Cai and Bumpa watching the sun set with some interesting shadows on the garden wall
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Bronwen's Zambian Outfit
The headmaster of the school and his wife were very taken with Bronwen and all her efforts in connecting and working at the school and in the community. So before she left Zambia they took her to a tailor in Kapiri, had her measured up and this traditional Zambian outfit made for her. They had a matching one made for their own daughter, who Bronwen had interacted with, as a reminder of their Canadian "daughter" !
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Watermelon and Campfires
In the abscence of a supply of grapes Cai has been quite happy to have watermelon instead. A good thing as they are in season right now and a large one can be bought for the equivalent of $ 1.20 !
We have been enjoying lots of campfires in the evenings around the fire pit built by the Taylor team.
Saturday, 1 March 2008
Mexico Update
Jenny, Cai and Gordon are currently in Mazatlan, Mexico for a much needed vacation.
We have already been here a week - hard to believe - and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. The flight down was great. Fortunately it wasn't full so we had three seats to ourselves and Cai didn't have to be on a lap for the whole 4 hour flight. He really enjoyed his first experience of flying and was fascinated about going up and coming down.
We are staying in a hotel - The Hacienda - in the older part of the town - quite a way from the Golden Zone which is the main tourist area with the fancy resorts. The hotel is cheap and very comfortable. The large room, on the 6th floor, has a beautiful view over the main bay - facing West so we get some beautiful sunsets - and comes with a kitchenette so we can do our own meals. There are a couple of regular supermarkets close by so we can buy our groceries when we need them. We have seen a couple of traditional markets in the area but haven't plucked up the courage to buy anything there yet !
We have been having a busy time. Most days we spend time on the beach, just across the road from the hotel, in the morning then after Cai's mid-day siesta we go walking and exploring. We've been in all directions - into the older part of town in the South and also down the main tourist zone a bit further North. There is an amazing promenade called The Malecon right along the coastline which stretches some 15 km in length. For those of you who can relate - a great deal of Mazatlan reminds us a lot of Durban or Beira in the old days. Most days are sunny and hot - in the high 20's C - but we have had a couple of afternoons and evening with a chilly wind off the sea which have forced us to wear our sweaters.
Cai was a bit wary of the beach and sea when we first arrived but is now enjoying the sand. Still not sure of the sea itself and prefers to paddle in the pool at the hotel. Still he's having a blast and so excited about all the sights and sounds he's experiencing. Of course he charms everyone - particularly with his curly blond hair - and (Mexican) people are always stopping to talk to him and touch his head - a sign of good luck. We've bumped into a few Canadians along the beach or promenade who are also staying in the quieter part of town and they have shared information with us about where to go for sightseeing and food.
The other day we spent a few hours at one of the huge resorts in the tourist zone. They have lots of pools and a nice play ground so Cai really enjoyed all that. We had a buffet lunch there - stuffed ourselves with all sorts of tasty delicacies washed down with mugs of local beer - included in the price of the meal ! We didn't have to cook dinner that evening so reckon we got our money's worth ! They make a delicious (cooked) relish here with tomato, onion and sliced cactus leaf - which looks a bit like green pepper. It tastes just like the relish we make to eat with sadza - very yummy.
We are very pleased that we decided to be here for two weeks as one week is definitely not enough and it would have been terrible to be going back today already.
We have already been here a week - hard to believe - and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. The flight down was great. Fortunately it wasn't full so we had three seats to ourselves and Cai didn't have to be on a lap for the whole 4 hour flight. He really enjoyed his first experience of flying and was fascinated about going up and coming down.
We are staying in a hotel - The Hacienda - in the older part of the town - quite a way from the Golden Zone which is the main tourist area with the fancy resorts. The hotel is cheap and very comfortable. The large room, on the 6th floor, has a beautiful view over the main bay - facing West so we get some beautiful sunsets - and comes with a kitchenette so we can do our own meals. There are a couple of regular supermarkets close by so we can buy our groceries when we need them. We have seen a couple of traditional markets in the area but haven't plucked up the courage to buy anything there yet !
We have been having a busy time. Most days we spend time on the beach, just across the road from the hotel, in the morning then after Cai's mid-day siesta we go walking and exploring. We've been in all directions - into the older part of town in the South and also down the main tourist zone a bit further North. There is an amazing promenade called The Malecon right along the coastline which stretches some 15 km in length. For those of you who can relate - a great deal of Mazatlan reminds us a lot of Durban or Beira in the old days. Most days are sunny and hot - in the high 20's C - but we have had a couple of afternoons and evening with a chilly wind off the sea which have forced us to wear our sweaters.
Cai was a bit wary of the beach and sea when we first arrived but is now enjoying the sand. Still not sure of the sea itself and prefers to paddle in the pool at the hotel. Still he's having a blast and so excited about all the sights and sounds he's experiencing. Of course he charms everyone - particularly with his curly blond hair - and (Mexican) people are always stopping to talk to him and touch his head - a sign of good luck. We've bumped into a few Canadians along the beach or promenade who are also staying in the quieter part of town and they have shared information with us about where to go for sightseeing and food.
The other day we spent a few hours at one of the huge resorts in the tourist zone. They have lots of pools and a nice play ground so Cai really enjoyed all that. We had a buffet lunch there - stuffed ourselves with all sorts of tasty delicacies washed down with mugs of local beer - included in the price of the meal ! We didn't have to cook dinner that evening so reckon we got our money's worth ! They make a delicious (cooked) relish here with tomato, onion and sliced cactus leaf - which looks a bit like green pepper. It tastes just like the relish we make to eat with sadza - very yummy.
We are very pleased that we decided to be here for two weeks as one week is definitely not enough and it would have been terrible to be going back today already.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Mexico Vacation - Photos #2
Cai and Gordon enjoy some traditional Mexican food at a beachside cafe
Cai's first sandcastle
A beautiful sunset from our 6th floor balcony overlooking the bay
Cai hanging out on the beachTuesday, 26 February 2008
Mexico Vacation - Photos #1
These are the first batch of photos that go with a later post with details about the holiday
Jenny & Cai on the beach with our hotel in the background
Jenny & Cai on the beach with our hotel in the background 
Jenny & Cai sitting on our hotel balcony enjoying the early morning sunlight
Jenny & Cai with her 50th birthday sand "cake"
Cai & Bumpa Gordon sit in a model/sculpture of the unique local taxi of which there are hundreds buzzing around the place. They're all based on a VW Beetle chassis and engine and fun to ride in
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