Feb 8 & 9, 2008 The first stop after Mazatlan was Isla Isabella. We anchored at the a spot near a rock called “Las Monas” (mannequins). The small island, 281 ft. volcanic peak, less than a mile long, is a national wildlife reserve. Our guidebook says Isla Isabella was frequented by Jacques Cousteau 30 years ago to film the rare frigate bird nests. All over the island in shrubs and low trees are nests of hundreds of frigate nests, as well as the amazing looking blue footed and yellow footed boobies. I think I’ve even captured, in one of my photos a male frigate puffing out his huge red neck, strutting his stuff, so to speak. There were great tide pools formed by the lava flow of the volcanic peak. Enjoy the photos, they say it better than I can. Here is the first place we met the folks on “Chemistry”, Sean, Malavika and Denali. As is the cruiser tradition we enjoyed happy hour together and look forward to cruising with them for a bit.
Feb. 10. San Blas, in Nayarit state is the first place that feels like the tropics. We’re guided in by Norm (more about Norm later), into the bird estuary anchorage. Along the shore there are many fishing pangas, colorful buildings and palm trees with a backdrop of mountain ranges off in the distance. Over dinner (a group of nine) Norm weaves stories of the Friar Sierra sailing from San Blas to establish the missions in Baja and up and down the California coast, intermittently we hear many fishing stories and local info.
Norm & Jan who started out in New York came down to San Blas in the 60’s and stayed. We’ve come across a good many expats that have made Mexico their home. Anyway…Jan is a watercolorist who has done a beautiful series of pieces of the Huichol people. Norm is a semi-retired sport fishing captain.
Norm was also our culinary guide to San Blas as well, we enjoyed the best meals at a different local every night, winding up in the town plaza, the local gathering place. One night Denali played us some beautiful music on an instrument I can’t remember the name of right now. Anyway, here’s a photo.
After San Blas we cruised into the marina in La Cruz on Feb 14. La Cruz is a small town which is a 45 minute, hair raising, bus ride to Puerto Vallarta. We stayed for nearly a week only getting into town a couple of times. Next we stopped over night in Yelapa. The old phrase “ a palapa is Yelapa is better than a condo in Redondo” is alive and well here. Yelapa steeped in a tie-dyed Reike massaged aura, is hill side palapa community of dogs, horse, chickens and rasta-haired folks. It’s got a great little beach with water taxi access to Puerto Vallarta, actually by water is the only was to get there. There’s a few places to stay and we enjoyed a great dinner served by a tanned charming Frenchman. For rental info: www.casayelapa.com or it’s www.casasyelapa.com
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