“Sooner or later you must move down an unknown road that leads beyond the range of the imagination, and the only certainty is that the trip has to be made.” Bruce Catton

It was our first driving road trip in Mexico – destination, Puerto Vallarta, for a few days visit with our friends, Judith and Steve. I described the landscape traveled in detail on our first trip to PV by bus. In retrospect, after you pay all the road tolls, gas, and wear and tear on your nerves, it’s cheaper to take the bus and much more comfortable.

Judith was ill, so our visit with them was brief … we managed several tasty meals: a recommended breakfast place where we ate twice…….great nopales and eggs. A second visit to a different location of 8 Tostadas: grilled octopus, but the star of the evening was a dish Steve ordered, but it’s not on the menu – chicharrón red snapper (fried head and tail – then the body was fried in strips and reassembled) in a stunning presentation. And famous Joe Jack’s Fish Shack in the Zona Romántica for the absolute best seafood chowder and fish ‘n chips, then a nearby stop at Lix, the best ice cream in PV.

We walked off the dinner & ice cream with a stroll on the Malecón and by the cathedral we got to experience our first posada ~ Mary, on a donkey, with Joseph by her side in period costume with the congregation singing Villancicos behind them.

We stood to the side as the procession walked by and David was surprised when I sang along …

Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.

Our accommodations in PV were in a lovely oceanfront resort … a one bedroom suite with a great water view. Our first night party goers on the property next door kept it up till very early in the morning … the next day a full day beach party took place on the same property. One night our resort held a Mexican night, so sitting on our terrace we were serenade by Mariachis “What happens in PV … “

We headed over to the mall for a bit of shopping and to catch “Aquaman” … our review – a bloated, stinky fish, 45 minutes too long and multiple, useless storylines and crappy dialogue…….but, hey – the CGI is first-rate and it will make billion$!

Back home and our monthly trip to Costco and the Megastore … we got the trip to western Guadalajara down to a science and with no GPS necessary 👏👏

On Friday night, the Winter Solstice, David invited our friends, Cheryl and Arvada, for homemade spaghetti and meatballs, the smells permeated the house with its Italian aromas. They arrived right on time @ 4:22pm – the precise Solstice moment.

The biggest surprise was upon opening the door, our guests were dressed in all black with feathers in their hair and holding lighted candles, just like Druids at Stonehenge ~ it was a very special touch to a very lovely, shared holiday evening.

Presents are wrapped and awaiting the arrival at our home of holiday guests – David’s sister – mi cuñada, David’s nephew – mi sobrino and Ellen, a family friend. We have a few activities planned……….but really looking forward to spend Christmas with family.

I guess I will be busy on the phone on Christmas Day connecting with missed family and friends NOB.