The Taco Traveler

Just returned to the boat today after visiting the boys for 10 days while R was on a business trip. Got up at 4am, kissed the boys goodbye as they slept, and drove to the little Panama City airport, locking the keys in the trunk for R to pick up later. Quick flight to Memphis on a Northwest Airlines shuttle, then Northwest from Memphis to Puerto Vallarta with only 20 other passengers. Crazy. I walked up to the desk after getting into Memphis and asked if there was an exit row seat available, and the lady smiled, clicked her computer keys for two seconds, and out popped my new boarding pass with a seat in my very own exit row. It was an Airbus A320, which seats about 150, and there were only 21 of us. I'm just glad they didn't cancel it. What's going on with Northwest? They were so nice, and it was a great flight. Just surprised they aren't more full, I guess.

Anyway, I landed in PV, got through Immigration and Aduana, then navigated the tangles of taxi drivers to get across the street to the bus stop. I did get one taxi quote to La Cruz, and it was much cheaper than I expected (350 pesos, $35), but still, I knew I could manage the bus ride for 15 pesos ($1.50). Arrived here about 2pm and was very happy to see Chemistry again. She looked great, as Denali and Malavika did a thorough cleaning before they departed. I've heard from them that they're in Zihuatanejo at the moment (a couple of days ago, anyway) on a boat with a couple and a young child. So it's a great fit for everyone (with childcare assistance!) but probably a little crowded, I imagine.

The marina here in La Cruz is coming together, and as they continue to evolve it's only going to get better. Christian is the manager here, and he knows service. I just wish they had a desalinator like Cabo; the water is fine for showering and washing dishes, but isn't potable. The upstairs open-air restaurant / bar opened since I left a couple weeks ago. Like all restaurants, they'll have growing pains as the staff learns things like timing (had to keep defending my food from being picked up by eager bussers), but it will be a great place soon, as the food was pretty good. With all the help floating around they have hands available for tableside service, so they probably need me to teach them how to make a kick-ass caesar and add that to the menu. But I'll avoid the "pretentious diner" label here and save my caesar recipe for my own restaurant, someday.

For lunch I had steak fajitas after starting with chips & guac. Para tomar, I had two Sol cervezas and a Jimador margarita. Total price for 1.5 hrs of munching and sipping and working on my laptop with the free wifi: 250 pesos or about the same amount I would have paid for just that margarita in Vegas ($25) if it were a bit closer to a double. My 50 peso note was a decent tip for that meal, and tonight for dinner at the taco stand off the Plaza, 50 pesos included a decent tip. I had a "taco vertical" (my own phrase) of carne asada, pastor (pork) and chorizo (sausage) along with one Pacifico. Total price, 42 pesos. Crazy cheap.

I'll be here one more night before hitting the sea again and making my way down the coast. It's about 140 miles to Tenacatita, which will be my next stop since I was unable to get all the autopilot repair parts I need to rebuild OV's Linear Drive unit as even Raymarine is out of stock for another couple weeks. If I would have gotten the parts, I probably would have gone to Puerto Vallarta where I could get help on the rebuild if I needed it. That's ok - OV Junior, the backup wheel pilot, is doing just fine. I love it here in La Cruz, but I'm looking forward to getting moving again. The Mexican Gold Coast is calling, and I think I may be hearing whispers from Costa Rica. My goal is Panama City, Panama by April 1, so I can stay with the boys for their spring break. In an effort to confuse myself and every ticket agent, gate agent, immagration and customs official along the way, I'll be flying Panama City (Panama) to Panama City (FL).

TT