Thursday, July 12, 2012

just move it


There is nothing better than an impromptu trip to liven up the little gray cells.  As Hercule Poirot might say.

My experience is that the planning and anticipation of a trip is a sure fire way to suck all of the fun and spontaneity out of it.

Since my return to Melaque, I have not strayed from my garden other than for a few local trips.  Otherwise, it has been just me and my Kindle on the patio with the Duraflex fan.

One of my fellow church-goers decided I had had enough solo time.  At our post-service lunch, she asked if I could drive her to the airport.  Sure, I said.  I love taking people to the airport.

The airport in Puerto Vallarta.  I recently had told her and others in our congregation that I was tired of saying "no" to suggestions.  Certainly, said I.

Early on Tuesday morning, I headed north with her.  I am not certain when I was last in Puerto Vallarta, but I always like visiting the Big City.  Well, big to we fishing village folk.

After I dropped her off at the airport, I settled into my hotel room and contacted one of my readers.  He and his family moved to Puerto Vallarta last August.  Coincidentally, he saw on my blog I was headed to his area of the country, and he asked if I would be interested in getting together.

My original plan was to sit down and have a drink with him and then head off to a late movie.  After all, multiplex theaters are rather rare here.

So, off we went to the older section of town and the exotic luxury of an Italian restaurant. 

Our conversations started out with the joys and frustrations of living in Mexico, but then turned to the finer points of political philosophy, natural law, the weaknesses of fiat currency, and why someone with such limited talent as Brad Pitt can be a movie star.

The conversation was one of those exchanges that is worth savoring -- like a fine truffle.  Instead, we settled for Italian.

What we both thought would be a short get-together soon turned into four hours.  The weather helped conspire to keep us at our table.

I have seen plenty of tropical rain storms.  But this one went on for well over an hour before we decided to dash through it to the car.

I am accustomed to water in the streets in Melaque.  But the area around town is flat.  Old Puerto Vallarta is build on steep hills.  The cobblestone streets looked and felt like white water rivers.

When I drove out of town on Wednesday afternoon, I stopped at an overlook where the Tomatlán River empties into the Pacific.  The lingering effects of the storm were still evident. 

The photograph at the top of this post is of the silt-saturated river water mixing with the sea.  At the bottom of the photograph you can see how the silt is floating only on the surface of the ocean.  A boat's wake reveals the blue water beneath.

Other than dropping off  my passenger at the airport, nothing on this trip went as planned.  It went much better.  And, for that reason alone, it was well worth getting away from my Melaque doldrums.

One last note, the sun managed to peek through the storm clouds just as it was setting.  I have never seen the sun that orange.  And there I was without my camera.

This inadequate photograph is from the camera on my telephone.

17 comments:

norm said...

The photo is a classic. The warm rain water sitting on the cool ocean water with a ribbon cut through, to set it all off, well done. 

sparks said...

The rivers are full because those lucky people in the mountains are getting rain while we only get thunder and heat

John Calypso said...

Not to run through Brad's filmography (because I could) - I thought he did a fine acting job on "Moneyball".  Seems like you might be selling him short as an actor - INHO

Steve Cotton said...

I was hoping it would get a little rain last night.  But just another sound and light show.  The nice thing about the rain in Puerto Vallarta is that I had my first night of real sleep in a long time.

Steve Cotton said...

I will grant that he is the quintessential movie star.

Steve Cotton said...

Thanks, Norm.  I just happened to be there at the right time.  I had shot a series of photographs trying to capture the feel, and along came the boat.  I was glad I waited.  Another Mexican trait I have acquired.

Rick said...

I agree with you about Brad Pitt. Seems like a classy guy BUT I find his work annoying. Obviously women have a different POV.

Steve Cotton said...

I must confess I was being a bit facetious.  We probably spent 30 seconds talking about the movie star "it" factor.  But the sentence where his name appears was getting a bit heavy.  I thought a bit of cream filling would lighten its impact.

Irene said...

Well, okay then.

Andean said...

Those short impromtu trips can be so refreshing, even to non so gray cells.
Friends of mine mine might not be so excited with that Brad comment, but maybe their husbands...

Steve Cotton said...

And I guess I will leave it at that.  Even though there s so much more to say.

Steve Cotton said...

Of course, we were discussing acting ability, not his man candy attraction.  No one doubts he is a movie star.  One of the most memorable lines in My Favorite Year (a movie stuffed with great lines is delivered by Peter O'Toole when he discovers he is about o appear live on television:  "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!."  That line should be posted over many a Hollywood door.

Andean said...

Never saw him as "man candy" personally.  But do regard him as an actor, not just a movie star.

Debiinmerida said...

Puerta Vallarta has always been one of our favorite destinations. We used o go annually, from Colorado that is. Now, tickets to get there from Merida are over 6000pesos
And as for Brad - I think he'sva very good characte actor, he was very good in Snatch, Inglorius Bastards, what was the one with Bruce Willis where hevwas in an insane asylum, terrific characters. Not just Brad playing Brad as.....

Steve Cotton said...

One of my best trips to Puerto Vallarta was meeting the two of you there.

Mommy with Commuter Husband said...

Love this post. Beckons fond memories of PV after the rains and meeting up with blogger friends on their home turf :)

Steve Cotton said...

I enjoyed meeting all of you back then.