Bienvenido Mexico!

After having traveled for nearly 50 hours including the ten hours flight from London to Mexico City and a 17 hours bus ride across Mexico to Mazatlan, we arrived safe and well at the Marina and our new boat. All the baggage was intact.

We went through ten police and military check points on the way including drug-sniffing dogs and armed police and military in bullet- proof vests. It was quite amazing that we never had to open any of the suitcases. The bus journey was a definite eye opener as to the huge drug war the Mexican authorities have to deal with.

Our new boat, still floating under the name Aquarius, is lovely with a lot of space and facilities which we just did not have on Aros More. I can’t list it all, but for starters the wooden floors are covered in authentic Indian rugs and the paintings on the walls are to die for! The galley is a well laid out small kitchen which I am sure Jamie Oliver would envy! The main cabin is spacious with two settees and a large mahogany table, the wooden panels around the cabin is attractively broken up by cupboards, bookcases and a flat screen tv. Hueh! The master cabin has this great big bed which could sleep at least four adults, and has an en suite bathroom/shower. The fore peak, which sleeps two, has also its own bathroom.

The large solar panel above the stern supply all out electricity except when the air- condition unit is required, then we need shore – power, but it isn’t that hot and humid y

It has taken a couple of days to acclimatize and cope with jet-lag, but today I woke up feeling human again. David, however, has been a real work - horse. He has emptied all suitcases, assembled bikes and much more. He is loving it and is really happy. HE IS GETTING TO KNOW THE BOAT!

Today he filled the water tanks, which actually created a huge problem. The mains water is not pure for drinking and the boat is fitted with a special filter which the water has to pass before going into the tank. Unfortunately he couldn’t find the connection to the hose and had to make up one. Ok! One of the water-tank was filled, and number two was opened and the hose put in. Shortly afterwards David discovered that the tank was overflowing with dirty black ‘water’, which happened to be oil! OH NO! The cap on deck said WATER! But it was actually a fuel tank! The previous owner had changed out a water tank to a fuel tank but forgotten to change the cap! Yes we are getting to know the boat. I wonder what other grimlings we shall find in the cupboards.

Anyway, we are fine. The sailing-community in the marina is great. Most of them are retired Americans who have gone south and become ‘live-aboards’, and fallen in love with the place and lifestyle here. Living here is cheap, and the weather is lovely. They seem to be party-animals and gather on the pontoon every afternoon for a beer! Well, why not!

Yesterday we went shopping to stock up with the essentials. We took a local bus to a large supermarket and got a taxi back.

This morning I joined some of the others in the sailing- community and cycled out along the beach to have brunch in a restaurant. Paid £2.50 for slices of watermelon, plenty of strong coffee, fresh orange juice and a very tasty omelette with hot sauces (which I am careful about!). The ocean view and the long sandy beach and a great surf was amazing! The air temp. is around 25 degrees C. in the daytime, but cooler at night.

David was busy sorting out stuff on the boat, but I managed to pursue him to come along on the same ride later in the afternoon.