Party time

 Well I know the weekis just half over but it has been party time here in Kino Bay with a couple birthdays and an anniversary.

Another beautiful sunset that I just had to throw in.

Monday our birthday boy Rienk turned 70, it was a nice day to sit outside and have cake with our whole crew.

 Wednesday was a special day for Doug and Isobel as they celebrated their 53rd.

Congratulations to a wonderful couple.

 We filled a couple tables at Jorges for drinks and dinner.

Here we have Sue and Les, they have become a very special couple to us all.

 Alan and Lucille, our fun Newfie and his beautiful fit partner

 Kathy and Ken from Colorado, she is our yoga instructor at the park

 Ernie and Barb, now it was a special day for Barb today as well.

Happy Birthday Barb

 Lona and Rienk , he had not had enough of that margarita to smile yet....

And our dear Allie, who we have all come to adore.

Jorge came out and did us a few tunes, he has a very good voice.

My and for many of us, Our favorite meal, Cameron a la Cordon Azul

Shrimp stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and smother in cream sauce, then served with rice and salad, oh my goodness it is soooooo good.

 Isobel thanking Jorge for a fabulous night.

 And the fun never ends, it is to the clubhouse tonight for potluck and the duo Rienk and Ron setting up the karaoke machine.

Punta Chueca picnic

Today we ventured north only about 10 miles to a little village called Punta Chueca and a few miles beyond in search of a nice beach to have a picnic.

Scenery along the way.

 Punta Chueca was a small dirty Mexican village, even though Doug and Isobell said it was much cleaner than the time they were here before.  Most of the homes were cinder block but just so much garbage.

 The pavement ended in the village but we ventured out along a very bumpy dirt road in search of the perfect beach,  the desert is starting to come alive with spring.

 It almost looked like they were planning on making a big highway through here but not sure why.

This is the first beach we decided to explore.

 It was lovely but we thought we would go a little further.

 The surf had made some interesting rocks

Such different colors of the sea.

 Second beach was long and lovely.

 Here is our dear friend Marmaduke, he has had a very bad week as he was attacked at the park by two big Rottweiler's and had to have three trips to the vet so far and many stitches.

 We found some shelter out of the wind, it seems to be windy here alot, and had ourselves a lovely little picnic.

 Going back through town I got a quick picture of the town plaza.

After getting home around 3pm we got ourselves cleaned up to go into town and get a few groceries and go to the Palapa for dinner, more delicious shrimp..

Carnival Parade

 I would like to say that Friday is our night to go into town and have a night out but these days it takes no excuse and we are all ready.  But this was Friday and we went into a little outside restaurant called Taqueria el Pelon and had the Chile Relleno which are Stuffed Peppers.  Everything is done outside just like an outside BBQ,  and we did watch them taking the seeds out of the peppers, LOL.  The peppers were stuffed with steak and then wrapped with bacon and placed on the heat over hot coals.  They were so delicious but the end by the stem got very warm, in fact my lips were burning for a little while but so worth it. 

So Saturday was Queen selection and our girl Barbie came in second.

Now Sunday was the big parade. The bikes started it off, now we think they must have come from Hermisillo as we have never seen any in Kino Bay before.

Prescott College had a float, it is a little college right here in Nuevo Kino

 Almost everything was fishing orientated as this is a fishing village, and the winner of the Queen selection was sponsored by the fishermen.

It was short and fun but the parade itself lasted for hours as they traveled all the way from Old Kino down to  Nuevo Kino and back must have taken them hours.

There were a couple things that resembled our parades, one street walker with cotton candy. 

After the parade we would have to go out to Pargo Rojo for dinner which was a challenge getting there but once there and after a margarita and a half all was well.  It was very busy but we serenaded by three hombres, a good day was had by all.

Kino Carnival kickoff

 We have had some wonderful weather and fantastic sunsets, the most beautiful was a couple days ago when we were all at the clubhouse and of course no camera. However here is the other night, at first it looked like our sky was on fire.

Then it started to turn red.

And more red 

 So today was the start to Kinos Carnival, the first one they have had in 10 years.  Almost our whole park went in to vote for the Queen and go out for supper.

Here is our crew

 This is our young lady, we call her Barbie because we could never say her real name correctly

 Barbie and her mom Erica

 You could buy treats, how about some cheesies

Barbie gave us all Mardi Gras masks as that is what carnival is all about

Sue and Lona

Ron and Alan

Chris, Lucille, Lona and Elaine

 Ed cutting the ribbon

Then we lined up to pick the queen. 

 There were four candidates, good thing the ballot had pictures we would have never known who we were voting for.

After voting we (all 30 of us) headed for the Marlin for just the best dinner.  Good time had by all.

Checking In

 February already, where is the winter going.

This morning we were off on a walk that Alan and Lucille told us about and it was very interesting. We took the overland route for about 45 minutes and then cut down to the beach.

Some really nice views.

Pipe Organ Cactus

 Once down on the beach the tide was out and it was pretty rocky down here.

But then we found what they had been telling us about a Mexican beach house.

But they had the best view.

 A well padded mattress in the bedroom.

 Lots of room in the outside kitchen

 Looked like Tom Hanks lived here.

 A basket of small conch shells

Always good to see how the otherside lives.

Catching up

Well time is flying by and it is already February and I have not finished January, so here is a little catch up.

Oh yes, Ron and I, with the rest have been trying line dancing lessons, we had a Western night over at the clubhouse and did three of the dances we have learned.

The Western night was great, wonderful Taco salads and Tacos in such a lovely environment.

We went into Old Kino one day and went to Alcatraz which is a wonderful pottery shop, we will go back as it is very overwhelming the first time trying to see all the wonderful displays.

On our way out the proprietor asked us if we would like to see her home which is adjoining, oh my goodness it was beautiful, the pictures again do not do it justice.

The dinning room.

 A patio or courtyard, really can not see the parrots behind the orange tree.

 Part of the kitchen, you see all the ceramic work

 The bedroom was amazing, the ensuite and walk in closet were to die for.

Now our park sits on a bench about two miles from the main road and up behind us is a very little settlement called Don Palmos, we call them the hill people, they are made up of Mexicans, Americans and Canadians who wanted to own their own property.

Last Saturday we were invited up to one of the Mexican homes to  a fundraiser as their teenage daughter is running for Queen in Kino Bay.  But I blew it I forgot the camera.  They were serving burritos which were cooked on an open fire. The fire or hot coals was about 5 feet out the back door and the home made tortillas were stretched and then placed on a very hot steel (what looked like) an upside down wok. The lady used her bare hands to first stretch out the tortilla and then place it on the cooking dish.  From here we put on everything from a shredded meat, beans, salsa and guacamole etc.  It was very interesting and quite a learning experience.