  I have been to the Swiss Alps, the Colorado Rockies, Maine, and every state within the United States, and I have come to the conclusion that the Pacific Northwest is hands-down the most picturesque, friendly, and wild-life filled-region in the lower 48.  (For you non-US citizens reading this, the lower 48 means all of the states except for Alaska and Hawaii.) 

I only have two medical appointments with the VA, get a prescription filled, tie up a few loose ends here at home, and then I am off on Friday!  Please stay in touch!  I love to hear from people... everyone!  So don't hesitate to contact me!  You can email me at:  crowsoldier59@yahoo.com, or Facebook Message me.  I will, or should have, Internet service, so please don't hesitate to stay in touch and let me know how you're doing.  I will be thrilled to communicate with all of you!  I wish all of you could come visit!  I am so excited!  I only temper my excitement with the fact that I will miss home and all that goes with it... friends, my pets, English television, etc...  Other than that, it's where I hang my hat that I call home.  Love you all, and hope to hear from each and every one of you very soon!  Please forgive me for not getting back to you immediately, but I will do my best!  Hugs!
Leslie