Have Baby Will Travel

Everyone thought we were crazy to bring Eva down here. I was pretty certain it would be awesome. So far I am right! We are having a blast. Eva is doing really well and seems to love it here. It is unfortunate that she had a cold when we left for Puerto Vallarta, but she is doing well in spite of that. She has a lingering cough that we are monitoring closely. It doesn't seem to be holding her back any.

Eva did amazing on the flight. In spite of getting over a cold, Eva didn't seem to have any issues with assent or descent. She winced a little, but the binkie and her bottle got her through just fine. The rest of the flight she was almost perfect, only crying when she was really tired and needing to fall asleep. THat is normally when she gets fussy anyway. She had lots of fun flirting with the men sitting behind us.

We have been in PV for almost three days now. It has been an ajustment, but nothing too difficult considering we are living on tthe beach in a resort.. there isn't much roughing it..

Having a baby is the perfect way to avoid time share babble. We were almost roped into the initial talk but escaped because we needed to get Eva situated, fed, etc. Then we just avoided the lobby altogether for the evening. One waiter asked us if we had the discount card and we told him we didn't.. He said "good for you." And then he and I said at the same time, "shhhhh."
It's a total racket. I am happy to avoid.. There was a guy in line to check in when I was checking in to switch llines and he was talking to two older women and stated to them that he would never buy a timeshare, not when you can go online and get a place for much cheaper and more easily. Another woman we talked to has been coming here for 15 years, has 5 left and just recently surrendered their timeshare. I read about doing that on the website regarding selling a timeshare. I guess they aren't coming back and she was telling us about her terminal cancer. God, poor thing.. She seemed nice, but going through a lot and really wanting to talk about it..

The day we arrived it was about 6pm by the time we got settled and came down to eat. After dinner at the bar restaurant (Ken had a good burger and I had sopes with different stuff on tthem) we headed over to the pool.. Eva had a little dip and really enjoyed it.. Then we took her into the hottub to warm her up.. She liked that even better!

After a swim we walked over to the grocery store and bought a few items for our morning breakfast and lunch. It was probably 11pm by the time we finally got to bed. And up again early with Eva..She doesn't know what it is to sleep in! So, | got up with her, got her a bottle and let Ken get a little more rest. The rest of the day was filled with figuring out where we were moving and when. We ended up with a ground floor one bedroom, having rented a two bedroom two bath place. The one we rented was up a flight of stairs and somewhat cave-like. I thought we might have to wait until Monday to get a one bedroom, but when she heard me complain about the stairs she suggested the first floor unit. Normally I am not a fan, but with a stroller and a father who is worried about dropping his child off the balcony, it seemed like a perfect idea. I actually like being on the first floor except you can't go out the sliding glass door and lock it behind you.
So, we took it. We were able to stay in our studio until the new place was ready. Then we moved everything ourselves. Avoiding more and more tips.

We tried the wading pool. I thought it would be best and warmest, but it is acutally the coldest of all the pools so that mission was rapidly aborted. Eva was shivering within the first minute or so. Bummer because I was really looking forward to swimming with her. Maybe tomorrow in the sun it will be a little better. After a warming bath, we were off to Pepe's Tacos! We have been waiting for this reunion for over a year. Delicious tacos with savory meats, sauteed with onions, peppers, mushrooms and plenty of cheese! To die for! So good you almost have to eat every last bite. But we didn't... we saved some for lunch today. In order to feel less guilty for eating so many yummy tacos, we walked all the way home! I think it's about a mile and a half at the most.. Ken thinks it's longer. Maybe we can measure it when we get the rental car? Anyway, it was a great walk except for crossing the streets.

Early in the morning on Saturday we left for downtown and some breakfast at Casa de los Hotcakes (Pancakes). We walked out to get a taxi thinking it would be a little cheaper. Interesting... there are zones for taxi pricing. from here to downtown is 40 pesos if you leave from outside the hotel, 50 if they hail one for you. When we got out there we hailed one and he said 40 so we were breaking down the stroller and a taxi who works at Fiesta Americana, next to Villa del Palmar, drove up and caused problems for our driver. So he was about to leave until he heard the guy charging us 80 pesos! Then he called his boss who had already been called by the other guy's boss... We went with the first one, Alberto who was very nice and spoke English very well. I gave him 60 becaause he was so nice and didn't leave us with the "raton."

At Casa de los Hotcakes we met a woman with a 4 month old baby who lives in a town near Sayulita. She was a math teacher until her son was born. She had a good medical benefits package and had nothing bad to say about living here in Mexico. Her partner looked significantly older than her... a hippie of sorts maybe. Anyway, she wasn't worried in the least about raising her child here. She was currently staaying at home with her son, Desmond.. It was an illuminating conversation. She told us that she made a good living teaching at an American school.. Very interesting.. Breakfast was delicious and not too expensive. Although prices are certainly more than they used to be!

Next we headed to the beach and fed Eva. When she was finished we headed over to the malecon by crossing the River Cuale. At the beginning of the malecon, in the zocolo there was a throng of people lined up to get into the cathedral. It was December 12, dia de la senora guadalupe. All the little kids were dressed in traditional costumes and some family members too. Once we got some photos of that we decided to get out of the crowds and stroll the malecon. At the end of the walk we headed for a cool patio at Hotel Rosarita's on the beach. There we had drinks and fed Eva. She got loads of attention. We also got to see two whales off in the distance jumping out of the water and flopping around with their fins in the air... what a sight!

Leaving downtown we decided to go grocery shopping at the market downtown and then take a cab from there. It was packed with people but we made the best of it and it had everything we needed. What a scene. It is definitely the store the locals use. Also cheaper than the one up by the hotel.. But it worked, other than the thing of chilies falling out of their container into the trunk of the taxi we took back to the hotel. Luckily we had bought paper towels and were able to clean it up. Finally we had the bulk of our groceeries bought and put away. For dinner we had a roasted chicken, potatoes, tortillas and lots of yummy salsa. I did a number on my tongue with a jalepeno peepper! Ouch!

Eva has been spending lots of time on the floor rolling around. She seems very close to crawling. She has also been in teh pool a few times and seems to really enjoy that as well. We spent most of the morning until about 1pm on the beach under a palapa. I took her to the edge of the water which she seemed to like and was talking up a storm. She also enjoys all the baths we have given her over the last few days. She is generally very happy although when she is tired she mellts doown and has a good cry. Nothing a little food and sleep can't fix.
Putting her to be has gotten a little easier. When we first got here she didn't want to sleep unless she was in our arms. That has gotten a little better, but it still isn't like at home where she will go down and play on her own a little before she finally drops off to sleep. If she is really tired, it is generally easier. Tonight she went down in the crib with no problem at all. Speaaking of the crib... it is really old school. The rails are quite tall. It is on old casters or wheels that are super rickety and it pops open and closed and is locked in place with some semi fancy hinges. It seems like it is going to break every time I lean on it. I try not to lean on it and pray every time I put her in it that she won't move around too much, causing it to collapse on itself. I guess we are going to get a playpen at Walmart for her to sleep in when we get to Sayulita. That will be much better...

Our plan for today is to finish up at the Starbucks, where internet is free... not $20 per day as it is in the resort! They can gouge the unsuspecting folks who don't ever want to leave the hotel or who can write off the expense. Anyway, I think we are going back downtown for an early dinner and sunset. We have hardly been downtown at all this trip, so I am really looking forward to it.

I can't believe it's already Tuesday! It feels like we just got here. Or that we have been here for a very long time... We have a full week left. Much more fun in the sun. And none of us have sunburns yet. That is saying something. Very careful with the sunblock. Especially with Eva.

She is calling my name. And I have been hogging the computer. Ken's turn.