Story later

Just a couple of photos of the inside of my apartment and also the very clean and well looked after grounds....this is a very lovely complex, very quiet in a cul de sac and about 5 minutes wo walk to la playa....

Whilst walking back to Barra walked through a small community with a little store and the people watching TV, pretty neat....

These 2 pictures are taken in Barra the beach is about a five minute walk from where I am staying and it is a horse shoe shaped beach connecting to little towns Barra and Melaque and the beach walk between the two is about 2 miles. The apartment is where I am staying I have both floors upstairs and down and there are 9 units in a small gated compound, with lovely grounds including a small cold tub and pool. The weather is just so great and the ocean warm and lovely, I think that is enough bragging...

Hello everyone from beautiful Barra de Navidad, as usual won't tell you about the hot sunny weather, the daily swims in the ocean, the incredible sunsets that would be too mean......hope the holiday season was wonderful for all, pictures to follow tomorrow, see in mexican mode already, love to all....

FISH for breakfast!!! these 3 photos were taken at 8am this morning the fishing boat was right outside the little room where i am staying. Kids already playing on the beach and the last one is taken from my front door, the ocean is just beyond the palms. This little town is a buzzing with local familes, the beach is packed and all you hear is loud happy music, happy kids playing, no fights no crying, and no shopping malls full of crazy people.....well my friends how appropiate I shall be in Barra de Navidad to wish you all Feliz Navidad, take care and be safe....Les

For those of you smart computer people ignore this, but for people like me who didn't know any picture on here you can click on it and see it enlarged!!!!

Well I arrived in Puerta Vallarta much quicker than I thought, I left Puerta Penasco at 8.30am Thursday morning and got here 5pm Friday evening, over 1700kms with no problems at all, although the last couple of hundred miles, was not toll roads and the road was twisty narrow and I was passed by quite a few crazy drivers, they pass on blind double yellow lines then cut you off, you have no choice but to slow down or stop otherwise they would ram you, no wonder there are so many highway shrines over here, so sad…….Slept in the van at the rear of a gas station, any problems you ask?? Just one I was awoken at 7.30a.m. by brilliant sunshine shining in my face!!!!!!!!!! Took just a couple of pictures whilst driving real slow(tsk,tsk) which little piggy is going to market?? And a road side canteena…..I am now really in the tropics and it is very warm and I PROMISE I shall not mention weather conditions again this year. Tomorrow is going to a day of full beach, walking, running, swimming, checking out the attractions(think what you may!!)….Three weeks into my retirement and what a journey so far, thanks for sharing with me….best wishes Les

This picture is me getting ready to ride off into the sunset and the other picture, just held the camera and clicked, turned out not too bad……Tomorrow is my last full day here before I begin the trip south, just wanted again to say hello to you all and thanks for showing interest my blog and my travels….it has been fun keeping this up to date and my next post will be from Barra probably after Boxing Day…..Have a great and happy and healthy season, travel safe, best wishes, The Kid

Well it was a quiet weekend here and the weather changed a little, had very strong winds all day Saturday and the ocean looked angry......I have been relaxing quite a bit and now I think I am fully convinced that I am retired, I don't have to drive back and go to work, pretty nice feeling to have. Last week was a very rewarding one and I know all the efforts of many people are appreciated by the families and the children and it shows on their faces and their actions......I shall be starting my drive south on Wednesday for those of you really bored and wanting to know where i am and going if you look at the map of Mexico I am at present on the mainland but right at the tip of the sea of Cortez in a small town called Puerta Penasco, about one hour drive from Lukville, the border town with Arizona, I am driving down about 2000 kms to another small town called Barra de Navidad, which is on the pacific ocean about three hours drive south of Puerto Vallarta and about one hours drive north of Manzanillo, I am hoping to be there for Christmas Day, I was in this lovely little town two years ago and it is beautiful, I have a small apartment booked for 9 weeks.........anyway more on that when I get there.....for all you read my blog and e mail me thanks I love all the e mails....I wish each and everyone of you a very safe, happy and merry holiday season(being as we cannot say Merry Christmas), take care, best wishes...

I have just looked at my blog and realized a couple of things, first I need to spell check before I post and if I post more than one picture I need to write by that picture. The pictures I posted obviously got a little mixed up, the "can you taste it' refers to the little kid with the hot dog and the shirt story is of the two of us with France shirts, anyway promise to do better in future............oh by the way in case anyone cares, sunny and warm again today!!!!

Can you taste it??????

This was a day I shall not forget they treated us so well and they were so happy and all the kids, see how they form a line for the hot dogs, not one kin crying, not one kid bullying another, not one fight, not one scream, BUT a million shouts of laughter......this is the Christmas spirit!!!!Have a great day everyone Incredible i am this great school and I see this little guy with the same shirt, he was thrilled, as was I!!!!!

Soccer Mexican style, this is the start of pictures taken at the last school party, over 360 kids they were just wonderful, so thankful and so happy...

What a crazy blog this is,,,,,,who would have thought my lovely friends would surprise me with a "Bangers and Mash" dinner!!!!!!!! It was awesome.........have a great day!!!!

These are a couple of photographs at my friend's restaurant, where they invited a few of the older children from the special school to come in for fish and chips, in the photo below, Alexandjro, is the little guy I have been associated with for over 5 years he is at the end of the table on the right in the blue shirt...they loved their meals thanks to Linda and Guy!!!!

Last day of school today!!!!!!!!

these are some awesome pictures of beautiful children, please look into their eyes and tell me you don't see, love, hapiness and a vitality we all clamor for.....also a picture of one of the families that received a most wonderful food basket...

I published this really by mistake the only ones who will find this interesting are my family who in futility support Hull Tigers~~~~

I have just returned from helping deliver to 19 very needy familes many boxes of food and gifts for the familes......it was such an honour to be part of this and so many people have made it possible, I will only do this solicitation once but if my lovely dear friends want to help 100 dollars would keep one family in food for almost a year....if you wish to help when I come down again next year I can bring the money, anyway back to the families, they really have nothing and do live in cardboards shacks but what they do have an abundance of are smiles on their faces, love in their eyes and warmth in their hearts....the kids are putting a concert for us on friday so will post pictures then and also I have some pictures to post of todays activities......have to go now the beach needs me to walk on it, so sorry to hear about all those storms coming to Nanaimo......I hear row boats are available for rent(sorry couldn't resist) take care....

And I thought my last shift was at the Granary!!!!!!!I guess once a waiter always a waiter!!!!!

Just the view from my balcony when I get home last nite and wanted to share the view with you...

Some photos from the kids party!!!!

Notice anything?????These very special needs kids all have SMILES on their faces...this is the tru meaning of Christmas......it was worth dring 2700kms just to these images in person........

I can imagine all you lovely ladies saying"Honey I am just going to browse be back in a minute" Ever seen a store like this before.....no comments today on the lovely warm sunny weather..........I see Canucks got lucky again last nite....best wishes..

Sorry for all the mix up I inadvertently created another blog and had to summon Andy the nephew to sort it out he told me I had too much sun....cheeky kids these days...anyway I think I am back in the groove....am doing so well the beach sun and Mexican kids were the tonic....Spent the morning walking the beach and the afternoon getting all the gifts ready for the kids party on Monday, my friend Linda did all the work and I am happy to report that 78 challenged kids will have a great party on monday and you will get photos,,,, thank you for taking the time to read this ..Les

OK I had some problems with the blog but I think all solved and this is my last gloat picture....my pad for two weeks......

View from patio...seen enough yet??

This is the incredible ceiling of the same bathroom how they make those bricks stay up is amazing..getting the idea yet?

I won't try to describe the mansion I am staying in but use your own imagination, this is my bathroom shower on the second floor.....it is possible for 8 people to shower at once!!!!!!

This is about 20 mins from the Mexican border....