Full Swing

Forget a gradual transition from few visitors to many. This week our little village suddenly faced the latter. Increased traffic appeared driven by a singular event. Yelapa is a frequent spot for destination weddings. Packages are available through Hotel Lagunita, while more adventurous types build the event on their own from a far or with the help of a local contact. 

This past week, the hotel served as the focal point for a one hundred fifty person wedding party. That lodging requirement extends well beyond their capability, meaning that the participants were sprinkled throughout the village. This was great news to the town’s restaurants as people tend to eat close to where they stay. Over the weekend, all the major restaurants were filled with wedding revelers. To their credit, they were friendly, polite and a welcomed addition to our local economy. The ceremony occurred at dusk on Friday. A team of bridesmaids moved forward en masse like an ooze of pink molasses. The groom in full coat & tails punctuated the pinnacle of contrast with the barefoot, shirtless local kids watching from the nearby bushes. And lastly the centerpiece of the entire performance-----the bride proceeded across a path of newly cut fronds, this picturesque snow goddess glided forward only to disappear within the awaiting pink ooze. 

After what seemed like the briefest of moments, there was a cheer, several photo flashes and that was it. The group retired to the buffet area not to be heard the remainder of the evening. Now this is way weird, since Plan A wedding package includes three bursts of fireworks at midnight and Plan B expands that to five. Locals are awakened by these booms and bursts which punctuate the night sky. From then on it’s a restless few hours of sleep as the festivities push on until 3 a.m. (ish). To our great surprise neither bursts, booms nor partying disturbed our sleep. There was simply no nocturnal disturbance. 

Fall weather has descended up Yelapa. Day-time temperatures reach the mid-80s and require nothing more than an oscillating fan on low to maintain a pleasant inside environment. Sleep time invites the accompaniment of a light polar fleece coverlet and even a closed window. Remarkable!

In addition to the departure of the wedding entourage, there are several other significant exits this week as well. Tamara/John and their dog, Chloe, are returning to their home in Fairbanks, AK.  It was a busy trip for them: leasing an apartment for the next several years, dealing with the logistics of phone, power, furniture and then seeking counseling for Chloe’s obsession with pursuing geckos. Next, Kendra’s parents, John and Becky, will be heading to their native Kansas after enjoying Thanksgiving with Fernando, Kendra and grand-daughter, Kayden. Lastly, my precious Diana will depart Friday for San Diego to resume her full time duties as nanny-granny for Reese. Her daughter, Katherine, returns to work mid-December.

Nikki and I will convene soon to plot our daily routines: mine to include guitar practice, stationary biking, kayaking, kayak rentals, siesta taking, and the “occasional” dinner at Ray’s Place. Nikki’s day will be driven by breakfast, walk in the jungle, mid-morning nap, mid-afternoon nap, dinner, walk in the jungle, after dinner nap, and then sleeping all night. Our lives will be less rich and more solitary. New friends, along with the return of old, will add variety to our moments in paradise. 

Commercial Break

To those of you who “Liked” the new Facebook page Yelapa Kayak Rentals, I add my sincere appreciation. To those who haven’t, give it a thought. The last three days have brought significant tidal swings to our little bay. While launchings have been delayed until late morning, there remains a four plus hour window for pleasant yaking. This is a tidal cycle we experience every fourteen days although the swing from low to hi has been particularly dramatic.  Happy Paddling, memo