Spring Pageant and Parade

Last March, during our month trip to Sayulita, we stumbled upon yet another celebration. This one involved young children, kings and queens, and decorated pick up trucks for a parade. Everything was so vibrant and colorful with lots of decorative flowers and butterflies. All I saw was an opportunity to take pictures of locals doing their thing, Alex was in awe of the kings and queens and I think Trace and Ozzy were probably bored. I never thought twice about it and never knew what it was for in the first place. Never in a million years did I think that our kids would be in that same celebration exactly one year later. I still am not 100% what it is for but I am 99% sure that it is the celebration of the first day of spring or, primavera, in Spanish. The children in kindergarten elect kings and queens, dress up as butterflies, lady bugs, fairies, etc and the boys as animals. They give a performance, crown the princes and princesses, king and queen, decorate trucks and drive around town in a parade.

Ozzy and I had no idea this was going to happen or be such a big deal until the day before. There are two different kindergartens so there are two different celebrations. Luckily, I just happened to run into one of my gringo friends who has a daughter at the other kindergarten. Their school had the celebration the day before ours and she filled me in, so Ozzy and I went to that one to learn what was expected of us for ours. After getting a little information here on this day and a little there on that day and running around Sayulita and Bucerias for two days we were ready for our schools "spring celebration".

Of course Alex couldn't wait because she got to wear a Sleeping Beauty dress, butterfly wings, tiara and her worn out dirty black school shoes. (just think parents not too sure what to do so do a little bit of everything... Sleeping Beauty, faries and Cinderella before the ball). Ozzy bought Trace an awesome shark costume, to fit his "sometimes" personality. He didn't like the head piece, it scared him and he was worried that he would scare others so he stuck with just the body of the shark. We are not too sure how psyched he was to be a part of all of this but be was a big, brave boy and participated with his class.

After the performance and crownings all the kids jumped in the back of decorated pick up trucks, one for each couple, for a parade around town. The parents happily followed on foot and cheered on their "young-ins". Thus was Ozzy's and my first parade. We noticed as we walked along with the trucks and other parents, (yes, we were the only gringos in the parade, and proud to be there) that everyone in and along parade route stopped what they were doing and watched, smiled, waved and cheered. It was awesome to see and feel the support for the children and the celebration.

We thank the Maestras for putting on such a great, colorful and special celebration of Primavera for the children and community.

I have definitley learned that this culture lives for the moment, the now, they celebrate anything and all things that can be celebrated. It is pretty cool to witness people who live in the moment, there is something to be learned there.

It has taken a while but I think that we are gaining some respect from the parents at the school. I get smiles now, they know we don't know most of what is going on but we try and manage to pull it off. Alex probably gets the award for friendliest in the school and that has gone far. Both the kids have made friends and the local parents have taken notice. During the celebration many familites wanted to take pictures of our kids with their children. All in all, a very fun and special afternoon to be included in the local Sayulita community.

Gramp-O and Trace

We recently had some of the grandparents visit from the States. Ashley took this shot of Trace and Gramp-O on the beach at La Lancha.

Punta Sayulita SUP and Longboard Classic

Last weekend was one of our favorite events, The Punta Sayulita Longboard and SUP Classic. Two days of some of the best men and women wave riders and racers on the planet, perfect weather, great crowds and music. This event was good last year and even better this year. Even if you are not a surfer it is a great event to be around for a few hours. A few names in attendance from the US included Gerry Lopez, Chuck Patterson, Candice Appleby, Zane Schweitzer, Jen Lee and Connor Baxtor. The evening of the first day concluded with a free reggae beach concert by Pato Banton. We are happy to say that some of the local guys placed well in the SUP and longboard divisions.

With the exception of the first picture of the crowd, the photos were shot by Ashley.

Alex Swims With the Dolphins

Ava Cawrse's birthday was this week and Alex was her guest to Swim With the Dolphins. All I can say is "WOW".

Grupo Pro Sayulita Fiesta Fund Raiser

Mountain Wave Concrete Sink and Design was happy to once again help out the local organization, Grupo Pro Sayulita, and their efforts to raise funds for improvements in and around Sayulita. This year we donated a custom sink from one of our unique sink molds and added a slot drain.

The winning bid came from a gentleman from California and he will be driving it all the way back with him when he leaves this week. Funny how I came all this way just to build something for someone back in the States. All in all a great event and we were happy to contribute.

Villa Cainito-Complete

Villa Cainito is finished! Custom mold, countertop rehab, vessel sinks installed for multiple baths. A great upgrade and new look for the property. Ozzy and Mountain Wave Concrete have been busy.

Comida

One of the many things I love about Mexico is the food. Just about everthing we eat is fresh. No preservatives. And the cost. I laugh when I walk away from the local market thinking, "I got all that fresh, delicious food for that amount", instead of "I must have left a bag in the store because how did one small bag of food cost me $50?" I don't know if I will ever be able to consciously shop at Whole Foods again.

All of the food in this picture plus 2 dozen eggs, 20 corn tortillas, 4 heads of garlic and 3 sticks of butter cost about $23 US.

Same day caught and bought at the fish market in La Cruz, a town over. All of this Yellowfin Tuna cost only $7 US. We have become addicted. Actually we have been eating so much that we needed to take a break.

Poke dish that Carrie taught me to make when she was here. Thank you Miller!!!

Blue Thumbs

"Blue Thumbs" are a dead giveaway that someone has been to the immigration office recently. Our family just obtained or FM3 visas. Basically it allows us to stay in Mexico longer without having to leave before a Tourist Visa expires after 180 days.

Sayulita's Facelift

Sayulita and what is called the "Riviera Nayarit" have been the focus of an intense tourism push the passed few years. With all the bad press Mexico gets, the country is really trying to attract more visitors to this area of the coast. In an effort to attract these visitors the Puerto Vallarta area will be hosting a huge tourism and travel convention at the end of March.

Six weeks ago Mexico's Governor of Tourism flew in by helicopter and announced that Sayulita and a few other towns on the coast would be getting a facelift...and it would start in three days!!! So, without much warning the downtown area of Sayulita began being torn up. New sidewalks, buried power and communication lines, new palm trees, the creation of pedestrian only areas, new "Welcome" archway, new curbing, new plaza seating etc. So, we have been dodging backhoes, jackhammers, dump trucks and other construction equipment since January but the end is in sight.

Will it be better or will Sayulita lose it's retro-funky look? Who knows but the effort that has been put forth for this facelift has been impressive. Hopefully, by the time the tourism convention rolls around this will mostly be wrapped up, cleaned up and Sayulita can show off it's new look to the world.

Local Surfers

I have been itching to get out and take pictures of surfers in big waves. I finally got my chance. You won't be seeing these in any Surfer magazine but I had a great time taking and editing them. I hope to get more and big names at the Sayulita Surf Contest next weekend. Thanks guys for showing your stuff!

Ashley

"Tracey" no mas!

Who is this?

You guessed it, The Trace MAN, not some girl. So, Trace has been asking to get his hair cut lately because he thinks that people think he is a girl. He is partly right. In the US more people did and the gringos that visit here sometimes do but to the people who live here he was just another surfer dude in the making. Most of the gringo boys here have longer hair. Anyway, I was tired of hearing about it and he was adament. And he won't let anything go until he gets what he wants. I don't think he wanted that much off but I said screw it, lets go big. And there was a man in the salon with very short hair and I asked Trace if he wanted it that short and he said yes. It has not been this short since he was born. I love it though, I can see more of his beautiful face and he is not constantly shaking his head to get his bangs out of his eyes. He is always rubbing it because it feels weird, and last night he mentioned how soft his neck was. He didn't want to go to school today because he thought the kids would laugh at him, not sure why since all the boys in his class have very short hair as well.
At least I didn't let Alex do it! Besides it will grow back.

Just in case you forgot what he looked like here are a few reminders:

Sayulita Days

Sayulita Days is a celebration of the birth of Sayulita and goes from February 16 - 24 and it is quite the party. The fair set up at the baseball field with lots of rides and games. My favorite are the booths where you throw rocks at beer bottles. For 25 pesos you get three rocks. If you hit 1 bottle you get 1 beer, 2 bottles, 2 beers, 3 bottles, a 6 pack. As you can imagine by the end of the night there are some pretty happy individuals stumbling around. I am really missing the fact that I cannot drink beer because it seems as though there is always a reason here to drink one. My derriere is happier though. Beside the fair is a stage set up for all of the bands that will play during Sayulita days as well as the rodeo. The locals get dressed up in their finest attire for these activities which is fun to see. There was also a parade in which the kids school participated in on Friday. They are getting good at parades. It didn't stop at the parade though. There were bands playing all over town during the day as well as the dancing horses in the street next to the plaza having a dance off while the band played. As I said it is a big party for nine days, very loud and lots of fun for everyone.

Ozzy, Alex and Trace on the ferris wheel. That thing moved fast!

Trace Man on the Sponge Bob bouncy slide

Alex and Trace marching in their second Sayulita parade with their school.

Alex having fun as always