Throw, Row, Tow, Go

At least that was our motto when I became a Senior Lifeguard at our Mercer Island Beach Club. It only came to mind but in this case none of it applied. The La Aurora Water Park is a great place to spend the day except that they have absolutely no security. No one to calm the teenagers down when they start acting crazy and no one to watch small kids that can't touch bottom.

I had just walked up to the Tobogan pool where all the bodies get dumped from two large slides and at the far end noticed a very young girl, maybe 4, swimming with water wings. That was amazing enough but the next thing I know she took off the wings and pushed off the ladder to the middle of the pool. She soon discovered she could kinda stay afloat but couldn't move back to the ladder. Just as she started to panic I jumped in and walked her over to the ladder. Nobody noticed including the 6 year boy she was playing with. Of course you don't get a thank you from a 4 year old and I'm not sure she even fully realized what just happened. Back on went the water wings and she was in again. I explained the situation to an older sister who was sitting at the "family" table but I never saw their parents.

Our story for the day was we found a nice place in the shade, a big bowl of ceviche de camaron, cubeta of Estrella and lots of playing with the kids. Nahima (3 years) was first afraid of the kiddy pool but an hour later was in every pool with help of sister or mom. Yari (10 years) is very cautious and couldn't be talked into going down the big water slides even when some girl friends were doing it. First time for them and I haven't been in a few years. Nahima's comment at the end of the day was -- "No mas playa, toboganes mejor".

Kiddy pool from our table

Kids and new found friends

Kids water slides

Pool at the bottom of the big slides

No water park today

Well that was our plan until the thunder, lightening and rain came about 9 this morning.  It was going to be a relief from the heat and a first time for the neighbor kids.   We have one more week of school vacation along with next weekend so we'll see.  The kids really should experience the water park La Aurora on the road to Barra de Navidad and any Sunday will work.

My dog was curled up outside my bedroom door and I remembered that the thunder scares her so I opened up the bodega where she spent the last couple  of hours.   It's calmed down now but still don't think we'll see the sun today with that big red blob on the weather radar.   Sure is fresh and cool after the rain.

I think it's a good day to cook something different

Santa Maria del Oro - Jalisco - Lost in Mexico

Take a wrong turn in Mexico with a terrible map and this is what you might run into. Santa Maria del Oro - in the southern section of Jalisco. I was headed from Mazamitla in Jalisco to Los Reyes in Michoacan.

A number of friends were looking for the route I followed on good maps but nothing really close was found. This government web site had the best info and also shows that Santa Maria was recently called Manuel M. Diéguez.

El municipio de Santa María del Oro

Valle de Juárez in Jalisco (near Mazamitla) is where I started on my way to Los Reyes in Michoacan - thinking there was a decent road between the two. Actually I had a lousy map and was totally lost. Anyway, up and over the mountains I went on a paved but very steep and winding road. As I came down the other side I saw my first view of Santa Maria del Oro - which is essentially the end of the road. Santa Maria is just about the friendliest town I've run into in Mexico. The first night I was invited to a fiesta of nearly 100 people (primary school graduation) and the second night invited to dinner with a young family (the horseman below).

There were lots of little pueblos, ranchitos and farms beyond Santa Maria that I didn´t take pictures of because I didn´t want to be driving in the dark and I hadn't made contact with the locals. Taking fotos of small places that you zoom thru is like eating and running


My first view of Santa Maria as I came down the mountain.


The main street thru town is mostly one direction at a time. There are very few side streets in this little hillside town of a few 1000 people.


Looking down on almost half the town.


The local corner hangout for Coke, beer and important small talk. The guy on the horse invited me home with him for dinner with wife and baby.


Another supposedly 'end of road' town - La Aurora - but I pressed on


One of the two major bridges I crossed and a little of the road I traveled behind and to the left.


This is the valley-gorge that was crossed by the second bridge.

After many ranchitos, pueblocitos, rough roads and some close calls - I finally came in the back way to Los Reyes. A great and kinda crazy experience. I'm sure if someone else was with me I would have been talked out of it.

A Few more fotos on my Web Site