I heart you

Hello dear readers. Here's a quick post to let you know that I'm still here and I appreciate your visits. I'm currently consumed by planning and preparations for my upcoming wedding. While I'm off on that journey, I'll leave you with a few heart photos from my travels. Enjoy!

Chile ristra at a farmer's market in New Mexico.

San Francisco, where some people leave theirs.

Berry soup on our 2010 Alaska cruise.

Love-ly beach, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

I'll be back next month!

10 things I like about Mexico

A recent trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, was the perfect place to escape from the snow-dusted streets of home. There are lots of things I like about Mexico, particularly when it's winter in Canada. Here are the 10 favourites from my recent trip.

1. Frida Kahlo sells everything

Negra Modelo beer with Frida label

2. The beach is beautiful and not just for beach bunnies

Lunch stop at Zamas

3. Skeletons with boobs

Day of the Dead attraction at a tourista shop

4. Bicycle parking in the jungle

At the Mayan ruins of Coba

5. Iguanas and other animals we don't have at home

Iguana at Tulum

6. Really old and historic stuff like Mayan ruins

Chichen Itza: sculls with Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) in the background

7. Real tacos and tequila drinks

Fresh lime margarita with achiote shrimp tacos at Zamas

8. Mariachi music and talavera pottery

Talavera pottery frogs playing mariachi music (use your imagination)

9. Brightly coloured buildings

Valladolid, Yucatan

10. Fresh coconuts. Everywhere.

Our home in Playcar

What are your favourite things about Mexico?

What I did on my summer vacation

I've neglected this blog for far too long. If you've come back, I thank you so much for your patience. Now that fall is approaching I will dedicate more time to keeping up to date. In the meantime here are some snippets of things I've seen or done over the past four months, or "what I did on my summer vacation."

On the outskirts of El Paso, I fell in love with fresh fruit popsicles at Flautas y Paleteria Tepalca in Canutillo, Texas. When I say fresh, mmmm, I can't come close to describing how deliciously orgasmic they were. Take a look at the pinons in the creamsicle below; then I went back for mango. This was an unusual discovery due to road work on the Interstate but it will now be a regular stop on my trips to that part of the US.

I saw a sonoran gopher snake and heard coyotes howl in the desert of southern New Mexico.

I found a metal tray decorated with actual hotel stickers. Not a replica. Not massed produced. The real deal. Looks like someone had a better summer vacation than I did, 60 years ago.

I discovered more treasures amongst the wonderful things that were once my Nonna Elvira's. Here's a carefully preserved stencil that she used as a pattern for her cutwork linens.

On a quick trip to Nelson, BC and a lovely walk along the lake, I came across a playground for adults fitted with outdoor fitness equipment. Best of all, t's FREE.

In Vancouver, the BC Place stadium roof deflated and the new retractable roof is under construction.

In keeping with the roof theme, the Canada Place (convention centre) roof is being "rehabilitated." Looks like a hazardous job.

I went to Alaska and saw humpback whales bubble net feeding. A humbling experience.

And, finally, while the weather is still nice, this is my favourite coffee place.

While I'm having my coffee please leave a comment letting me know what you'd like to hear more about.

Ciao.

Booking seats

We're flying British Airways to Rome for the family "roots" trip. BA doesn't allow you to pre-book seats until 24 hours before your flight. Last night we had our countdown with two laptops to book 7 seats together as soon as the website would let us. It was more stressful than I imagined.