Terry L. Turrell's Blog: Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico, page 10

CHICA LOCCA BOAT TRIP TO MARIETA ISLAND FROM SAYULITA

More Than A Whale Watching Adventure! Fun on the Hidden Beach Inside Marieta Island
     When our daughter, Michelle, and her family came to visit us in Sayulita for a week, we were looking for a fun family adventure. Our granddaughter, Juliet, had just turned one year old, so Zip-Lining was out. We decided to take the Chica Locca Whale Watching Boat Tour and it was a great decision! The boat was large enough to give everyone plenty of room to stretch out and had lots of cushions, pillows, and hammocks to relax on. The Chica Locca is a trimaran, so it was stable enough that we hardly noticed when the wind and waves picked up in the afternoon.

Time to Lounge Around & Sunbath     On the boat ride out to Marieta Island, there was plenty of time to lounge on the decks, either sunbathing in the open areas or relaxing in the shade. The crew was very attentive, making sure everyone always had their drink of choice in hand. Snacks and lunch were served throughout the day so we felt pampered and satisfied. The gentle motion of the boat as we motored the 20 nautical miles out to sea lulled us all into a state of lazy contentment. Our First Whale Sighting!     Suddenly, one of the crew members called out "Whale!" and we all looked in the direction he was pointing to see a humpback whale surface nearby. It turns out that there were three whales traveling together, a mother whale, her baby, and an escort whale. Our captain turned the boat to stay beside them for a while and we were excited to see the mama whale spout!Thar She Blows!     We were lucky to see two groups of whales on this boat trip. In each group, there were three whales, always a mother, baby, and escort. The crew member narrating was knowledgeable about how to tell which whale was which by markings on the skin. Thank goodness one of the crew members is a good photographer and captured some photos of the whales...not an easy task.Time to Suit Up With Snorkels & Life Jackets!The Chica Locca Anchored at Marieta Island!Snorkeling on the Way to the Hidden Beach     I was happy to be the Grandma that day, staying on board the Chica Locca boat with little Juliet. We stretched out together in one of the hammocks in the shade and let the motion of the gentle waves rock us. What a blissful, relaxing nap we had! Soothing Motion of the Boat Rocked Us to Sleep     We had a nice little nap while everyone else snorkeled to the island and played silly games for the camera on the hidden beach (also called Playa de Amor or Beach of Love) in the interior of the island. Jon, Michelle, and Chris Jump for Joy     On the return boat ride from Marieta Island, everyone got lazy and happy with drinks and snacks. Some lounged on the front of the Chica Locca, enjoying the sun and water spray. Others leaned back on cushions in the shade and enjoyed the ride, the view of the bay, and the warmth of the perfect Riviera Nayarit weather. Soon the boat stopped for those that were still energetic so they could play in the water on kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards, and on the water-slides from the boat's upper deck. Continue Lounging or Go Off the Water-Slide?That is a Big Decision!     There was something for everyone on this day-long adventure. We rested, we played, we whale-watched, we enjoyed time together with our families and friends, and we met new friends. We were very happy that we had chosen the Chica Locca adventure.Wonderful Memories of Our Family Time on the Chica Locca Whale Watching Tour     For more information about the Chica Locca Tours and to make reservations, see http://www.chicaloccatours.com/ . Their website shows lots of good photos of the Chica Locca boat moored at the La Cruz marina, as well as some of guests and crew members having fun onboard. They also have offices in Sayulita, Bucerias, and San Pancho where reservations can be made in person. I highly recommend this adventure to Marieta Island!

I invite you to read my eBook, "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico", now available on Amazon.com. Click HERE to "Look Inside" the book.  Follow our adventures in Mexico at  www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com

SEMANA SANTA IN SAYULITA: Stocking Up for the Holiday with a Batch of Healthy Carnitas

Semana Santa in Sayulita One of the Busiest Holidays of the Year Sayulita Beaches are Crowded with Tourists Enjoying Sunshine & Waves
     This week is Semana Santa, Holy Week in Mexico, the last big holiday before the rainy season begins. Sayulita, where we are living in our motorhome during the winter, will be crowded with Mexicans on holiday and international tourists visiting this surfing town. The restaurants and beaches will be packed and the rumor is that the groceries stores sometimes run out of food or simply close to allow the employees to enjoy the holiday. So, we stocked up on supplies last week in preparation for eating at home most of the time.       I decided to make a batch of carnitas knowing that we would get four healthy meals out of it. That way, if downtown Sayulita was too busy for us or the stores ran out of supplies this week, we would have plenty of food right here at home at Sayulita Trailer Park and Bungalows.

     Carnitas is a delicious Mexican pulled pork dish, originating in the state of  Michoacán . The word carnitas means "little meats". Traditionally, carnitas are prepared by simmering pork butt roasts in lard and seasonings for several hours until tender. In the past we have purchased prepared carnitas in Mexico and from Costco in the United States and enjoy the flavor but find the fat content higher than we like. So, I have developed a leaner, healthier pork carnitas recipe that retains the wonderful traditional flavor.

   



     Living in a motorhome in Mexico changes how we cook. We usually cook outdoors to keep the steam and cooking oils out of the motorhome, helping to keep our tiny home clean and dry inside. The crock-pot full of broth and seasonings, set up on our outdoor table, bubbling away through-out the day, has become my favorite way to tenderize the tough beef and pork available in Mexican meat markets (carnicerías). So, I start my carnitas by slow-cooking in the crock-pot to tenderize the pork roast. This step also boils away some of the excess fat, making the carnitas more lean and healthy. Finishing the browning step in a cast iron pan set on top of a cast iron griddle on the barbecue gives the carnitas a crisp outer layer. The pork is then juicy and tender, ready to be pulled apart and shredded for use in tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. The aroma surrounding our motorhome while we prepared this delicious dish had our mouths watering for hours, and probably our neighbors', too.


           Jon and Bella, Our Dachshund, Watch the Barbecue: 
                                  ARE THEY READY YET?
     When the carnitas were finished baking inside the barbecue, we attacked the brown, juicy meat, shredding it with our forks and loading our corn tortillas. We enjoyed our tacos immensely! Plus, we put three additional portions into the freezer, ready for quick lunches later in the week. Yum!


Pork Carnitas are Finished in a Cast Iron Pan on the Barbecue Grill

          Below is my recipe, which usually takes me two days to cook. I complete the crock-pot stage the first day and then store the strained broth and pork in separate bowls in the refrigerator overnight. The second day, about two hours before dinner time, I fire up the gas barbecue and complete the browning process while I chop vegetables to add to the tacos. The aroma during browning is even better than during the crock-pot step, making Jon and I hungrily anticipate that first bite of our carnitas tacos. Semana Santa in Sayulita means to me it's time to make carnitas! Another Beautiful Day in Sayulita Ends with a Perfect SunsetPork Carnitas, From Crock-pot to Barbecue GrillPrep and Cook Time: 8 hoursServings: 8Ingredients:1 boned pork butt or shoulder, about 3 pounds1 white or yellow onion, peeled and cut in eighths 2 stalks celery, including leaves3  tsp. minced garlic2 dried bay leaves2 tsp. dried oregano1 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes1 bottle of beer, 12 ounces3 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 6 oranges)1/2 cup milkDay One: Crock-pot StepDisinfect celery by washing and then soak in a Microdyn®-water solution for 10 minutes. Cut into chunks.Rinse pork and put in crock-pot. Add onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, beer, and orange juice. Add more beer if needed to just cover pork with liquids. Cover crock-pot with lid.Turn crock-pot to high heat setting and cook for 2 hours.Turn crock-pot to low setting and cook for 4 hours until meat is tender.Transfer pork with a slotted spoon from crock-pot to a glass bowl, reserving cooking juices. Use two forks to pull pork into large chunks. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Pour reserved cooking juices through a strainer into a separate bowl; discard residue. Cover juices and refrigerate overnight.Day Two: Barbecue Grill Step, Beginning  Two Hours Before Serving Time
Place cast iron griddle on barbecue grill and close lid on grill. Turn grill on high heat for 10 minutes to heat griddle.Divide chunks of pork between two medium-size cast iron skillets. Pour milk over meat. Place both skillets on hot griddle and close barbecue lid (even if the lid does not close completely, this is okay). Turn barbecue grill heat to low with the goal of creating an oven at about 325 degrees. Bake the pork for about one hour, stirring and scraping the pan occasionally. If the meat appears too dry, add 1/8 cup of reserved cooking juices to each pan.Meanwhile, skim fat from reserved cooking juices and discard fat. Pour juices into a saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until reduced to one cup, about one hour.When pork drippings are browned, add 1/4 cup of reduced juices to each skillet of pork. Scrape drippings free and stir meat, breaking into smaller pieces. Bake until juices are evaporated and drippings are browned, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Repeat step, using remaining juices, and cook until edges are crisp and browned, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Remove skillets from griddle to cool. Season with salt if desired.Serving Carnitas TacosWarm corn tortillas on griddle over barbecue grill.Using forks, shred pork and pile on tortillasServe with toppings as desired. Options include chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, grated cheese, avocado slices, sour cream, and salsa.Enjoy with a cold beer or other beverage!I invite you to "Look inside" my new eBook  on Amazon.com at: "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" on Amazon.com

YOGA WITH JIM AT MEXIFIT IN SAYULITA: Wonderful Class, Beautiful Setting

Yoga Classes Overlooking SayulitaTalented Instructor, Amazing Setting MexiFit Yoga Studio Overlooks Sayulita     In my search for "Healthy Living in Mexico", I have avoided yoga. Not once in the 20-plus years that I have been traveling in Mexico have I attended a yoga class...until last month. Why? I had a fear of doing yoga. It started with beginner's intimidation, the usual fear of learning a new healthy activity. I avoided yoga classes simply because I was afraid of looking like a fool, not knowing how to perform the poses while everyone else had mastered them. A couple of years ago, I finally got brave enough to attend a few yoga classes in my home town of Ashland, Oregon. Then I injured myself while doing a new position and it was several months before my body healed. I now know that, as a yoga newbie, I was probably pushing beyond my comfort level, holding a new pose for too long, and possibly performing it incorrectly. The result was that I had developed a fear of doing yoga.
MexiFit's Palapa Also Overlooks the Ocean    Last month, I was invited by a fellow physical fitness enthusiast to attend Jim Gallas' Yoga class at MexiFit in Sayulita. When I admitted my fear of doing Yoga, she suggested that Jim's class might be just the one for me because he is very good at teaching proper positioning and helping people of all levels learn yoga in a healthy way, without physically stressing their body. I decided to give Jim's class at MexiFit in Sayulita a try and I'm glad that I did!
View of the Underside of the MexiFit Palapa While Lying on my Yoga Mat     My first impression when I arrived at MexiFit was that the setting was amazing, overlooking the ocean, the beach, the mountains, and the village of Sayulita! The yoga studio is under a giant palapa set on top of a hill at the south end of Sayulita. The 360 degree view alone is worth a visit to a yoga class at MexiFit, with the blue Pacific ocean below on one side and the beach town and palm trees below on the other. As I settled onto my yoga mat to do some stretching before class, I gazed far above, appreciating the ingenious construction of the beautiful palapa roof. 
      Jim Observes and Gently Assists in Proper Yoga Postures
     When Jim began leading the yoga class, I felt immediately comfortable with him. His manner was confident, yet humble, respectful of each student regardless of the level of expertise. His classes include people of all levels of yoga practice, from beginners to expert. I appreciated his teaching technique, first demonstrating a pose, then methodically walking us step-by-step through the body movements to achieve the pose. I'm sure it was obvious to him that I was a yoga newbie, not knowing the difference between "Downward Facing Dog" and "Child's Pose", trying to mimic his examples and peeking at the yoga expert next to me to see if I was doing it correctly. But he never made me feel inferior. Jim treated each student alike, giving words of approval for achieving the proper position and an occasional gentle suggestion for improving posture.
  Jim Demonstrates the Use of a Block & Doubling the Mat for Comfort
     I felt encouraged by Jim's instructions in proper yoga technique. His classes left me feeling empowered to learn this "Healthy Living" activity, yoga, that I have avoided while living in Mexico. I especially appreciated his encouragement to use props such as blocks and blankets to improve stability and comfort in a pose. He often said "Comfort is King...or Queen" and he gave tips on adjusting a pose to fit the individual's body. He has helped me not only to overcome my fear of doing yoga, but instilled in me a love and respect for the yoga practice. 
     Jim Gallas has been teaching yoga for over 25 years. He teaches ongoing classes in Santa Cruz, California and Sayulita, Mexico. He will take the week of March 31 through April 2 off from teaching. His last two classes at MexiFit in Sayulita this season will be Tuesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 9. Jim will teach yoga and meditation classes at the Yoga Retreat at Harbin Hot Springs May 15 - 17, 2015. For more information, contact him at Jim@RelaxedFocus.net .


I invite you to "Look inside" my new eBook on Amazon.com at "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" eBook 


Follow our adventures at www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com

SAYULITA: ZUMBA WITH MICKI CUNNINGHAM

I ZUMBA TODAY SO I CAN EAT PIZZA TOMORROW! Belly Dance Hip Scarves with Coins Make Shaking Our Hips Fun!
     It's true, I love to eat delicious food, especially pizza! We have fallen into a pattern of eating pizza at least once a week while living in Sayulita, Mexico, so I knew I had to find a way to burn those calories. It became clear that after months of searching for the best pizza in town and daily lounging on the beach, I soon would not be able to fit through the door of our motorhome if I didn't start getting more exercise. I don't like to run, I am a lazy paddleboarder, and working out in a gym is soooo boring. That's when I discovered Zumba with Micki in Sayulita! It's fun, it's lively, and it burns 600 to 1000 calories per hour! 
Let's Go Have Pizza at La Rustica in Sayulita!



Pizza at La Rustica Today, Zumba Manana! Zumba With Micki in Sayulita Tuesdays and Thursdays     In Sayulita, my favorite Zumba class is at Estudio El Jardin with Micki Cunningham. We do Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:00 to 10:05. It's a good combination of stretching, Latin dance steps, a few belly dancing moves, balance exercises, and, in March we do one Irish Jig routine in honor of St. Patrick's day. How can exercise be this much fun?!!! 
I've Earned Pizza This Week! Venezia Pizza -- We Enjoy the True Italian Version!     This horse was wandering down the street and stopped by to see what was being served at Venezia Pizza. Never a dull moment in Sayulita!It's Zumba Time Again!
My Daughter, Michelle Joined Us For Zumba Class With Micki     My daughter, Michelle, and her family were in Sayulita, visiting us last week. I felt so fortunate that they chose to spend their vacation with us. I thought we would probably do nothing but lounge on the beach, play in the water, and eat all week. But Michelle knows how much I love Zumba, so she said "Let's go Zumba!" It was a small class that day so we had lots of room to spread out and really move! We worked up a sweat keeping up with Micki's routines of Salsa, Cha-Cha, Flamenco, and, since it was March, an Irish Jig dance. After that fun work-out to music, we were looking forward to relaxing and, of course, pizza for dinner that night!Pizza at Don Pedro's with Michelle and Family Terry, Jon, Michelle, Chris, & Juliet Ready for Pizza         Don Pedro's restaurant overlooking the beach was an enjoyable place to watch sunset and have dinner with Michelle and her family. Their menu has a very nice variety of dishes including seafood, beef, chicken, pork, and wonderful salads. Michelle enjoyed her beautifully prepared Ahi Tuna steak. The rest of us couldn't resist the pizza with it's thin, home-made crust and fresh ingredients!
Thank Goodness For Micki's Zumba Class! Garden View While doing Zumba in Estudio El Jardin           I've got to get to Micki's Zumba class again this week--I'm hungry for pizza at Cafe Arte! Thanks, Micki, for helping me burn my pizza calories and have fun doing it!
      Micki (Meredith) Cunningham  is licensed in Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumba Gold, Aqua Zumba, Zumbatomic and Sentao.  Her Zumba classes are generally Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM. Her Zumba Toning class is Saturday at 9:00AM. Verify her class schedule by contacting her through her ad on SayulitaLife.com at http://www.sayulitalife.com/zumba, through the Zumba.com Class Finder, or call her at 329 291 3540 (Mexico Phone) or 322 149 2605 (USA or Canada Cell).  I contacted her through the Zumba Fitness website at  www.Zumba.com  and she responded promptly. 
       Estudio El Jardin , Micki’s Zumba studio is located on the corner of Manual Navarette and Calle Caracol. To find it, pass the Iguana Refuge Tree and keep going up the cobbled driveway to the first gate. The cost is 50 pesos (about $3.50 US) per class, or you can purchase a card for 5 classes at 200 pesos and get the 6th class gratis.


 Read more about Sayulita, one of our favorite Mexican towns in my eBook available on Amazon.com. Take a Look inside at:
  "Healthy Living andTraveling in Mexico" eBook on Amazon.com



Follow our adventures at www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com

SAYULITA, NAYARIT RESTAURANTS: Our Top 10 Favorites (So Far)

OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS SO FAR...BUT WE HAVE MANY MORE TO TRY!     If you check out TripAdvisor, you will see the list of 90 restaurants in Sayulita, all rated pretty high. There really are many great restaurants in this town. That is probably one of the main reasons I enjoy staying in Sayulita for several months each winter. I love good food! How will we ever get to all of the great restaurants here? Well, this year we are staying in Sayulita for two months. Next year, we decided that it will be at least three months! Sayulita may end up being the town we decide to settle in in our motorhome for five months each winter. We have to work our way through that list of 90 restaurants, but for now, these are our favorites that we regularly enjoy. If I only had one week in Sayulita, these are the 10 restaurants that I would be sure to visit. Lattitude 20 Restaurant /Bar Sayulita1. Latitude 20: This is currently our favorite restaurant in Sayulita (admittedly, we haven't tried even half of the restaurants yet). The variety on their menu is diverse enough that we can go once a week during the two months we will be here and try something different each time.  This year, we have enjoyed an order of sushi and a salad on one visit and found it to be delicious and fresh. Then we had the BBQ Ribs, mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables on a Sunday afternoon when there was live music by Bordertown Roots, an enjoyable Reggae/ Blues band. Last year we had the Phad Thai with Shrimp on two different occasions and couldn't get enough of it. We hope when we try it again this year that it is just as good! The atmosphere is comfortable and cozy, with an outdoor patio garden including bamboo and palm trees and an indoor restaurant / bar with a new dark green paint color that is rich yet comforting. Located at 79 Manuel Navarrete.
Reggae / Blues Music by Bordertown Roots on Sunday From 2:00 to 6:00 The Wood-Fired Pizza Oven at La Rustica2. La Rustica: Voted "Best Pizza" in the "Best of Sayulita 2014". We agree. While there are at least five great restaurants in Sayulita that we like for pizza, our favorite is La Rustica. We enjoy their salads, too, made with fresh ingredients in tasty combinations. The Cheese and Wine salad, containing grapes is unique in this area and a real treat. Located at Avenida Revolucion 40 R. Jon and I Are Happy to Return to La Rustica for Pizza and Salad3. Cafe Arte: We enjoy the pizza so much that we want to have it every time we go to Cafe Arte. We always start with the Caprese Salad; each time it is very fresh and tasty. We resisted the pizza this week and had the Beer Battered Sea Bass and we thought it was excellent. The slice of chocolate cake for dessert was unbelievably chocolaty, rich, and large. Jon and I shared one piece and could not finish it. We are so glad that Cafe Arte moved from San Pancho to the corner on Av. Del Palmar next to the Sayulita Trailer Park where we stay!4. Alas Blancas: This is our favorite restaurant on the south end of the beach. The only requirement for parking ourselves there all afternoon, sitting on their comfy lounge chairs under their sturdy umbrellas, is that we spend at least 200 pesos (per table). We have no problem with that. We usually order one chica-size Margarita each and lunch. We loved the Shrimp Quesadillas listed in the appetizer section of the menu. They were more like tacos as they were served on small corn tortillas with melted cheese; an order of 3 was enough for a meal. The chipotle sauce and very fresh shrimp made these a hit with us. We had to go back the next week for more Shrimp Quesadillas even though the special of the day was Fish Tacos. Located at Delfines Centro #219 A Col., we find the restaurant by their name on the brown umbrellas. Their little store, facing Delfines street at the corner of Navarrete St., has a very good selection of specialty items including organic products such as peanut butter, granola, soy milk, rice crackers, and more. Calypso's Pretty Sign at the Entrance5. Calypso: This is our favorite upscale restaurant, so far. Calypso won “Best Restaurant” in the "Best of Sayulita 2013", the SayulitaLife.com annual contest. We always treat ourselves to dinner here once each year. The quality of food and the service is consistently excellent. The flan for desert is the best in town (so far), in our opinion. The upstairs open-air seating is perfect for watching the action on the plaza. Located at Ave. Revolucion #44 across from the main arch on the plaza.
Romantic View at Sunset From Don Pedro6. Don Pedro: The beachfront setting and Palapa dining room can't be beat in Sayulita. It is romantic, peaceful, and a good place to watch the surfers at sunset. Don Pedro was voted "Best Restaurant" in the "Best of Sayulita 2014". Once each year we go for a dinner of pizza (yes, we love pizza), salad, and cold Chilean wine at least once each year. The seafood, beef, and salads are exceptionally good, also. We found the Filet Mignon to be an excellent choice the last time we visited. The waiters are always polite, prompt, and attentive. Located at Calle Marlin 2, Centro.
7. Paninos: I love their pastries! Paninos was voted "Best Deli/Bakery" in the "Best of Sayulita 2014". I pass their walk-up counter on mornings when I go to Zumba at Estudio El Jardin or Yoga at Mexi-Fit.  I go to fitness classes to get healthy and keep my weight down. How am I supposed to stay fit and healthy eating those rich, buttery pastries? Well, once a week I succumb to the temptation. I stop on the way home after class and purchase one pastry to share with Jon. Yum! I'll just work a little harder in my fitness classes and do a little more boogie-boarding to burn it off. Located at Calle Delphine near the Iguana Tree.
Always a Crowd Waiting For Ice Cream at Wa Kika 8. Wa Kika Ice Cream: This family owned and operated ice cream stand was the busiest business in town some evenings and for good reason. The homemade ice cream was the best we have ever tasted in Mexico! They also have Popsicles in many flavors. I tried the Rum-Raisin and really enjoyed it! Located on Avenida Revolución near the central plaza.
Entrance to Miro Vino is Warm and Inviting9. Miro Vino: We are always looking for a new pizza restaurant. When we got to this restaurant, we looked at their menu by the door and there was no pizza listed on it so we were about to leave when the manager approached us. We asked him if they had pizza and he said “Oh sure, with anything you want on it. But the house rule is NO HAM AND NO PINEAPPLE”, and he laughed. They had a wood-burning pizza oven visible from the dining room. We watched the pizza-maker create our pizza, beginning with rolling the fresh dough with a rolling pin. Our first course was the Arugula, Goat Cheese, Cherry Tomato Salad which was fresh and tasty. The pizza was delicious and we couldn’t understand why it wasn’t on the menu. Plenty of other people ordered it too, so it must just be one of those things that “everyone knows”. Miro Vino was one of two winners of the “Most Popular Restaurant” contest in SayulitaLife.com in the January 10, 2014 newsletter.  Located at Calle Mariscal #15.
Ruben's Distinctive Sign and Red Paint Let Us Know We Have Arrived!10. Ruben's Deli: We find Ruben's by watching for their distinctive red paint and sign. The word from some of the locals is that Ruben’s makes the best sandwiches in town and we would add that they have the best french fries, too. Ruben's won 2013 “Best Cafes, Delis, and Bakeries” in the www.SayulitaLife.com annual contest. Located at: Avenida Revolución #D,

Read more about Sayulita, one of our favorite Mexican towns, in my eBook available on Amazon.com. Take a "Look Inside" at: "Healthy Living andTraveling in Mexico" eBook on Amazon.com



Follow our adventures at: www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com 

ZUMBA TONING AND ZUMBA SENTAO WITH MICKI CUNNINGHAM IN SAYULITA

ZUMBA TONING--A GREAT WORKOUT!SATURDAY CLASS IN SAYULITA     Zumba Toning class with Micki was a great workout--strengthening exercise combined with aerobic dance to music with a Latin rhythm. The pace is similar to Zumba Gold, a bit slower than regular Zumba, designed for those of us who are older or beginners.       In Zumba Toning class we used Zumba Toning Sticks, available in 1 pound weights with green knobs on each end and in 2.5 pound weights with purple knobs on each end. They contain beads inside that create a rattling sound like a maraca when shaken, a reminder to tense
your muscles as you give them a little shake at the end of a move. You don't even have to bring your own weights to Micki's Zumba Toning class! Micki provides the use of Zumba Toning Sticks in both sizes. 
ZUMBA BANNERS DECORATE ESTUDIO EL JARDIN    Micki mixes in a few Zumba Sentao routines to tone the abs and glutes. It was my first experience with Sentao so I didn't know what to expect. In Zumba Sentao we sat in a chair while doing abdominal toning and stood next to the chair for balance while toning our gluteal muscles. It sounds like we were being lazy, using a chair, but I really felt those muscles the next day so it was definitely a good workout.    Micki was firm in her explanation about proper technique for flexing the muscles while toning with weights. She showed us how to work the triceps correctly in order to maximize strengthening and toning as well as to prevent injuries while working with weights. When I first started using 2.5 pound weights, I thought that sounded like such a light weight that it would be easy. But after an hour of Zumba Toning using those weights most of the time, my arms were tired! TONING OUR TRICEPS & WORKING OUR LEGS TO THE MUSIC     Meredith Cunningham (Micki) is licensed in Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumba Gold, Aqua Zumba, Zumbatomic and Sentao.  Her Zumba classes are generally Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM. Her Zumba Toning class is Saturday at 9:00AM. My only wish was that she had the Zumba Toning class more often each week.     Verify her class schedule by contacting her through her ad on SayulitaLife.com http://www.sayulitalife.com/zumba, through the Zumba.com Class Finder, or call her at 329 291 3540 (Mexico Phone) or 322 149 2605 (USA or Canada Cell).  I contacted her through the Zumba Fitness website at www.Zumba.com  and she responded promptly.       Estudio El Jardin , Micki’s Zumba studio is located on the corner of Manual Navarette and Calle Caracol. To find it, pass the Iguana Refuge Tree and keep going up the cobbled driveway to the first gate. The cost is 50 pesos (about $3.50 US) per class, or you can purchase a card for 5 classes at 200 pesos and get the 6th class gratis.

Read more about "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" in my book available at Amazon.com. "Look inside" the eBook for Kindle and Kindle Apps by clicking: "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico" eEook on Amazon.com .

Follow our travels and Zumba class visits at www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com

VISITING THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE IN NUEVO VALLARTA: Closing a Real Estate Transaction in the U.S. While Living in Mexico

GREAT SEAL OF THE U.S. ABOVE THE CONSULATE DOORDocuments Notarized at the United States Consulate

     In 2014 we decided to sell our home, our cars, and most of our belongings and move into our motorhome. We were going to become full-time RVers. We held several garage sales and posted many Craig's List ads to whittle down our stuff. We crammed every important item we thought we would need in the next year into our 32 foot motorhome and loaded our bicycles on the back. We decided not to tow a car which we had always used Our Motorhome at Puerto Vallarta Trailer Parkas a "trailer" to hold our boogie boards, beach chairs, and other toys. We decided to get serious about this "minimalist lifestyle". We packed our few remaining precious treasures, photo albums, and favorite furniture that we couldn't bear to get rid of into a storage unit. By Fall our home had not yet sold, but we were itching to leave the cold weather and head south.             We left the United States, crossing the border into Mexico in December 2014, hoping our home in Oregon would sell soon, but still not sure of the logistics of closing a home sale in the U.S. while we were living in Mexico for the winter. We thought that if our home sold while we were in Mexico, we would have to fly Not Where I Would Expect the U.S. Consulate to Beback to the United States to sign the closing documents.  We budgeted the $2000 we thought it would cost for airline tickets, lodging, and transportation to and from a Title Company in the U.S. We dreaded having to spend the money and time away from Mexico if we had to fly back to the U.S., but knew it would be worth it to free ourselves from the last tie to our "stuff" in Oregon.     The more we talked to Canadians and Americans about this while living in Mexico, the more we heard that we should be able to sign the documents before a Notary Public at the United States Consulate and ship the notarized Entrance -- Not Very Impressivedocuments to the Title Company in the U.S. So we began the research to see if this was possible. The whole process seemed like it would be a real challenge to accomplish in the timely manner that the closing process requires. After lots of homework, we found out that it was not only possible, but we were successful. The Notarial Service at U.S. Consular Agencies is just one of the many services provided to U.S. citizens while in foreign countries. Shipping something home from Mexico seemed like the riskiest step since we had not had the best luck with shipping companies in Mexico in the past.

     Here are the steps we took to close the sale of our home in Oregon while living in Mexico:
(Between Sight-Seeing in Puerto Vallarta)
When we were told by the Title Company in Oregon that the closing papers would be e-mailed to us soon, we "moved" our motorhome to the Puerto Vallarta Trailer Park to live there for a week. This was conveniently located for riding the bus to Nuevo Vallarta, and turned out to be a very pleasant RV Park.We checked the website for the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Vallarta at http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/puerto_vallarta.html . The hours that the Notarial Service was available only 11:00AM to 12:30PM Monday through Thursday, a very limited time-frame. Since we don't own a car, we took a trial run on the bus to Nuevo Vallarta to find the US Consular Agency at Paradise Mall, a cost of 120 peso (about $8.25 U.S.D.) round-trip. Because the Notarial hours were so limited and time was crucial once we Very Limited Hours of Operation!received the documents, we wanted to know exactly where the Consulate was located. If we missed the 1 1/2 hour window of time for the Notary, we would have to return the next day. We found Paradise Mall, we found the U.S. Consulate, and we had an ice cream cone at the Mall to celebrate! (Then we went sight-seeing in P.V.)The title company emailed the closing documents to us and informed us they should be printed on legal-size paper. We had our printer with us but no legal-size paper! We walked the three blocks to Office Depot in Puerto Vallarta and purchased a ream of the proper paper. We didn't want a single glitch in this plan. We printed the documents using our printer at our motorhome, signed and initialed every place that didn't require a notary. Just to be certain we did everything correctly, we scanned these pages into the computer and emailed them to the Title Company Officer to check our accuracy.The Day of Signing: We caught the bus in Puerto Vallarta at 8:30 AM, leaving several hours early in case of any delays in the typically one hour bus ride (cost of another $8.25 U.S.D. round-trip). We had the documents, our passports, and plenty of cash in U.S. Dollars to pay the Notary. We arrived at 9:30 AM and decided to check in at the Consulate even though the Notary service starts at 11:00AM. We were in luck! Los Muertos Pier in Puerto VallartaThe Notary was there and took care of us right away. The cost was $50 U.S.D. for each of the three signatures that she notarized plus $2 U.S.D. for copies of our passports. We decided to ship the documents FedEx from a major shipping center we had spotted when the bus turned from Hwy 200 toward Nuevo Vallarta. The agent was very professional and we felt confident that our documents would really make to the Title Company in Oregon. He collected 550 pesos (about $38 U.S.D.) from us, gave us a Tracking Number, and assured us that the package would arrive in Medford, Oregon in three days. (Then we did some more sight-seeing in P.V.)The documents arrived at the Title Company in Medford, Oregon three days later!The sale of our home in Oregon has closed! We are full-time RVers and Sunset From the Puerto Vallarta Malecon free of encumbrances!The cost to close the sale of our home in the United States from Mexico was about $206.50 U.S.D.($16.50 for buses, $152 for the Notary, plus $38 for FedEx), well worth it to avoid flying to the United States. We not only saved almost $2000 U.S.D., we avoided the culture shock we would have experienced by flying to the U.S. and back to Mexico in a period of a few days. It had taken us two months to transition to the Mexican way of life, mellow and laid-back, and we preferred to remain that way for the entire six months that our Tourist Permit allows us to stay in Mexico.  (We went sight-seeing to celebrate the closing of our real estate transaction while in Mexico--another beautiful sunset) Another Beautiful Puerto Vallarta Sunset Now Available on Amazon.com










The U.S. Consular Agency in Nuevo Vallarta is currently open to the public Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, except closed for U.S. and Mexican holidays and on the second Wednesday every month. Other services include Passports and Emergency Services for United States citizens. Verify hours and location at http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/puerto_vallarta.htmlFollow us at www.HealthyLivingandTravelinginMexico.com     

A Bike Ride To The Grocery Store!

We Sold Our Cars!

This autumn we sold both of our cars, the Prius Plug-In and the PT Cruiser. Then Jon sold his Toyota Tacoma pick-up and all of his trailers. That was one of our biggest life changes! As full-time RVers, we decided to eliminate the expense of towing a car. The sale of our vehicles put some money in our bank accounts. It also cut out the expense of setting up a vehicle to tow and maintaining the vehicle. In addition, we have eliminated the insurance and gasoline expenses for an automobile.

The best part about riding our bikes to run our errands is the exercise we are getting! We road our bicycles to Safeway to buy groceries earlier this week, a three mile round-trip from the Blue Water RV Park in Parker. Today we road 3.3 miles round trip to Wal-Mart to pick up some green Slime for flat bike tires... SEE PHOTOS AND READ MORE AT http://healthylivingandtravelinginmex...

Read more about our adventures and life in Mexico at: Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: A Search for for Sunshine, Sassy Exercise, Savory Food, and a Simpler Life