January 29

 As I was typing my last post over 1 week ago I had had a feeling I was coming down with the flu. Yep, woke up with 102 fever and spent the next 3 days in bed, coughing, blowing, feeling nauseous and tired. Then I spent 2 more days hanging out in our condo reading and being quiet and staying away from others. We had to make the move to the upper floor condo during the worst of the illness, not fun but Dave packed everything up and moved it, insisting I just do nothing. I went from one bed to the other. We love our top floor poolside room, so pretty, bright and fabulous view. We can even see whales from here.

While I was sick Dave did a lot of wandering around taking pictures of dogs and practicing his Spanish. And taking care of me, making sure I had fluids and what ever tiny morsel of food I could choke down, he was wonderful. 

And he saw the biggest crocodile ever.

I had booked a Mandala Dot Yeti Cup painting class for Kitty and I to do on Monday at The Annex Studio. Luckily I was feeling much better and not coughing much. We made beautiful designs on our cups, and learned the basic art of Mandala Dot painting. There were 2 other women there coughing who have had the same thing Kitty and I did, it is going around big time here. 

We met up with the guys at Mango beach club when we were done painting. We had an almost non stop front row seat  to amazing whale watching! They were so close to shore and were swimming back and forth playing and breaching occasionally, mamas and babies. I told myself not to take pictures to just enjoy with my eyes. Kitty snapped a couple good ones.

Tuesday we walked up to Kitty and Jims place in the Versailles neighborhood and played a game then went out for a delicious lunch at Aubulon.

After lunch Dave and I made our way to La Comer and Costco for some supplies. After unpacking we headed back out to find dinner stopping at Don Chava for tasty street style tacos, then made our way to a bakery to pick up a late slice of birthday cake since we had to cancel Daves Birthday dinner plans due to my illness, we are rescheduled though! Then we made our way to the beach for sunset. It is so nice to feel good enough to get out and about!

PV 2025

 We returned to PV for a 5 plus week trip on January 18, a little later than usual. We actually came here for 1 week over my birthday in November and stayed in the 3rd floor unit here at Bella Loma that we stayed in for 1 week last February. Hindsight we could have stayed then and now at our beloved Villa Olivia as it is still for sale and they are renting it out but I had prepaid for our rooms at Bella Loma because everyone was so certain the Villa had been sold back in February. We meet up with Denise for dinner and went back to the Villa when we were here in November, it was so good to see her and catch up,  basically she has been alone in the Villa since May, other than some staff.  

The PV airport was a breeze, got out in almost record time, then walked right after exiting stopping just after Avis rental and at the One Hotel and Casino to set up an Uber as recommend on Trip Advisor Forum. It worked well, there was actually an uber driver waiting there.

Our room here at Bella Loma for the first 5 nights is a larger 1 bedroom with 3 outdoor balconies but not inviting to hang out on any of them, they are either right up to a building and an outdoor gully or basically enclosed because of being right up to another building. We are not hanging outside at these spaces! I MISS my ocean view at Villa Olivia! 

We will move to the roof top room soon with views and ocean breezes. Which could have its own challenges! 

Our friends Kitty and Jim arrived on the 13th, but Kitty came down with a nasty case of the flu so we have not seen them, but plan on it by Dave's birthday. Lots of stuff going around down here and everywhere. 

Our days have been filled with walks, beach time, grocery shopping, a few meals out at our favorite places, although not fancy just our go to PV places, Cafe de Olla, Los Liros, Freddy Tucan for breakfast.

Yesterday we walked from our place to the Marina since the weather is cooler than usual, clocked in 12 plus miles yesterday. Had lunch at a new to us place, Fajita Banana, had of course had fajitas, very good, would go back. We did catch an uber back which happened to be right at the area where we ordered and caught an uber when we arrived, so basically we walked to at the airport! So doable to walk from airport to romantic zone when arriving or leaving but not recommended!

Today after runs and walks we walked the beach to La Playita in Conchas Chinas, love the views there, chatted with 2 tables of young people, one table of 2  lovely young gals here doing a photo shoot, one a photographer the other a model, both originally from Washington, the Tri Cities and Vancouver, the model is now signed on with Elle, I need to pick up a copy! We enjoyed watching all the whale activity today from the beautiful beach here.

We have both finished one book so far and Dave has been diligent to work on his Spanish daily or numerous times daily, he is practicing it everywhere we go, good for him, he is in my opinion doing very well, although he doesn't think so!