December 8, 2007
Our beach plans changed again today and El Faro will have to wait until tomorrow.
The park had a special visitor today who was able to get a few days out of the hospital where he will spend the majority of time during the next several years.
Gonzalos is a four year old boy from the village of La Placita who was diagnosed with leukemia a month ago. His family must take him to a hospital in Colima, more than two hours away.
He recently underwent his first blood transfusion and chemo-therapy treatment and given a few days leave from the hospital. The monthly chemo-therapy treatments are needed for several years.
His parents must drive him back to the hospital for treatments and either pay for a place to stay in Colima during this time or drive home to La Placita while Gonzalos remains in the hospital receiving his treatments.
The government insurance pays for a portion of the chemo-therapy treatments but not the full amount. The cost of transportation and paying for accommodations etc is the parents responsibility.
Several of us at the rv park are pitching in to help the family the best we can and I've also decided to let people who read this blog have a chance to help if they wish.
In the form below, you can indicate any help you would like to give and I will get back to you regarding further information and answer any questions you may have.

Four Year old Gonzalos (notice hospital mask around his neck)

Gonzalos with Mother and Father

Complete the form below if you would like to help Gonzalos

December 9, 2007
Diane was out early today walking the beach with a plastic bag picking up trash. Although the beach is relatively clean, there's always plastic bottles and other items that float that get washed in with the waves. She was able to pick up more than a large trash bag's worth and the beach is even cleaner now.
Sunday is market day so a trip to El Ranchito was planned however before then we had to make a side trip to Aquila where we replenished our peso supply at the ATM machine.
After making our purchases at the market we walked over to a roadside restaurant and had a taco and a coke for lunch.
In the afternoon Ken and I took the dogs to the beach for a run for them and a walk for us. Sitting around all day and having lots to eat, you can start to put on weight if you don't do a little exercise.
Sandy had made available a local artist who is willing to conduct art classes for people at the park and Diane and Mary-Beth signed up for twice a week lessons.

December 10, 2007
Nothing much in the way of interest to report although we finally made it to El Faro today. Besides Ken and Mary-Beth and ourselves, two other couples staying at Buganvilla RV park also drove the 14 miles to El Faro's remarkable beach.As always, the pups had a ball chasing the balls thrown in the water and chasing each other along the beach.
Our favorite beach side restaurant was open and we all had a great fish lunch.
We stayed at the beach until late afternoon and then returned to the rv park to relax after playing in the sun.

December 11, 2007
It was a little overcast this morning but still warm and the sun was out in the afternoon.
Ken and I drove into La Placita this morning to look for someplace to buy some fish and meat. We found the two stores that were recommended to us and I bought four fish fillets and at the carniceria (meat market)I had the lady cut a fresh steak for me. One thing we noticed in Mexico is that steaks are usually cut very thin. Usually 1/4 inch or less in thickness and they consider it strange when you ask the butcher to cut an inch thick steak.
The backhoe was in the park today digging trenches for sewer, water and electricity to new rv sites.
In the afternoon the pups let us know it was time to go to the beach for our fun and exercise. An hour of beach time is good for everyone.

December 12, 2007
Today is a national holiday in Mexico, "the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe" with celebrations in all the towns and villages.
It was cloudy today so we stayed around the park taking it easy and doing a bunch of reading while lounging in the deck chairs.
One of our neighbors has a map program of Mexico that has a lot of detail and has been trying to download it to a CD so he can share it with folks. However so far he's hasn't been able to make a copy. Hopefully he'll succeed as most of the maps that you can buy show only the main towns and roads.

December 13, 2007
Ken and Mary-Beth went to Colima this morning, about a two hour drive. Colima has both a Walmart and Sams so they were able to stock up on things. We looked after their two dogs while they were gone. We have a list of things we need so plan on going to Colima on Monday.
Both of our dogs were overdo for a haircut so most of the day was taken up by clipping a pile of hair off of them. Portugese Water Dogs don't shed much but their hair keeps growing and needs to be cut every few months.
A new RV came into the park this afternoon but I haven't met the people yet.

December 14, 2007
Today was "art lesson day" Diane and Mary-Beth are taking art lessons from a local artist.
I was glad to see the propane truck come into the park today as we were down to about a quarter of a tank. He'll be coming to the park every two weeks and its a nice service to have.
After lunch we went down to the beach. This time I borrowed a big beach umbrella from Sandy and Cynthia so we could sit in our beach chairs and read.
The weather is still warm but it got a little overcast this afternoon and cooled the temperature a bit.