Pelicans, Palm Trees and Palapas

Tags

Beauty, birds, Mexico, nature, pelicans, photography, Puerto Vallarta, Sunset, travel

Sunset alliteration

Family time on El Malecon

Tags

Beauty, humour, Mexico, nature, photography, Puerto Vallarta, Sunset, travel

the evenings are for families in Mexico. People of all ages stroll along. The children laughing. The parents watching but letting the children be free. Young people taking photos of themselves and each other. Old guys, sit on the wall and take photos. Another iPhone special.

The Dying Embers of Ash Wednesday

Tags

Ash Wednesday, Beauty, creation, nature, photography, Puerto Vallarta, Sunset

After a traditional Anglican imposition of ashes, we had a light dinner then strolled on El Malecon. I only had my iPhone no real camera  but the scene was too beautiful to pass up.

Sunset on the Malecon Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Fooling around in Boats

Tags

birds, boats, marinas, Mexico, photography, Puerto Vallarta, travel, yachts

The Marina, Puerto Vallarta is a wonderful place to look at/for boats – mainly yachts

Today we strolled along the Marina looking at boats, sitting having a coffee admiring the view and enjoying the gentle tropical breeze. Idilic.

There was a humorous interlude as a Grackle jumped on the next table and stole three packets of milk substitute and one package of sugar. It then proceeded to try to sell them to the tourists. After a while it gave up and instead started opening the packs to get at the contents. Daylight robbery

But back to the boats:

This is a nice little runabout we would like to have available

This is the boat we can possibly afford

Probably get the run around trying to buy this little beauty

A person can dream

Lunch Time in Puerto Vallarta

Tags

crocodiles, humour, Mexico, nature, photography, Puerto Vallarta, travel

Taking a break from the mountains, back in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a little while

Had this up-close encounter along the Marina path this morning

And for dessert may we suggest…
This seemed a precarious place for the pigeon – especially with its back to the croc.

Just resting my eyes – no crocodile tears

On the Road Again – 3 Where have all the Mountains Gone?

Tags

fun, jasper, Jasper National Park, maligne canyon, mountains, photography, road trips, travel, water fall

Sunday morning we left Edmonton and headed for Jasper.  I was looking forward, especially, to seeing the Maligne Canyon again.

Maligne Canyon. Those are large trees!

It was a beautiful sunny day.  Our hearts were light, we were excited about soon being in the mountains.  Jasper was only 360 km away.  We came to the top of a hill and Susan exclaimed -“Look, in the distance, mountains!”  Now I was driving at 110 km so could only sneak-a-peek (or peak).  It did look like mountains.  But as we got closer we realized what we were seeing was a cloud bank on the horizon.  This was the big snow storm we had seen forecast.  We kept hoping that we would get to Jasper before we reached the clouds.  But soon our sunny day said “So long, suckers” and the sun took off behind a massive layer of clouds and the snow started falling.

When we entered the mountain region there were none, mountains that is.  Well, they were there, but not visible to us.  We could see the bases of what we knew to be grand, magnificent, awe-inspiring peaks rising into the sky – dwarfing everything else and which would have filled our hearts with joy and gladdened our souls.  But not today!  We went into the town of Jasper, parked and headed over to the Park office to buy our passes.  In the same picturesque building is “Friends of Jasper”, a non-profit store where the profits all go toward the maintenance of the national park.

It’s a lovely place to browse and you feel better buying neat stuff when you know the park will benefit.  The staff is very friendly and helpful.  They certainly helped relieve us of some money that must have been weighing us down.  It’s always good to get the gift buying done early on in the trip.  Or so I was told.

Later, we drove out to the Maligne Canyon, the park staff had closed the road from the canyon to Maligne Lake, because of heavy snow accumulations and icy conditions.  We turned into the canyon road, parked and went total a look.  It had been a long time since we had seen this remarkable wonder, created by years of rock erosion from the rushing Maligne river as it ground its way down from the lake to the lower valley,

Because of the clouds and snow, everything was white and shades of grey.  Not sure whether there were fifty or not, but certainly plenty for me.  But the wonderful thing about grey days is the vibrancy of colours in the rocks, flora and water.  Dull days are often the best for photography.

Snow, rocks and lichen – No Mountains

If we had arrived on a sunny day we would probably have missed the richness of the colours.  It was treacherous under foot, so we didn’t linger long that first day.  In fact we retreated to the teahouse.  We collected some tea (self-service) and were hoping the man behind the counter would help us to some scones in the display case.  But he just kept taking pastries and wrapping them up.  He finally noticed us and asked what we were waiting for.  I pointed to the scones, and said “some of these”.  He looked sadly at me and said “It’s self-service, lift up the cover and help yourselves”.  Well that was embarrassing. It got worse.  It turned out they were closing in one minute ( just after we had settled at a table and were obviously going to enjoy our tea and scones at our leisure).  Eventually we go the hint, realized they were closed.  They were waiting for the poor old dears (kinder than they were thinking) to help each other up and leave.  As we left we noticed the sign on the door – closing at 4pm.  Ha, not today they weren’t.

And so began the mountain part of our adventure.  Stick around the weather changes…

On the Road Again – Part 2 It’s the Journey Stupid

Tags

art galleries, road trips, Saskatoon, the Rockies, travel

40 years ago we wanted to get to the Rocky Mountains for our honeymoon. From Winnipeg it is a 1,663 km drive to Jasper.   We left home about 3:30 am.  My plan was for us to eat breakfast in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, about 450km.  That would get us to Saskatoon or further for lunch, and Edmonton Alberta for dinner and hotel for the night.  That’s a 1300km drive, enough for day one. We would be in Jasper before lunch the next day.  We made it!  But the journey was long and arduous and we paid little attention to the scenery, intent on our destination.

This year, 40 years later, we realized how much we would enjoy the journey.  The journey is part of the fun of the trip.  The journey is the destination, stupid.  The prairie landscape and sky has it’s own special beauty.  So this year we didn’t leave until about 5:30am.  It was still dark, as we joined the long-distance truck drivers on the straight prairie roads.  One year, when we drove to Banff, I remember our Garmin GPS instructing us to keep on Highway One for 700 kilometres then turn right.

So we were on the road early, but not crazy early.   I love to see the sun rising in the rearview mirrors and experience the gradual lightening of the sky and surroundings.  We ran into a snow storm, it was only September 28.  However,  we arrived without incident at Moosomin, Saskatchewan in time for a wonderful breakfast at the Red Barn.  You can’t miss the Red Barn, it’s right on the TransCanada Highway and looks like, well, a Red Barn. It’s a very popular place and for good reason.

We had made our lunch, so ate that somewhere between Regina and Saskatoon.  We stayed the afternoon in Saskatoon, visiting the new art gallery.   The rRemai mModern (that’s not me making my usual typos, that’s how they spell it – it is Saskatchewan!) – I’ll say nothing about banjos and inbreeding.  That wouldn’t be nice out of football season. Saskatoon has done some wonderful rejuvenation work on the river bank and the rRemai is a lovely structure overlooking the river.

 

The rRemai mModern, Saskatoon

The river setting is well worth a visit too.

South Saskatchewan River from the rRemai

The atrium area of the rRemai

iPhone photos curtesy of Susan Sprange

We spent the night just north of Saskatoon, and drove to Edmonton the next day and onto Jasper the third day.  A thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed journey.  Until we heard the forecast for Jasper and Banff – 35-40- cm of snow! And Travel Alberta had told me not to bother with winter tyres at this time of year!  Advice I had thankfully ignored.

More to come…

 

On the Road Again – After 40 Years

Tags

Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park, nature, photography, photos, road trips

Athabasca Falls – Jasper National Park – September 2018

40 years ago Susan and I drove to the Canadian Rockies for our honeymoon.  In late September this year we repeated the trip.  The snow came early and transformed the mountains into a winter wonderland.

It was a truly memorable trip and over the next while I plan to share some of the spectacular scenery we enjoyed.  This first ‘teaser’ is of the Athabasca Falls near the town of Jasper.  The only problem was the  sheet ice on many of the trails. Getting to good viewing points was a little risky.  I could see Susan Slip Sliding Away.

 

New Blog Address

I am relinquishing Reflectionsinpuddles.com. you can still access my blog at reflectedinpuddles.wordpress.com

Hoping to write some new posts shortly.

 

 

Well You’ve Gotta Laugh…

Tags

humour, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, San Javier Hospital

This Laughing Gull isn’t…

I haven’t done much writing recently – so time to catch up a little.

For those who follow this blog I am pleased to tell you I had a clean report from the urologist in January this year.  So we were cleared for takeoff to go back to Puerto Vallarta for February and March.  There is an old joke – Man “I’ve been happily married for 5 years”.  Friend – “But you were married ten years ago?”  Man – “Yes, I know!”  I said old, not funny.

Well we had a lovely month in PV this year.  “But weren’t you there for two months?”  “Yes!”  I’d better explain.

We arrived in late January – the weather was its usual wonderful self, and we were met at the airport by a very good friend, Curt.  We were staying with him for the first couple of days.  It was a good time.  We moved into our rental condo on February 1.  The first week was great.  Except I was watching the ocean for signs of whales or dolphins when I slipped over the edge of a shallow step and managed to break my little finger on my right hand (didn’t do much for my dignity either).  Everyone knows there is no point in seeking medical help for a broken little finger, am I right?  They will only tape the pinky to the next finger.  I could do that myself.  Mind you it did look very swollen and hurt like a XXXXXX.  But I carried on like the trooper I am.  Actually I have no idea how troopers carry on – but if it includes whining and complaining – I am right there.

Well this was the start of a series of health related events.

There was a lot of flu and coughs around.  Being the friendly type I invited a virus to come home with me.  I developed a low-grade fever and a few other unwelcome symptoms.  After consultation with my higher authority I called the travel insurance company (who were excellent by the way), and they sent a doctor over to our condo in 45 minutes and I was prescribed some antibiotics to prevent an infection.  Unfortunately the flu virus, although very mild (probably because I had had the flu vaccine), triggered an irregular heart beat (Atrial Fibrillation) – a recurrence after 16 years, so after another call to the med insurance folk (who opened a second case in one week) and I was visiting the ER of the San Javier Hospital in PV.  If you need a hospital in PV I can highly recommend SJ.

After an initial examination I was sent to see the Cardiologist who confirmed the AF.  He said I had two options.  They could admit me and reset my heart with ‘The Paddles’. You know the scene in the medical dramas “Clear – zap!” and the body twitches violently or I could go home and take a high dosage of a different arrhythmia medicine and come back in twenty four hours.  If it was going to be effective it would work within twenty four hours, if not, it wouldn’t ever work and they would go ahead with the paddles.  So let me think about this.  The electric shock treatment or try the meds first.  Which to do?  Being a coward and in my right mind I chose to try the meds first.  Happily, over night it worked.  When I saw the cardiologist the next day he prescribed a change in meds and wanted to see me again in a few weeks.

By this time Susan had developed symptoms of the virus which, apparently, I had passed on to her.  Her symptoms included a nasty hacking cough.  My cardiologist heard it and said “I don’t like the sound of that.  If it’s no better by Monday (this was Saturday) you come back and see me”.

Well, by the next day the cough was a lot worse and Susan was clearly quite sick.  So I called my friends at the Med Insurance and they opened our third case and sent us back to the San Javier ER.

After an initial examination, Susan saw the Lung Specialist.  He said “Your lungs sound horrible. I am admitting you and putting you on intravenous antibiotics”. She tested positive for influenza A, was contagious and had a developing pneumonia.  She spent the next four days in isolation and received all kinds of treatment.  However, she enjoyed the visits of the lung specialist who had been recruited from General Hospital or some other daytime soap.  He was young and handsome and very charming! Amazing how you can smile while ‘suffering’ from pneumonia.

Eventually she was released into my care, and we were able to gradually increase our activities and enjoy our surroundings.  Now wouldn’t you think this would be enough?  So did I. However, read on…

Two of the stacking arm chairs for the balcony had become stuck together.  The higher authority ‘suggested’ I unstick them so we could use at least one of them for our guests. In prizing the chairs apart I managed to get my thumb squashed between the arms of the chairs.  It was about the most painful thing I have ever experienced. I hopped around the condo, holding onto my thumb and quietly saying “O gosh, this smarts, oh gosh this smarts”.  At least that’s what I recall.

The thumb nail almost immediately turned black and the the thumb swelled to about three hundred times its normal girth.  And did I mentioned it throbbed a little? Also, the heart doc had put me on anticoagulant medication – commonly referred to as ‘blood thiner’, which meant the blood didn’t clot quickly under the nail – exacerbating an already nasty injury.

“Do you want to go to the hospital?” asked the higher authority.  “No!”

Next morning I called my second and newest best friend at the insurance company.  Stop smirking H.A.  When we arrived at San Javier emergency I felt like Norm on Cheers.   Señor Rod!  they all cried in greeting.

It turned out they thought the thumb injury wouldn’t likely reduce my life expectancy. I was prescribed medication to try to relieve some of the pressure and hopefully a lot of the pain.  Thankfully they don’t use the hot needle through the nail these days. Did I mention it was excruciating.  The doc mentioned I would likely lose the nail, but he didn’t know when.

Gradually we both healed.  Susan finally was over her cough and had her strength back.  My heart was keeping a good rhythm and my thumb was only throbbing mildly.  My pinky had adopted a cute bent position and would swell and turn red on a whim. But we were getting about again and starting to take advantage of the good life in PV.  Susan was allowed to have visitors and be in groups again so all was looking well.

The recovered Higher Authority on a day trip

Unfortunately a good friend of ours had developed a slightly sore throat – but put it down to dryness.  However it developed into a lovely hacking cough – and Susan’s immune system still weakened from the the previous bout of flu, picked up the infection and developed a new cough and bronchial symptoms.  I just couldn’t bear the thought of asking the insurance company for a fifth case to be opened,  so we made an appointment to see Dr Lu (short for Lupe (pronounced loopy) which is actually short for Guadalupe).  Dr. Lu is great.  We had visited her before.  She soon had Susan taken care of – and of course on new meds.

So, two months and five medical interventions later we returned home to Winnipeg.

Everyone we met wanted to know “Did you have a great time in Mexico?”  “Lovely thanks – do you mind not breathing on me and please be gentle when we shake hands”.

Post script: We are so thankful for our good friends we see in PV  and our church community there – they were very kind and helpful – lifts to the hospital, bringing communion to us, visiting Susan in Hospital – getting shopping in, prayer support.   And our neighbour in Winnipeg had essentials in the fridge and a dinner invitation the day we arrived home.  We are truly blessed.  And we have only good things to say about the wonderful care we received in the Mexican hospital.  Even the food was excellent!

An Early Christmas Story: Don’t Needle Me

It was suggested to me that I should reblog this post from2014. I hope it gives you a few laughs this Christmas.

Reflections in Puddles

It was December 1977, Susan and I had been ‘going out’ for about nine months. It’s interesting, before we are married we call it ‘going out’ then after are married we don’t anymore. At least, not very often – go out that is.

It was nearing Christmas and Susan decided she wanted to decorate her apartment with a Christmas tree – a real one – a fairly tall and bushy one. I lived a couple of blocks away and was enlisted to help get the tree, get it back to her place and help set it up.

My car was larger than hers, I was driving an orange Volvo station wagon known locally as the Great Pumpkin. We decided it would be easier to carry the tree on my car roof than on her Ford Pinto. Safer too; if we were in an accident and her car burst into flames…

View original post 1,450 more words

Political Melt Down

Last year at this time I posted a joke about Texas and Manitoba. 

As I was reminded by FB I recalled a witty heckle the Minister of Industry and Trade received when making a ‘stump speech’  in farming country. 

I was the Assistant Deputy Minister for Trade at the time. 

The Minister was addressing a group of farmers in a field on a hot summer day, and yes we do get hot summer days in Manitoba.  Our temperature range is impressive. Ftom -40F in winter to +100F in summer. 

The Minister hadn’t tealised he was standing on a cow patty.  Many of the farmers saw it and sniggered. One yelled out “Look the politician is melting”. 

Have a wonder-filled Christmas those of you who celebrate the nativity of Christ. Happy holidays to those who don’t and may 2017 bring hope and peace in your lives.