© Tara A. Spears

One of the ubiquitous signs of the Christmas season is the vivid scarlet of the poinsettia plants that appear in malls, churches, homes and offices in December. Its shape appears in tablecloths and wrapping paper, silk flowers, and seasonal jewelry. This indigenous Mexican plant quickly garnered world-wide popularity and comes with a charming legend that explains how the poinsettia came to be a symbol of Christmas spirit.

The legend of the poinsettia tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas, but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing.
One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course they were teased by other children when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico and a horticulturist who started cultivating the stunning plant. Over the intervening years, poinsettias have been hybridized to include a range of colors from salmon to white to bi-colored that have become traditional Christmas decorations throughout the world. In any region that does not have winter frost temperatures, the poinsettia plant will become a perennial shrub whether kept in a pot or planted in the ground. However, it is difficult to grow in the sweltering coastal Riviera Nayarit area due to the high night temperatures. The plant is readily available at the tianguis Monday and Thursday markets, local plant nurseries, and from street vendors.

Back In Canada

Afer two months in Rincon de Guayabitos we are back in British Columbia for Christmas and visit a with family and friends. We will be going to Kamloops, BC for Christmas at Dar's bother and sister-inlaws. We are going by train on Via Rail http://www.viarail.ca and taking Dar's Dad with us.

During our time in Mexico, we were quite busy for a couple of retired people. Dar spent some time helping our Mexican friends learn, while Dar herself learnt quite a bit of Spanish herself. She has come along way and can now read and carry a conversation in Spanish. I am very happy with her progress. For me,not much, but the basic words.
(Darlene doesn't think she can carry a conversation).
I found a group of gringos, four winter residents like me, and two who live in the area year round who all ride big bikes. We have enjoyed some very good rides in and around the State of Nayarit and some nice country and great roads. We also enjoy a real good lunch on each of our rides.

We will be returning to Mexico on January 11, 2011 and spending more time in Guayabitos until our planned trip to Cancun, by motorcycle in Febuary.

November 8, 2010 Finally a New Post

Here it is November 8, 2010 and we haven't done a Post, well actually me, as Dar said it was my turn and she wasn't going to do one.

All is really great here, we are having a ball. We have been extremly busy with visiting so many of our "new" friends and reaquanting ourselves with the "old" ones. I have been here 2 weeks and tomorrow will be 3 weeks. I have already been to five soccer games, drank 10 gallons of cervaza, 3 feista parties 2 birthday parties and one lunch of "special" Chicken Soup. (Wow,is that good) We have gotten all the good gossip caught up and also Dar has started her Spanish lessons. She is also teaching a local family some English. (every Thursday). I am also getting quite abit out of it and being able to use more and more Spanish Words. Oh yea, did I mention , I have had my share of cervaza, it goes down just like water. We all know that we shouldn't drink the water here, so, drink cervza instead, its good for you.

I got here (Guayobotis Mexico) mid afternoon, October 23. After a somewhat eventful ride. Left Birch Bay on Wednesday October 13, after a late start in the Day. Had more things to do in winterizing the R.V. than I thought. But I did leave under clear sky's and made it to Woodburn OR, just north of Salam. My luck, leaving so late, I made to Seattle just in time for the heavest of "rush hour" traffic. Not bad, just under 500 kms. for the day.

Left early next morn, but too cold, so after 45 minutes on road had too stop, have coffee and wait to 10:30 for fog to lift and get some warmth. By mid day I was through Roseburg and had to "greas up", as was very warm and didn't want to get sun burnt. All was going well until just south of Shasta Lake City, CA a bird hit the bike windshield. Can'nt say for sure what kind of bird, but a Eagle or Red Tailed Hawk, whatever it was, it was big. Smashed the windshield, creaked and scrached the right hand side of bike fairing and knocked my DOT helmet, right sideways on my head. I was probably doing close to 100/105 kms at the time I also got a mouth full of bird guts and feathers. The thing damm near "knocked" me out. Luck was with me at that moment, that I did not lose control of bike. Didn't feel like mush after that, so got to Redding CA, got hotel room and phoned my Insurance. Such do like my Insurance Co." Meagson Fitzpatrick (Victoria BC), they say " make sure bike is roadworthy, get new windshield and new helmet. All on my statement of event, without the use of a insurance ajustor.

October 15, 2010. New windshield, new helmet in Redding CA. and back on the road. As I only made 665 kms. yesterday, will have to made some up today. Had lunch in Stockston and back on the road, made over 800 kms today, so was good day. Stayed night in little town of Santa Nella,CA. Home of the "Best Pea Soup in America" Soup was good, bed was lousy, but slept not bad as I was quite tired.

Left around 7:30 am. and the ride was great, weather was just right for riding. All was good until I got to the top of the Grapevine, north of Los Angles. The closer I rode to LA, the colder it got. By the time I got into LA I had my leather jacked on and zipped up. Thank heavens for GPS, made it through the nighmare and out the other side. Made it to Blythe CA for the night, Just under 800 kms today.

Left motel 6:30 am and off to find good cup of coffee at Starbucks. Checked out Facebook, added a few comments. Riding by 7:00 am, sunrise was gorgas and very little trafic on I-10, so made good milage. Made 180 kms in hou rand fifty minutes, stoped for pee break at rest stop and then it all happened. I had lost my bike keys somewhere between Blythe and here. So when I had turned the bike off, it wouldn't start again without security fob. Didn't know how to break security code, so caled "Good Sam" snd has hook come and take me and bike to Arrowhead Harly Davidson in Phoenix AZ. They showed me how to break code, but would have to wait in Phoenix for 21/2 days,until Dar passed through on her way to Mexico. I had extra set of keys at homeand would have had to wait 10-14 days to get new set of keys from HD, Milwaukiee,WI. While waiting I had Bike serviced, new tires and replace intake seals, which resolved my stalling problem. That took a day, but couldn't go see much of Phoenix as I had very little gas in gas tank and needed keys to open gas tank lid. Oh well, Ineeded the rest. While in Phoenix I got to meet up with a long time ex work associate, Jan C. and have dinner with her. We caught on old times and what has happened in to last 2 years, when she and her husband moved to Phoenix. Good dinner and good laughs, really enjoyed.

Dar got to Phoenix on October 20, a day late (thats another story). Got keys from Dar as she changed planes, and on the road again. Made it to Nogales AZ, for the night. I wanted to cross the Mexican boarder first thing in the morning.

October 21, crossed into Nogales Mexico, got visitors visa and found out that you get moto-
cycle temporary import permit at Inspection Office 50 kms into Mexico. Had a few problems with communication at inspection office, but after 11/2 hours finally got approval (they didn't like my copy of registration papers, wanted orginal papers) Paid my "import" fees,440 peso ((approx $37.00 CAN), got stamp of approval to have Motocycle in Mexico for up to 180 days and on my way. Ah, they say, MEXICO, what a beautiful country. The roads are great, I stayed on D-15 all the way to Tepic, Nayarit. Its a "toll highway" and the toll fees from Nogales to Tepic were 870 peso(approx $74.00 CAN) All fees are the same for automoble as for a motocycle. Stayed fist night in Oberegon, Sinaloa, MX,545 kms for the day and second night in Villa Obion, Sinaloa, MX (just ouside Mazatlan) and 570 kms. for the day. I left AT 6:30 am in the morning, on my way to Tepic and Guayabitos, Nayarit, 1480 kms, from the USA boader. Throughout my time in Mexico, I found the people extremly helpful and courtious at all of the gas stations, hotels and places to eat, from taco stand to resturant. They were more helpful in their service and making sure I understood the cost of the service and in counting out the change for the product. I would reccomend travel to anyone, just watch your self and know where you are at.

Getting Ready to GO!

OK, Brad is leaving in 16 days on the Bike and I am 1 week later on the plane. Getting excited and so looking forward to Mexico again. I love that it's so laid back and slower place. Going a lot earlier this year so we will probably get a bit of rain for the first bit we are there. We are used to the rain and it will be much warmer than here.
Anyone who wants to come visit...
Bahia Pacific Hotels y Bungalows
Ave Sol Nuevo # 152
Rincon de Guayabitos
Mexico
is where we stay. Or there is an all inclusive right across the street from us, Decameron Hotel.
We will be gone aprox. the last three weeks of February, traveling across to Cancun on our bike to see my niece get married. Then back to Guayabitos.
Hope some of you come and see us, and see why we love it there so much!
I will try to blog. Really I will try to blog.
Love to all!!!!
PS We will be back for Christmas, see some of you then!

Holiday

Ok, we are finally leaving after a minor set back for our Holiday to Summerland, Rock Creek and Grand Forks. We should still be back just after the begining of June, and I think we are going to Birch Bay again for two or three weeks. Then back to Canada for the summer. Will try to post on the trip if we have Internet and time. Can't wait to see all my friends from the Legion haven't seen them in quite awhile. See you all soon!

Long time

OK I just can't keep up on the Blogging. It was originally for Brad to do but he dropped it a long time ago.
Been back from Mexico for about a month now and we really miss it and all our friends there.
Nice to see Dad, he is doing fine. We are in Birch Bay until the middle of May then off to Okanagan & Rock Creek to visit friends. Should be back around the begining of June.
We are thinking of going to Mexico in November this year, we will drive the truck with the bike to Phoenix AZ then I will fly with the luggage to PV and get Alejandro to pick me up. Brad will ride the bike down to Guayabitos so we have transportation while we are there. In December we will fly back to spend Christmas with my Dad then back to Guayabitos in January. February off to somewhere around Cancun on the bike for a wedding, then back to Guayabitos till end of March. Also some side trips in between. That's the plan anyway, we'll have to see how things go.
Should be fairly close to the lower mainland this summer, so hopefully we will see all our friends here more than we have recently.
See you soon,
Darlene (Charlie)
Brad (Bad)

March 7th & 8th 2010

On Sunday we again went to Cedros Futbol but Alejandro had to work first and we only saw the last 10 minutes or so of the game.
Then it was off to La Penita to watch the Championship for a different league. Bimbos (bread company) against the Pinturas (Painters). Pinturas won, it was a good game!










Next day we left at 6:45am to go to Santa Maria del Oro and La Laguna. It is about an hour past Tepic so it was about a 3 hour trip there. We stopped at the town first and took a look at an old church yard,had a bite to eat then a look at the square (every Mexican city has a town square).

Then off towards the lake and the resort, this is on the way high above the lake.








Next off to the resort there, quite high standards there, with cabins and very tranquil and pretty.

Then more eating at a restaurant on the lake.
















Got back at about 8:30pm and everyone was beat. What a great day we had!

I'm back, kind of

Buenas dias amigos!
First of all for those of you who don't know yet, we are extending our Mexican Holiday for two more weeks. Yeahhh! Back late on the 24th of March.

I will add some things to the blog that I just didn't get around to doing. From about the last three weeks or so.

This is Alejandro and his Mom (she will be 80 in April) She lives in Tepic in a big (mexican standards) house by herself. Her daughter and nieces live a few blocks away. She has a great herb garden in the back full of all sorts of things: rosemary, tyme, anise, oregano, lime tree, cactus that you eat in salads and things can't remember the name right now. I could go on and on. Huge Aloe Vera plants and flowers. It was beautiful. We visited there on Monday evening and then went shopping downtown Tepic. I bought material for a special costume for Halloween. Very reasonable prices.












Here are a few pictures from a parade we went to in La Penita.





























This is across the street at the Decameron Los Cocos. The painter Ties the top of the ladder with a rope to the joist, and away he goes. No tie off on the bottom of the ladder so it sways around when he's climbing on it. No safety harness. Nada!
Loco! Good thing there's no WCB here.

Two days late

Ok, you know about the first part of my Birthday, from two posts ago.
When we showed up at the restaurant Miguel, Dalias and Angelica were there to surprise me. Alex showed up after awhile because he had a trip to PV.
Started with Mango Margaritas










It was Kareoke night so we listened to some good songs and some bad ones. Spanish and English.
Then for dinner... My friends Corey and Andrew always put lovely photos of the good food they get in restaurants...


















Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures before we ate. 1st picture was my Rib Eye Steak. 2nd Picture was the Hawaiian Shrimp that three people ordered and the 3rd picture is Brad's Red Snapper. All was very good!

Then they sang Happy Birthday to me and brought out a piece of cake.










We all had a very good time. The restaurant is up on the hill and has a beautiful view of the Bay, we just couldn't get a good picture of it. Trust me it was gorgeous!

no post

Ok I didn't get to posting about my Birthday after the fact. Much to sunny today to stay in and do it. I will try to get to it tomorrow, unless of course it's sunny again!
See you soon

Birthday

It's my Birthday today! We are having appies and drinks this afternoon with our new friends - the family that manages the place we're staying at and the couple downstairs. Then dinner on top of the hill with Brad at 8pm tonight. Brad gave me a card this morning that said -
Para alguien fenomenal
El mejor regalo es el poder de hacer cada dia unico y especial, lucha por alcanzar tus suenos y disfruta el dia de hoy de la mejor manera pues eres una persona extraordinaria.
Feliz Cumpleanos!

I should make you all translate it yourselves, but I won't -

For Someone Phenomenal
The best gift is the power to make each day unique and special, striving for your dreams and enjoy this day the best way for you are an amazing person.
Happy Birthday!
and it came with this hair barrette made by the Huitchol Indians

Wish you all were here to help celebrate with me, miss you!

Mexican Fiesta

Last nights party in Chacala was a great time. Good homemade food, beer, margaritas and entertainment. They had Mexocan dancers and they were great. The dresses are quite a sight. Maybe my next Halloween costume?






































There was a game before The Mexican Chihuahua dance (a lot of stomping) that involved people tying balloons to their ankles and then trying to pop the other persons ballons. It was very funny.






















This is Angelica and Alex kidding around. Alex made the margaritas last night and Angelica made food and dished it out and helped with the organizing. Their daughter is one of the students we were raising money for school for. They are also the people we are staying with. They are really great people and we consider them good friends.





















And last but not least today we went for happy hour with Justin MacDonald's (a member with IUOE115) parents. They seem very nice and a lot of fun. Had a few drinks and fries with them and might meet up for a dinner in the days to come. Bought a purse while we were at happy hour.

It's been awhile

Hello all you that are following our blog (and Lori Woods). There has been nothing posted for awhile because I told Brad it was his turn to do it.
Unfortunately he hasn't done anything about it.

The last two days have been raining quite hard at times. Filled the pool about three inches.

This afternoon sunny and hot again. We are going to a Mexican Party Tonight so I will probably have something to blog for you tomorrow, and maybe a couple of pictures.

January 28th

Brad and Francois went for a walk to La Penita this morning. Brad checked out new RV Park but doesn't think we would fit in spaces. While he was gone this is what I had for breakfast, the sandia y pina were grown locally and the mango was from south of here, the mangos here aren't ready till another month or so.










The circus is in town and Brad will go and take the kids (Luis, Alejandro and maybe Dalia) tonight I think.




They drive up and down the street with all different animals on the trucks promoting it. Too dark to take a picture when the elephants came by, they were just standing on a flatbed truck with about a 6" high railing.

Brad's walk with Alex

Walk up the mountain that over looks Los Ayala.

Homemade Torillas

Angelica and I making homemade tortillas for carne BBQ the other day for Lunch.

Jan 25th

This is what Brad is doing right now...

Jan 21st

Went to La Penita to the Market today with Miguel and Dalia. Picked up a few things then dropped Angelica and her things she sells off at home and continued on back to La Penita for a late lunch with Miguel, Dalia and Luis (one of her brothers who is 12). We went to a restaurant that is managed by Jose who was the Bar Tender from the Decameron Los Cocos last year when we were here. Excellent lunch and lots of fun! Brad had a seafood shot which consisted of shrimp, serano chillis, other chillis and more hot sauce. There a couple of pictures showing his reaction.
Dalia y Miguel










Circle of Friends












Brad's Shot




























This is Jose













This is the ring he made me last year out of an American Dollar Bill










This is the Heart he made me today