We were going to go out for breakfast but couldn’t get motivated so breakfast turned into lunch @ Mabel’s Cocina.  Taco was so nicely presented; the first I’ve seen using a cucumber as a “bowl” for the mayo & lettuce.

The view from the top

Pelicans galore!     

Click & zoom to the left of the sailboat on the photo, to see LIVA O, the 118 meter (387 ft), $250 million yacht owned by Stephen Orenstein. Annual running cost $15 – 25 million

Walk on…..

This guy is calling us in for bevy time                                                Who are we to say “No thanks”  In we go…

So cool encountering Iguanas.  Although people used to eat them, it is now illegal throughout Mexico to kill them, they are nevertheless still sought after as pets. Aside from humans, iguanas have few natural predators; however hawks and owls will attack the smaller ones.  Their life expectancy is 20ish years.

For the discerning buyer, we offer, have your choice of either.  Act quickly!!

Tour day!  “Rosie” sees us off   

Tours normally have a few stops before the grand event… Today’s first is Panaderia Carmen’s Bakery.  It’s a very nice place and the folks who had treats said they were delicious!

Next stop: one of the hundreds of agaves fields in the area.  Our guide, Marco, explaining how tequila is is made                               &                              me smiling,

Agave plants are succulents with large leaves that end in pointy tips. Agaves have a lot of variety, with over 250 species in the agave genus. Large, stiff specimens can grow to 10 feet or more in height and width, and smaller species can be dish-sized. A few agave species have soft leaves and no spines. Agave grows best in rocky, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun.

Other plants in the area

Next stop; coffee farm, these parrots were very noisy

Off to San Sebastian.   The story of the town is interesting…  San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco  “This Magical Town on the edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and of mining origin, had its best moments during the Colony, when it had 20,000 inhabitants; But the closure of mines during the 19th century caused the migration of many inhabitants. Visiting it is like going back in time: its churches, farms and old mines that are still there.”

   Cobble stone bridge into town, built in the 1800’s

  Mural depicting the town’s history  Our chuckle today: a lady & I need to use the facilities.  Find the correct one only to discover urinals & 2 stalls, dash out re-read the sign yep still says “Mujeres”  Later learn from Allan there were no urinals in the “Hombres”  Another gent also commented he thought it strange there were no urinals.  Wonder who the joker was that switched the signs?

A walk around town, the coble stone streets can be challenging!

      

           San Sebastian Church has quite the history

What’s with the damage?  The original bell broke, not sure how a bell breaks, when they replaced it, there was a minor incident

Next LUNCH 

    Our greeter!

Food was so delicious only got  this photo  Lunch done we get to walk around town for a bit more before heading back

Final stop;  Hacienda Don Lalin, a boutique type tequila factory .  Our welcoming here…We’ll be sampling, learning how tequila is made, and how to drink tequila that has a higher alcohol content to enjoy it to its fullest.  Click here to learn the 7 steps.  The dude is the owner and our educator.

 

This is the oven, or horno, they bake the agave in, has to maintain 1000 degrees C for I don’t remember how long he said, must be because of the sampling!!  Google says 48 to 72 hours.

We bought one to enjoy when we next see K&MIt was a fun day, we’re both happy we decided to take this tour.

Back at the condo, it’s wine and enjoy the sunset time!

We’re not much of “go to the beach and sit there” people but today is….                                                       “Go for a walk on the beach day”

So cute with his ⛱️ shoes 🙂     

Yes we can make it over!      and we did!

Our reward!  Service sucked but what the heck!  It was fun watching the pelicans dive for their dinner 🙂

Clean the sand off.. 

    Fix the bench Mexico style

Bet you will never guess what our “top of the line security” code numbers may be?

Us just hanging around   

 

We know zilch about good tequila but needed to buy at least one bottle while here.  We lucked out, this one is smooth

 

 

 

Even after being here awhile, it still surprises us that local grocery stores like Soriana do not cover their baked goods.  No, we haven’t purchased any. Love those pink stairs.  Zoom in to really appreciate them.Dinner time with live entertainment

The difference in such a short time is remarkable.  Clouds lifted within 10 minutes!

The sunsets are still unbelievable.  Are these colours real??

Last night…..   street tacos for dinner.  Shrimp & pork for me, beef & pork for Allan.

But first “Fluffy’s” for breakfast   

There is a line up but that usually means good food to follow.                                         Fluffy’s did not disappoint!

Beverages:             Me-Cappuccino               Allan-Oreo Milk Shake

Breakfast:   Me-Order of chilaquiles with eggs; Allan-The Mexican Fluffy c/w Fluffy Souffle Pancakes

Souffle Pancakes, the Fluffiest ever 

A brief stop at the condo before heading to the market; “Rosie” is our welcome back committee

Love this market, so colourful   

Pay telephones are well disguised.  A great mural

  Allan’s new hat 🙂

Another beautiful sunset, we’ll miss these         

My favourite chair!! 

We’ve learned a 6pm start means nothing so we are going to bingo at a bar hosted by Hedda Lettuce (the same drag queen show we saw), bingo goes from 4-6.

First stop Brain Freeze Daiquiri bar, these are so yummy good especially on such a hot day.  To select a flavour they offer a “Daiquiri Flight”

Allan chooses strawberry, mine is a combination of strawberry and ice blueWith Daiquiris in hand we walk to La Catrina Cantina for bingo.  Been years since we’ve played – this will be fun 🙂   Allan is happy because there are snacks….

As fabulous as always,  Hedda Lettuce!!We had a great time, didn’t win anything but did get the flowers!Aren’t we cute!

On our way to the parade, no surprise it hasn’t started yet.  Waiting…..

Parade finally started at 727p.  It was over at 810. Had a fun time!

Finally have a bottle of Tequila for our condo   

The crowning of the Carnaval Queen is tonight at 6pm. Carnival is a 3 day event, as much as I search I can’t find any daytime events.  So… 6pm Queen crowning today, tomorrow crowing of the  LGBTTTIQ+ King & Queen (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex and Queer. The + sign means the addition of new communities and dissidences.)

On our walk to Centro, walking over a bridge, a local points over the bridge and we spot this fellow  We walked around town and find a new (to us on this trip) huge flea market.  We vaguely remember being here years ago.  Not enough time to explore today, add it to our “to do” list.

Today’s Queen crowning is being held at the Malecon Arches   We decide to have dinner on the top floor at the restaurant that overlooks the Arches

Order food, get food – hamburger for Allan, shrimp burger for me!

Dinner done, 6.45p still waiting for the crowning to begin (this is at the entrance of the restaurant)7:35p still waiting.  Almost full moon, looks like the moon is on top of the pole7.50p: Finally they begin but there are so many people we can’t see in the bowl from the restaurant.   We’re a little fed up so back to the condo we go.    We were going to go to the crowning tomorrow night but not after the delay today. Fast forward:  We learn Friday’s crowning didn’t start till after 8.  We made the right choice.

We arrived back to this guy as a welcoming committee. 

Feliz cumpleaños para mi!!   Super wonderful to enjoy my February birthday in the !!!
Allan made us reservations at A Mar y Sierra which is an 8m walk from the condo.  Didn’t realize, until Allan read the reservation confirmation that there is a dress code, “smart casual”.  Allan is still keen to go but pants are a little too warm.  It’s my birthday so my choice.  I’d rather walk to centro and check stuff out there, perhaps grab one of the yummy shrimp burgers…

Off we walk, Kyle & Megan call to keep us company on our walk.  Stuff along the Malecon is more expensive and touristy, our plan is to choose a street within the Malecon ie 1st, 2nd, etc and walk up it till we find a fun looking grab a drink place. I selected street #3, up we goSights along the way

The bevvy location winner is…

Mariscos 322pv 

  Great timing!  It’s happy hour!!

Allan needs a hair cut, a few step away we find a barber

Think this is the best hair cut Allan’s had in awhile.  He’s “beautiful” again                      Not that he’s not always beautiful 🙂

Back to our walk on the Malecon   

The Waves are high today, have been for a few days.

I decide (love it’s my birthday, my choice day) to go back to the Mission Restaurant for a Shrimp Burger.  Allan is looking forward to a Hamburger.  In we go, but not so fast they close at 3.  Open doors are just meant for the attached hotel.

Where to go?  There is a huge restaurant on the corner across the street, we’ll go there.. Best decision.  I had shrimp wrapped bacon infused with cheese with a side of pasta; Allan had a burrito.  Such beautiful presentation!  Both were so, so GOOD!!

To make the day even more special, they came out singing “Happy Birthday Tequila, Happy Birthday Tequila, Happy Birthday to you Tequila”

Walking home we enter counter a whole whack of people sitting in portable seating stands as well as tons of first responder folks and vehicles.  No idea what is going on.

Back at the condo we are enjoying the roof top playing dice when we hear sirens.  A post the next day, on a PV FB page, revealed the event was to introduce the at least 30 new ambulances and fire fighter pick ups.

The day ends with a beautiful sunset.   A very memorable birthday it is 🙂

 

My question of the day,,,

 

A walk around Versalles, the neighbouring town.  Versalles isn’t known or all-inclusive resorts and beach access but instead for its fantastic dining options and livable atmosphere.

Start at Ernesto’s for that delicious tortilla soup!  I’m going to miss this soup.  Maybe I’ll have to put Chef Allan on learning how to make it, now that’s a good idea. I’m brilliant!

At the door we are greeted by this fellow…

Notice in the back right?  What’s that?                                                                                    Clothes washer, our course 🙂

My soup…yum, yum, yummy in my tummy 

Allan is having a chicken burritos.  Turns out it’s fairly HUGE!

Get it into you!!  Delicious is his report

Nice they built the road around the tree          Construction galore, it’s fun watching equipment in action.

They are still working at getting the water from the bad storm of last week under control

Very few workers, can’t remember seeing any, wear construction hats, eye &/or ear protection or even gloves.

We need a few more steps today so off to the Food Park for a bevvy.  My first mojito of this trip.

 

We’re getting the hang of this!  There are 18 stations, you take a tray add chili samples.  The containers have the station number written on the bottom, we were given a purple coupon when we arrived to vote for our #1.  Each station has a container, use that to vote for your favorite when all have been sampled. Our first testing          Put aside the ones you like the best, whittle it down to finally vote for your favourite.

   Entertainment…Mariachi Band   More chili samples

More entertainment     

     Beer can tower

Sunshine & pretty flowers!

Another band, we saw the blond in a grocery store last week, who knew they’d end up entertaining us

To hear, click here  Saxaphone

Sampling and voting done, Allan gets us our first tequila shot since arriving.  Not sure why we didn’t have one sooner.   Walking with the utmost care cause they are so full

        ¡Salud!

Walking back we pass a typical large Mexican home.  These cobble streets are difficult to walk on!The sponsors apparently win the cook-off every year, this one wasn’t different…   Captain Don’s, Murphy’s Irish Pub and Nacho Daddy, were the top 3 voted by the official judges.  Never did find out what the winners were of the attendee’s  purple coupon