It was all a dream...

Well, I´m attempting to leave Puerto Vallarta, but it doesn´t want to let me. I had the most incredibly pleasant last week. After an additional cancellation of school allowed me to visit my mom the week before, we finally started up again on Monday. It was awesome seeing the kids again. They were as rambunctious as always, but the knowledge that it was my last week let my patience extend further than usual. When I finally told them Friday was my last day, they were all very sweet, asking me not to go, and giving me tons of hugs. My favorite was Victor, Laura´s super ADD buddy, who came up to me and very sincerely told me that he really was going to miss me a lot, but that he hoped i had a very good trip. Kids, for all the trouble they can be, are amazing. I really do not regret spending so much time in PV, because I think they really did appreciate the commitment. Friday Zoey brought her violin too, wowing the kids with her skill. Saturday we had a little going away party at Marco´s house, with too much food and some night swimming in the pool. Sunday Jon and I shared my last beach day, and went to see Angels and Demons. Both were perfect. The hellish muggy heat that has been filling PV for the past 10 days disappeared yesterday, leaving it warm and sunny without the massive amounts of sweat. And Angels and Demons was full of amazing explosions and morbid scenes, so I was happy. I really don´t think I could have enjoyed my last week here any more. So, here I end the PV portion of the blog, and am starting a new archaeology focused one, templesofdoom.blogspot.com .

For those of you who have been struck with the urge to visit PV, a couple of recommendations

- Esquina de los Caprichos, best tapas in life

- Playa Punta Negra, great swimming beach

-The zoo. pay extra to play with the baby leopard.

- Benitos pizza. 

- walking all the way through the isla cuale, especially at night, when the cats all come out. 

- watching the fireworks on the malecon

- buying fabulous cheese at rizos, fruit at the market on lazaro cardenas, and enjoying it all with some white wine by your pool. 

ah, what a life it was.............

Its a Porker.

oh what a frustrating month! this pig flu is ridiculous! I feel like I have a curse that shuts down towns every time I move to Mexico. First Oaxaca, now this. Bars and schools have been closed for 2 weeks and they just issued a new decree to close everything till the 18th now as well. People are really suffering here, tourism is the main income, and without it they are going downhill fast! We had a charity night at Banana Cantina on Wednesday night, trying to get money for our school. Usually regulars come in and fill up the restaurant and you get a few people from the street too. This time the only reason we got ANYTHING was because Josh, the main guy who helps coordinate Children of the Dump, is the smoothest talker in the world. The restaurant only had 2 other tables besides us, so we moved downstairs to the bar on the street (bars can be open till 11 if they have food..) and basically accosted passersby. We made close to $200, which is more than even the restaurant did, but still. It is really sad. I miss my kids like crazy too. I´m only going to get about a week with them when all is said and done, and I hate it. I was supposed to go visit my mom this weekend for Mother´s day, but when I got to the airport, I was told my connection to Mexico City was cancelled. While they were trying to rebook me, my flight from Mexico to Guatemala got cancelled as well. They gave me the option of flying to Mexico 5 hours later, then waiting around for possibly days until I got to Honduras. No one is flying, and flights are having to cancel most of their routes. It really, really sucks. On the ride home on the bus though (while listening to very loud, angry music), I thought about what would make me happy about having to stay in PV this weekend, and I realized that we have yet to go to San Sebastian. It is this 17th century mining town in the mountains, piney, refreshing, and with no electricity. I convinced Jon and we leave early tomorrow morning. I miss fresh, crisp, non dusty air. That, along with a spare bottle of wine, and our neighboring church having its saints festival tonight might make it ok, at least for a bit. I also emailed the SPCA people again about fostering some kittens. Reading and kittens. Yes, that will do.