Today, we saw two iguanas roaming the streets of Bucerias. The first one was too skittish to get a photo. This guy, a camera hound, patiently posed for me as I crept up to within a couple of feet.

My original plan for today was to travel to the mountain village of San Sebastián. This is a designated “Magic Town” about two hours into the mountains. It is tricky to get there. It involves taking the bus from Bucerias to the Zona Hotelera in Puerto Vallarta. Then take the ATM Red Line bus to the tiny village of La Estancia. From there you have to dig up a taxi for the remaining 10 miles or so to San Sebastián.

Only three ATM Red Line buses go to La Estancia: 9 am, 2:30 pm, and 6 pm. Obviously, we’d have to catch the morning bus. This meant getting up at 6 am to get to the ATM Red Line by 8 am. You have to get there an hour early to get a bus ticket. The bus fills up fast. You also have to be sure to return to La Estancia in time for the return bus at either 2:00 pm or 6:30 pm.

I woke Wanda up at 6 am. She was in a panic. My sister, Donna, is coming tomorrow and we hadn’t done anything to prepare. So, we postponed the trip to San Sebastián for another day.

We contacted Donna and her husband, John, and discovered that they ran into a snafu. John’s brand-spanking-new passport had his birthday wrong. The State Department took his March 12 birthdate from his birth certificate and printed it as March 17. Donna and John were already on their way to Chicago so we advised them to go straight to O’Hare and see if they could still get a boarding pass for tomorrow’s flight. They did (go to O’Hare), and they did (get their boarding pass). Problem solved, for now.

Next, it was grocery shopping at La Comer. Until the golf cart comes on Tuesday, we will have to cook at home. Of course, Wanda had to straighten up. I watched her as she buzzed around checking and rechecking. She was amazing to observe - better than TV. I remain in awe of her.

We started off walking through the Sunday Market. I had lost one of the carabiners that reinforced my waterproof fanny pack. I found a replacement at the hardware booth.

After shopping and cleaning up, we went for a walk in the ritzier quarter of Bucerias. The houses in this section sport unique architecture.

This is the iconic Bucerias Marilyn Monroe statute. It doesn’t look much like Marilyn Monroe, but it does mimic her famous “dress blowing up” photo. It started as a disco bar, then a gym, and now is a ceviche restaurant. Ceviche is raw seafood that is marinated in lime juice. Supposedly, the lime juice sort of cooks the seafood. I think the word “cook” is loosely applied in this instance.

We stopped in the La Catrina Restaurant for nachos and a drink. The decore was pure wonderful funky.

Another Bucerias mural.

Finally, we had an evening taco snack at Taco Juniors, a place Wanda read about in the Friends of Bucerias Facebook page. This place, while off the tourist pathway, is always packed with locals.

Along with Donna and John arriving, I have my rescheduled dentist marathon tomorrow. This includes my bone graft surgery. I might be laying low for a few days and may not be journaling much, if at all. We’ll see.

Dave and Wanda

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