Puerto Vallarta

December 18th,2009
Happy Holidays everyone! We are alive and well. Reluctantly, we left Isla Isabela heading southeast to San Blas around the 12th of December. We were a bit hesitant to explore San Blas as we were told the mosquitoes were prolific, I think we saw one during our brief stay at anchor. San Blas is a historical village immortalized by H.W. Longfellow’s final poem, The Bells of San Blas. Had a great breakfast, walk, re-provisioned and pushed off to our next anchorage: Chacala. What a beauty! If you ever want to get off the tourist track and stay on a lovely beach with a strong cultural component, this is it. If you enjoy the tropical jungle environment call us for an unbelievable hotel recommendation. Steve and I took a crazy walk one day and ended up on top of a crater and surprisingly this funky hotel built in the jungle (Anita, if you are reading this you would love this place) just appeared…..wild! This is where the picture was taken of Steve behind bars. Again, reluctantly, we left Chacala for Punta Mita, a rather first class place on the northern end of Banderas Bay. I was in need of primping and a bit whiny so Steve took me out to a fabulous Italian dinner. We found a hotel and almost checked into it but Steve was unwilling to spend $450 a night, maybe on Valentines Day. We then cruised another 10 miles south to La Cruz where are friends on Rocinante had a condo. Spent a couple of days boogie boarding, swimming in pools, listening to great music and re-provisioning via long expensive bus rides which prompted us to pull anchor and head into Puerto Vallarta which is where we are now. I have typed this entry in two segments and presently it is December 20th and things are beginning to look like Christmas around the Lady J. When we have power…….and everything revolves around power…..I hang up the Christmas lights in the cockpit. I guess I’d better take a picture! The boat is spic and span, Steve has spent the past couple of days upgrading our batteries, and tomorrow we will leave PV and sail out of Banderas Bay south round Cabo Corrientes perhaps to Bahia Chamela. We will be accompanied by our buddy boat Rocinante and no TV, internet, power, or family for Christmas. Vicky is baking a Turkey and I will bake the pumpkin pie. I so wish you all could join us for this fabulous journey we are on, but in my heart I truly would rather be with all of you for the holidays. Much love, and Feliz Navidad!