Today is New Years Eve and we'll be celebrating at the Vallarta Yacht Club.  Should be a fun time with lots of cruisers and expatriots.  Hilary has been here since the 23rd.  We've done some exploring of the area and lots of water sports including boogey boarding, surfing, swimming, dingy rides.

Happy Holidays to all our friends--we miss you all.

In Mexico families celebrate with the Posadas, traveling like Mary and Joseph along the streets asking for shelter.  They are invited in by family and friends for pinatas for the children and festivities.  We hope to see this as we visit the city of Puerto Vallarta and the little town near here where we'll go to a market tomorrow.  In the marina, folks have decorated their boats for Christmas, inventing nautical and natural material that give everything a festive air.  It's not cold or snowy, so much of the feeling of Christmas isn't the same as at home.  There are lots of artificial trees and colors are tropical bright.  We will be greeting Hilary at the airport, as she's able to come visit now that her classes are done for the semester.  We wish more friends and family are able to catch up to us here in Mexico this year or next.  The ability to spend time at an anchorage and travel within the country is so special and different from coming to a hotel for a week.  We are loving the experiences and meeting great people every day. 

Happy Holidays to you and your families.  Best wishes for good health and happy days in the New Year!

Mike and Kay

Mike and I are back in Paradise Village Marina in Nuevo Vallarta, near Puerto Vallarta.  Finisterre is getting cleaned up and projects are resuming on the boat.  We are looking forward to Hilary's visit and will surely miss getting together with family and friends.  The weather is great.  There was a big lightening storm last night and it got cooler today.  In the 80's most of the time, cool at night. 

Our activities have included going to the bullfights, eating out with cruiser friends, going fishing on our way into the marina from our last port, Punta de Mita.  We caught three huge fish, one a marlin, and two dorado.  However, the marlin took the gaff and then we couldn't land him or the others we caught afterward.  If we'd caught them all we'd have had fish for a month or more.... we'll try again as we head south after the holidays!  We also sighted at least three whales, who come here to have their babies each winter. 

Check out the photos!

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo!