Two!

Puppy numero dos.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Brand new PUPPY!

Wow!

The dog that hangs out here at the casa was diagnosed by me as "pregnant" upon our arrival. She's not too big or anything, but I think it's safe to say I am a dog belly expert, what with all the rubbing and all.

Sure enough, she's gotten a little bigger the last couple of days, and you could feel objects in her belly.

Well, about 30 minutes ago, she dropped out a puppy, right before our eyes. Some drama ensued, including her leaving without her puppy. We're assuming she's got more to do and then she'll be back for this one. I managed to feint with some more belly rubbing and got her to allow the new one to nurse for a few moments before she took off again.

Deena now wants to stay for 8 additional weeks so we can take the puupy (a girl) home with us.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Ahh.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Sent from Scott's phone

More market..

More time spent in the Bucerias market this evening.

I asked a shopkeeper how locals felt about Americans visiting and even moving here, explaining that we are thinking about it ourselves. He said, "you welcome.. we friend here."

The shot above is from the end of the marketplace, looking out over Bahia de Banderas. We watched the sunset there this evening.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Boca!

Boda de Tomatlán. I love this town. It's like a cross between Bucerias and La Cruz, plus a lagoon, then mini-size it.

I had the single best Mexican meal of my life, on the beach, with the surf crashing and a mariachi band playing. The people were so nice! And genuinely so; you can feel it.

It's holiday week here, so there are more Mexican people than tourists in most places we go. This was no exception, and it was a good time.. People playing, laughing, singing. And us, welcome to enjoy with them. I find it flattering, but it really speaks to their graciousness, not to any esteem we may or may not have earned.

As we left here today, Deena told me that the people we've met definitely passed the audition (I told her before we left that this trip was to give Mexico an audition for many vacations to come or possibly to move to [we're looking for where we're going to move that's warm]; she's got some reservations, but I'm making progress).

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Artisanship in Sayulita

Sayulita. Very nice.. Hot young American women (many highly tatooed) (and apparently the expatriate colony there is significant and growing), cute young European women working the coffee bar, many shops, a great beach with surf.

Really, though.. Too crowded. Once a sleepy little village, Sayulita has been discovered now, and there's no turning back. Parking was a problem - not a good sign, and the Americans were plentiful - not all hot young ones, but really, and the end of the day, maybe they're (we're) all just as obnoxious. Just inasmuch as we seem to want to find neat new places and then we want Jamba Juice there. I'm just as guilty as the next guy.. I was stoked about the first Starbucks on Kauai.

So this photo is of some real, actual craftsmanship. Lots of same ol' for sale in this town, but if you look, you can find a dude or two who really knows his stuff. This table belonged to such a dude. We found some unique pieces.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Someone reads this..

Actually, she probably doesn't count. Here's Deena reading this blog, making use of the computer at the desk in Michelle's La Cruz gallery. If you're ever in Cruz de Huanacaxtle, be sure to drop in. Art, dogs, cats, birds. Plus Michelle and her Mom, Linda. Also, the produce truck unloads across the street. Don't miss that!

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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La Cruz fruit truck..

We were told that the must see event in La Cruz is the weekly produce truck unloading. That was tonight. We were there. A produce truck arrived, and they unloaded it. No shit.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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This doesn't suck.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Sent from Scott's phone

La Cruz!

Darrell and I walked 15 minutes up the beach to La Cruz for street tacos tonight. The girls weren't down for it. We got there and a full-blown fetival was going on. Not a touristy one. We were the only Americans or even white people in the entire village. It was like we got to see Mexico when Mexico didn't know we were looking. Truly wonderful. Young lovers walking and holding hands. Families eating together and laughing. Children wide-eyed at the hubbub of the festival. This was a treat.

The tacos were freaking good.

Neither of us brought cameras, I didn't even bring this phone. I regret that as there was so much I'd have loved to capture (I could've exploded), but at the same time, I don't regret it. It would've changed it, taken us outside of the place instead of allowing us to just be there. I'm still going back with a camera tomorrow night, though, and hoping to see even a small fraction of what we experienced tonight.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Deena's first days' haul..

As usual, a walk down the (awesome) beach means only one thing to Deena - beachcombing!

Every beach has it's own unique treasures to offer. This particular beach is rich in mother-of-pearl and some good shells. We saw a moray eel or lepoard eel or some shit hunting up at the high water line. He hid from us and we didn't molest him.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Critter!

WTF?

So the owner if this beast told us, "ees a Mexican polar bear, of course. You wanna eat eem? I make him tamale for you - one quart of beer!"

When pressed further, he told us it was a badger.

I referred the question to the office. Kyle, ever amazing, told me:

"That, my friend, is a Coati. It is member of the raccoon family and is also known as a Brazillian weasel (or a coon cat)."

I love that thing. His owner is all right in my book, too, but I hope he doesn't manage to sell the thing in a tamale.

Speaking of raccoons, I do wish Aaron and Narumi were here.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Still at the market..

There's really a lot of tacky crap (e.g. T-shirt emblazoned with a criss-eyed smiley face and:

"Don't worry..
GET STONED!
-Puerto Vallarta"

That's the souvenir I was hoping for!

That said, there are some treasures to be found here as well (and pure vanilla! What, you no want?). Some nice jewelry, some of it real. Some actual native handicrafts. Some gorgeous pottery that we have no way to bring home, so I sadly had to pass by.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Score!

Darrell has just purchased a useful item from this wandering street vendor after haggling him down 60%. Now he's off too see what he might need next Pure vanilla, perhaps? No? "What, you no want vanilla? Mui loco!"

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Market!

More colorful crap than you can shake a stick at.. Deena loaded up on silver jewelry in the first 30 minutes. Yes, there was haggling. Brutal, ruthless haggling.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Cobblestone streets ..

Just wanted to show this. I love these streets. Kinda hell to walk on all day, though.. And I haven't driven on them yet..

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft LLC
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Tom the dog

This is Tom. He gets around town and does well for himself. He seems to have an owner.. At least he's wearing a harness. Some American shopkeepers were feeding him and told me his name. He wasn't their dog, though. We've seen him "downtown," and we've seen him up by our condo. Usually politely walking with someone just to see if they'd "pay" him, as do a few of the human locals. I find Tom more charming. I gave him a grape, which he spit out, so he's not starving.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft
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Sent from Scott's phone

We're here!

Ahhh. Mexico. The condo is super - better than I'd expected. Here's the view from our veranda. The camera phone isn't great; it washed out this pic pretty badly. No worries, though: I'm getting plenty of good shots with the real camera, and I'll post them when we get home.

It's been very warm and nice, as expected. Bucerias isn't, however, exactly what I expected. Maybe it's better. The streets are cobblestone. The people are very warm (I've had no hints of resentment or unwelcomeness such as we experienced our last Hawaii trip), the beach is clean, the food is good, the prices are good, the architecture is phenomenal, the vegetation is lush, the dogs are plentiful and friendly (I have many pictures of my new friends). There is a different standard of living for the locals. Obviously, I guess, but I'm clearly a little bit naïve, for all my blowhard pseudo-worldliness. Some buildings are much more rustic than we'd see in our hometown. There's a sewer smell from time to time or more often. There's the well-known Mexican way of working you for money. They're by and large such sweet people that I want them to not have to live like that.

We're very glad to be here. Some business at home is sort of nagging at me, but not overmuch, and despite it I (and we all) are slowing down nicely. Deena and I are officially tan. Darrell is at least red, but Jackie has been in pain and suffering - separated rib.. We may have to shoot her :( --and hence hasn't seen much sun yet. We'll make sure she makes up for it.

The longer we're here, the more I like it.

Please forgive the yammering, not-eloquent post. I'm doing this from my phone, which is workable, but far from nurturing of one's muse.

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Scott Lampman
Cas Soft
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Sent from Scott's phone

PDX

It's always odd to me how crowded it is at the airport early. We've been here since 4:AM. We board soon..

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Scott Lampman
Cascadia
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Sent from Scott's phone

And still someone else's adventures in Bucerias..

..although these people seem to plan on keeping the adventure going, permanently. Great site:

http://www.qualitypeoples.com/