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...
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...
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