Christmas in Mexico

Photograph by Crystal Masters

From Northern climes at Christmas where the cold and snow are the norm, the South offers soft sun and warm seas to swim in. Donning a bathing suit and a Tom Robbins novel we head to the ocean outside our door to begin the day with some vitamin D3, a salty cleanse and some rejuvenating tonic made of turmeric, ginger, lemon and fresh coconut water. Together we collage inspirations for a new year, twirling sparklers in the night, around a year end fire.  

Photographs by collective 

Hardly a traditional northwest Christmas. Meditate, yoga and a late afternoon organic salad with fresh caught red snapper and a good bottle of French wine makes this Southern Christmas with friends and family a memorable one. 

Photographs by Crystal Masters

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo

ARRIVING Nayarit, Mexico

Beach side, that's where we landed. It's a paradise. Our road in negotiates potholes and washouts through the jungle, and then we arrive.
The surf hits the rock formations shooting water upwards, creating rainbows in its sprays.
The sand is smooth and invites us to stroll it's bay. Our Frida Khalo blue house faces north west. In its simplicity it is a mansion.

Photographs by Crystal Masters

We park Trusty Rusty who has brought us safely to our first destination on the only level spot in front of the sea. It is here we will pass our December 2013 into the New Year. Rusty is unpacked of her cargo and we set up our holiday home. First priority is hooking up our stereo to serenade us as we open some chilled white wine, make a salad and slice some home made bread to dip in the cold press organic olive oil we brought in from Valle de Guadalupe.

Is this real?
Yes, very real. 

Photographs by Crystal Masters

Salute

MAZATLAN, SINALOA

Rusty is all cleaned up, shop vac- ed, water bottles filled and re-packed. We have a days drive ahead to reach Mazatlan. Some say 8 hours, we book it through, no traffic, great high-way conditions and reach our destination in 5.5 hours.

photography by gisela marin

We drove headlong right into the madness of a huge street party. Clowns, break dancers, people, music blaring, food and lights all amongst willy nilly traffic and horns honking. A bit much really. I flagged a taxi through the driver side window and Gisela jumped out and asked him to drive her to the Mellville Suites in old town, where we planned to stay....I followed with Rusty.
We parked, took our bags to our room and headed out to find dinner at the plaza. We settled with Pedro & Lola's and sat down to some Chardonnay, tuna tacos and a salad.
To our surprise the waiter tuned in on 3 of us being Canadian and blew our minds when he said he knew Gene Grooms from Salt Spring Island! And that he went there to try the 'brownies' hahahaha.

photographs by gisela marin 

Next big planet small world event was the elderly sax player, Jock, who came to speak with us and said he lives in 3 places...New York city, Mazatlan, and yes you guessed it, Salt Spring Island! He moors his sail boat in Ganges Harbor at the government dock all year. He then played us some songs...beautiful songs. Even Jock teared up when he played our request, "My Funny Valentine".
We feel happy, relaxed and expansive as we chill in the south's December summer night.

video by gisela marin 

Red Hot Chiltepins

photograph by crystal masters

In search of regional chilies, found here in the Sierra Madre mountains we take a

quick stop on our way out of Alamos at a roadside family cocina.

We sit in the early sun eating authentic Chihuahua cheese quesadillas, guacamole, fresh salsa and beans...we amend our quesadillas with kale, parsley and cucumber from our private stock.

photograph by gisela marin

A young Mexican couple held 2 bags of the sought after chilies that they have climbed into the mountains to find at 5 am this morning. They grow on both small bushes or large tree type plants. Their small size is no indication of their big punch. It takes hours to collect even the smallest amount during the season from September to end of November. We are late comers in mid December so these are the last of them. Fresh chiltepins are either red or green in color when picked, dried in the sun, then ground in a small wooden grinder and used sparingly.

photograph by collective

ALAMOS, SONORA

photograph by crystal masters

Cross the border into Mexico, drive 9 hours south on Mexico 15 and you come to Navajoa in the state of Sonora. You take a left and drive east for 50 km to Alamos where John McKay lives in his 241 year old hacienda, Casa Esmeralda. He has generously welcomed us to stay a couple days. A safe respite to rest and relax.

photographs by crystal masters

This is cowboy country, endless mountains piled atop each other, painted nature green below big skies and fresh air. The Sierra Madre Mountain range where the Yaki Indians roam and the land where Pancho Villa and his revolutionaries rode horseback, fighting the gringo.

photographs by crystal masters

We Love You John McKay 

photograph by collective

Thank you, Muchas gracias

Leaving 

Photograph by dawna masters

Woke up in Venice Beach to a marathon running by and the pouring rain. It never rains in California. We are packing up 'Rusty' the Westy, Our van is loaded to the max with supplies for Hotel Cielo Rojo my girlfriends hotel in San Pancho and more goodies for our little sea house where we are living until the New Year in Nayarit Mexico. Bedding, linens, cushions curtains, candles, french presses, lights and lamps, books, vintage rugs, hammocks, a Yamaha stereo and kick ass speakers. Yoga mats, teas and spices. Heading Eastward on the 10. Mapquest says Tuscon Arizona is 8 hours away.

Photograph by dawna masters

Love the road. Love to be out here with my daughters and girlfriend. Come ride with us in Trusty Rusty.

Meet Trusty Rusty

road trip 2013

Photograph by Gisela Marin

S/he is androgynous, s/he has the energy of a big white dog with rusty flecks. A perky dog is s/he with long floppy ears, big galloping paws, a brown patched eye. Trusty Rusty is getting all cleaned up, enthusiastic to go on a road trip loyally carrying four women to their destiny.

Photograph by John McKay

Meet the four women
Crystal, Genevieve, Dawna, Gisela