La Paz - still tied to the dock - Jan. 2010

We are easing into 2010 - feeling better but not 100% - so we will likely remain here in Marina Palmira a few more days before casting off the dock lines for a few weeks and heading to "the islands".  The days are warm, the nights are cooler than in December, but still in the 50 degree F. range - good for sleeping.  The winds come up strong, sometimes in the morning, sometimes mid-day but have been calm overnight.

Our canvas measuring appointment had to be postponed from Monday until today because of the winds, but Danny of Pacific Threads spend a good part of today with Kelly, realigning the dodger frame to make it a bit higher, replacing fasteners, and working with the fabric to get an initial shape.  He will return tomorrow to finish up his measuring and then go off the produce the finished product.  We are also getting stainless handrails on either side of the dodger to provide a much needed handhold when getting out of the cockpit or going forward.  The cost of a new dodger, bimini and related accessories is reasonable although not a great savings over quotes we received back home.   We hope to get the remaining canvas replaced over time as well in the lighter colour "linen" Sunbrella shade we have on the mainsail.

Kelly with Danny of Pacific Threads 

We dropped into Club Cruceros on Saturday morning after a week's absence to trade books and return DVDs and catch up on news and check the mailbox -- still hoping to find the Christmas card which is making its way to us from Canada.  We understand our cards, mailed in mid-December here in La Paz have not arrived there either -- it's the thought that counts.  Yesterday Kelly walked into town to the main office where park permits are purchased to allow visits to the marine parks -- but they still aren't available, and haven't been elsewhere for awhile.  I took my lycra diveskin in for repairs and we checked the prices of bikes.  It would have been great to have folding bikes for our stay here and elsewhere, but we adapted by riding a colectivo to a huge CCC ('say say say') supermarket and taking a taxi back to the marina.

The colectivo is a small or larger bus which can be waved down on its route and we paid 8 pesos each, or 65 cents for our ride. While not knowing the exact route or how long it would take to get us there, it worked out well.  This is the larger CCC and we did find some favourite items at last - extra sharp cheddar cheese, chive cheese, popping corn but still no really good coffee beans.  The ride back in the taxi was 70 pesos -- still reasonable for the distance.

January 6th is the feast day "Dia de Los Reyes" (the Three Kings or feast of the Epiphany)  - an excerpt from the local website explains:

Día de Los Reyes: This is the celebration of Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men arrived bearing their treasured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus. On the night of January 5, one tradition is to add the figurines of the Three Wise Men the nativity scene. Children at bedtime place their old shoes under the bed or in the living room, where the Wise Men will leave presents. They awake to see the gifts that the Three Magi have left. Jan. 6 is also when a traditional wreath-shaped bread called “Rosca de Reyes” is served, often with hot chocolate and tamales. Baked into the Rosca are several figurines of the baby Jesus. Those who find the figurines in their slice of bread host a party Feb. 2, Día de la Candelaria.

The Rosca was being sold at a local supermercado - too big for the two of us, but fun to see and be aware of another important celebration.  We are enjoying our days here and wish you all well as you move through the first week of 2010.