S/V Capaz: Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Adios

December 25, 2009
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad from the Baker Family

What a week! I need a vacation from my parents' vacation. We have been going non-stop since G-ma and G-pa arrived on the 17th.
After the first couple of full days, we decided to try the weekly market in Bucerias. I unfortunately had a small accident with the rental car as we were getting ready to catch the bus. Everyone was fine and it ended up being one of those situations that was basically solved with some money and an hour of our time. We continued on to Bucerias and found the first chicken barbecue where we dined on bbq'd chicken and tortillas before tackling the market. We saw everything from produce to electronics and everything in between.
Monday meant that we took care of business that needed to be done before the holidays. We also took a quick trip to the tourist market at Bucerias. Since it was the Solstice, we decided a bonifre (or two) would be appropriate. The kids tried out Mexican sparklers which are about three times the size of American ones. We observed the tradition of writing down a regret from the previous year and a hope for the coming year and threw the piece of paper into the bonfire!
The next day we got all the way into Puerto Vallarta to check out the Malecon and Our Lady of Guadeloupe cathedral. On the say back to the condo, we figured out where Costco was located and did a preliminary provisioning trip along with a final quick stop tourist market back in Bucerias.
All the way to the other side of Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, we trooped south to check out the Zoologica. It was an interesting zoo, not necessarily what we are used to seeing, but remarkable in its own right. Our frend Ron, treated all the kids to the experience of a lifetime: holding a month old baby tiger. The kids were beside themselves!!! A lazy lunch in one of the hill towns wore us all out.
We celebrated Christmas in our traditional way: on Christmas Eve. G-ma and G-pa's flight was Christams afternoon, so we just figured it would be easier. Our celebration included the Austins, the Bakers and the Giffords and consisted of presents; champagne, steak and eggs brunch; swimming; card playing; and movies. We left the condo for packing and preparation for departure.
Santa visited the boats and then we retrieved G-ma and G-pa from the condo. Behan cooked us up a most excellent French toast brunch complete with tropical fruit salad and egg nog lattes. We lazed away the next several hours until it was time to leave for the airport. The boys even got their G-pa playing X-box. We returned to the marina for an impromtu Christmas dinner with crews of Evergreen and Totem. The kids ate through dinner in ten minutes flat and headed for Capaz, so that the adults could enjoy a leisurely dinner all to themselves.
Hope everyone else is enjoying the holidays as much as we have! Feliz Navidad!

Solstice Bonfires on the Beach