The other day I was in the taxi with Ouest when she pointed at something and said, “Papa, papa.” The taxi driver looked up surprised and asked, “Español?” Ouest does seem to hit all the right inflections on Mama and Papa to sound just like the little Mexican she is. … Read More

Turns out we sort of jumped the gun on the big grocery stock up the other day as we still have no strong inclination to leave. We like Barra. It’s a nice local feeling town that is just the right size for walking from one end to the other with … Read More

As 2011 comes to a close I sit here at six a.m. listening to some sort of techno trance music playing on a nearby beach loud enough to mistake it coming out of speakers on our own boat. Without that pesky sleep in the way I’m able to think about … Read More

Went to the supermarket in Cihuatlan today to stock up for the next month or so. This isn’t the same as it was back in the days of just Ali and I, no sir, now we’ve actually got to come up with meals. Meals for Ouest that is. The two … Read More

After Ouest and I finished a couple small boat projects this afternoon we were free to head ashore for some R&R. We stayed inside the lagoon and went to a little restaurant with a tiny slice of beach and a view of the boat. Perfect for the kids to get … Read More

Back on the boat in Barra de Navidad lagoon. It took four trips in the dinghy to get everything back onboard. Cribs, bouncy chairs, so many kids clothes they couldn’t wear them all in a month, new toys, a bike, a pool, and the list goes on. Don’t think I’d … Read More

We said goodbye to the last of the grandparents today, leaving just the four of us once again. We move back aboard tomorrow and will set off again whenever the mood strikes. Though I kind of like the Barra de Navidad lagoon and wouldn’t mind spending a couple of days … Read More

Ali’s dad and I went out to the boat today and took it in to fill up the diesel. It’s only a couple hundred yards but I took it extremely slowly because of the shallow bars scattered throughout the lagoon completely unmarked. There was one yellow buoy about fifty yards … Read More

Today we took Ali’s mom out to see the boat. Our families are not in any way shape or form considered an aquatic people, and even a simple dinghy ride can seem like an adventure on the water. But once they get on our boats they always seem to like … Read More

In the last eight years we’ve spent Christmas in the Bahamas, the States, Thailand, Grenada, Mexico, Colombia, Mexico, the States, and now Mexico again. All this really means is that we’ve managed to a very great extent to spend the holidays with family in exotic locations without spending any time … Read More

Another December birthday? All we seem to eat around here is cake. We had a really nice day. Ali flipped the calendar, her mom got to relive the day all those years ago, and we all got to celebrate and be happy for no particular reason other than that we … Read More

Typical day in Barra. Breakfast at the French Bakers, shopping at the market, swimming, fish and chips or chili rellenos at Ramon’s, churros for dessert, and a little play time in the town’s main plaza. Ouest is full on when it comes to pool time. She is as crazy about … Read More