I Saw a Ghost!

I just returned from the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) celebration in Melaque. I’ve always been curious about spirits and tonight, I believe I saw one. While looking at the various altars and snapping a few photos, I stopped at one in particular. Initially, I thought I saw smoke to the right of the altar. However, upon closer inspection, I realized there was no fire, no nearby street vendors cooking, and none of the candles had been lit on or around the alter. 

I quickly grabbed my camera, hoping to capture this strange phenomenon. To my amazement, all three photos show a large white shadow in the corner. Though the photo quality could be better, I can't deny what I witnessed with my own eyes.

Feeling a bit unsettled, I decided to take a walk for a half an hour before returning. By then, it was darker, and the family was lighting candles around the altar. I took more photos, but this time, nothing unusual appeared.

I think earlier the spirit was indeed hanging out at the altar, just as the family had hoped. It's a comforting thought that perhaps our loved ones never truly leave us. 

Bite Me!

I'm incredibly frustrated. I really hope I don't end up with dengue fever from this. Every night this week, despite using bug repellent, I've woken up in the middle of the night covered in bites.

The house I've rented doesn't have any windows with proper screens on them, just wooden slats that let in every biting insect imaginable. 

Today, I'm itching like crazy everywhere. My legs are the worst, but my whole body is covered in bites. There was no mention of this in the Airbnb ad - if I had known I needed to sleep under a mosquito net, I would never have rented it. 

It's rare for me to get this annoyed, but being itchy and lack of sleep is turning me into what my kids call 'the dragon lady.' I'm ready for this to be over!

Hurricane Damage

Hurricane Patricia hit the Cuixmala area hard, today I drove there to see the aftermath. The landscape was a scene of devastation, with trees stripped of their leaves, signs knocked down, and roofs destroyed. This video includes the photos I took in Cuixmala, as well as in Cihuatlan and Melaque. Despite the extensive damage, everyone is diligently working to restore the area. I have no doubt they'll have everything looking beautiful again in no time.

No Problema

Believe it or not, my trip to Mexico was uneventful this time. Everything went smoothly, from check-in to boarding my connecting flight. No frantic last-minute dashes or pages over the intercom. Miracles do happen!

On my connecting flight from Calgary to Manzanillo, I was pleasantly surprised to see about ten familiar faces. It was WestJet's first flight of the season to Manzanillo, and everyone was buzzing with excitement. Seeing friends on board helped calm my usual flying nerves, and the collective cheer upon landing was a perfect start to our adventure. The season had officially begun, and I'm thrilled to be here. Viva Mexico!

En route to Melaque, I snapped a few photos while driving through Cihuatlan, which had been severely affected by flooding from the heavy rains following the hurricane. The sheer amount of sand deposited by the floodwaters was astonishing. Thankfully, the roads had dried up and been cleared enough for cars to pass through.

So yes, Mom, I made it to Melaque safe and sound. 😊

Here’s to a fantastic season ahead!

And Off I Go Again

And I kept my bags under 50 lbs each. Go me. :)

See you soon Melaque!