As you can see our hotel is on a busy street in downtown Old Vallarta. We walked to the old church of our Lady of Guadelupe today, there was mass going on and they sang a familiar song, Pescador des Hombres which we sing in church as well. We were inappropriately dressed to go in (they ask you have sleeves and no shorts) but we stood outside to listen.

Then we walked to the main road that runs along the beach to Nuevo Vallarta. Did some shopping - I mentioned before the mosquitos south were ferocious, the vendors here in the shops are quite ferocious as well. They don't give up! But they are always willing to deal and we got some nice things.

Our laundry was done by a lovely lady for $10 USD; we got everything we own here laundered except what we were wearing of course. Earl and I went shopping for a shirt for him and the kids mellowed out watching TV and computering. The noise up in the hotelroom from the road is enormous. It is LOUD. Cars, loud music (mexican!), kids yelling and laughing (all good), cars honking, there's some construction going on across the road somewhere that sounds like they are cutting metal ALL DAY...but we're in the city, what do you expect.

Tonight it's a Mexican Authentic fiesta showing 3 different native cultures and their dress and customs, a buffet meal and drinks all for $20 p/p and we got 1 child for free - not a bad deal.

A bit touristy perhaps.

Oh, walking through town we spotted iguanas, got some good pictures too I'll try to load them up.

Tomorrow we start the day with Meg swimming with dolphins! Then we'll scurry over to more quiet Sayulito. We've reserved our same campspot so that will be nice and relaxing, the kids love the surfing there. I love the fresh fish, shrimp and mahi-mahi mmmmmmm with lots of ajo (garlic). Even Ryan tried smoked fish today on the beach. They sell 4 HUGE shrimp or a stickful of smoked fish for $2 a stick.

Outside the room right now (waiting for people to get ready) we're watching the weather change, it's clouded over and it looks like actual rainclouds. We haven't seen rain for over 2 weeks...

The kids are getting hugely tanned and would look local except for the blond hair, on which we get lots of comments. The Mexicans love the blond hair and think M. is just the most beautiful thing....Earl says they don't know her yet...!

As always R. attracts the little kids, little boy the other day called out to M. but she didn't know what he was saying, but Ry cut open a coconut and shared it with him - made him a big hit.

I find people are quick to judge us to be just more touristas with mucho dinero but once you start talking to them and telling them how we are camping and they see our vehicle (!) they warm up and they seem to appreciate us trying our spanish. They are eager to learn english most of the time. There is a lot of "how do you say....." , lots of "gracias" and "por favor", good day and good evening, have a nice day, see you later, etc. Lots of pleasantries.

Buenos Noches, amigos!