RED UNDERWEAR OR YELLOW?? HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Last week on Christmas Day, nice to see the beach being repopulated by Mexicans themselves. Big tide kept bringing in big waves over the seawall. Whales and dolphins are now back in the bay, easy to spot just offshore.

Everyday scenes? One guy has rocks in his head...

Another helps us break bread...

With oysters back in season, one family is shuckin' and jivin'...

While others bike to nowhere.

Many of the small venue music acts are tribute bands, everything from Creedence Clearwater to Billy Joel. The really powerful Whitney Houston tribute is a woman from the Toronto area who used to be a prison guard. And the best Elvis is also Canadian!

A day hike up the river leads to Paso Ancho. Steep cliffs along a still clean waterway. Some bridges OK, some not so much! And horsepower still rules the road.

Another daytrip around the bay goes to La Cruz. As in "The Cross". Surprisingly tranquil with ancient trees in the zocalo. But next door, Bucerias is a full-blown beach town.

Try some Mexican traditions at New Year's. Eat 12 grapes at midnight to get 12 wishes. Sweep the floor outward to drive anything bad away from your home. Wear red underwear that night to attract love, or yellow to attract wealth. (Maybe you can go with a nice red-AND-yellow combo?) Here's a hug-kiss-kiss-hug from us to you. Prospero Ano Nuevo!

TO JERUSALEM BEFORE CHRISTMAS

'Twas the week before Christmas but no turkey in the oven...the homegirl got a chicken instead, with just as much lovin'...

Daily life goes on with a walk to a devoted bee-liever. The propane guy making like spider-man on the roof. And our favourite show "Duende" making music that lifts our spirit.

GardenGirl got her fix with a revisit to the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, laid out on 26 acres of virgin mountains and streams. Miles of hill hiking. Tropical plants like cacao and coffee, orchids and trees you've never heard of. Like music, the colours and variety lift the spirit. And tiles to interpret the meaning of flowers!

A celestial triple-header on Friday as winter arrived, a full moon loomed, and the tide was full. So the sun set as far south as possible. The moon lit up the shore. And the tide pelted strollers with waves and rocks...look out, gringos!

But there are signs of the holiday. Did you know that poinsettia is native to Mexico? Noels are sung as "Felice Navidad". And if it looks like a tree and shines like a tree, it's a tree!

A pop-up taco stand appeared on the sidewalk below our balcony. Tempting! But fittingly, we went to Jerusalem. Merry Christmas to all, and peace on our fragile and only Earth...

PRAISING VIRGIN, BASHING SANTA

The festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe ended this week with around-the-clock processions of thousands of pious or parties. At night the digital screen lit up Our Lady as all ages paraded by. Bouquets were everywhere and many of the marchers brought a basket of toiletries for the poor. Kids wore heritage clothes, strummed guitars, and portrayed biblical figures.

In the daytime, even larger groups formed behind banners proclaiming their faith in the Virgin to answer their prayers. Blaring brass, dancing lass, mobs en mass. All funneled into the cathedral. How did they got out?!?!

Those 12 days of festiva ended and daily life resumed. Clouds rolled in to relieve the sun and humidity. Birds unusual to us splashed around in the fresh waters of the Rio Cuale. Pat swayed over an old rickety bridge to get fruit and veggies for  Rickety himself.

Next up is Christmas and the town is dressing up, literally. Everybody from Neptune to little kids are getting red-and-whited. Ironically, Santa is also the most popular pinata to bash. Is that naughty or nice??

We're not feeling holiday nostalgia yet. In fact, there are reminders of home. Pelicans fly by like a > of Canada geese. And look --- there's a > of pepperoni!