We finally solved our communication problems (I am taking an online course so needed good wi fi and Ivan needed it for his Kindle) so this was one of Mexico's miracles as generally anything ordered is slow, late or forgotten. Today two spry young fellows came in record time and installed a line so we have a phone and I can now use AIR (our new MAC).
Our landline phone number is:
387 763 14 19
The Canadian operator will know what digits to put before it (I think it is 011-55 but check)
All is well, in between errands, we are reading, making meals or invited to join other celebratory feasts.
I am continuing to study online and grateful that it is possible.
Next week Lynda joins us and we delight in sharing our peaceful finally more settled "casita".
Hasta luego,
Evi y Ivan
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
With some luck we are now settled in Roca Azul
Hello Everyone,
We have been in Mexico now nine days. As we get older, so does our “casita”, and every day we were busy problem solving the various house repairs needed.
We finally have lovely hot running water (this was our first problem). I spent days washing ALL the mold that spread while the house was empty, then washing all the linen (with our quirky washing machine that eats towels and sheets!)
It is Christmas day, another gorgeous day in paradise, and after full days of working on our “affordable” rental we see positive results. This is the best Christmas gift, as we were both exhausted! (this is not a holiday, it is simply life lived in another home, another country, another culture)
Ivan is busy making the turkey and stuffing for the communal meal by the pool, little mountains in view, and I was happily watering my potted plants flourishing in this amazing weather.
Our internet connection is “iffy” so we are waiting to actually get a phone installed in about a week or so and then have WIFI so I can take the online course I registered for. We spent a day in Guadalajara with Dave and Sonia trying to problem solve, so the first photos are of some of the impressive architecture. Our quick trip to the city inspired me to possibly bus in with Lynda and enjoy the mix of modern Mexico with historic. (Lynda arrives on Jan. 4 and we are delighted our home is finally comfortable).
I am once again joining my friends here 5 days a week at 8:30 AM for our own version of “boot camp” (well it feels like that now!) we dance, or exercise in the pool and spend up to two hours doing fitness. Feels great! Such a luxury to have time and space and friends to maintain healthy routines.
Ivan is swimming in the thermal pool and now also taking Spanish lessons with Bette. Between domestic life, education, repairs, and Christmas we have been extremely busy.
WE WISH EVERYONE SEASON’S GREETINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! FELIZ NAVIDAD Y FELIZ NUEVO ANO!
Love,
Evi and Ivan
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Our Mexican Cell Phone Numbers, only for emergencies
Hi,
Here are our cell phone numbers. We do try to keep them with us and turned on, but we are becoming forgetful:) However we do manage to check the internet almost every day and at the moment one computer is online and I am doing all I can to keep this old computer alive. At the moment the ibook is working well.
Here are our phone numbers, not sure what you dial before the number from Canada?
Evi 331 538 8409
Ivan 331 440 0471
And our friend Bette has a landline which is more reliable and will be here until March
Bette (our neighbor) 387 763 0648 (she would be glad to take a message for us if the cell phones are hard to reach)
We did have success with SKYPE to landline in Canada today and will keep in touch when it is working well.
Pictures and stories to come in a few days...
Abrazos,
Evi y Ivan
Here are our cell phone numbers. We do try to keep them with us and turned on, but we are becoming forgetful:) However we do manage to check the internet almost every day and at the moment one computer is online and I am doing all I can to keep this old computer alive. At the moment the ibook is working well.
Here are our phone numbers, not sure what you dial before the number from Canada?
Evi 331 538 8409
Ivan 331 440 0471
And our friend Bette has a landline which is more reliable and will be here until March
Bette (our neighbor) 387 763 0648 (she would be glad to take a message for us if the cell phones are hard to reach)
We did have success with SKYPE to landline in Canada today and will keep in touch when it is working well.
Pictures and stories to come in a few days...
Abrazos,
Evi y Ivan
Sunday, December 18, 2011
We are settling into our Casita in Roca Azul MEXICO
Hello Everyone,
We arrived a day later in Mexico than planned due to plane issues (a late departure from Vancouver, so we didn't make the connecting fllight). But they put us up at a nice hotel in Phoenix and gave us food vouchers, and booked us a direct flight to Guadalajara the next day (first class!!).
We are now both busy making our casita comfortable, all the sheets and towels needed washing due to mold, and we are attempting to get our computer working. At this moment I am at a friends as our TELCEL stick is not yet configured with our AIR MAC. Hopefully this will happen soon! But we still check emails daily from whoever has some spare WIFI.
It was wonderful when we arrived at Roca. Our friends had our beds made, hot soup on the stove, and warm welcomes. Since we arrived in the dark it was so comforting to have everything ready for our travel tired bodies.
Ivan just went for a swim in the thermal pool, and Sonia is making us dinner.
More to come once we have our computer working in our own quiet space.
Season's Greetings to All!
Evi and Ivan
We arrived a day later in Mexico than planned due to plane issues (a late departure from Vancouver, so we didn't make the connecting fllight). But they put us up at a nice hotel in Phoenix and gave us food vouchers, and booked us a direct flight to Guadalajara the next day (first class!!).
We are now both busy making our casita comfortable, all the sheets and towels needed washing due to mold, and we are attempting to get our computer working. At this moment I am at a friends as our TELCEL stick is not yet configured with our AIR MAC. Hopefully this will happen soon! But we still check emails daily from whoever has some spare WIFI.
It was wonderful when we arrived at Roca. Our friends had our beds made, hot soup on the stove, and warm welcomes. Since we arrived in the dark it was so comforting to have everything ready for our travel tired bodies.
Ivan just went for a swim in the thermal pool, and Sonia is making us dinner.
More to come once we have our computer working in our own quiet space.
Season's Greetings to All!
Evi and Ivan
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Off to Mexico on December 14- 2011
Hello Everyone,
We are leaving Vancouver next Wed. Dec. 14 on Flight A319 US Airways at 2:29 PM then catching a connecting flight in Phoenix (Flt. A319) at 7:40 PM arriving in Guadalajara at 11:18 PM at night. We will overnight near the airport at the Hampton Inn and be picked up by Mark who rents us a refurbished car the next morning (if all goes as planned!). So we will settle into our casita on Dec. 15.
We may try to get a phone this season as it will make internet use easier as well as communication but not yet sure how complicated it is. We will keep you all posted. If not we can always SKYPE to land line which is so convenient.
Our beloved Ibooks of 10 years bit the dust so Ivan got us a MAC AIR which I am trying to get used to as I will be taking an online course while away. Why is everything getting so much smaller when my eyesight wants things bigger? Anyhow, it is really cute, convenient and we are making friends with it friends slowly.
Ivan is in town tweeking his hearing aid which will make his Mexican mornings spectacular with birdsong symphonies he has not yet heard. We are in the usual frenzy of doing all the last minute chores which seem endless, but I know that once on the plane with my KINDLE and endless sunshine plus a wonderful community waiting I will relax. I am looking forward to uninterupted hours of reading which is rarely possible in our Canadian busy lives.
So we want to wish everyone a hearfelt SEASONS GREETINGS, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND hope our time away is also enjoyed by all in beautiful BC. We return on April 10 and still have some windows for guests to visit in Feb. and March. There is a spare room and a great back yard!
Lynda will join us in January for the second time, which is terrific and I can't wait to pick the mandarins in the yard and soak in the thermal pool in between by Spanish studies and my ONLINE course. Not to mention getting used to our new AIR MAC.
Be well, be happy family and friends. We will stay in touch and I will always keep contact info on this blog but will only post when things of interest present themselves. This is our fourth year at Roca Azul and it is not a holiday.....just life continued under sunny skies in a copacetic setting. I will be teaching ESL part time, painting and Ivan has lots of reading planned.
So my intention is only to post events and places we have not seen before.
Abrazos!
Evi y Ivan
We are leaving Vancouver next Wed. Dec. 14 on Flight A319 US Airways at 2:29 PM then catching a connecting flight in Phoenix (Flt. A319) at 7:40 PM arriving in Guadalajara at 11:18 PM at night. We will overnight near the airport at the Hampton Inn and be picked up by Mark who rents us a refurbished car the next morning (if all goes as planned!). So we will settle into our casita on Dec. 15.
We may try to get a phone this season as it will make internet use easier as well as communication but not yet sure how complicated it is. We will keep you all posted. If not we can always SKYPE to land line which is so convenient.
Our beloved Ibooks of 10 years bit the dust so Ivan got us a MAC AIR which I am trying to get used to as I will be taking an online course while away. Why is everything getting so much smaller when my eyesight wants things bigger? Anyhow, it is really cute, convenient and we are making friends with it friends slowly.
Ivan is in town tweeking his hearing aid which will make his Mexican mornings spectacular with birdsong symphonies he has not yet heard. We are in the usual frenzy of doing all the last minute chores which seem endless, but I know that once on the plane with my KINDLE and endless sunshine plus a wonderful community waiting I will relax. I am looking forward to uninterupted hours of reading which is rarely possible in our Canadian busy lives.
So we want to wish everyone a hearfelt SEASONS GREETINGS, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND hope our time away is also enjoyed by all in beautiful BC. We return on April 10 and still have some windows for guests to visit in Feb. and March. There is a spare room and a great back yard!
Lynda will join us in January for the second time, which is terrific and I can't wait to pick the mandarins in the yard and soak in the thermal pool in between by Spanish studies and my ONLINE course. Not to mention getting used to our new AIR MAC.
Be well, be happy family and friends. We will stay in touch and I will always keep contact info on this blog but will only post when things of interest present themselves. This is our fourth year at Roca Azul and it is not a holiday.....just life continued under sunny skies in a copacetic setting. I will be teaching ESL part time, painting and Ivan has lots of reading planned.
So my intention is only to post events and places we have not seen before.
Abrazos!
Evi y Ivan
Monday, December 5, 2011
New Eyes on Trinidad and Havana, CUBA
We traveled as 8 making it easier to carry a quantity of medical supplies, including recycled prescription glasses, catheters, medications and much more. Four of our group members had never been to Cuba and were actively processing what a different world it is.
Delivering Medical Supplies to Cuba
Saturday, November 12, 2011
LEAVING TO CUBA TOMORROW, FLIGHT & DETAILS
Hello Everyone,
We depart to Cuba tomorrow on Sunwing Airlines Flight 676 leaving Vancouver at 11:35 at night Sunday, Nov. 13 arriving 8:35 AM. If things go as planned, we will spend Nov. 14-16 in Varadero at the Mar del Sur Hotel then transfer to the Ancon Hotel near Trinidad Cuba on Nov. 17. Then return to Varadero Nov. 26 before our departure on the 28.
We are now a group of 8, but my sister and her two friends will fly almost a day before us on an Air Canada Charter flight leaving 7 AM Nov. 13 and arriving around 6:30 PM.
We will all meet at the Mar del Sur Hotel which is centrally located. Our lovely Cuban friend Liliety will help us fine tune our plans and we look forward to another reunion with her lovely family.
If the Mar del Sur has any problems Liliety can transfer us to a nicer hotel!!
Best contact phone number in any emergency is Liliety's as she speaks English and is generally home 8 PM eastern time (but has days off too). She will know where we are and is an English speaking tour guide so can pass messages on to us. Her number from Canada is
011-53-45-610303
Telephoning Cuba sometimes takes more than one try!
It is not easy to check our emails in Cuba but we will definitely manage to check a few times so do email us for any reason but especially if any problems arise.
eviblueth@gmail.com
We return home (weather considered) on Nov. 28 (Sunwing Air Flt. 677) arriving home at
12:30 (noon) if it leaves on time. We hope to be on the coast and sleeping off our jet lag that day and night!
Everyone is ready, and the cooler temperatures today will not be missed. It sounds like the weather in Cuba is currently pleasant with sunshine, clouds, occasional wind...so we will happily dive into the warm sea, Ivan may do a shallow scuba dive, and we will all enjoy snorkeling where magic and colour come alive. Swaying corals, and schools of iridescent blue fish, followed by a myriad of other colourful sea life. This is my favourite theatre!
Our dynamic group of 8 will be a delight, and when our intentions are realized with the generous contributions from all (we thank you all) reaching the many hospitals and clinics will be our mission. (We have purchased some specific things requested at the Hospital in Sancti Spiritus).
"Life is a work in progress"
Enjoy the days and we will post our story and pictures once home.
We will also do our best to keep in touch by email re family but Cuba is always an "unknown quantity" so the Internet does not always work.
Keep the home fires burning, enjoy those gorgeous sunny autumn days and wish us luck!
Evi, Ivan, Irene, Lynda, Mahmood, Sylvene, Cas, and Nori
Hasta luego!
Abrazos!
I wish everyone
We depart to Cuba tomorrow on Sunwing Airlines Flight 676 leaving Vancouver at 11:35 at night Sunday, Nov. 13 arriving 8:35 AM. If things go as planned, we will spend Nov. 14-16 in Varadero at the Mar del Sur Hotel then transfer to the Ancon Hotel near Trinidad Cuba on Nov. 17. Then return to Varadero Nov. 26 before our departure on the 28.
We are now a group of 8, but my sister and her two friends will fly almost a day before us on an Air Canada Charter flight leaving 7 AM Nov. 13 and arriving around 6:30 PM.
We will all meet at the Mar del Sur Hotel which is centrally located. Our lovely Cuban friend Liliety will help us fine tune our plans and we look forward to another reunion with her lovely family.
If the Mar del Sur has any problems Liliety can transfer us to a nicer hotel!!
Best contact phone number in any emergency is Liliety's as she speaks English and is generally home 8 PM eastern time (but has days off too). She will know where we are and is an English speaking tour guide so can pass messages on to us. Her number from Canada is
011-53-45-610303
Telephoning Cuba sometimes takes more than one try!
It is not easy to check our emails in Cuba but we will definitely manage to check a few times so do email us for any reason but especially if any problems arise.
eviblueth@gmail.com
We return home (weather considered) on Nov. 28 (Sunwing Air Flt. 677) arriving home at
12:30 (noon) if it leaves on time. We hope to be on the coast and sleeping off our jet lag that day and night!
Everyone is ready, and the cooler temperatures today will not be missed. It sounds like the weather in Cuba is currently pleasant with sunshine, clouds, occasional wind...so we will happily dive into the warm sea, Ivan may do a shallow scuba dive, and we will all enjoy snorkeling where magic and colour come alive. Swaying corals, and schools of iridescent blue fish, followed by a myriad of other colourful sea life. This is my favourite theatre!
Our dynamic group of 8 will be a delight, and when our intentions are realized with the generous contributions from all (we thank you all) reaching the many hospitals and clinics will be our mission. (We have purchased some specific things requested at the Hospital in Sancti Spiritus).
"Life is a work in progress"
Enjoy the days and we will post our story and pictures once home.
We will also do our best to keep in touch by email re family but Cuba is always an "unknown quantity" so the Internet does not always work.
Keep the home fires burning, enjoy those gorgeous sunny autumn days and wish us luck!
Evi, Ivan, Irene, Lynda, Mahmood, Sylvene, Cas, and Nori
Hasta luego!
Abrazos!
I wish everyone
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
My Birthday Party at our House (Sept 20- 2011)
Ivan and friends made me a lovely Birthday party and I was delighted to see so many friends from many different aspects of my life. Ivan followed Sylvene's recipe and made that delicious cake that we had for Asaka's 16th party. (I guess I was jealous, her party looked like so much fun)
Time has passed, but thank you dear friends and family for the wonderful evening.
Occupy Vancouver
A group of us participated in the "Occupy Vancouver Movement". I kept wondering when people would rise up and speak out.
The global movement for change is happening, and it was great participating in Vancouver's version, and I was grateful that it remained peaceful.
It is exciting to see people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds joining in an effort to "think out of the box" to create a new infrastructure and do it from the ground up.
There are currently so many issues at stake, my hope is this huge global think tank will influence change....perhaps slowly and with difficulty. But with the determination and excitement I felt at "Occupy Vancouver" my feeling is this is just going to get bigger.
The global movement for change is happening, and it was great participating in Vancouver's version, and I was grateful that it remained peaceful.
It is exciting to see people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds joining in an effort to "think out of the box" to create a new infrastructure and do it from the ground up.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Hope I didn't overwhelm you with my backwoods pictures
Hello Folks,
I started the blog the way I usually do, taking coastal BC with me in picture form. If you scroll down and join me on my many local wanders (in picture form) you will reach the text regarding our departure to Cuba re Humanitarian Aid Trip, then our departure to Mexico, Dec. 14- April 10.
I like to use the blog so you know where we are, what we're up to, and welcome comments.
Email me at
eviblueth@gmail.com
when I am traveling but now I am still at
eblu1929@uniserve.com
If you have a chance, let me know you are receiving it.
Abrazos,
Evi
I started the blog the way I usually do, taking coastal BC with me in picture form. If you scroll down and join me on my many local wanders (in picture form) you will reach the text regarding our departure to Cuba re Humanitarian Aid Trip, then our departure to Mexico, Dec. 14- April 10.
I like to use the blog so you know where we are, what we're up to, and welcome comments.
Email me at
eviblueth@gmail.com
when I am traveling but now I am still at
eblu1929@uniserve.com
If you have a chance, let me know you are receiving it.
Abrazos,
Evi
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