Chile En Nogala
This was the first cooking class that Belinda and Joyce, Linda, and Priscilla all residents of La Playa Rv park here in Melaque attended. Fun was had by all and they got to have dinner when the class was completed.

Peeling the skins off of the pablano peppers after they are roasted.

This is a plate of peppers after the skins have been removed. They are ready to be stuffed.

Peppers are battered and then fried.

The final product. This is a very patriotic dish because of it's colors. The other name for the dish is La Bandara (the flag) It takes on the color of the Mexican flag. White sauce, green pepper, and red Pomegranate. 

Candy, gifts, Etc. on the tables ready for about 29 volinteers from the RV park to  chip in and get gift bags ready for Christmas day.

Glenn, the organizer checking things over, shortly before his crew begins to bag everything up. There are a lot of wonderful, very charitable people that have donated gifts for the children of Melaque. Lots of motor homes came packed to the max from Canada and the U.S.

The beginning of happy hour Christmas Eve. Notice the tables, they will be filled with pot luck appetizers.

We even had live entertainment. What a treat.

There was lots of really good food. We do have a good time here at the trailer park.

Joyce was in charge of getting the packages for the mothers ready. There are lots of mothers that come thru with small children, and perhaps one on the way.

We were told that they started to line up on the street at 5:30 AM. When it was all over we handed out over 450 gift bags to children. That does not include the 50 or so that were given to moms.

Gift bags ready to go. We start letting the kids in at 8 AM.

The line of kids come in thru the front gate and exit thru the back onto the beach.

This little guy's mom sure did dress him up nice.

Everyone was happy to pose for a picture.

Shirley on the beach, this is what the weather was like on Christmas day.
We had a very nice dinner at Banana's restaurant on Christmas along with many of our RV friends. It was a very nice Christmas.

Well, her we are again. Back at the beach in Melaque Jalisco Mexico. It is quite warm here, and very humid. This is from the first fishing trip of the year. I think it is about 45 Lb. maybe a little more. It is a Sailfish and we had some that evening and it was delicious.
We arrived on Dec. 1st and will be here until the 1st of March. Some of the things that have been going on since  we arrived are a hat party that all most of the gals from the campground attended, we have been on our 22 kilometer bicycle ride three times a week, been to a Christmas Party given by the staff at Bananas restaurant in Barra  De Navidad where we have breakfast on our bicycle ride. We have helped bag candy and taken gifts for the school in the banana plantation near Cihuatlan Jalisco, we have gone to Boca Beach and walked with our pitching wedge and hit golf balls for a couple of miles. YIKES! we have much more to do before Christmas. On Christmas eve in the morning we will help the whole group of campers here bag 400 bags of candy and gifts for the children of the community that will file thru the campground for over an hour to collect their gifts on Christmas morning. It is busy here but we are loving it.

They sure look good. Don't look like campers do they.

Belinda playing horseballs with one of the kids on the beach.

A parade for the Virgin of Guadalupe day.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is very important to people here.

The staff from Banana's restaurant. Really nice people and they have all become friends of  our bicycle group.

Some of our Banana's party group.

Some of the kids from the school located in the banana plantation.

Cracking open a pinata at the school party. We had three pinatas stuffed full of candy. There were lots of big smiles from all of the kids.

Everyone at the school got a ticket, when their number was called they were able to come up and choose any gift that was left. It was absolutely wonderful to watch the smiles on those kids faces.

So everyone believes that we were in a banana plantation. 

This kid got the last bicycle that was left, he was smiling from ear to ear.
Notice the card tree in the background, the children made the cards and wanted all of us that brought the gifts out to them to choose a card for ourselves. These were all well behaved kids that could not have been more thankful for all that they got that day.

Golf at Litibu golf course, Punta Mita, This is near Puerto Villarta Mexico. The course is rite on the Pacific Ocean.

Every fairway had a beautiful view.

This hole had an island green. Everyone made it over the water except Roy. I plunked a couple into the water.

Dressed up for Halloween party at El  Parque.

Jennifer, Joanne, Belinda and Mary playing in the Red Cross golf tournament at Chapala Country Club. This is the biggest fund raiser for the Red Cross for the year. Lots of fun.

Mary's swing looks very seriout.

Big Barbecue after the golf tournament.

A trip to Telaquepaque for shopping and dinner with our friends Jim and Shelli Rizzo and Hildagardt. We had a wonderful afternoon.

Crazy cement bench inside of an art gallery, it was at an angle, you won't sit here long.

All female mariachi band at El Patio restaurant. What a treat.

Jim and Shelli dancing to the mariachi's.

Lunch her is always good., and the entertainment is an extra treat.

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A margarita gives everyone happy feet.

There are a lot of up scale art gallery's and curio shops in Tlaquepaque..

Just a couple of old hippies taking a rest next to a dead guy.

This is at a Charro event that we attended in the town of Tlachamilco near Guadalajara. Charro is the same as a rodeo. Before the event started a Christian Mass was held complete with music by mariachi ladies.

The statue is of the Virgin of Zapopan, I believe.

The start of this event was a parade lap by these Charras in their beautiful dresses and well trained horses.

The start of the event. In a measured course the horse must skid on his back hoofs with a minimum of touch of the front feet. The horses really know what to do.

A really nice venue, and we had good seats.

Got to practice some Spanish with the folks seated around us. Amazing how much better the Spanish gets with a little Tequila. The vendors would sell you a bottle, complete with Ice, Squirt and Mineral Water and glasses. Mexicans really know how to have a good time.

This guy was the ring leader. He kept things moving along really well.

The Charras gave quite a show with their precision horsemanship.

Bull riding was very exciting. 

Aparently the horns on this bull were very sharp, they were covered with some kind of leather horn condom.

Bronc riding in Mexico is a little different. They use two hands and stay on as long as they can stand it.

This horse won the  battle.

The men's event with skidding horses. Points are given according to the skid marks.

This kid looked to be only about 12. The horse turns around 5 or 6 times in each direction and must keep it's feet between the lines. Then the rider and horse exit the arena walking backward. These horses were amazing. It must take many hours of training.

Need a saddle, helmet for bull riding. They had em.

Beautiful saddles, that is real silver.

How about a chair for the porch of your hacienda.

Maybe a rope, or a sign for your mailbox.

This guy was making real Charro sombreros. They are made of wool.

If they did not have it, you don't need it.

Nice selection of sombreros. How much do you want to spend?

Hacienda Vieja Tequila was quite smooth.

After the event we stopped at Gordon Well's home. This is Maureen's daughter Jennifer with Belinda.