Thursday Sept 27. 2007

To say the “adventure continues” today would be an understatement.

Rather than detail all of it, I’ll hit the high points. I flew down from Denver to Guadalajara after standing in the Frontier checkin line for 20 minutes and the security check line for 30, all because 19 fools decided to commit suicide and now millions of people every day suffer their consequences, death and burning in hell is much too good for them!

 I arrived in time to walk over to the rental office and the lady I’ve been emailing was not in, but I got the address of the house I’m looking at tomorrow. I began walking and walking over cobblestone and cobbleboulder and through a pretty “quaint” end of the village. But then it got somewhat better and I think it will be ok. But in all honesty I must admit (with reality staring me in the face) this place is a bit more rustic than I had remembered – it is a world away from your basic Lakeway. Walking gives you the real essence of the village, every uneven walking surface, ever odor, every sleeping dog etc.

I figure there are two ways to “get into the water”, you can dip a toe, then a bit more and eventually all of you, or - - - you can just leap into the water and take the shock all at once. I’m trying to find a middle ground.

So, I was hot, tired and thirsty and stopped into the Danza del Sol hotel a couple of doors down and the lady who owns the bar just happened to have a house for rent. She said it was a bit “rough” and definitely funky, but the price was great, so I took the keys, walked two blocks back into the “rustic” section, turned up a street that most would call an alley and then back into a sub alley of sorts and eventually found the house. When I opened the gate to the parking area I was greeted by two chickens, guess they go with the place. She was honest; this place puts the “funk in funky”. It’s more an indoor outdoor house and in another time and place and mindset I might be tempted, but not now. So, tomorrow we’ll look at the one I hope is a bit more “civilized”.

Day two was wonderful and long starting with a pleasant breakfast under the huge tree on the patio of Nueva Posada. Then on to business and house viewing. Pedro took me to the first one I thought I’d like, but it was confining and just didn’t “feel” right somehow so back to the office and Laura took me to one I had seen earlier online and liked, but didn’t think it was available, now it is, a bit to the eastern end of the villages, but looks quiet – I hope. This one is nice, bright, open, DSL up and running, many nice things. Back to the office and Fernando took me to the west end right at the entrance to the Raquet Club where the recent mudslide came through. I had been told this was on the Carretera, but set back – not far enough, not nearly far enough, I briefly walked in, took one look and said “no thanks”.

So back to the airport with Carlos Jr. with plenty of time. I wired a deposit Monday, so looks I did manage to actually accomplish something Mexico in only one day.

Returning to Austin via Denver (Frontier) we flew Percy the puffin (each place has a name and pic on the tail) and then Carl the coyote to Austin. We were late leaving Denver and I watched on the flight monitor and with a tailwind we pushed over 500mph all the way and as high as 572mph and got to Austin on time just before midnight.

At this point I've pulled the trigger and now am trying to outrun the bullet