I left my heart in San Francisco

I sit in Pagosa Springs watching the World Series wishing I was at AT&T Park. Wishing I was close to the place I first called home. I grew up in Northern California and was a regular at Candlestick Park when the Giants played there. The Giants were always a part of my life growing up. It is very much in my family. My dad played baseball. Grandpa played baseball. Even great-grandpa played baseball. The sport is a passion of mine and always has been. As I watch game 1 of the World Series, I look at the bridge in the background beaming over the bay and I ache for clam chowder, served in a fresh sourdough bread bowl. Though the air is crisp and cool from the ocean breeze, I would be in Heaven sitting in this ballpark right now. If you have never been to San Francisco, I highly recommend it. There is so much to see and do. The food is A+++. The views are spectacular. The culture? Nothing short of amazing! Short and sweet this week! ;)

A la tierra is the expression I use when in Mexico. It means down to earth. This place is full of so much majesty, heart, and beauty. The people here are gentle and kind, and always greet you with a smile.

Day One began last Monday morning around 4 am. We were on early flight out of Denver and since it was a three day weekend, we wanted to make sure we were at the airport and resonable time to get through the lines at security. It turns out, there werent many people there afterall so once through security, it was to the bar at 7 am. This vacation was starting off right. Not too long after, we lined up at our gate and it was to Dallas/Fort Worth for a very short layover. We got on the plane, seat belts fastened, laptop out and ready, shoes off. About twenty minutes later, once everyone is on the plane and ready for the sunny city of Puerto Vallarta, the captain announced that there were problems with the plane and we had to deplane and catch another flight. Turns out this "other flight" was in another concourse of the airport which we had to take a tram to. It put a small damper on the trip, but after we got on the second flight, everything was a-ok. Around 4 pm we landed in Puerto Vallarta. I could hardly wait to get off the plane and feel the Mexican heat on my skin. My wish came true. It was like walking into a wall of humid, sticky, heat. With the humidity it felt like it was 120 degrees. We were off to customs. I'm a white girl. This is a fact. I dont speak Spanish very well. I took French in high school and now study Italian in college. I admit, learning these languages have helped my ability to understand and read a lot of Spanish, but when the customs lady is barking at me a thousand mph, I cant really comprehend. After all the bags cleared and passport was stamped, we were off to find our shuttle driver. Timeshares are a really big thing down here, and the salesmen will try to suck you in ruthlessly. It was a sea of them in the lobby, and we were nothing but live bait. And then, the sign came like a beam of light, Becky and Eric's name. It was our shuttle to Sayulita; our destination. We were greeted with ice cold Pacifico's that you can drink, IN THE CAR! All these small freedoms had me amazed. Thirty minutes later we arrived at our vacation home. Casa Sopresa which in English means Home of Surpises and that is exactly what it is. Palm trees shade over our private pool. A shady outdoor patio holds not one, but TWO hammocks, comfy couches and chairs. Not to mention an outdoor shower where you can hose yourself down after a sandy day at the beach. )Which is only a block away)The rooms are spacious and the beds are a little firm, but very comfy at the same time. I put my bags down and it was to the pool. At least to dunk my feet in before dinner. We enjoyed a Mexican meal, and two for one mojitos. (Can you really turn that down?)Since the day started at an unGodly hour of the morning, it was sleepy time for Lindsay.

Day Two, like pretty much every other day of my life, started around 11 am. Anyone who knows me KNOWS I am not and will never be a morning person. Plus, the sounds of the air conditioner soothe me and keep me asleep. Once I was up and had my coffee, it was off the the beach to soak up some sun and a couple of Pacifico's. I was bombarded by vendors selling their home-made goods. Bracelets, dresses, sarongs, wood sculptures, pretty much anything you can imagine. I wanted to buy everything. The great thing about the slow season in Sayulita is you can bargain with the vendors and talk them down to great prices. They are just happy to be making a little bit of money this time of year. So, I bought some stuff. But what is a true vacation without souveniers? Right ladies? Anyway, I did not leave the beach empty handed. Being the little explorer I am, I walked around town. The aromas from all the restaurants were making me hungry. We ate at a little joint called Burrito Revolution. I had a quesadilla with avocados(of course, I cant live without my avocado on EVERYTHING) and it was better than any quesadilla I have ever had. I have wanted to go back and try the vegetarian burrito but it has been closed every day now. Sad day. Needless to say, you cant go to Mexico and not get pretty buzzed up at least one of the nights. So, Buddha Bar had a "ladies drink free" for two hours of the evening. I got buttered up on margaritas and danced the night away. I made a few new friends. Two girls, Miranda and Hilary, from Vancouver and Tim and Nicole, newlyweds from Seattle. We were all sauced and having a grand ol time. The night would have not been complete without a evening swim in our private pool. And that's just what I did.

Day Three was spent in bed. Pretty much ALL day actually. I had a little thing Americans call a HANGOVER. I did not want to crawl out of the comfort of my bed all day. Finally around 2 pm, I decided to crawl out of my chamber and get in some beach time. I read my book and soaked up the warm afternoon sun and sipped on not one, but two fruit smoothies to soothe my tummy. Kids that were about 12 years old were ripping it up on the waves, very fun to watch. I ate an extremely later lunch(or early dinner) of tacos camarrones mojo del ajo. Which is Shrimp tacos in butter and garlic. The combination of shrimp+garlic+butter+avocado= a wonderful dish! Anything with garlic with please me. A MMMMM sound followed every bite. I could have licked the plate, honestly. I decided to take it easy on my belly and NOT drink tequila that day. So I went with something a little more girly and drank a mango collada. It was divine.

Day Four goes down in history as the best day of my life. I got to mark something off my bucket list...Swimming with dolphins. Since I was young, this one thing has always been on my list. It was always too expensive for 10 year old with no job. Plus growing up in Colorado, you just dont have those options. Finally, I made a vow to myself. I am going to do this. It was pretty silly but I couldnt sleep that night just thinking about it. )Well, it may also have to do with the fact that I slept in a whole work day)That morning, I was ready. My childhood fantasy was going to come true at the age of 24. We got there for the earliest session they offered, which was 10 am. After learning about dolphins for twenty minutes(Fun fact: the dolphins closest reletive is a hippo)we for to meet our dolphin. Lifejeckets tied tight, because the pool is very ,very deep, we all got in the water. She swam by us and we stroked her belly. She was so soft, intelligent, and gentle. She had a perma-grin on her sweet little face. This sight, this experience of being so close to one of God's most precious creatures took over me. I had my own perma-grin through the whole session. Tears came to my eyes, not in a bauling state, but there were tears of joy present. I got to dance with her, kiss her, hug her, and take a ride on her belly. For a moment in time, there was a connection between this creature and I. Something so different than any human connection. I was embracing true beauty. Something that doesnt judge, something that has so much brain power and affection. And like that. It was over. It was time to get out of the pool and move on with my life. After the swim, I was given a very fishy kiss from a sea lion. We got some good professional shots by the photographer and rode the water taxi across the bay to paradise village, a crazy big resort with it's own shopping mall. It reminded me of Vegas, but out your backdoor there was the pool, behind it, the ocean. We met up with some friends and spent the day on the beach, drinking fruity, girly drinks. We walked down the beach till we got to a sea turtle hatchery. The babies were so tiny and sweet. All the people involved got three turtles each. We were giving these babies a chance to live. With each one I sent, I imagined the people I have lost in my life. For each, I gave the gift and breath of new life into this world. Even if they were just turtles. These turtles can live a long life of 150years. Longer than living thing. Watching the babies "leave the nest" with the sun-setting over the sea, was another tear jerking moment in my life. I went to sleep with a smile on my face that night.


Pretty much every day has consisted of the same harmony. Eat some amazing food, have some amazing frozen cocktails (and mojiots, Golly I love those things!) and making frequent visits to the pool and the beach. The weather is warm, the people are happy, and the mood is tranquilo. With two days left, I will have to have camaronnes mojo de ajo one more time, and buy that dolphin wooden sculpture I have been eyeing all week.

Summer is Over

Well friends. It sure has been awhile hasnt it? I started back to work in late April and have not written since. Kip's experienced the busiest summer we have ever had. The tourist season this year was booming and work was very lucrative. This is a good thing but the downfall was not enough time for adventure. I am in my third year of school and my initial goal is to acheive my masters degree in counseling/psychology. It's a super fun major to study but it takes a lot of time out of my days. Now that I am officially on vacay for 17 days(yes terrible sounding I know) I can finally go on another adventure! I am leaving tomorrow morning for Denver International Airport and flying off to Mexico. We are going to a small town called Sayulita which is just north of Puerto Vallarta. I cant wait to spend 10 days in the sun with nothing to worry about but putting on some sunscreen every once in awhile. Needless to say, I will be posting because I will have Wi-Fi at the vacation home. YAY! :)

Lindsay