Holiday Vacation Part lll

I think I left off part II with hubby getting his dislocated shoulder fixed. That was on the Tuesday. Wednesday needless to say was a slower paced day. We did some great sightseeing and checked out the local sights. A lot of PV is on the hill and you forever feel like you are walking up hill.....it's great for the calf muscles but I know it was a little tiring for dear hubby. This church "Our Lady of Guadalupe" is right in the middle of downtown PV it's large bell rings on the hour, it is open to visitors and is a lovely church inside. This is the town square, September was the month in which they celebrate Independence, and everywhere you looked there were signs and flags and streamers the week before we arrived there had been big celebrations the city streets..... these were some of the stairs we climbed.....

and still more stairs.......

after our long walk we decided it was time for a cervesa and beach side.....and I guess my friend here thought it was time for a break as well.....

While sitting on the beach we were approached by another vendor trying to sell us another tour. This time it was going to be a tour to the rain forest and riding the "zip lines" through the jungle. We scheduled this for the next morning. As my girls are not early risers we decide to do the late morning excersion departing at 11:00 am. That would give us plenty of time to have breakfast, do some touring and walk to the place where we were to be picked up.

Here are the girls in their harnesses for the zip line....

Here are the girls and I with our funny surgical hats on....those are necessary for sanitary purposes....one tends to sweat like crazy climbing in the humid rain forest and we had to wear these helmets which have been worn by many tourists before us.....

and here we are making our own fashion statement.....Paris and couture's look out.....

Here is middle daughter testing the line, we had two lines that we got to practise on before we hit the big ones....

and here's me....such grace....such style and form......

me coming in for the landing after our 2nd practice run....hubby wasn't able to join us on the zip lines....it took about 1.5 hrs climbing and travelling along 12 different lines. Some of the lines we crossed were 90 meters high that's about 300ft up and travelling at speeds of up to 50 miles/hr, the longest line being 440 meters long......

and here's youngest practicing her form......

and here was a refreshing pool we were able to swim in after the adventure.....we didn't know we were able to go swimming afterwards, but we didn't care we were so hot that we just dove in clothes and all......
Here is eldest and youngest contemplating going in....that rope in the middle of the picture you could swing out on and release and fall into the water...which of course we all did.....
there she goes.....
and if that wasn't fun enough you could then climb up between the rocks make your way across the water and then slide down the natural water slide.....

the girls enjoying the refreshing mountain fed pools......it truly was a fun filled day.....needless to say we were exhausted after it all. Our tour did include a tour of a tequila factory where they showed us the process that is used in making tequila, it takes about 50 lbs of the agave plant to make one bottle of tequila....it was really an interesting process to watch.....and no I did not sample any tequila......youngest daughter took some photos of the jungle as we were driving through it....

So there you have it.....that evening we went out for a nice dinner and again did some wondering around town....the girls decided that Thursday evening was going to be their evening on the town....and I leave those stories up to them......they made it home safe....and much earlier than I thought.....I went with them up to the roof top for a late night swim.......oh what a vacation......only two days left......I'll fill you in on my next vacation installment.....cheers all....

This and That Tuesday.......

Well thank you all for your Thanksgiving good wishes. It was a lovely day. It was very nice to see the nieces and nephews. I hadn't seen hubby's nieces since Christmas so there was lots to catch up on.

Today was spent mostly catching up on school work. I have a big assignment coming up and was doing some research on the history of the nursing uniform and the likes, when I came across a fellow nursing blogger whose blog I have read on occasion. There she was making a post in Nursing job.com about the history of the nursing uniform. I couldn't believe it. What a very small world.

The other day I was tagged by one of my new blogging friends Misty Dawn who did a 8 things about me meme.....it goes something like this:

8 things I'm passionate about: my husband, my children,my extended family, my work, social issues(especially health care),justice, maintaining good health, and finding something to be positive about each and every day.

8 things I want to do before I die: Visit my father's homeland,travel through Europe, open a hospice for palliative patients,finish my degree,do more public service,be debt free,watch my girls grow and watch what life path the choose, learn how to paint

8 things I say often: I'm conscious of the time, you've got to be kidding me, your not for real, did I say that out loud,

8 books I've recently read: I'm not reading anything other than school material right now.

8 songs I could listen to over and over: Time to say goodbye Andre Bocelli, Just to make you smile Tim McGraw, Would you go with me, Holy water, Big and Rich, Hurt Johnny Cash, Plain White T's Hey there Delilah,Chasing cars Snow Patrol

8 things that attract me to my best friends:

loyalty
trustworthy
honesty
understanding sense of humor
loving forgiving thoughtful

8 things I've learned this past year: Never say never, this to shall pass, I truly can do whatever I set my mind to,to trust someone, that I am not invincible,I am sure there are more but your know I just can't think of any right now.

Happy Thanksgiving......

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada......Hubby and I will be celebrating with his family. His sister and her children will be joining us as will his brother and his wife and two young boys. It should be a lovely gathering.

It's a bit strange for me not preparing dinner as this is something I have done for the past 15 years and I really enjoy it. I love all the preparation, the decorating, the smells in the kitchen while the turkey is cooking. Oh I am going to miss that. I volunteered to make a vegetable dish and some dessert, so I made a squash puff a pumpkin cheese cake and some pumpkin cookies. I have also volunteered to make an appie....by no means is it a traditional Thanksgiving dish but I made these about a month ago and they were a big hit and I was asked to make them again...what are they you might ask.......egg rolls.....yup egg rolls.....you know there is nothing more tasty than a fresh homemade egg roll. They can be a bit finicky and I have opted to make a double batch but they are well worth it in the end.

It's almost 0900 and I have many things to do before noon when I told mother in law that I would be over to help set things up for dinner.

I wish all my Canadian friends a very Happy Thanksgiving....and my friends south of the border a wonderful Monday and hope your week starts out well......

Puerto Vallarta Vacation Part II

After the excitement of the first two days, we decided that Monday would be a day where we would do some shopping and again relax and enjoy being pool side.

During our walk along the boardwalk we were approached by a vendor trying to sell us a tour. Oh we chatted and we bartered but the vendor wasn't moving to a price that was working for us so we finally walked away. It was early afternoon and this vendor found hubby and I sitting under a palapa on the beach enjoying the sights. The vendor finally came down to a reasonable price. Our adventure was to take place the next day. We were going by boat snorkeling, horseback riding which took us to a trip to some waterfalls, lunch on the beach then back on the boat to another isolated location where we would frolic on the beach for a couple of hours and finally back onto the boat for a fun filled trip back to town. Sounded like a lot of fun, and the girls were excited about the adventure.

The sun was shining and it was a great day for the cruise......

Eldest and middle daughter just having some fun....and taking in the sights......

between those rocks is where we went snorkeling......the water was cloudy so unfortunately there wasn't much to see....I have snorkeled in Puerto Vallarta before and the marine life is amazing.....guess it wasn't to be this time......we climbed back onto the boat dried off and the tour guide turned up the tunes and got us all doing some line dancing......Under the instruction of our infamous leader, the girls and I learn some new steps......

this is the four of us.....all at the back of the class......after dancing we enjoyed the sights some more and eventually anchored at our second destination. Here, we are greeted on the beach by a few locals and their pets.......

Hubby decides it might be nice to have the large....and I am sure beautiful creature in somebodies eyes, put on his shoulder so I could take his picture........after the pictures with the iguana we make our way to where we will be partnered with our horse that will take us the 20 min horseback through a small village, over water and through mountain crevasse.......note it has been over twenty years since I have been on a horse ......3 out of the 5 of us this day are not overly keen on horses....but it was an adventure....and this trip was all about adventures......

Here we all are mounted on our horses and ready for our ride.......I know to most of you these look like ponies.....but really they were strong working horses.....

Getting ready to ride out.....

I apologize for the lack of clarity in this photo....hubby was in front and just put the camera behind him and clicked the picture....this gives you and idea of the terrain we travelled.....

It was hot and humid, and we finally made it to the falls.......

The current from the falls is very strong....if you look closely, right to the bottom right of the falls there is a little spec....that is a person who made their way to the falls by climbing along the rock wall. Speaking of rock walls and climbing.....yes you can climb them, but why would you want to....that is what I asked myself when hubby decided that was exactly what he was going to do......and climb it he did and then he dove in......dear god my heart was in my mouth.....I waited anxiously for him to surface...believe me I was all smiles.....well if once wasn't enough, he decides to try it again......this time he wasn't so lucky.....he dove into the water.....his body went one way and his arm another.......he surfaced......I could tell by the look on his face that it wasn't good.....I had to somehow try and get him out of the water and up to an area where I could assess what was wrong. His right arm was all distorted, I felt for broken bones but it didn't look or feel like anything was broken, just terribly dislocated.......as hard as I tried to pull and brace to get that arm back into place it just wasn't going to happen......the only thing I could do was to put his arm in a makeshift sling.....I used his T-shirt......

Although he looks like he is smiling here he is in excruciating pain.......I wanted to have his arm more across his chest but it just wasn't working.....we both new that the trip back was going to be a tough one.....he had to ride back to the beach on the horse. We couldn't continue with the tour....but we had to get to a hospital. We made our way back to the beach, but not before stopping at the local doctor(if you can call this old guy that)he said he would help but he needed to finish playing his hand of cards first.....he manipulated hubbies arm but it wasn't going to be.....so I bound him up again and off we went. Once at the beach I asked the tour guide how I go about getting back to PV.......we managed to get a water taxi to another isolated village....the bumpy boat ride in the speed boat was becoming more than hubby could bear.....I feared that he was going to go into shock......we made it to shore......one fellow spoke broken English....I asked how we could get to PV....he first suggested we take a bus.....and of course that was out of the question I asked about a cab....he found us this young man who is willing to take us for a negotiated price......hubby looks at the tires on this car and thinks we shouldn't go.....under any other circumstances I would have agreed with him....but he needed help......we crammed all 5 of us into a vehicle meant for 3....hubby and the driver in front and the girls and I in the back......we make the long trek back to PV over some bumpy and very windy roads......all the while I am saying my prayers along the way for a safe arrival.....we make it to our condo......hubby doesn't have the strength to go up stairs....I dash up stairs to get our papers and medical information, hubby in the meantime has managed to get us a cab.....we get into the cab and ask the cabby to take us to the closest hospital....the cabby asks us if we have insurance...of course I say.....6 blocks later we are at the hospital.....by the time I have paid the cabby hubby has already been taken into a room and been given some medication.

The attending doctor although very polite can't help us....hubbies arm is severely dislocated.....she calls in the orthopedic doctor....he arrives talks with us...hubby at this point is all doped up so I answer the questions....he suggests they do a procedure called conscious sedation, where they put hubby to sleep briefly, the surgeon manipulates the arm back into place.....I agree...it's the best thing, it's quick, hubby would be asleep for it and when he came to it would all be done.....which it was.....it was classic, when I went into the room he was still coming out of the sedation and when he came around he asked when it was going to be done......our time at the hospital was short....in and out in about 3 hours......amazing......hubby felt strong enough that he wanted to walk back to our condo......I wasn't going to argue.......we got back to the condo.....and I suggested he sleep......which he did .......that was the end of day 4.........

Hola......I am back.....

I can't believe it is October already and this weekend is our Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. Families will be gathering over the weekend to celebrate and enjoy each others company.

I feel so far behind. As you know hubby and I and the girls all went to Mexico at the end of September. What a fun filled exciting week it was.

Many stories and 700 pictures later, we made it home in one piece, well sort of. Hubby got some fabulous photos. We did everything from parasailing to snorkeling and horseback riding on an isolated island where we jump and swam in the falls to riding the zip line in the rain forest hundreds of feet above the ground. Photos and stories to follow.

I wanted to get a start on my posts last week about our holiday adventures but I came back with a terrible cold/flu which I am now just getting over and poor hubby is laid up on the couch.

I think I will do the post about our vacation in parts, as there are a few stories to tell and many many photos.....so here we go .....

Part 1:

As there were 5 of us and all of our luggage to get to the airport we decided the best thing to do was to get a cab....but cabs weren't big enough so hubby decided to rent us a limo.....and what a limo it was...nothing like riding to the airport in style. We arrive and I am amazed at how smoothly things went with registering and getting through security. Being there early gave us time to view a lot of the airport. Vancouver international airport is one of the most beautiful airports I have ever been in. They have spent millions on cosmetic upgrade and have endeavoured to capture the Westcoast culture and style

This is a picture of hubby and the girls standing in front of an aquarium in the airport, it is one of the most beautiful aquariums I have ever seen it is full of fish and sea life which are indigenous to the westcoast. Although the girls and hubby are all smiles we are all very tired it was a very early start to a long day. Note the large coffee cup hubby is holding.

We finally arrive at our condo, our suite is on the top floor just behind the palm tree on the left of the photo. It was extremely muggy, humidity was 95% temperature was in the 80's.

Here is are a couple of photos from our roof top pool and patio......

Our first evening in Mexico was spent walking the streets of downtown Peurto Vallarta and the old town, getting our bearings. Our tummies were starting to growl so part of our venture was to try and find somewhere to have a bite to eat.

We found this place just on the out skirts of the Flea Market up above the road the sounds of the local vender's trying to sell their products was heard from the balcony where we sat to have dinner....the owner as it turns out was Canadian....to funny we come all the ways to Mexico to have Mexican food and we walk into a restaurant owned by a Canadian. It didn't matter by this point as we were hungry and thirsty.....the girls were anxious to taste their first Mexican margarita....

Our evening didn't end here....we walked and walked some more.....up the boardwalk taking in the local culture and sites. The girls were just amazed. We finally made it back to our suite and settled in. Day 2 our first full day in Peurto Vallarta we decided that we wanted to check out the beach and activities. Hubby wanted to investigate the cost and of doing some deep sea fishing...he was on a mission to catch himself a big fish!

So there we were walking along the beach the girls and I when we came across these two guys who tried to sell us on going parasailing. I was not keen, but my eldest and middle daughter most certainly were.....so parasailing it was.......

Those photos are all of the preparation, the take off the up in the air the coming in and the landing....she loved it......she convinced the rest of us to go up....so I will just show you a few of us going up and landing.......

Here's eldest daughter preparing to go up......

There she is way up in the air.....

Her landing.......and of course.......

Happy mom her daughters have landed safely........they then talked me into trying it.......So here I am getting strapped into the harness.....dear god what am I thinking.......

There I go.........

And here I am landing......

and I think my expression on my face says it all.......after me my youngest ventured up....she was very hesitant at first but boy she was all smiles when she landed......

It was a great start to our day.......from there we walked further down the beach.....checked out some more sights and then opted to sit at a beach palapa and have a cervesa and just enjoy. One would think this would be enough for one day. But no, after our day at the beach we went back to the condo to clean up and prepare for dinner. That evening we decided we wanted to try one of the beach restaurants and that is what we did.

We had just settle at our table and were ordering when we noticed a lot of commotion on the beach....people were running into the water screaming.......then it was determined that someone was drowning.....a local had got a rope and a few of them ran into the water wrapped the rope around the victim and dragged him in.......again lots of commotion.....hubby starts to urge me to go see what I can do....I told him there were enough people there they didn't need me......well.....he continues ....I get up.....make my way over.......the shouting and kaos is crazy.....they are all speaking Spanish....I try to let them know who I am that I know CPR is there anything I can do.....I make my way in....and kneel down beside the person......I check for a pulse....weak but there.....he is blue....his eyes are rolling back......the other man who didn't speak English is helping as well.....I perform CPR......pulse becomes stronger.......he needs oxygen.....I am hoping someone has called for the ambulance......security arrives and starts on crowd control....meanwhile we get the person into the recovery position....the waves come crashing in.....we get soaked.....the man and I and then others lift the person farther from the waters edge.....at this time.....the lifeguards and others arrive.......I opt to step back......the language barrier was an issue and I thought it best I let them take care of things from there.....the sirens from the ambulance were heard and I was thankful for that. I make my way back to our table.....soaked and covered in sand......trembling.......I couldn't believe what I had just experienced......little did I know that this was the beginning of a week of adventures yet to come........