Loose Ends

A smidge over two months ago the Yelapa Memo blog was created. Since then, you all logged over 700 visits. I am humbled and indeed appreciative. In those twelve postings I spoke about: nature and kayaking, food and frolic, local culture and ritual, embracing a new and varied point of view, and even gun control. Apart from the multiple massacres associated with the latter, it has been a good two months. I look forward to discovering and illuminating more issues during the coming year. I desire your help in expanding the blog readership. Every week when the posting is completed, I throw a note onto my FB. If each of you would click on “share”  located below that note, then my posting will appear on your FB as well and be forwarded to all of your friends. My goal is to push the 1000 visits/month figure. Together we can do this.

Before heading into the unchartered waters of 2013, one topic requires an update. Regarding the posting under Yelapa Health Care, I can now add that I personally sought and received care at our local clinic. Without engaging in unnecessary details, let’s just say that I was bitten several times during the night by one of two highly venomous spiders (black widow or brown recluse). The next morning my right hand resembled a catcher’s mitt and my ears could have independently auditioned for the remake of Dumbo. I reacted in the manner that every male would and decided to postpone seeking medical assistance for twenty-four hours. In this case, it was the wrong decision. The following morning, off to the clinic I go. I spent twenty minutes with Dr. Cesar Rodriguez watching him attempt to mask the shock in his face.  An IV was started and I received the first of three anti-venoms required to combat the bite. Since our local clinic did not possess the additional two, I was instructed to depart for Puerto Vallarta as soon as possible and report to the Regional Hospital for additional treatment. Cost to me at the Yelapa Clinic = 0.  We arrived at the hospital, effectively a county hospital, and over the ensuing nine hours (on Diana’s Birthday) I was attached to another IV and the remaining anti-venoms were administered. At 1:00 a.m. I was released. Cost to me at the Regional Hospital = 200 pesos ($16 USD). I continue to mend thanks to the professionalism of those with whom I came in contact that day. Gracias a todos.

A possible topic for future exploration might be the visitation of friends. Diana and I were delighted to host Karen and Steve Rubin. We shared our local waterfall, enjoyed an amazing lunch at Ray’s Shambhala, chatted extensively and then escorted them to their departing water taxi. All this with two people we had never met. The Rubins, who reside in Asheville, NC; are friends of my brother and his wife. A visit to Yelapa was arranged during an annual trip to their timeshare in North Vallarta. We look forward to their return.   

Without intentionally structuring this post as a set of wishes for the new year, I have inadvertently identified two of the most important issues one could seek: good health and cherished friends. My wish and challenge to you all  in 2013 is simply this:  1) add an event to your routine which is health based, and 2) commit to making at least one new friend. Perhaps, just perhaps you’ll be as “charmed” as we were with Steve and Karen Rubin. Feliz Ano Nuevo

Commercial Break

Memo’s Kayaks will be available daily throughout the remainder of the holidays. Groups of eight can be accommodated comfortably. Be sure to call first regarding availability. Just ponder how peaceful our world might be if everyone started the day off with a ride on Memo’s Yaks.

Memo's Favorites 2012

As I view the lower half of the final page of my 2012 calendar, I take pause and ponder the manifest blessings which have been bestowed upon me during the prior months. Oh Gag! This is not a moment for obtuse reflection; it is yet another opportunity to assess the next action moving forward. VIVA! Somehow the act of reflection raises my paranoia filter. Does anyone else harbor that vacuous thought that they might look rearward to reflect and see nothing other than the reflection of their rear?  

I have decided to proffer instead my personal choices of all that is incredible in Yelapa. In the interest of full disclosure, I acknowledge that no extensive survey was taken, no statistical analysis applied and certainly no objectivity invited. These are my personal selections and I am gifting them to you, my dedicated readership to relish for the coming year until I update them in December 2013. May I have the envelope, please?

Memo’s Favorites

2012

Best Cup of Coffee                Café Bahia-Susan Pasko

Cheapest (Best?)Beer on the Playa            Domingo’s

Best Margarita/Best Overall Restaurant/Best View

                               Shambhala-The Vasquez Family

Best Shrimp Dishes  El Manguito-The Castillon Family

Best Local Attraction                    The Town Waterfall

Best Guide to fishing/Marietas/Corrales

        Okley Activities and Excursions-Fernando Garcia

Best (newest) MassageTherapist             Debbie Grey

Best Kayak Rental         Memo’s on the Playita-Memo

Best Electronic Bargain       Prepaid Cell phone TelCel

I seek to simply communicate the spectrum which exists in our little pueblo. Yes, there are food and beverage purveyors galore, physical activities in which to engage and comfortable lodging in which to retreat. If your “travels” to Yelapa during 2013 include nothing more than my blog, a few online videos and the odd travel book at the public library, then rest assured that there is a friendly “hola, buenos dias” awaiting you manana. Feliz Navidad!

For your listening pleasure, I am including a link to the quintessential Mexican Christmas song. Enjoy!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD3iGaXzFlA

Yelapa Health Care

Those who travel look forward to visiting new spots, experiencing new people and consuming unknown delicacies. We never consider what to do in the advent of a medical issue or emergency. If you are planted in a high-rise hotel in a major city, then you call the front desk, they call the ambulance and the scene evolves from there. However, what if you are located in a remote village sixty minutes by water taxi from Puerto Vallarta? Oops, I forgot the part about the challenges of a foreign language.

Those of you who undertake (unfortunate choice of words) endless investigation before selecting a destination are aware that Puerto Vallarta is home to four high quality medical facilities. Diana and I (Memo) have experienced appointments in three of these hospitals. We found each to be spotless, staff courteous and well versed in English and the surrounding facilities to be nothing short of what you expect from a four/five star hotel. For those of you who may not be aware, Puerto Vallarta now offers a vast array of medical services (cosmetic, dental, major surgery etc.) under the label of “Medical Tourism.” For a city with roughly 200k inhabitants, that’s pretty impressive.

Ok, so if you become ill, scrape your foot, or the guy forgets his vacation “meds” and you’re spending time in PV, you’re covered. What happens if you’re staying in Yelapa for five days and you experience some medical need? Here’s what you can expect. Yelapa is home to a beautiful, well-staffed (two doctors and a nurse) clinic. This link features several photos as well as a brief video of the clinic: https://picasaweb.google.com/110100488343007259198 

Two visiting American friends of mine have experienced non-major medical issues here in Yelapa. They sought assistance through the clinic. Their needs were met efficiently and professionally and NO CHARGES were assessed, including, in one instance, the administration of a tetanus shot. In each case, the individuals elected to make a contribution equal to what an out of pocket office call would cost in the states. Were a major medical situation to arise, the clinic will extend care to stabilize the patient who will then be transported to Puerto Vallarta. There is a designated emergency panga identified for such situations. We daily pass and greet our local doctors by their first names. They are a valued and honored part of our community.

A word about scorpions; we do live in the jungle. Although we typically think of this insect’s habitat as the desert, it does live here. It is non-aggressive and prefers to camp in dark and damp surroundings. However, if cornered and provoked, it will defend itself; remember it’s the back end not the front that you need to watch.  Every morning shake out your shoes, clothing, backpacks, or anything else which might afford overnight lodging. As part of the communal health plan, someone in each of the four colonies of Yelapa has been identified and trained to administer an anti-venom injection 24/7.

Plan ahead, be prepared, an ounce of prevention—pound of cure or any other pneumonic which reminds you to travel intelligently. You select a vacation site so that you can rest, relax, eat, drink and enjoy. Just remember to continue with the “think” part also.

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Every day dolphins cruise the bay to harass the resident tuna. Every day the tuna cruise the bay and eat the blue runners. Every day the blue runners swim by and idly watch their numbers diminish. Question: What does this have to do with renting a kayak?  Answer: When you’re in a kayak you can place yourself directly into this entire food chain and still return home safely for lunch. Call Memo, he’s your man!

Yelapan Olympiad

I lived in the Los Angeles basin during the 1984 Summer Olympics. My involvement was two pronged: one when I traveled to some high school track to see the torch brought to the site: and two when I watched a soccer (futbol) match in a packed Rose Bowl Stadium. My gawd, that was nearly thirty years ago. I can still recall the wonder of seeing the torch pass before me. The sound of the runner’s shoes on the rubberized track, the visual created by the unitary arm-torch-flame, the labored breathing of the participant as he strove to hide any signal of fatigue. Obviously, it was a moment remembered.

Ok, I sense my audience grows antsy. What does the 1984 Summer Olympics have to do with Yelapa? Let me tell you. In an earlier post, I wrote that the locals were sprucing up their stores, lodging spaces, restaurants, water taxis, beach furniture and each other. Why? You’ve forgotten already! The reason for this heightened state of activity is the seasonal arrival of the world’s tourists. Consider it akin to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Adjust the metaphor to reflect less bulls but running every day for six months. As locals, we readily admit that for six months there is indeed a lot of bull in town. Alas, we are an accepting people.     

Along comes November 1; the temperatures remain high, the humidity is even higher; while the incoming water taxi passenger numbers increase the travelers only spend the day and then depart. Along comes November 15; the temperatures remain high, the humidity has dropped to the point of paralleling the temperatures (good news); water taxi traffic increases but lodging and restaurant occupancy remains flat. Along comes November 22 (Thanksgiving Day); temperatures have dropped a few degrees taking the humidity down with it; virtually all the seasonal ex-pats meet and greet each other graciously over turkey, smashed potatoes and margueritas. Only a few bulls have begun to walk the streets. Along comes December 1; temperatures have dropped into the high 70s F with humidity falling into the mid-50s. Nights are cool, inviting one to sleep with some type of cover. The early daylight hours are drop-dead gorgeous. A breeze continues well into mid-morning. Whale sightings occur throughout the day. Incoming and departing water taxis are filled to the gunnels-----yet where are the balance of the bulls? It is a village on edge. Merchants meet you with their eyes; inquisitive frowns crease their foreheads. Lodging managers escort a single couple to their space then shrug as the balance of their accommodations lie void of travelers. We are a village in waiting.

Yet another metaphor to punctuate the point. Consider Disneyland poised for the opening bell. One day the keeper of the key ambles forward to cast open the doors to the Magic Kingdom and ------------no cars exist in the parking lot. Now Yelapa is certainly not the Magic Kingdom and fortunately we are without parking lots and vehicles. Diana and I personally have three friends arriving within the next two weeks. Hopefully, everyone else does as well. If not, there will be untold meals/beverages not consumed; sunrises/sunsets missed; whales/dolphins/manta rays not cited; etc. etc. etc.  Come on folks, I know you have four days of vacation time tucked away. Get in touch with your wild thang! Venture to Yelapa!!!

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Just to show that my heart and wallet are in the right place, I will offer a 15% discount on kayak rentals during the month of December if you mention this particular blog post by name.