6 May Barcelona flamenco and fountains

we got a taxi from Guell park and headed off to our flamenco show and dinner.

He knew exactly where to take us and it did not take long

getting our tickets was easy

there was a pre show with instruction on Flamenco clapping and drumming.
Margie- Dennie was a really good sport and participated in learning the beat of
flamenco.

I did take part in both and the clapping is of course much easier than the drumming

the dinner was very good
the show was very good.
Margie- I enjoyed very much  you first taste of flamenco and all the fancy footwork!

the wine was very good

the evening was very good

we took the metro back to the hotel

We got back to the hotel and she arranged a tour for us of the sagrada familia the next morning , lovely lady, and told us about the fountains just up the street at the park we were at earlier in the day.

we headed off past the traffic circle that was still very busy.

Past the venetian towers and the conference centre.
Now the pools were fountains and there were hundreds of people walking around. There were street vendors with blankets on the ground selling all kinds of little souvenirs. castanets, musical frogs. t hirts. selfie sticks.
we walked on over the little bridge and it was getting very crowded now.

working our way through the crowd we came to the stairs which I almost fell down, dark and crowded is my only excuse although I could also say I was distracted by the fountains.
The big fountain was on with music and lights and hundreds of people taking pictures of either other people the fountains or themselves. I have heard of selfie addicts.
Margie- it was a fantastic show! Half of Barcelona must have been there! A lot of young people.  I got a few souvenirs from  the street vendors.


We enjoyed the fountains very much and there were literally over 50 fountains going besides the large musical one.the crowd was a nice mix of all ages with tourists and locals and probably a few pick pockets for the unwary.

We followed our route from our walk in the morning going up the escalators to each level to see the different fountains lit up with different colours and the night views. I love outdoor escalators! then we wandered back to our hotel and said thanks to the night clerk who had told us to go and see the fountains and had arranged for our tour of the Sagrada Familia the next day.  Sleep came very quickly that night with magic fountains still playing in my minds eye.

6 may morning and afternoon in Barcelona parks, funiculars,castles and Gaudi

Woke up early and went looking for a restaurant. The hotel had a breakfast room which looked very nice but at 18 euros we thought we might be able to do better. the restaurant across the street which advertised breakfast was not open and we were early.  We continued around the block and found a little coffee shop/ restaurant that was open and had some very nice breakfast sandwiches and coffee for 5 euros each. Much better price for breakfast.

Went to find the ho ho bus (Hop on Hop off) and we were too early by 45 minutes so went for a walk through the Venetian Towers and down the lovely Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina lane towards the park. We passed some people lined up outside a large conventions center like building. Maybe it was a comic book convention. There was a large robotic spider like crab machine in the parking lot which we thought might be part of the convention. A Robotics convention? Margie- I think it                                                           was a comic con or anime convention.

We passed lots of pools that when they were turned on might be fountains. We were early. They probably don't get turned on till 10 or eleven maybe. Across  little pedestrian foot bridge and into the park with more turned off fountains and gardens and out door escalators.  Great! I love Barcelona! Outdoor escalators!
Margie- the tile work on the stairs was wonderfully done and very beautiful!

A pause for photos of each other and the stairs we would not have to walk at each level as the escalator phenomenom continued for a few more levels. Then we were at the end of the escalators by a large building which I believe was the art gallery or a museum of some sort. (one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). which of course .... was not open.... we were too early. there was however a Great view of Barcelona.

 The park continued and we found our way to the Olympic stadium which we had seen on the HO Ho bus yesterday. If the weather was not clear at least it as not hot or crowded.  there was odd art installations although they also may have been lighting for the evening we were not sure. the stadium itself was impressive but smaller that I would have thought. We picked up a few souvenirs at the gift shop which was open (Finally something was open) and continued on to find the ho ho bus stop.

After wandering through a few more small but interesting gardens named after famous people we found the stop for the ho ho bus.
We hopped on but only stayed on for a few stops as we wanted to go to the fernicular to ride up to the castle Montjuic. We found the vernacular and there was no line so we just went right up  and Margie was not even worried a little as the ride was assmooth as silk

 " Wikipedia says "Barcelona's Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the harbour, to the southwest of the city centre. The eastern side of the hill is almost a sheer cliff, giving it a commanding view over the city's harbour immediately below. The top of the hill (a height of 184,8 m) was the site of several fortifications, the latest of which (the Castle of Montjuïc) remains today. 

The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th-century additions. In 1842, the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco. The castle was also the site of numerous executions. In 1897, an incident popularly known as Els processos de Montjuïc prompted the execution of anarchist  supporters, which then led to a severe repression of the workers' struggle for their rights. On different occasions during the Spanish Civil War both Nationalists and Republicans were executed there, each at the time when the site was held by their opponents. The Catalan nationalist leader Luis Comanys i Jover was also executed there in 1940, having been extradited to the Franco government by the Nazis"

 Of course we did not know all that we we went there. It was just a lovely castle on a hill with an exceptional view of Barcelona.

During the course of my reading about Mountjuic I discovered that things that happened there that affect my life and most people on the planet every day. In June 1792 the French astronomers  Jean Delambre and Pierre Mechain began their attempt to measure the distance between Dunkirk and Barcelona with the fortress on Montjuïc chosen as the reference point in Barcelona. After much ado since France and Spain were technically at war Méchain made his measurements from the  fortress on 16 March 1794.

Using this measurement and the latitudes of the two cities they could calculate the distance between the North Pole and the Equator Equator in units of length and hence produce the first prototype  metre which was defined as being one ten millionth of that distance. The the origin of the Metre.  Who knew? Marvellous what those people of old times accomplished was truly amazing. I love learning things this way.

After the castle we took the vernicular down and just missed the HOHO bus so walked down through the park to what we thought would be the next stop. We did in fact go on an adventure through areas most tourists do not see. they were nice areas though with lots of steps down and then this one hill we had to walk back up which reminded us both of a hill  in our youth we used to call the devil's dip which was so steep who would even think to build on it. Really tuckered us out. 

We ended up back in the garden but a new one this time and then down through some schools, cooking and music I think and then to the plaza Espana where we grabbed some lunch from our little coffee shop restaurant and then caught the HO Ho bus to the Sagrada Familia the church that Gaudi is still building even though he is dead.

Wikipedia says "The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família  (or in english the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family ) is a large  Roman Catholic Church designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica as distinct from a cathedral which must be the seat of a bishop.

Construction of Sagrada Família commenced in 1882 and Gaudí became involved in 1883 , taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Sagrada Família's construction relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project's greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death.

The basílica has a long history of dividing the citizens of Barcelona: over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona's Cathedral over Gaudí's design itself, over the possibility that work after Gaudí's death disregarded his design, and the 2007 proposal to build an underground tunnel of Spain's  high speed rail link to France which could disturb its stability. Describing Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said, "It is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art" and Paul Goldberger called it, "The most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages."

We thought that it being a church we could just go in but no the tickets were all sold out for that day. how many tickets do they sell a day? We walked around the outside and took a few photos and then decided to go to the Guell park which is Gaudi's park.  while we waited for the ho ho bus I sprinkled Mom and Dad in the park across the street from the Sagrada. A nice park with a great view.

We caught the ho ho and ended up walking a good distance up another hillbefore finding out that quell park was also sold out of tickets until 830 that night and since we had plans already for the eying we decided t just wander around the park that was open.It was very cool and we saw lots of his things that he designed. My Mom would have loved Gaudi for all I know she did knew about him  and did love him. his claim to fame is mosaics. crazy mosaics.

4 of May in Edmonton to the 5 of May in Barcelona!

After a very wet morning wait at the Varscona hotel for the shuttle bus and a quiet ride to the airport I met Margie at the airport around 730 am. There were lots of ambulances lined up outside the door for my gate sowas dropped off at the wrong gate and had to walk back. I asked Margie what was going on. Someone told Margie it was for the Fort MacMurray evacuation.
 They were in the midst of one of the worst forest fires on record and had to evacuate the whole town including of course the hospitals. Terrible situation
 We checked in and had a small breakfast before flying to Toronto. The flight was unexciting which is good. Watched movies and before we knew it we were in TO. After a not too long layover we hopped onto our Lufthansa fight to Amsterdam. Again not too bad. No screaming children and a few more movies. Did not sleep at all really as it was the middle of the day for us.
We arrived in Amsterdam, one of my favourite airports ,around sunny 6 am and walked to our gate which was of course almost on the other side of the airport. Little did we know that this would foreshadow our trip.  Our wait there was not long either and we were in the air again.
Barcelona in the morning is beautiful. We got to our hotel which, by the way, is a lovely hotel by cab and he knew exactly where it was.  Very modern and clean with a rooftop pool The Ofelias Hotel is right by the Plaza De Espana. (thanks Kent from our travel agency in Edmonton for recommending it)

Wikipedia says "One of the city's biggest squares, it is the junction of several major thoroughfares: Gran Via de les Corts Catalans, Avinguda del Parallel, Career de la Creu Coberta and Career de Tarragona, and leads to the Palau Nacional through Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, which houses one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) designed by Josep Amargos. 
The fountain at the centre of the square was (beautiful and very large) designed by Josep Maria Jujol, a collaborator of Antoni Gaudi, while Miquel Blay designed the statues. On the plaza are the Venetian Towers  - they are 47 m (154 ft) tall and lead the way to the MNAC via Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina an avenue commonly used to host trade fairs. Fira de Barcelona,  Parc de Joan Miró - previously known as Parc de l'Escorxador (Abbatoir Park), it is nowadays named after the Catalan painter Joan Miró, whose 22-metre-tall statue Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird) can be seen in one of its corners.  

and the Arenas de Barcelona, a bullring - It was built in 1900 in the Moorish Revival style and has been converted into a shopping center.

We were staying for a few nights before our cruise to get acclimated and to see Barcelona. We checked out the hotel with its roof top pool and modern decor and then wandered one block over to the old bull fighting arena they converted into a shopping mall and entertainment center with cinemas and restaurants. Took some photos of the traffic circle in the Plaza Espana and the park on the other side away from the plaza and each other and then had lunch. The restaurant we picked was not the best. The waiter was in training and the food was different in a not very tasty way. Now I don't want to sound like a crabby tourist but really we both have had better tasting food. Tourist food.
We moved on and found the Hop on Hop off bus and took a tour of Beautiful Barcelona. We did not get off just enjoyed the wonderful architecture of Antoni Gaudi. the world famous architect of which we knew very little but now know we enjoy and so will learn more about him and his life and work.We were told that he has a cathedral here in Barcelona that we really must see for its uniqueness.

Barcelona is a city on the sea and so we went past many marina's, an aquarium that looked amazing and long stretches of  beaches. We enjoyed the narrow old streets and the pedestrian only street like the Ramblas and saw where we might want to get off at some point.
Our energy was starting to flag. for us it was probably 2 in the morning. We went for dinner and planned our next days activities based on what we saw today then back to the hotel and to sleep and dream the dreams of eager tourists in new lands.

Diane's adventures in Mazatlan after Dennie left

Well first the pictures:  there is a picture of waves crashing on the rocks at Playa Cerritos..it was a terrifically windy day and I was trying to catch the waves as they spewed over the rocks.  It was so windy that they would not let anyone parasail, and the fishermen were coming in early it was so rough on the water.   I had fun in the wind, walking up to the highest mound of rocks and watching the waves and birds that were cruising on the windy currents.   Lots of Pelicans out following the fishing boats.

..then there is a picture of 

hi ya all,
Well how does 28 + above sound to ya!   Good day on the beach...found a few shells.  I gave 11 Pendants to the charity called Sonrisas' which means "smiles".  It is a small group of Mazatlan women who believe education is the best way to make a difference in the lives of young people.  They currently sponser 4 young students who cannot afford to go to university.
The Sonrisas' group receives recommendations from teachers about students who are very talented, or smart, but who have no means to go further in their education.  The group has sponsored poor students who have become Dentists,Teachers, Nurses, Engineers, and Child Care Workers.  
I have found a good way to offer my support by donating all the jewelry I make while I am down here.   I talk to Tish, the "president" (she used to live in Peachland, bc)...and she said she would sell my jewelry at 130.00 Pesos, or about 12 dollars...
I am going to make at least 75 pendants before I leave.  
I have an apt. Secured for next year for Jan. Feb and March.  It is $505.00 Canadian dollars....and is one street over from where I am presently..on the same street as Tish and husband Reg.  The apt. Is run by the Catholic Church...it is very "Spartan"...but  clean, quiet and of course in the neighborhood that I am familiar with.    So all is well.   I told Linda I was returning next year by myself, and she said good, as she and her boyfriend Bruce wanted to buy a motor home and travel...so that works out well for everyone.  I know quite a few people here and have no problem being on my own, I rather prefer that.
I hear there is a warming trend happening and this weekend it will be above zero in Alta.   Hooray for you guys...and of course Kelowna is always balmy!
Kelsey, let me know how your interview went!   I will be thinking of you.
Gail, I will send you pictures of the "man with the cats" that I met...Dennie, you remember the Mayan "temple" and the cats...I want to take pictures for Gail.
Everyone, I am doing well, and really enjoying Mazatlan more and more each day....it is my winter home. 

the Machado Square.  Found out that at the Reco Centre in Centro Historico they show films throughout the week....I was all excited about seeing KevinKline in a 2014 film called "My Old Lady", a comedy, but apparently it is a small theatre and even though I was there half an hour earlier the seats were all sold. Tomorrow I am going a hour before the show starts, this time I hope to see the movie "pride"' another Comedy...wish me luck.

Sunday we are hoping to go on a day cruise with Greg, Colleen, Jeff, Marcy, Linda and I...past Stone Island to another big island with beaches and beach restaurants.  I will let you know how that goes.  Meanwhile Linda reminds me every day how many sleeps til we leave for home.  She is very homesick.  I go "lalalalalalalala" every time she mentions it.  

Hope everyone is keeping warm, being healthy and happy and not having to shovel snow or clean off the cars too much....of course the Kelowna Klan is changing their winter tires to summer ones!!!!!

Love to you all, and see you soon....Hugs from Dayan (Mexican handle)

Hi Again,

Soooo sorry that I keep sending word of my little adventures (ha ha ha)  but at my age I will forget what happened today tomorrow, so I count on everyone to remind me about all that happened to me in Mexico.

1.  There are fireworks just about every night from Valentino's, El Cid, Royal Villas, costa de Oro, etc.....I run  to the third story patio as soon as I hear the "kabooooms"' and watch the colors fill the sky like confetti stardust.   Next year I might not have a balcony to run too, but if I make my way down to the beach around 8:00 I should be able to see all the way down the beach.

2.  There is a fight going on where my air conditioner sits hanging out the top part of my window....I never have the air conditioner on as it looks like it would either fall out the window, or start on fire as the owners have shoved towels all around it...there is a ledge outside that the a/c is teetering on, and and two newly married doves have chosen to make there nest there.  They are pushing twigs through spaces I the towel and other parts of the A/c.....apparently a few gecko's also nest somewhere around the A/c, and there are several noisy battles that carry on at odd times of the early morning.  I have to pick twigs off the double bed that is under the window (not where I sleep).  I should take a picture and send it, okay I just did.

3.  I can find my way around the Piña Jaurez market, to Machado Square, to the Ferry terminal, and Angela Peralta theatre, and more....all by bus and walking.

4.  I continue to make costume jewelry SEE!

That's all for now.   Time for my Spanish lessons, free, on my iPad...you too can make a fool of yourself by practicing on unsuspecting vendors...it seems to work as they usually run from me thinking I must be "loco"! By the way... the phrase they use now is" just for today, almost free".        Okay, Bye for now, I have bored you enough already...hugs "Dayan"    

Here are some pictures from Fiesta Apartments where some Canadian friends stay during the winter months.   Robert and his mother run the place, there are 17 suites, all different, and I do mean different...Robert is a frustrated mosaic artist, brick layer, gardener and more.   We had a pot luck supper in the main court yard And I couldn't resist taking pictures.   Robert is shy and would not appear in front of the camera.....

I won't stay there as it is too expensive for me....they charge an extra 18% hotel tax.  It is a fun place to visit.

Bye for now.

Here is another picture....so cute, eh?

Linda and I are staying at Brian and Debbie's, Gaviotas Gardens, March 24' 25' and we leave noonish to return to Edm on the 26th, with a 5.5 hour lay over on PHX...arriving Edm. on 27th just after midnite...Bruce, Linda's boyfriend is picking us up...so I should be in bed around dawn on the 27th!!!

Anyway,  more adventures yet before I head home....

Last day Mazatlan - Sunday 1 Feb - Rain in Mazatlan sunny in phoenix and snow in Edmonton

Woke up at 630, it was raining, and watched some of the TV mini series Jane Eyre on the computer. Got up around 730 and finished off the packing. Brought my things downstairs and then stripped the bed for Diane.

 Diane came down and we chatted over toast, tea and cantalope. Linda came in and asked about the flight which I thought was odd as she told us she never wanted to know anything about anything we did the whole time I here. Why start now? 

 Diane and I left the house at 1030 and walked the two short blocks to the Sabalo Road to catch a cab. There was one there waiting as if it was planned. Hugged Diane and told her I would send her a picture a day to try and make her jealous of me in Edmonton and she said she would send me one picture a day so that I would know what she was up to. Thank you Diane for a wonderful time in Mazatlan.

The Drive was interesting as now I was looking at things not for the first time but as an old hand in mazatlan, We had a tourist driving in front of us and the cab driver laughed when I pointed that out. 

It good thing I like to get to the airport early as I had read the wrong departure time. The airlines/red-tag had changed it a few times and so it is almost understandable.  I got to the aeropuerto by 1055 and went to check in . Had to pay 25 $US to check a bag so of course I didn’t have that much on me so had to go the ATM and get $ and back to the counter to check in to find out my flight boards at 1145 not 1245 which was one of the departure times on my itinerary or the other of 2 in the afternoon which was the original flight time.  So I checked one bag , the second would cost me $40 US, and made it in time. Almost forgot my carry on when going through security as they took it and put it through the machine again and I had my purse and computer bag so thought I had it all and was good until I was halfway to the gate. Turned around and went back and got it and then back to the gate. felt like a yo yo for a minute. One of the girls from the check-in approached me in the boarding lounge and asked if I would like to check the second bag for free. of course I said yes and she did that for me. Very nice people these Mexicans. 

Boarded the plane and got three seats to myself, muchos gracias. The steward told us that Phoenix had fog that morning and that hundreds of flights had been delayed and cancelled. They flew down here with 16 people on board as the rest of the passengers were from connecting flights that didn’t connect. How sad. The pilot announced that the fog was clearing in Phoenix so lets hope for no repeat of that tonight when I have to fly to Edmonton. The flight was uneventful but sunny. Grabbed a few photos of Mexico and the superstitions as we flew over. There was a bit of a wait on the tarmac as the airport was still trying to clear up the backlog from this mornings fog. 

Clearing customs coming in was interesting. New photo id stations in the security check-in. All went very smoothy though. The terminal itself was crazy. There were hundreds of people waiting for flights, trying to get flights, cluttering up the aisles and restaurants. there were at least 50 to 60 lining up at the each of the customer services desks. I did meet some very nice people whose travels plans were thrown very much awry by the fog in phoenix or the big storm out east which cancelled flights and rerouted others. 
The Edmonton flight seemed to be on time though so far. Had a bite for lunch and charged my computer a bit then walked around and got a few shots of the sunset. as I was walking around looking out the windows I saw a flock of bats. Are they called a flock? no I don’t think so.  I just looked it up and they are called a cloud of Bats. well I did see a cloud of them, between 50 and a hundred of them swooping past the window. tried to get a photo but to no avail. It seems that for all the flights that have been delayed and cancelled today out of Phoenix mine is currently still on time. Yea! checked in for the flight at 815 and then went to charge the old computer although technically, I guess, this is my new computer.
My flight ,although it said it was onetime, was not really onetime and came in three hours late and if we couldn't leave by midnight then we would not be able to leave until the next day. I prayed .... hard.... and we did leave at 1130 which put us into Edmonton at 3. thank you Mary mother of Jesus. 
Got home by  430 and walked into the most god awful stench. My grandson had not taken out the kitty litter. He had cleaned the litter boxes but left the bag  in the living room. I opened the windows and took out the kitty litter but it took awhile for the air to clear.  needless to say I was not happy with that homecoming  .... thank you very much, but it was good to be home.

Day 13 in Mazatlan - Saturday 31 jan - Second to last day in Mazatlan - Up, up and away!

It rained almost all night long, not hard but enough to put water in the pool. Woke up around 6 and started packing and sorting and discovering that I really did need another bag to take home all the bulky things I had purchased. They were certainly not going to fit into the one carry-on size suitcase I had brought with me. Came downstairs to find Diane bailing out the pool so assisted her with that. showered and had a toast and tea for breakfast.Then 

Diane and I headed off to the beach and our adventure for today. Stopped in a few shops to see about another bag. They were all basically the same bags with each store charging a different price. The shops on the road you could always talk down but the hotels were firm with their prices. They varied between 200 pesos to 120 pesos. 

I didn’t want to buy a bag until after my parachuting adventure so we went to the Mazatlan Inn and discovered that they were just doing the first happy hour! At 1215 I had a fortifier of a mazatlan Bias ( half pina colada and have mango daiquiri), so good. Enjoyed my last time at the Inn. Edwin, our waiter was happy to have his picture taken and so was the lifeguard. 

We went onto the beach looking for Peter the parachute guy we had talked to days before when we were only interested in keeping our feet on the ground. The sun had come out in full force and all the beach vendors, ( I call them walkmart as they carry everything they are selling with them as they walk the beaches) tried to sell me hats. I am still not as tanned as most everyone down there although I m quite tanned for me. We found where Peter usually was and asked a gentleman, Salo, where he was. it turns out Peter does not show up sometimes as he was a bit of a party person and sometimes got in trouble for it. So Salo took us to the parachute folks down the beach.

Fernando, Garcias and Marco? or Francisco? were the guys who were going to get me up there and catch me when I came down. I had to wait for a few other people to go before me so Diane and I amused ourselves in the shade of a beach umbrella. I wasn’t nervous but a little excited  about going up. 500 pesos or about 50 bucks. I filmed the people coming down and landing oh so gently on the beach . I should have also filmed the take off as it is quite an experience.

My turn, 

'-life vest- on and secure, 

-step into the leg hole of the paragliding apparatus. - done, 

-get strapped in on both sides. two gentlemen one on each side adjusting the straps and getting them snug- Okay, 

-do not carry camera on wrist- no - put camera on strap of life vest - right, 

-received very clear instructions on the operation of the chute- pull the red strap when I see the red flag- yes, 

-squat down and walk when the boat starts to pull you- 

-do not stand up and walk- squat and walk... yes 

-keep squatting and walking and sit down now 

-and up I went after winging one of the ground guys with my foot, 

up 

and up 

and up. 

 like the feather in Forrest Gump

I was floating in the air!

I yahooed very loudly as it was such a great feeling. 

there I was, for just a moment, thinking of falling to my death, for just a moment though. My children would love this,  my grandchildren would love this. there I was

above the beach, 

sailing over the bay. 

I felt for my camera and started to take photos both single and video.
There was a moment when I felt as if  I was not really sitting very deeply in the sitting strap and was concerned about falling out and dangling a 100 feet above the water, but I got over it pretty quickly. ( I was strapped in to the harness and if I dangled then I dangled)

My parachute was multi coloured and I tried to get some shots of it

I was attached to the boat by a single large strong rope. 

It was actually very quiet up there, no boat sounds at all.

I thought that I would see all those birds that we were always seeing from down on the beach but I don't think I did see a single one.

The view was fantastic!

Now the boat was turning around and we were headed back to the beach. I looked for where my crew was but could not see them. I tried to find the hotel and get my bearings for where they might be. I turned on my camera and just let it run to get the landing and then I saw them. 

All my instructions were there in my head. 

Find the red cord with my right hand. 

Pull down with your right hand to your shoulder when you see the red flag. 

I saw the red flag and started to pull. Man oh man, it was hard. 

I Pulled but was only getting about halfway to my shoulder. I need to start working out to get more upper body strength. 

I pulled as hard as I could for quite a while it seemed and was starting to get closer to the hotels than I thought I should be but he had not dropped the red flag so I pulled some more. 

I had been slowly dropping in height as the boat was slowing down, getting closer and closer to the beach and when he the fellow on the beach dropped the red flag, I let go of the cord and the boat pulled me right into their waiting arms. 

i tucked my legs in so as not to hit them in the face with my feet but 'Standup …standup! were the last instructions as they grabbed me and the lines to the chute to make sure the wind did not pull me away again. 

Did I have a good time?
Did I take lots of photos?
 Why yes I did and actually I was still recording right now. I turned off the camera. They helped me out of the para-gliding harness. 

What an experience! Diane was there congratulating me on my success. 

My legs and hands were a little(maybe more than a little) shaky, with all the adrenaline I think.

We went and sat down for a bit in the shade of the umbrella and Fernando came over to get paid. I gave him 700 pesos.  A 200 peso tip for getting me up there safely and back down alive in one piece with nothing broken or damaged. I figure that works out to about 5 bucks a piece for the three guys on the beach and the guy in the boat. He shook my hand very heartily and when I looked a little confused about which way to go on the beach he laughed and pointed us back the way we had come from. A nice looking man.

We laughed too and headed to the next hotel for its happy hour and a well deserved congratulatory and calming drink. Very tasty Pina coladas at two for one. 65 pesos for two are a very good deal.

We looked at the pictures and film that I had taken reliving the experience. Wonderful! Now the landing film shows quite a bit of chaos but it really was a very nice landing. 

After calming down a bit  we decided to have lunch at the Verde Tomato ( the green Tomato) but when we got there we were not that impressed with the menu so decided to go to Pancho’s. Diane had been there before and said it was good. Stopped in at the little shop where I bought the wind chime of brightly coloured fish made of coconuts and wood and picked up a bag for 100 pesos. It is big enough to carry all the rest of the things that I purchased. Diane picked up one of the wind-chimes, hers with coconut  turtles. We passed an old building with a tree growing right in front of the door. who would plant a tree that close to a building let alone in front of a door like that?

We wandered down to Pancho’s and got an inside table at first and placed our order. They brought us tortilla chips with salsa to nibble on while we waited so we sipped our drinks and nibbled our chips with gusto. A beer for Diane and an Ice tea for me. What a lovely place. The very large mushroom and garlic starters arrived and when the two ladies across from us left we slid over to their ocean front table. Lovely. Our food and drinks were transferred over to our new table. The starters were huge so we could not finish it all so got some to go. The green salad for me and nachos for Diane arrived. Good food, good company, sea and sand.  What a great day.



There was one vendor who was selling a lightweight jacket with a hood that I wanted.  Diane had one like it and so I had seen it up close on her. He said four hundred so I got out 250 and went down and told him that it was all I had and got it. The truth was that after paying for dinner and saving money for the cab for tomorrow, it was all I had. The salad was nice but they used canned peas. odd. 

After lunch we wandered out onto the beach as it was one we had not been on before. l think now that we have been on every beach in Mazatlan. Lots of families  with kids playing on banana boats. 

Turned up at a hotel that looked promising for having an exit onto the road. We passed a lovely waterfall and pond with water lilies. A maid coming out  of the area showed us into a man made labyrinth of caves and to another waterfall. there were lots of tunnels and paths, stairs to temples with giant hand chairs and little secret gardens. wonderful to keep the kids amused. 

We found our way out and went to the liquor store as Diane wanted to pickup some Kaluha for the house. At Pancho’s they give you a free drink, a brown cow at the end of your meal. How nice is that? As we were walking down the street the black police went by and I took a photo. how brave am I. the black police ors ethe ones that fight the drug cartels and wear all black to hide their identities so that they and their fails are safe from retaliation.

When we went past the shell museum/store I couldn't resist getting a picture of me getting my wings, seemed appropriate condsidering my activities earlier in the day. on the way home we saw this little lizard impression in the sidewalk. I think it was a real lizard impression or the impression of a real lizard. poor thing. but I guess he is immortalized now in the sidewalk on the way home from the shell museum.

Got home and even after all our walking around were still very full. Downloaded the photos and watched them on the computer. Uploaded the photos to Facebook and then watched the latest Downton Abbey episode. 
Diane went upstairs to read and I finished uploading a few more videos from the days activities. 
checked my packing and the all the drawers and the closet. Walked around the house to make sure I didn't forget anything. I did not ....forget anything that is.
I fell asleep pretty fast and I think I dreamt of men catching me. How sweet it is.