Aqua Aventura

The humidity is rising fast, right on seasonal cue. We are now only about 2 weeks out from the usual June 15th start of the thunderstorm season. Wow, what sticky air. But, at least it makes my thinning hair look thicker, and my contacts feel better.

I get by with lots of  iced tea and ceiling fans in summer; no AC for stoical me. But when you can't take it anymore you can always hang out in the frozen food section of Walmart, or buy a block of  ice and sit on it. 

Realistically, going to a movie is a good old-fashioned way to cool off.  And then, there is the siren call of the water park.

Right across the highway from the most southerly entrance to Nuevo Vallarta is the old "Splash" water park, now under different ownership, remodeled and renamed. It's now called Aqua Aventura! (Aquatic Adventure!) Video below.

They have enlarged the old dolphin tanks considerably, and in addition to the vast array of pools and water slides, there is a "Swim With the Dolphins" attraction for around $100 USD ($1200 pesos).

I dropped by to check it out yesterday, and plan to take a certain 2 1/2 year old there later this week. Meaning to just the slides and pools. She will love it. (Kids have to be at least 8 to swim with the dolphins.)

If you have never been inside, there is much more to this park than you would think when passing by it on the highway. There are ten major water slides of varying configurations, plus a good-sized area of gentle slides and shallow water for small kids; plus a tubing "river" running around the park.

There is a seafood restaurant, plus hot dog, taco and hamburger stands, and plenty of seating under the shade trees. It s a fun but relaxing atmosphere.

The park is open now from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. except closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Starting in July it will be open 7 days a week and remain open an extra hour, until 6 pm. Regular admission for adults is around $25 USD (depending on exchange rate), but there are promotions right now of two for one, and also a 30% discount for locals. So, if you live here and have a proof of address, you can get the discount.

Entry fee for kids from 4 to 11 is approx $19 USD, but again, with that 30% discount for locals.

Kids under 4 get in free.

Here's just one area of the park:

Beautiful Ranch Near Sayulita For Sale

Robert:

Deborah Foster has just listed this ranch near Sayulita.It's a mix of open meadows and lush tropical forest. It has very easy, quick access from the highway, but feels isolated and private.

Main ranch house on right, storage and garage on left.

Entry to main ranch house.

The approach to the main ranch house, and the look of the house itself, remind me a bit of Karen Blixen's house in Kenya (Blixen is the author of Out of Africa).

Dining.

 

For higher resolution photos and more details, go to the main web page for the ranch here:

http://rfasoc.com/ranch.html

Spring Fires

Robert:

Spring fires, meaning the burning of fields and underbrush in advance of the rainy season, are still a tradition in much of the tropical world, including Mexico.

Our summer thunderstorms typically begin right around June 15...sporadically at first, then pick up in frequency and intensity as we progress into July and August. In late Sept. they usually begin winding down, then stop in mid October.

In advance of all that, the burning always starts in May, our hottest month. Problem is, May is also one of our windiest months. (Spring in this area is very dry, and each afternoon, very breezy. The onshore afternoon breeze really kicks in starting typically in March, and continues that way right until the rains begin.)

So, these brush-clearing fires can get out of control easily, and often do. Yesterday, the bomberos (firemen) were racing down the highway towards a plume of white smoke, emanating from a brushy field.

This video was shot a few days ago as my neighbors burned the underbrush in the orange orchard behind my place.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1rlBjxjjDAQ

Impromptu Vaquero Parade Today

Robert:

Around 3 pm today Deborah, Patty de la Mora and I were working when we heard another parade approaching. It was led by a screechingly dissonant brass band in a trailer, followed by almost 200 vaqueros (cowboys) and vaqueras (cowgirls).

I rushed outside the office to shoot this video. I asked several bystanders, locals, what was the point of the parade. Nobody had a clue. Finally when the parade stalled for a moment I asked one of the horsemen. He said it was something to do with La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, our neighboring village. I got the distinct impression he wasn't sure.

Which begged the question, "Then why is the parade in Bucerias?"

But I did not ask this. One thing I have learned after 18 years here is to stop trying to make logical sense of everything. Sometimes, it's better to just let go and free fall down the rabbit hole. "...yeah I'm free.....free fallin'....." (T.P.)