1-21
This morning is another bright and beautiful awakening. The magpie jays are very vociferous and the mourning doves are busy. People are doing their morning walks before it gets too hot, and the workers are all heading up the hill to their construction jobs in the backs of pick-ups and crammed into old buses. Warren took Alfredo his morning coffee, which he loves, and we are having our coffee on our pool deck.
We all watched the inauguration yesterday on the CNN channel at the LaPerla Restaurant on the beach with about 25 – 30 other gringos. There was a lot of clapping and some tears. It was a good day. Then we just hung out under the palms and umbrellas until the afternoon there at LaPerla. The late afternoon is always cocktails and pool time until the sun goes down. We have been having dinners at home mostly. Koks and Simkinses are here until the 30th and we’re all geared down into full relax mode.
Our friend Eric, a beach jewelry vendor, was finally on the beach again yesterday after about a week of absence. We knew his wife was ill, but found out that she had a c-section Sunday evening and they have a new little baby boy (1 ½ months premature). He is doing well now but is still in the incubator in the hospital, along with his mother. Eric is beginning to relax now that things are okay. Their son joins sisters Perla, 7, Erica, 5, and Ariel, 3. They are the children that Warren and I have promised to support during their education. Looks like little Aaron will be another! We are excited about it. Eric is looking at a site in Zihua for a possible store where he will do his jewelry and maybe other consignment art products.
Eric’s brother, Israel, is also a jewelry vendor. He is also more of an entrepreneur, and is planning on opening a Thai restaurant with a wine bar and local artisan products. He will be coming over this Saturday evening to prepare a Thai dinner for the 6 of us plus Dan and Jeanne – 8 altogether. He’s looking forward to it – shrimp, rice, noodles, vegetables. It will be fun. Israel is a very outgoing personality, 35 years old, with lots of energy.
The beach has not been extremely busy the last couple of weeks, but more people are beginning to show up. The domino games are heating up at Paty’s and at LaPerla, and we are seeing many more of the regulars. Things are a little slower this year than usual, say the locals, but maybe it will pick up in February/March.
We are heading out for some shopping this morning – the boys are going to the liquor store and the Mercado, while we girls will be heading to the Comercial for some basics. Then we’ll have to rest up before our cocktail party this afternoon. A busy day!

Photos: Casa Ita from the road, our little home. Watching Obama being sworn in at La Perla