Paul and I had a lovely quiet Christmas. We made ourselves a nice meal and spent the day Skyping and Facetiming with friends and family. It was very nice, just exactly what we felt like this year.

We have been having a good time, though. At the top you’ll see a picture from Playa Norte on one of our walks along the malecon, and below you’ll see a typical scene from our table at Puesta del Sol on Stone Island today.  It was a bit overcast but we had a nice time visiting with friends and having lunch.  I even went swimming – or maybe I should say I got wet up to my neck… I really didn’t do much except bob around a little.

Paul and I went out for a walk to visit our friend Mark’s new store and gallery, LOOK.  He just opened for the season in a new location at Constitución and Teniente Azueta.  It’s a fantastic space and he has wonderful things for sale.  You just have to go, I can’t describe it.  Below is a picture of Mark and part of the space – see what I mean?  Amazing.

On that same day we walked by the new gallery on Heriberto Frias next to the Casa Haas called BAUPRES and ran into one of our favorite artists in Mazatlán, Rafael Avila.  He works in all kinds of media, and in the picture below he is painting – but you’ll see his wood cuts on the walls behind him and one of his prints.  He is having a show in January at LUNA GALLERY.  The opening reception is on Wednesday, January 2 from 6 – 8:30 pm but the show runs until January 26 if you can’t come for the opening.  I had a sneak peek at a couple of his water colors and they are as amazing as his work in other media. Paul and I have one of Rafael’s prints, here’s a link to see it.

On a different walk we passed by the statue of Sri Chinmoy and saw the renovation of the area was complete. I love how they changed it, removing a fence and raising the statue so it now has the water and sky behind it.  Lovely.

I will be having my second round of chemotherapy next week and (knock on wood) have been doing great so far.  I haven’t had any nausea or very much tiredness, but I did have about ten shots in the three week interval between treatments that helped me keep my blood count up and various other things.  For those ten mornings I would go down the street two blocks to Clinica Siglo 21 and one of the nurses there would give me the shot for 20 pesos.  (That’s about $1.50)  My hair is beginning to fall out, I think probably sometime tomorrow or Monday I’ll have Paul use his electric hair clippers on me and be done with it!  I’ve had lessons from a friend in scarf tying and another friend made me a cap.  I’ve bought a ton of scarves, so I think I am good to go

In the morning Coco likes to snuggle with me as we wake up.  I took the photo below a couple of days ago because she was so darned cute!  Henry is all better from his bladder stone surgery and his only complaint is the new food he has to eat.  He really hates it, unfortunately.

Hope you all have a happy new year, see you in 2013!