Must…get….away…from….computer….

Let’s start by saying there are two roads to Barra de Navidad from Guadalajara. One is “la libre”, 80, which turns off from the toll road to Colima 10 minutes after the Plaza Outlet Mall thing. This is the one we took as the signs said “Barra de Navidad this way” and looked good to me, despite Sita shouting “don’t turn off here!”. Depending on the traffic and the competence of the driver this windy, twisty, convoluted, corkscrew route will take around 6 hours and you’ll see more topes than you should ever have to see in one day (see video in César’s blog). That said, it’s a stunning drive through the mountains. We set off late and arrived after dark, Sita and Monica checked out 5 hotels or so before settling on El Marquez de Santana which was perfect. Clean rooms, close to the beach, cable, secure parking, A/C, friendly staff and a pool for 60 bucks a night… bargain.

We wandered into town and had an outstanding meal at a restaurant whose name I forget, which overlooked the lake. Then continued on to Rocktavios where there was live music and a few tequilas on the beach. Next day was quiet, breakfast on the beach where the (short/long sighted/ blind?) waitress said I looked like Ricardo Arjona of “Pinguinos en la Cama” notoriety. Then shopping for trinkets. Then beers on the beach, pozole, nap, beers, DanceDanceRevolution, meal, wander, bed. Lovely day.

Yesterday we set off in search of Tenacatita to check out the mangrove swamps. It was a lot further along the coast than the bloke at the hotel said, so we had breakfast in Cuastecomate and watched pelicans doing their thing in a gorgeous natural harbour surrounding. We eventaully got to Tenacatita and had more food and then hired ourselves a lancha and lanchista (300 pesos, 16 quid an hour) who showed us round the manglares at high tide. A lovely refreshing ride, with none of the fauna we expected (no crocodiles nor snakes) but a fair few crabs and different coloured garzas (storks, i think)… High tide meant dodging the low hanging mangrove roots but was fun all the way…

After all that, back to Gwod. But not on the 80, we went to Colima on windyish roads, then pretty much 5 star roads from there on taking about 4 hrs all in all.

Monica’s got an alternative version of events over here. and there’s plenty of pix as usual at Flickr central.

Here’s a low res virtual tour of the Manglares de Tenacatita:

I’ve been working since 8:30 this morning, and things keep piling up. It’s 5.45 i’m still at work and have tons to do. Hope the dog’s not being too loud in the back garden, he gets well narky if he hasn’t dragged us on a walk. I’m going to have to finish this at home… Just had to vent somewhere.

Judith and Carlos’s wedding was something to behold.

I’m glad I took a few photos so I’d remember the later stages of the afternoon… They’ll be along in the usual place in a couple of days.
I’ve never seen so many people go from zero to full-throttle dancing in so short a time. Fair play to the mariachi and the banda. I’ve got a 15 second video from me camera with a blast of banda- it’s like a trip-hop beat coupled with a full-on brass section, amplified, and fronted by a smiley Mexican man who is the only one who doesn’t get to wear a pink shirt. I almost danced too, but chickened out at the last second. Again. I’m looking forward to hearing who, among the anglos, actually made it to the end of the evening. Sita & I sheepishly retreated at the grand old time of sunset. Judith’n’Carlos are off to Maui tomorrow I think, best of luck to ’em. Judith knows how to plan a party…

I can exclusively reveal that Absinth tastes a lot like Pernon/Ricard/Pastis and is better with the whole sugar/ spoon/ pyromania rigmarole (sp?). Thoroughly recommend it. Delusions, hallucinations, madness and epilepsy failed to manifest themselves in our controlled experiment last night. Mind you, we left a little early…

Click HERE for a large Picassa ‘photo pile’ of some snaps from the shindig.