Here they come

The crowds are arriving in buses and cars with luggage strapped to the top. Just a short trip into Melaque this morning and already "ran into" two cars trying to go the wrong way on a one-way street. Went to the bank at 10:30 and there was nobody at the ATM. Yesterday was the last day of school so no more being a bus driver for almost two months. The beaches are probably not full yet because it's early.   Oh, did I say today is the first day of Semana Santa 

My desktop is still in the shop so am learning how to do this on my laptop with Windows 7. Hopefully will get the old computer back but it's old and you never know.  Actually had to call my bank yesterday because the password on this computer and the old one were not the same. They changed the website software to "digital banking" and it totally did not like me until this very nice woman fixed me up. She cut through all the crap I was being subjected to before. A forty minute call to Seattle cost about 30 pesos ($2,15 in dollars), What a relief. 

A busy 3 weeks ahead

Carnaval rides

Castillo

The San Patricio - Saint Patricks week long celebration is supposed to start 10 days before Saint Patricks Day ..... and that would mean it starts tomorrow the 7th. Then we have the last day of school on Friday to start the Semana Santa vacation and that is for two weeks.

The carnival rides are set up in their usual place and I assume are open this weekend but I haven't been downtown at night. I'm not sure when is the big final Castillo night .... and there might be one almost every night. In the past, most of the surrounding communities will take their turns building the Castillo structure so there is lots of variety. After the San Patricio party, Melaque will be flooded with Semana Santa vacationers. I suggest getting all your important business taken care of before the craziness. 

A day on the beach in Barra de Navidad

Big waves and GeoTubes

It seems the whole west coast is being pounded with big surf. Surfers love it here and in famous places like Puerto Escondido. The beach and vacationers ... not so much. Most of the many visiting Barra for Semana Santa favor the lagoon side of the Malecon because there are no waves. Much safer for weak swimmers and little kids.

I wasn't aware of the 5-6 new GeoTubes they have installed. 3 or 4 more parallel to the beach out several hundred feet and 2 perpendicular but on the beach. I believe the perpendicular ones were meant to stop sand moving down the beach toward Melaque but the one below has had unexpected consequences. It has channeled the waves directly at the built up beach behind and laid bare the stone "breakwater".

After spending too much time walking the beach and Malecon looking at the surf and the Semana crowd it was time for some shade, a beer and something to eat. Our usual place is Nacho's who have Estrella and Pacifico and a very nice shrimp brocheta which is nothing like Italian bruschetta. It's simply shrimp and veggies on a stick. I usually don't like most Mexican rice but theirs is dry and very tasty. Picked up a kilo of shrimp at the local seafood store and will enjoy over the next week unless neighbors find out I have them ;)

Turbulence behind the GeoTube

Rocks laid bare

From the Malecon - new GeoTube

Up to 10 surfers out at one point (sorry, no zoom)

Nacho's with waiter Paco

Now you're alone

That was a parting remark from my Canadian neighbor the day before they headed for the airport and the flight back north.  She's the same one that refuses to think in pesos for the 5 months they are here.   It is a fact that all the "gringos" are gone from our community but I still have a bunch of good neighbors.  

Burro

I didn't catch Burro in a way to show off his ears best but this is pretty good.   As he hangs out the car window he gets lots of oohhs and aahs like something never seen before.   Burro is my neighbors dog and his first name was murcielago (bat) but Nahima couldn't pronounce it so Burro it is.   A short quick name is better for a dog.

The Internet was off and on over the last week but really not that bad.  I just had nothing to say which can be a good thing.   Going back to school shopping, trying to get CFE here to clear the neighbors tree off my power lines and catching up with things not done because too many people in town.  Semana Santa vacation is just about over and we survived it.  

We've not had a totally clear day for over two weeks and the humidity has gone way up.   The ocean temperature has gone up as well.  No signs of rain here but the highlands are getting some earlier than normal.   Year of El Nino with signs this early ..... I don't know.   I just have a feeling.

Semana Santa steals the Internet

The huge influx of people to our small vacation town has overwhelmed Telcel to the point that trying to stay on the Internet via a Cellular Modem is all but impossible.  I may reappear next week when things calm down.   That goes for email as well.   Have a good one you all !!

Fiesta San Patricio

Fiesta San Patricio officially started a few days ago and we went the first day because the kids wanted to go on the rides and we wanted to see what was new. The only thing really new is the carnival equipment is newer, larger and more expensive this year. It even spills into the adjoining street behind OXXO. Fiesta San Patricio lasts about 10-12 days but the carnival rides will be here through Semana Santa.

We parked on the corner of the plaza early and after 3 hours the car was in the middle of a traffic and people jam.   Decided to make our escape early before we were totally trapped.  We'll go again tomorrow night to see the castillo fireworks between 11 and 12.   Thursdays usually have less people and we'll park by the highway to avoid traffic.

Big Ferris Wheel (Noria ?)

Little Ferris Wheel

The crowd in the plaza

Another Semana Santa

I'm using an older foto for this because I'm staying away from the beach this weekend.   It's nice to watch all the fun being had but very crowded.   Ron and Bill are back up into the highlands and not sure if neighbors have anything planned.  I'm also waiting for Monday or Tuesday for a mechanic to check my noisy brakes.  Yesterday the horn that hasn't worked since the Jova flood went off twice by itself so the battery is disconnected.   I couldn't find the actual horns to pull a wire or two.   So happy Easter to all and I'll just be working around the house.

Melaque West beach crowds

Melaque Summer Vacation

This summer vacation is turning out to be one of the best here in Melaque. The tourists have been coming in numbers that rival Semana Santa (Easter Week) which is usually the biggest beach vacation time. All the beach restaurants were full even with extra tables out. Cars were double parked and we ended up 2 blocks away which never happens here. Since we brought our own food we just rented a table not in front of a restaurant which normally goes for 50-60 pesos. This weekend he wanted 130 pesos. We called a local Deposito (beer vendor) who delivers on a scooter and he brought 2 cases of iced Estrella. Lots of people having fun, cooling off and great for the local economy.

Looking toward central Melaque

Looking toward the malecon

Waves were large most of the day

Semana Santa is here

My neighbors always advise me to park my car in the garage but I park it on the street half up the curb. Not these two weeks with all the crazy out-of-towners. 4 wheel ATV's running around at top speed, nobody pays attention to one-way streets, buses find themselves on streets too small to maneuver, people park on both sides of the street giving almost no room. And then there are drunks. Last year someone ran his car up the telephone pole support cable on one side of my house - that still lies there. And the holidays attract theives as people have their guards down.

I'm more or less in hibernation mode and the Sunday trips to the beach with the kids is on hold as well. Prices go up, can't get service and no way can you find a table after 10am. I know Melaque needs the business .... so I'll just wait it out and not complain

Semana Santa in Melaque, Mexico

Semana Santa en Melaque

The kids have been out of school for a week now and a few days I've become the babysitter including cleaning up, butt wiping, clothes changer and chauffeur. We went to the Saint Patrick's festival for fireworks and carnival, watched cartoons, played computer games .... and went to the airport to pickup Ron and Dora. Kids hadn't been to an airport before.

So Ron and Dora are here and 3 of their family from San Luis Potosi and the house is full, the streets are full and the beaches are full. We had everybody over for asada (bar-b-que) yesterday. We are considering a waterpark outing because it's impossible to get a table in a beach restaurant unless you grab it like 9am

Ron putting it on the Barbie


Kids table


Hot dog


Semana Santa crowds and this is the unpopular end of the beach due to wave size