Exploring Bahia de Banderas

We are loving Banderas Bay – staying on the north end in La Cruz. Been here since New Years’ Eve and busy ever since with hosting friends from Portland, seeing many cruisers who made the trip south with us on the Baja Ha-Ha and have now become cruising friends, working on boat projects (they never end, I can assure you). There are so many stories to share and I wish I had time to write them all down, or a few of them anyway. Every day, I intend to spend time online and writing my stories but life is full of adventure and the computer does not beckon enough when compared to astonishing sunrises and sunsets; happy hours spent exploring with friends; outdoor movies; hikes along the beach and learning about the region.

Check on Google Earth to see that Banderas Bay is huge - and a wonderful place for wintering humpbacks. Calves being born and it's a busy time with the mating season for next year. Went to a whale seminar yesterday - very interesting! Also whale watching from our sailboat and when we went scuba diving last week.

So many stories and not much time to write. Here are a few photos to show some of our adventures, of which there are many!
View Mike Judy Goehler's Gallery:
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Food Shopping!

January 24 was a big bus trip to Chedraui, one of the grande shopping stores – kind of like a Fred Meyer, Mexican style. 

Seriously, Trisha deciding choices in the dried bean aisle!

I invited Trisha to join me in today's  experience: bus ride which often includes a guitar player or other entertainment looking for pesos, the hike to the bus then grocery store, amazing food choices many of which we don’t know but are often willing to try, a bus trip back laden with bags of goodies and the long haul down cobblestone streets to the marina.

Once back at the marina, the work starts. Remove all cardboard packaging to avoid cockroaches getting on board; soaking fruits and veggies before they come on board; storing eggs and rotating every few days to stay fresh – non refrigerated; storing foods in plastic or Debbie Meyer green bags to retain freshness.

Most shopping is done locally at the "aberrotes" - local grocery stores. Fresh eggs, cheese cut to order at the cash register, fresh veggies. Other local shopping includes the meat market; fish market; tortiilla shops = very cool to watch them make corn tortillas. You can also buy flour tortillas.