Paint Your Landscape

Mexico Here We Come!

September 13, 2010April 8, 2012LuAnn

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

We are clearly on our way to our next adventure, no turning back (well not at least until the plane lands in Guadalajara!). This still seems so surreal to me and I wonder if it does to Terry as well. Outwardly he seems very calm to me and I probably to him, although if he was sitting closer and the noise of the jet engines were not an issue, he might hear something different. I feel that I have one foot still firmly placed in US soil and another toe tentatively touching soil south of the border. I am thinking that it is one thing to be venturing into retirement and another to be doing this by heading out of your native land for a time. A verse from an Eagles’ song pops into my head “A little voice in my head said don’t look back. You can never look back.” So, here we go, as our wheels touch down in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Our flight is 30 minutes late, due to a change in equipment in Phoenix, but still our taxi service, guided by Joseph, is patiently waiting for us as we emerge from customs. We soon learn that he is the owner of the B&B where we will be staying for the next week, a man who has been in Ajijic 7 years, emigrating from Syria, by way of California. He is a gentle soul who firmly believes that you should not sweat the small stuff (which most everything is) and that we should keep in mind that we are visitors in this beautiful country and not try to change what is. We instantly know that we are going to like him.

On our first night we had a lovely dinner at a restaurant named Ninette’s just down the street from our B&B. Many restaurants in this area have garden settings, as does this one, so the views are beautiful; the staff is amazingly friendly; and the food was “muy delicioso”, which was an expression I used on the owner with my meager Spanish. He promptly responded, “So, you enjoyed it, did you?” and seemed to take much joy in tricking me. We met the wait staff, the owner and the chef and felt like we were one of the family before we left. We had dined here earlier this year and the experience was as great this time.

We reconnected with a couple (Erin and Kevin) who were most gracious the last time we visited Ajijic and have been more so this time. They have been instrumental in giving us sage advice in the areas of house hunting, getting a cell phone set up (which has been a test in patience and I believe we have passed), restaurants to frequent, the best shopping areas, yoga teachers, etc, etc. We already consider them friends and do not know how we will ever be able to repay them for their kindness. Fortunately, they subscribe to the same theory as we do, to pay it forward.

Kevin has a blog that we have followed for some time, one of many since we entertained the idea of spending some time in this colorful country. Kevin is very articulate and weighs in on many topics, so I have attached his blog spot for your viewing pleasure: http://caffeinatedcalm.blogspot.com.

Erin has a spiritual side that appeals to be immensely so I am looking forward to growing through spending time with her. She has already given me advice on the best yoga instructors in the area and is practiced in the field of massage. I feel that we are blessed to have been introduced to this lovely couple. As of this writing, thanks to the two of them, we have rented a lovely home that we will be moving into this weekend. As soon as we are settled, pictures will follow!

For those of you who may be concerned about our safety or wondering about how we are adapting to the change in culture, we are doing well. We have walked the streets of this quaint village after dark and the locals and those who are part-time and permanent transplants could not be friendlier. It has only been a few days, but so far, so good.

I am attaching a few pictures of Ajijic so you can enjoy the flavor of this area. Enjoy!

Friendship in the Valley of the Sun

September 12, 2010April 8, 2012LuAnn

There is nothing more to be prized than true friendship. ~Saint Thomas Aquinas~

September 7th and 8th ~ our last two nights in the states for awhile

We spent the last two nights, before heading south of the border, getting reacquainted with friends Marcia and Carl. When I think of true friends, I think of those who you may lose touch with for a time, but when you come back together or connect on the phone, it is as if time has stood still, and you pick up just where you left off. This is the connection we feel with Marcia and Carl. They generously opened their home to us and they epitomize all that is important in life, a warm, loving, giving spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. All that we could do for them in return was to offer them a good meal at a lovely restaurant before we left. What a great way to spend our last nights in the states!

Terry, Lu, Marcia and Carl — Terry, Lu, Marcia & Carl

Until we meet again, much joy and happiness!

Bryce Canyon National Park ~ Land of Hoodoos and Fins

September 11, 2010April 8, 2012LuAnn

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles. ~Anne Frank~

Sunday, September 5th – Bryce Canyon National Park

Where have I been all my life?! While I reflect back on my many corporate years, sitting behind a desk, I could easily berate myself for letting life slip away as I look at the breathtaking beauty of this land of red rocks and fabulous architecture. Why did it take me so long to experience all that I now see around me, when it was right outside my back door for so many years? I vow to not look back but ahead at what is to come.

Sunday morning dawned clear and with the promise of a beautiful day for hiking the canyon. We opted for the Queen’s Garden/Peekaboo Loop, a 6.5 mile venture into an ancient land of hoodoos, fins, and the Wall of Windows. As we hiked down into the canyon, we experienced a 360 degree view of red rock and limestone spires reaching up into the deepest cerulean blue sky we had ever seen. Although this was a well-traveled trail, it seemed that if you stood perfectly still, you could almost hear the whispers of the spirits who passed through these parts centuries ago. It was a very humbling experience and a somewhat difficult hike at times for someone who had not slept much the night before.

Enjoy the slideshow of pictures that is Terry’s contribution to this adventure!

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A Few Yellowstone Pictures

September 7, 2010April 8, 2012LuAnn

Since I was not able to download some pictures of Yellowstone in my last posting, here are just a few to whet your appetite. Enjoy!

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - Lower Falls

The Yellowstone Experience

September 7, 2010April 8, 2012LuAnn

“Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.” ~John Muir~

The Yellowstone Experience – something everyone should know. My husband Terry and I were recently marveling that it took us so long to find our way to this land of magic and mystery. After spending over two years in a place of such raw, wild beauty, it is time for us to move on and gain new insights and explore new corners of the world. But before we leave this paradise, it is important to touch on a few of the wonderful experiences we shared here, together and with special friends.

Hiking was by far our favorite pastime, where we could leave the worries of the day and immerse ourselves in God’s splendor, the backcountry of Yellowstone, where we knew for certain that we were not on the top of the food chain, but sharing this wilderness with those who were here before us – grizzly, black bear, bison, and elk, to name a few. Terry always felt that being amongst the wild ones kept all his senses on high alert, which was the best way to view nature.

Some of our hikes were shared with two of our most favorite people, Rosie and Jim Johnson, who we know from Sedona and who summer in Yellowstone. At times Jim’s alter ego Jimmy would come along for the ride.

Rosie Relaxing on Pebble Creek Trail — Rosie Relaxing on Rescue Creek Trail

Friday, September 3rd ~ Moving Day

This was a bittersweet day for us, leaving the grandeur of Yellowstone, the people we have come to know and love and our apartment that faced Mt. Everts and allowed us the opportunity to look out our window and view wildlife at its finest, newborn elk and bison calves with their moms. Some days walking to work was an interesting journey of dodging the elk, who can be more aggressive with their babes in tow.

All of our worldly possessions are crammed into a 10-foot U-Haul and the back of our truck camper. Of this, some would think, look how far they have fallen! We prefer to see this as a very freeing experience that will allow us to pick up and move about as we see fit. This is certainly not appealing to everyone but seems to be what is calling us at this time in our lives.

One last lunch for a while with our friend Rosie (sorry Jim could not be there) and we are off. We are sorry to be leaving so soon before the beginning of the elk rut, where the resident elk herd at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone perform quite a show for employees and guests alike. As if staged, a very large bull elk strolled into Mammoth this very morning, getting ready to round up his harem of cows and steel himself against any other bulls in the area who may want to challenge him.

A very prominent bull elk lovingly known as “Number 6” (the ear tag number on him) was king of this territory until a freak accident took his life over a year ago. He was a “bad boy” who had to have his antlers removed a couple of times for doing battle with vehicles and making a nuisance of himself. He was a beauty who gave us all chills whenever we heard him bugle. There were many tears shed over his passing.

Goodbye for now Yellowstone. We will remember your wildness, your breathtaking vistas, and all the wonderful people who you summon and continue to draw back to your beauty and mystery year after year.