Wali-G, thanks for the props! Stop by soon.

Louise Brown, you are super cool! Way to sneak your way into the scene. I actually met The Monks at a garage rock weekend in Vegas a couple years ago. Great guys and super talented musicians. You should read the book “Black Monk Time” for more insight into the band in their heyday!

Having loads of fun here on the slopes in Engelberg, Switzerland. It’s been snowing steadily so the scenery is beautiful but got in a touch over our heads on one of the runs – full of moguls, eek!

It’s been a great time though, also went to Castle Kyburg, Uetliberg, Lucerne, up to Mount Pilatus, and more – I’ll show you the pics when I get back. Oh, and I’ve been using my German, which is always fun.

See you guys soon!

JoLynn

Wow, Laura, way to kick off the contest! That sounds divine. Thanks for your entry.

Who’s next? Let’s keep those postcards coming!!

In searching for a Mexican Riviera spot without hi-rise hotels and cruise ships, I found Chacala, this little sleepy fishing village I’m relaxing in now. Yesterday I met 2 local fisherman with whom I shared Pacífico beers and ceviche while we sat around a bonfire on the beach. They invited met to join them on their little lancha, a 27 foot fishing boat with an outboard motor off the back. I jumped at the opportunity and headed for the launching area with them this morning at 3AM! We rode out so far we could no longer see shore. My fishermen friends set their fishing net into the ocean and then we waited for 2 hours for the sun to rise. I kept an eye on the star-speckled sky watching for shooting stars. Just before 6AM the sky began to brighten. I sat up and anxiously awaited the sunrise over the hilly backdrop of the shoreline. Pelicans flew all around us in the quiet morning air and bobbed up and down in the calm waters around our boat. They approached us so closely that I was able to note that some had blue eyes while others’ had brown eyes and all had soft pale yellow tufts of feathers atop their heads, resembling a newborn’s fine baby hair. The fishermen sang along with the upbeat Mexican songs from the radio they turned on as they hauled the fish-filled net from the water, plucking the fish – and the stinging jelly fish! — from it and tossing them onto the floor of the boat. On our way back to shore, we spotted a mother and baby dolphin porpoising in the ocean and we steered the boat closer to them to get a better look! Back on land, I watched all the fishermen unload their daily catch into trucks of those buying fresh fish for their homes and restaurants as far away as Guadalajara. Now I’m sitting on this beautiful stretch of jungle-encircled beach, reflecting on the experience and soaking up the sun’s rays. Time for a nap!