Mon, Oct 22 - Painting in Mascota

We are directly south of Phoenix, but the clocks are set to two hours later to be the same as Mexico City!  Therefore, we didn't have breakfast until nine when it was finally light, and hauled our paints, easels, brushes, etc. to the main square where Patty knew the owner of Cafe Con Leche

Our hotel courtyard

Vies from Cafe Con Leche patio

Our hotel's front door in the rain!

who allowed us to use his upstairs patio/bar to paint.  

We painted until 1 PM, while Bob explored the town and then met for tacos on a balcony above a large market.

This town is really beautiful, peaceful, clean and safe.  But looking at the storm tracks, we can see the Tropical Storm Vicente is heading our way with possible lots of rain. Willa, now a category 5 hurricane is off shore - the city and airport of Puerto Vallerta has been totally closed down and people are being told to head inland. 

 After lunch we drove north of town to a small ranch that Patty knows; the owners kindly let us set up our paints on the narrow balcony overlooking fields, mountains, and farm animals.

We drove back to Mascota just before dark and met up in a little cafe for dinner.

We’ll be fine here but may have some trouble getting back to PV which fortunately isn’t until Saturday.

Fri-Sun - Oct 19-21 -Traveling to Mascota

Fri, Oct 19 – Gorgeous warm day in SB….as we watched hurricanes forming off Guatemala and working their way up the coast.  I called Thomas Van Stein, my art teacher who is running this workshop….but he was on the plane at LAX when I called….so he’s going…should we??

Sat, Oct 20 – A new hurricane, Willa, has formed off Guatemala and will be off Puerto Vallerta as well as #3 hurricane on Wed!   We went back and forth, and after calling Thomas on WhatsApp, felt encouraged – or as RRZ said, Thomas was there so why not bring the rest of us there!!

Valeri, RR and I will meet tomorrow in Phoenix!

Valori arrives in Phoenix

Sun, Oct 21 –  We flew down yesterday on a full jet from Phoenix to Puerto Vallerta and rented a car and drove through a lot of rain up to 5000’ elevation to a picturesque valley where Mascota is located.

 We arrived at 6 with Valori Fussell, our friend and my life drawing teacher, at our lovely hotel, Meson Santa Elena - classic Latin hotel with a large open courtyard, plants and view of tiled roofs.   

We met up with Thomas Van Stein , SB artist and teacher, plus fellow student of mine, Filiberto Lomeli, and his cousin, Patty Salazar.  They both live in the Santa Barbara area but have spent time growing up in Mascota and are related to Everyone in town, so we are greeted everywhere we go!
We had a delicious dinner of steaks, homemade chips, salsas, tortilla soup and many beers and walked back for bed at ten.