La Penita/La Cruz de Huanacaxtle - January 10 - 11, 2015

Our last morning in La Penita.  We packed up and went for breakfast at Hinde y Jaime's.  On our return, we checked out and waited for a taxi … as we were waiting the bread lady was driving by so we bought bread, donuts and muffins from her out of the back of her truck.  The drive to La Cruz was about 50 minutes.  As we arrived at Puerto Bahia (our home for the next 2 weeks), it was like we were with family again.  Our place is massive - as you open the front door, it walk into an open air foyer.  Each room (bedrooms, kitchen, living room are all rooms by themselves connected with open air covered hallways).  We hopped into our little pool and waited for Robyn and Scott to arrive.  They arrived about an hour later and they hopped into the pool for awhile too.  We went to Glorieta's for cheese stuffed bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp, coconut shrimp and garlic shrimp.  Delicious.  WE then took a cab to Mega for groceries - about $400 worth of groceries should get us through breakfast and lunch and drinking for 2 weeks.

The next morning, we went to the La Cruz Market - it is a great market - we like it better than the 2 markets in Guayabitos and La Penita.  We bought some smoked marlin, hummus dip and had our traditional Big Italian sandwich (a combo of italian sausage, spicy italian sausage and pork) at the end of the market.  We went to the pool for the afternoon and then came back to our room for Scott's famous Mojito's in our pool.  Dinner was at Tacos on the Street - essentially one menu item - rib eye tacos (but there are several variations, cheese, flour or corn tortillas, quesadilla style).  They also bring you a bucket of beer and charge you for the ones you drink.  16 tacos, 3 quesadillas, 6 beer and  glass of wine later, we hopped in a cab back to Puerto Bahia - we brought 10 tacos back for the staff too.

Our Front Door

Looking through our front door

Our Pool

Looking at a bedroom with the front door on the right

Kitchen

Living room

Glorieta's

Glorieta's

Buying Bread from the back of a truck

Tacos on the Street (that is actually the name of the restaurant)

Good Morning La Cruz!

View of the front door from the kitchen/pool area

La Penita - January 9, 2015

The day started with coffee.  I the heard the bread guy walking down the street yelling that he had bread for sale and bought 2 cinnamon bun type buns.  We went to the beach in the morning - we were the only people on the beach all morning - went for a swim in the ocean having to dodge the odd pelican floating nearby.  The ocean was quite warm.  We went for lunch at a street side taco place and had chicken tacos and a quesadilla.  I then went for a massage for one hour - cost $20 - while the ambience is not the same as those fancy massage places, the massage was great (see picture of the venue below).  Stopped at Hinde y Jaime's for a few shrimp tacos and a margarita, bought some hand made leather sandals for $18 and back to the Casita for a Mango Margarita party hosted by Bob and Linda.  Great time chatting with everyone.

Friday nights are Chile Relleno and karaoke nights at Hinde's.  The Chile Relleno's were amazing - i had to have a second order.  The entire Casita crew went for dinner including Bob and Linda.  We ate (a lot), drank(a lot), sang (a little), danced (a little) and had a lot of fun.  Our bill for the evening: $30!

Our beach

Jan on our balcony

Dirt road separating the Casita from the beach

Got to the top!

Great massage!

Hinde y Jaime's

Outside Hinde y Jaime's on Friday night

La Penita - January 8, 2015

Starting to get used to the early morning coffee by the pool visiting with Mike and Colleen from the Ottawa area.  The Tianguis Market was on today in La Penita.  It is a huge market being a combination of a flea market where you can buy new and used clothing, kitchen utensils and stove parts to traditional souvenir type items and hand made Mexican crafts.  We started out eating - surprise surprise - from the vendors in the market.  We had fresh made potato chips, fresh hand squeezed orange juice ($1 for a 20 ounce cup), my favourite Mexican dessert - Tres Leche cake (three milk cake which is a white cake soaked in evaporated milk - sounds delicious doesn't it?), a fresh bun and croissant.  We are now officially eaters of street food in Mexico - something that would not have happened only a few short years ago.  I bought a couple of tank tops and Jan bought a table runner, some napkins and an beautiful apron.  We donated some money to a local charity which Bob and Linda help organize to help  locals go to University (they have provided 17 scholarships so far).  We went for lunch at Cesar's and had grilled shrimp sautéed in garlic and butter.

We spent the afternoon by the pool.  Dinner was at Rincon del Arabe (LOL not at Hinde y Jaime's) with the Judy, Phil, Lynn, George and Georgina (the crew from Mackenzie BC).  Jan had curry shrimp and I had hawaiian shrimp stir fry - both very good.  3 of us ordered Pina Coladas and a rum punch like drink showed up - the owner Hitham decided we should try this concoction instead.  It was great.  Hitham bought us a round of drinks at the end of the night.  We went for a walk downtown and arrive back around 10.

A Mañana (until tomorrow).

Tianguis Market

Tianguis Market

La Penita - January 7, 2015

We got up around 6:30 and had coffee in the courtyard.  We went to Hinde y Jaime's for Huevos Rancheros (why change a good thing) - excellent.  We then went for a walk for an hour along the Malecon.  We spent the day at the pool.  Bob mentioned that a great guitarist by the name of Tiki was playing at Las Brisas.  We went for another walk to explore town for awhile and then off the Las Brisas for dinner.  Bought some potato chips on the street - they slice the potato, deep fry it and add some salt and lime juice all in front of you on the street - delicious.  Tiki was fantastic and the shrimp fajitas were fantastic as well.  Oh yeah, had dinner with Steven Spielberg!

Ever have one of these?

Beach in La Penita

Malecon

Fish Market at the end of the Beach

So cute!

Chinese Restaurant?

Bringing in Fresh Fish

Tiki

Fajitas

Steven Spielberg?

Sayulita - January 6, 2015

Another leisurely morning.  We were going to meet up with Jan's cousin, Cal, and his girlfriend, Ela, in Sayulita.  It was leisurely until we realized that 30 minutes down the road was in a different time zone and we had to get our buns in gear or we would be late.  Our taxi driver, Miguel, was great, and we asked him to driver us around Lo de Marcos on the way.  We had contemplated staying in Lo de Marcos this trip and wanted to see it.  It looked like another great sleepy Mexican town with a great beach.  This place is now on our radar for a future trip.  

We met Cal and Ela at Don Pedro's on the beach in Sayulita for lunch and then headed to the beach for a swim and some catching up time.  Cal and I went to change and as we were walking down the beach, he realized that he had his trunks on inside out.  Ela was quick to announce this to all on the beach … into the ocean for a quick change.  The waves were big in Sayulita - as big as I have seen them. 

We stopped for a drink in a beachfront bar before we left and there was a lady getting a massage in the bar (only in Mexico) - she and the masseuse were covered in a white lotion and he was bending and twisting her like we have never seen.  We chatted with the masseuse afterwards and he told us he was more of a healer than a masseuse. He was using clay which he brings from the hot springs in the mountains by donkey - it takes him two weeks to get the clay and he lives off the land during this time (he told us that there is no reptile that cannot be eaten).  Another great Mexico story! 

Always a great trip into Sayulita, but it was busy with people and cars and we seem to be gravitating away from busy.  It was great to meet Ela and catch up with Cal.  

We took a taxi back to La Penita and were bound to try a different restaurant - they were all closed for some reason except for … yup you guessed it … Hinde y Jaime's.  Had a margarita, mojito and few shrimp tacos and back to our place.  We visited with Connie and Mike (from just outside Ottawa) for a few hours and to bed.  We are starting to get used to this …

La Penita - January 5, 2015

What a Great Day!  We started off slowly with coffee and toast on our balcony and then ventured over to Rincon de Guayabitos (the neighboring town) for the Monday market.  We walked through La Penita which is very old town authentic Mexico and crossed a suspended bridge into Rincon which is very touristy with hotels lining the beach.  The walk was a lot longer than we thought (about 30-45minutes - who knows - we don't wear a watch down here - it felt like a long time in the heat).  The market was great with everything from touristy stuff to handmade Mexican fare.  We did not buy anything as we are waiting for the La Penita market on Thursday which is apparently much larger.  We stopped for lunch at Tonitos I (recommended by Patty form Hinde y Jaime) and had fresh fish with cilantro and bacon wrapped cheese stuffed shrimp.  We walked along the beach which is beautiful, long and busy and then took a taxi home (30 pesos - about $2.50).  We relaxed around the pool for the afternoon and chatted with our neighbours from Alberta and BC.

The Gold Medal game for the World Juniors was on at Hinde y Jaime's so off we went - yup the same restaurant again but why mess with a good thing - it ended up being one of our best night's in Mexico!  Patty also had a singer coming in last night - Roberto - and told us that we could watch the game but with no sound so that Roberto could sing.  He was excellent, but we felt bad, the crowd was obviously there for the hockey game and would cheer constantly.  He eventually just took a long long break and waited for the hockey game to end.  Winning gold was a great start to the evening, but the best was yet to come … we became part of the Hinde y Jaime family.  It was so busy that Patty called in the reinforcements.  We met Jorge (her uncle and Hinde's brother) and his wife and son.  Pam (Jaime's daughter) and her daughter were there from St. Louis.  Jaime's son and his wife and daughter were there from Hawaii.  Christina (Jaime and Hinde's daughter) and her young daughter were there  … and Hinde and Jaime were there as well (apparently they do not come to the restaurant often anymore).  Jan ended up helping fold napkins.  We sat with Jaime for quite awhile - he is 85 years old now and had many stories.  He arrived in this area 30 years ago when there was very little except trees and jungle.  He and Hinde built a hut on the beach which they lived in for 7 years.  They have owned many businesses in the area over the years but his greatest joy was seeing his family all here.  This is the Mexico that most rarely see and which makes us love it here so much.  By the way, eating and drinking all night (a lot) cost us about $40.

Estuary by the river separating La Penita and Guayabitos

Jan enjoying Guayabitos

Bob enjoying Guayabitos more ...

Pelicans on the beach

Hinde y Jaime Restaurant watching hockey

La Penita de Jaltemba - January 3-4, 2015

We are starting the year off with a trip to La Penita de Jaltemba and La Cruz de Haunacaxtle.  La Penita is located bout an hour north of Puerto Vallarta and La Cruz is about 1/2 hour north of Puerto Vallarta.

We landed in PV at about 5 pm on January 3 (Saturday).  We were one of the first through customs and then waited about 45 minutes for our luggage.  Casita de la Penita (our home for 1 week) sent Sugar (our driver) to pick us up - it is a beautiful drive north through the lush jungles.  Bob and Linda Gibbs are the owners and operators of Casita de la Penita - they are from Saskatoon and operate this place for 6 months of the year.  They have a local family who operate it for the other 6 months.  They bought a beaten up ocean front property in the middle of nowhere 15 years ago and have turned it into a great little oasis.  Our room is on the second floor with a great view of the ocean and a winding staircase to get to the second floor - Jan is still negotiating the stairs.  La Penita is authentic Mexico - not touristy as at all.

We were starving (although when aren't we?) - Bob and Linda recommended that we go to Hinde y Jaime's Restaurant (for those interested, "y" is "and" in spanish).  Patty is one of the owners and does everything but cook.  We asked for her best drinks to start - I had a Margarita (Patty won the Annual International Margarita Challenge in 2010 and 2011) and Jan had a Mango Daiquiri - both were amazing.  We had some fresh guacamole, salsa and chips as well as some fresh fish (verracruzanna style) and two large skewers of shrimp.  We were no longer starving.  We did a little grocery shopping on Main Street - La Penita is much bigger than we thought with a main street about 4 blocks long.  We dropped into bed the fell asleep instantly.

On Sunday, we were up about 8 am and sat on our balcony with coffee overlooking the ocean.  We have a great view of the fishing boats and Tortuga (Turtle) Island.  We then ventured to Hinde y Jaime's for breakfast (Why mess with a great thing?).  I had Heuvos Rancheros and it was the best Mexican breakfast ever.   We met several of Hinde's family (Patty runs the place and is one of Hinde's daughters but several other siblings are visiting from St. Louis and Hawaii).

We did a little more shopping (forgot to buy rum) and then headed back to the Casita for the day by the pool - nice and relaxing.  We headed back to Hinde y Jaime's for dinner - WHAT?  You may think that there are no other restaurants in town but they have big screen TV's and Canada was playing Slovakia in the World Junior Semi- Finals … and it was rib night.  All excellent again.  We were joking with Patty about having the best restaurant and that there must be others in town - she was smiling from ear to ear.  She later came back to the table and said there were some other great restaurants and gave us a couple of suggestions (in the next town over!).

Adios.  Mañana.

First Margarita and Daiquiri

Casita de la Penita

Our Beach at Sunset

Stairway to Heaven or ...

Authentic Mexico