Blogs from Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, Mexico, North America

We left the flat, fairly good roads of the Yucatan behind and commenced our journey towards Oaxaca (pronounced wahaca). We bumped along the road to Escarcega, turned east/right to follow the coastline of Bahia de Campeche, & took our last look at the turquoise blue sea, before heading back west across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This is the narrowest point of the country and was once the route considered for the building of the canal to link the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. However Panama got the gig. Perhaps one reason for it not being chosen is that the Chivela mountain pass provides a gap for the wind to pass between the mountain ranges, so at times it is very, very gusty. I imagine some days the ships may have travelled though in record time. Now, instead ... read more

I never really appreciated the aptness of the snow bird term used to describe those who head south from the snowy and cold northern states and provinces until now... the Canadians here are beginning to stir..to become agitated and restless...a few are breaking away early and heading north this week...many more to follow. These little towns will be deserted soon... We took the bus to San Pancho on Wednesday. It is a very sweet little town about 20 minutes south of here. In the 1970's, a former President of Mexico tried to make it into a model village, building a hospital and schools, planting many trees. Sadly, his corruption caught up with him and he had to escape the country, taking his money (well, the Mexican peoples' money) with him....so the town is not the self-sufficient ... read more

Our days consist mainly of walking the beach, wandering around town for supplies and snacks, spending lots of time at our favourite eating places, playing afternoon volleyball, hanging around the pool, and making small trips to all the other little beach towns close by. The other Nayarit beach places besides Lo de Marcos are San Francisco (San Pancho), Rincon de Guayabitos, La Penita, Sayulita, and Chacala.... read more

Matt and I drove through Arizona to the Nayarit beach area of Mexico where Lana and Erika joined us. Lana flew to Puerto Vallarta and Erika came from Guadalajara where she is studying. Other than a few days spent with Erika in Guadalajara, Lana and I are relaxing at our favourite spot, Villas Tlaquepaque, Lo de Marcos, a quiet little beach town about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. Everything is pretty simple but that's why we're here! Erika and Matt are planning a couple of weeks of backpacking while we stay here.... read more