Another Farewell

Justin, Becky, and Paige left for home this afternoon. This being the last day of February there were many taxis lined up to take away vacationers. A few moments were devoted to a farewell photo ...




Then the taxi carried them off to the airport ...

Hasta el próximo año.

It seems like a good time was had by all, and as they fly back to northern snows I submit this little souvenir of what they left behind ...

In other news we have been happy to receive photos of our own grandchildren whom we miss dearly. Here they are ...

 

 Nathan and father.

Alexandria and Olivia.

Quote of the Day:
"I was trampled by a man who believed his luggage would be the first piece off. If he were an experienced traveler, he would know that the first piece of luggage belongs to no one. It's just a dummy suitcase to give everyone hope." - Erma Bombeck.

Visit Ending

Today was the last full day here for Justin, Becky, and Paige. The weather was perfect again and much of the day spent by and in the pool. Photo souvenirs of the day begin with a family portrait of sorts.

If the resolution of some photos seem a tad underweight it is due to the absence of a zoom lens on the iPhone. So I photo half of Ixtapa and crop out the extraneous.

Linda and Paige

For the above shot I called to Paige to smile for the camera. She mischievously turned and waded off instead, but walking in water is slow and taking a photo is only a fiftieth of a second, so I caught the rascal anyway.

A couple of portraits ...

And a little video (this one should work right) of this pool enthusiast's recruiting technique ...

By late afternoon our tans were a few shades deeper and I was a chapter ahead in my history of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. I am reading it but not devouring it. I prefer a book I can devour. This one has a very interesting story to tell but the superabundance of detail slows the pace and robs the narrative of compelling momentum in my humble opinion.

Around 7:00 pm we all met for supper at the Bayview's poolside restaurant and an excellent meal was had by all. Also the conversation was of high quality, very interesting, and stimulating. We will be sad to see Justin, Becky, and Paige leave tomorrow.

I asked our waiter to use my iPhone and take a group photo. Like many other people who take photos with my iPhone, he took about ten. That turns out to be a good thing. For example, the photo I post below is the only one in which everybody has his or her eyes open.

And so it goes.

Quote of the Day:
"I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker." - Voltaire.

Undeclared Blog Recess

Visiting

This morning in the ministry we visited people living in five story walk up apartment blocks. The following photos portray the neighborhood.

Carol and a sister named Joyce would start at the bottom and work their way up. I would sprightly skip up to the fifth floor and work my way down. Well, at least my first ascent was sprightly. Then I moved according to established Mexican custom.

Down at street level I found a Mexican man who spoke English. Next I learned he too was a Witness and had been for two years. Later I encountered a young man carrying a large jug of spring water on his shoulder. He spoke English and said he would be glad to talk to me on his way back from delivering the water. I waited, he returned, and I learned he too is a Witness. His name is Gamaliel. He is married and has a young daughter.

I asked him what made him decide to become a Witness. He said he always had a desire to do the right thing before God. He saw the truth easily enough in the Bible, recognized it was less easy to practice it but still, his heart wants what is right. He said he made a personal choice a number of years ago to do what God says is right no matter what. It's easy to like a fellow like that.

So far, to my amazement, most Mexicans I have met who speak English are themselves Witnesses. I am beginning to think the population of Zihuatanejo has the highest percentage of Witnesses. 35 congregations for 100,000 inhabitants - plus one English congregation.

If, in the above photo, you can discern my shirt's two tones you can tell our work required some fluid refreshment along the way. With the absence of a Tim Horton's or a MacDonald's one has only to spot a Coca-Cola sign to pop a cold one.

At morning's end we ate Tacos in a very good snack bar that also offers fresh made-to-order juices. We enjoyed a full cup of orange/carrot juice - almost a meal in itself - and we will be back for more!

This evening we enjoyed a very fine meal and the company of Wayne and Nancy Bourdin. They annually spend five months here. Their apartment at the Casa Bonita, a five-minute bus ride from us, provides the following view of Ixtapa.

And so it goes.

Quote of the Day:
"You can't make wrong work."
- Gerald Waterhouse

Morning And Evening

Our bus ride to Zihuatanejo this morning, to get supplies, featured a number of songs performed by a man playing a Guiro. See photo below, taken unobtrusively with my cell phone.

As you can possibly discern, he stationed himself about as close to my personal space as civilization will countenance. Now, there may be many out there with a passion for the Guiro, who could spend hours enthralled by its scraping sound. I do not figure among them. I cannot see where it differs overly much from dragging a stick along a picket fence. When he finished I gave him a contribution. Whether I rewarded the performance, or its cessation, is a matter I will leave to conjecture.

Since we did not have a trunkful to bring back, merely a couple of bags, we returned by bus. It was one of those newer ones with upholstered seats, great suspension system, and no Guiros in the face. This was a smoother ride than in many a taxi.

After supper we descended to poolside to see the sunset. First we found Paige with her Dad. In the photo below she is pointing out where the rest of her family is, further down the pool.

And that is where we found them ...

Paige guided us alongside the pool to where they were and ...

... followed that by a sunset swim with her Dad.

And so it goes.

Quote of the Day: 
"Refrain means don't do it. A refrain in music is the part you better not try to sing."
- a young schoolboy

Mostly about Paige

I am happy to report another warm sunny day transpired in Ixtapa. Paige has taken no more than 45 seconds to feel at home in this place. Today she became an explorer.

Paige, checking out pools, making sure she's playing in the best one

around here. She is.

Paige off on a personal journey. Linda managed to persuade her

to return to the pool just as she was getting on a bus for Zihua.

A family portrait with a hint of emphasis on

the real charmer.

Is she photogenic or what?

Late afternoon Carol and I went to the meeting at Zihuatanejo for another lively and interesting Bible study about how the sacrifice of Jesus Christ paralleled in many ways events of the Jewish Passover. I wondered if parts of it might come across a little technical and dry but not a bit of that. It absolutely sparkled and inspired.

We stopped afterwards for supper in an Ixtapa outdoor restaurant, visited as usual by table vendors approaching from time to time. One fellow with a rack of children's bracelets with personal names woven in did not have any with the names of our grandchildren. No problem, he offered to make them especially for us while we ate. I watched him do it and it's still a mystery to me how he can make one in five minutes. Bravo Marcelo!

On the way home we noticed two ladies taking photos of each other at a torch light outside a restaurant designed like the Taj Mahal. I offered to photograph them together. They returned the favor by photographing Carol and me in the same setting ...

And so it goes.

Quote of the Day:

"Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all."
- Henry David Thoreau

Up on the Roof

Having heard that the roof is accessible and an interesting place to visit, and also having heard it is not accessible, today I pressed elevator button 18 and headed for the top floor to see for myself. In the small foyer I found a glass door leading to the roof, through which I snapped this photo ...

I did not venture to test the door to see if it would open because I had no intention of going out there anyway. As much as I enjoy a view from the heights, my fondness for the architectural feature called parapets enjoys a pronounced priority. I get seriously annoyed by accidental plunges of two hundred feet irrespective of landing surface.

I cannot in fairness attribute the parapet absence on this building to a lower safety standard peculiar to this part of the world. In the past my work has taken me onto higher roofs in Montreal, also lacking parapets.

My personal conviction is that courses in architecture need to include a touch of scripture, such as Deuteronomy 22:8, "If you build a new house, you must also make a parapet for your roof, so that you may not bring bloodguilt on your house because of someone falling from it." This proves God cares for you more than do legions of architects.

Isn't it strange that a school can be built with ground level classroom windows big enough for an out-of-control car to crash right into the room, or tall buildings can lack a parapet from which a man may fall, yet we never hear of an architect frog-marched off to prison for criminal design? But I digress.

While on the 18th floor I photographed a more encompassing view of the neighboring Marina ...

A late afternoon walk took us to central Ixtapa, which is by the way about the size of three Costco floors, where we entered a café and enjoyed a Smoothie and Internet access which was unavailable in our apartment. Reportedly the Net was down all day over much of Ixtapa but the authorities eventually resolved the problem, successfully avoiding interruption of this vital blog.

Our next stop was Emilio's, seen below ...

If you have eagle eyes you will spot Carol inside the main entrance selecting a few baked goods at which this establishment excels. Mmmmm, cookies!

And so it goes.

Quote of the Day:
"Architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things; that's all."
- Harry Seidler

Sea Stories

We rose early this morning for our walk along the beach, determined this time to go to its far end. As the photo below testifies, we got there.

Turning a 180, I also photographed our point of departure ...

For the forgetful and disoriented, our condo is part of the building

cluster at center, on the left side.

The above photo did not catch one of the frequent huge waves rolling in to make a thunderous crash on the beach. Today, red flags were posted indicating it was inadvisable to approach the surf. I estimate some waves exceeded five feet and would completely cover some people. I noticed a large crest form over a floating pelican and it appeared he'd be royally thrashed by the wave. Of course he wasn't. He speedily turned and darted into the wall of water just before it crashed. Instinctive wisdom.

Below are two more photos from our morning walk ...

 

I didn't catch a really big wave but this comes close.

 

A rendering of a beached sailboat with sail back lit by the sun.

I was last one down to the pool this afternoon and, when I entered the elevator, I joined a couple who were eager to tell me about their own morning adventure. With wide eyes the wife described their guided fishing expedition. They caught tuna. She breathlessly told me of struggling hard with one catch. The guide told her she must have a big one. Sure enough, she reeled in a good sized tuna to the side of the boat. As they were working to pull it aboard a dolphin flashed from the depths and, in one swift jump and gulp, it bit off all the tuna except for the head. That story made me feel thankful I didn't come into this world as a tuna.

Quote of the Day:
"“If you ever crawl inside an old hollow log and go to sleep, and while you're in there some guys come and seal up both ends and then put it on a truck and take it to another city, boy, I don't know what to tell you.”  - Jack Handy

Winning & Success

A hockey game unfolded at the Olympics today and Canada won. My report is not based on seeing the game. On the contrary, I was occupied with my iPad reading Bible chapters and underlining material, preparing to participate in tomorrow night's meeting. But my poolside seat almost abutted the restaurant here which provided enthusiasts televised coverage.

The crowd caused no distraction until the final moments when much untidy yelling and cheering dashed my concentration. I understood it was triggered by a rubber puck entering an approved net. The noise subsided and I returned to my studies. Another howling eruption burst forth signaling an additional puck event. As that wave of disturbance subsided I thought I might reassemble my concentration, but that hope was obliterated by a spontaneous and full length chorus of 'O Canada.'

Naturally, I understand fully the zest a Canadian team's victory stirs in the average crowd of Canadians. On the other hand the mass, off key struggle for the high notes was sufficient to empty the pool. This was followed by a number of older men in bathing suits parading from the restaurant, swinging towels and insulated lunch bags in circles over their heads, caterwauling as they marched.

I entertain a hope that win was a final.

In other news, Paige had a moment of dissatisfaction today about the feeling in one finger. Her grandmother, Linda, gave it due attention and then all was well.

Notification: Something needs attention.

Inspection

All Fixed

Quote of the Day:

"Perfection is our goal; excellence will be tolerated."

- Anonymous

Morning Encounters, Afternoon Arrivals

We were back in the public ministry this morning under a powerful sun. We were in a downtown part of Zihuatanejo so at least the terrain was mercifully flat. A highlight was inside a car dealership, where we met an employee, a man in his late twenties, who spoke English and had time to do so with us.

At one point we showed him a list of questions people have about the Bible and asked him which one interested him the most. He contemplated the list for nearly a full minute before pointing to one. Interestingly it was not one of the two most frequently asked questions we get ( i.e. Why does God permit wickedness and suffering? What happens when we die?) He picked, What is God's Kingdom? So we had a chance to share scriptures with him that, in the end, touched on all three questions anyway.

After that activity Carol and I began a search for a bookstore I heard of that sells English books. After much trekking about we eventually found it as it appears in the photo below ...

sigh.

Being now in the market area we seized the opportunity to stock up on vegetables. You can't see Carol in the photo below but she's in the shop buying potatoes while I sat on steps across the street in the shade.

The produce on display in this area is abundant ...

After getting back, freshening up, and replenishing our body fluids, we rested briefly while waiting for the airport taxi that would bring Justin, Becky, and Paige to the Bayview Grand Marina. The following photos portray the arrival ...

 

Unloading the luggage.

Linda welcomes Paige.

Little time was lost getting into the pool.

Paige, very clear on the concept.

Quote of the Day:

"Vacation used to be a luxury, but in today's world it has become a necessity."

 ~Author Unknown

Of Buildings, Beards, and Books

Our bedroom window on the eleventh floor, with nothing but distant mountains in view, does not imbue one with the feeling to be particular about privacy. A person can get used to dressing with the blind up. On the other hand, Manuel dropping by tends to curtail such nonchalance. We received advance notice he'd be doing work around our window, a gesture we found uncommonly thoughtful and for which, naturally, we were grateful.

As a Montrealer, I was fully prepared to see a swing stage, manned by two workers, descend our exterior wall. Instead it was Manuel, alone, looking a tad like Spiderman, on a tiny wood seat, suspended by a rope. I think he was applying caulk. That's our bedroom window he's working on in the photos. He seemed oblivious to 'l'appel du vide.'

Speaking of the eleventh floor, the following photo I took from our back balcony. It shows Carol and Linda trekking to their appointment at the massage hut. The resolution is low because my only equipment is a cell phone which at such a distance took in a fifth of Mexico. I should have brought my pocket camera with zoom.

At pool side this afternoon I Skyped briefly with Mark Boudreau who captured my image and was more than pleased to email it to me, slightly tweaked.

Carol and I went for a walk this evening. I much enjoy taking in the open style architectural designs possible in a climate like this one. A sample is shown below.

Upon returning Carol looked over the public book shelf sitting in the lobby here. One can take or leave a book at will. Although I have read and enjoyed some novels in my time, my strong preference is for non-fiction. Never having seen non-fiction, or history, on these shelves, my interest so far has been minimal. But this evening I spotted a thick, hard covered tempter entitled, "The Bully Pulpit - Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism." I trundled it up to the eleventh floor and into our condo.

Quote of the day:
"For what is the present after all but a growth out of the past?"
- Walt Whitman.