The season is shaping up to be a busy one

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - The days are ticking off quickly before Adm. Fox and I return to Costa Alegre in December where there has been plenty of news this summer, even though some of it has been below the radar.

The water shortage - maybe even a real drought - has been chatted about to some degree (and reported in the Guadalajara Reporter by local writer and bon vivant Jane Gorby.) It looks like La Manzanilla residents are in for a long, very dry, winter. Two years ago the water started getting a little salty towards the end of our stay, blamed by officials on salt water intrusion into one of the main La Manz well.s

At the same time, the village always seems to find ways around its problems, salty or not.


Fishing off the Tenacatita Beach

Going over the menu for first night La Manzanilla

LA MANZANILLA, Jalisco, Mexico - Time is growing short, and already I am thinking about the first evening when Adm. Fox and I will arrive back in La Manzanilla, in December.

There will, of course, be the requisite walk along the beach to see sunset over the ocean, preceded by a sojourn about town with stops to see various amigos and check to see what is new - and what's gone.

And, of course, the most likely destination for dinner will be Palapa Joes restaurant.

LINK: Palapa Joes

Palapa Joes patrons watching the Obama inauguration last year

That first night back in town should also be a reunion with our amiga Laura from Canada (who will be teaching English in Arroyo Seco this spring) and friends from Hector, New York, Tina and Eric Hazlitt.

Laura arrives the same day as we do - Eric and Tina will be arrive a few days earlier and will likely have already discovered all the great places to eat, drink, and play.

What would be the ideal menu for me at Palapa Joes?

No need to ask.


Meatloaf supreme

Going through the photos from last season in Mexico

ARROYO SECO, Jalisco, Mexico - In preparation for our return to Mexico in December, the Admiral and I are going through our photos, sorting and deleting to make room for the next batch, sure to fill up the hard drives of the computers.

We ran across the scenes below.

You can almost smell the salt and feel the heat off the sand.

How many days until we leave?


At Playa Chica, the good surf beach


Surf's up at Playa Chica


Playa Grande - more houses, but safer swimming