Bucerias

Oct 18, 2024

This morning as I lay soaking in a tub full of epson salts, infused with rosemary and lavender, I’m dreaming of Bucerias Mexico.

It’s where we spent 5 glorious sun soaked days with some good friends last week. Lucky I know. I did not take one moment for granted, I promise you.

As I lay in my bath of pretend sea water, my mind wanders to some quiet moments there in the land of sand and sun.

It’s early morning light and the heat is already so heavy it’s oppressive. The Locals are fishing with fishing line wrapped around pop bottles. What appears to be residents of the area strolling along the beach with bags and back packs. I am imagining they are coming from, or going to, work. I try not think about their long hours, and small pay.

One young man walks up the beach and sits in the sand, in front of the condo. He is staring out over the ocean for a while.

I watch him, and the ocean, as I sit nestled into the patio couch perfectly situated on that grand balcony with an ocean view. Safely nestled behind locked gates, surveillance cameras, and a security guard.

I too, gaze out over the ocean, with my freshly refilled coffee, in my pretty cup, feeling grateful and guilty, at the same time, for the privilege and safety, of my luxurious accommodations.

Fishing with a pop bottle and fishing line

After a short while, the young man stood up, dropped his backpack, and took his shirt off. With no shoes to remove, Perhaps they were in his back pack? He walked barefoot into the ocean with his jeans on, and swam. He was smiling the entire time, looking content and happy. I couldn’t help but wonder where he had come from, and where he was going. Wherever it was, he was doing it in wet pair of jeans.

The condo also has an infinity pool that over looks the ocean. Our afternoons, and some evenings would find us arms crossed, and chins resting, on the edge of the pool, staring out over the horizon, sipping Nate Claws (Recipe below) watching waves barrel and crash onto the shore.

Happy hours on the terrace, ocean views as far as the eye can see. Sipping chilled tequila and a glass wine, cause that’s how I roll.

After tequila and a shower, we would head for a late dinner at one of the local restaurants, wrapping up with a late night stroll back to the condo on the deserted streets, being the off season, of Bucerias.

It was a truly amazing time away with some dear friends Becca and Nathan. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity and means, to make it happen.

Destiladeras Beach

If you ever get in or around the Bucerias area make a trip to Destiladeras Beach. It’s breath taking, and the waves, can be something else.

There is a Beach bar and restaurant. Some outdoor showers (for a around a buck a minute) to wash the sand out of your ass. Also more on that in a moment. There are public washrooms and showers, also for a small fee. Tables are set up down on the beach that cost around 300 pesos for the day, and the lounge chairs if you so choose to lounge, are around the same price.

Being an ocean dweller, I could not wait to dive in. Myself, Becca, and Nathan took no time downing a couple of cerveza’s, before our dip because when in Mexico-

We dumped our gear and cautiously timed the surf while we waded in. My husband decided he would wander off to explore down the beach as he does.

Brad the explorer.

We were having fun, until we weren’t. Body surfing and jumping into waves. Some large enough that diving under instead of trying to ride up into them, was the best way to navigate, and remain unscathed. Then some bigger waves started to roll in. One after another, in faster succession. There were too many, too close together, and it wasn’t giving me enough time to catch my breath before there was another to dive under, resurface, and fill my lungs with more air. I could feel myself getting tired and out of breath.

Wave number eight took me out.

I couldn’t catch my breath in time to get a good dive under it. It hit me like a hammer and it tossed me in a 360. Slamming my left shoulder into the bottom of the ocean. I could feel the wave twisting and contorting my body in the opposite direction of my shoulder still touching the sand. The pain was sharp. I somehow managed to keep the water out of my lungs and as the wave lost its power rolling into shore, it let loose it’s weighted grip and released me from the ocean floor. I resurfaced spitting out water and sand, wiping my face frantically so that I could get my bearings.

As I stood up, I decided I was not going to stick around for wave number nine. I turned towards the beach, disregarding the next wave rolling my way, and started to run as best as one can in waist high water, towards the safety of the shoreline.

Becca free from the last wave pummelling was well ahead me, working her way back to shore.

I yell out, Becca wait!

Why I yelled that out I don’t know.

Why should she wait? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Save yourself my friend.

I somehow made it back to the safety of my shaded lounge chair.

I collapsed into the chair with my throbbing shoulder, and shaky hands. I grabbed my baby Corona and pounded it. I would have kissed the ground, but quite frankly, I was sick of eating sand.

I thought that I may have seriously injured myself, but the next day amounted to some manageable aches and minor stiffness, and thankfully no permanent damage done.

No more wave surfing for me the rest of our trip.

I was digging sand out of every single orifice I own. There were piles of sand in places I shall not mention here. Feel free to use your imagination. My bathing suit had sand in between layers of fabric that had no entry, it’s a true mystery- And I was still digging sand out of my ears a week later.

Nipple Nibbler

Another hot day, surprise, we are in Mexico in October. Husband Brad and I decided to go for a midafternoon ocean swim. The water felt incredible!

We were swimming and bobbing, enjoying the weightless rocking of the waves, when my husband obviously startled, yelps owe!

I look at him, questioning what the issue might be.

“I think a fish just bit my nipple!”

Well I burst out laughing, because, um, well who wouldn’t?

I’m still laughing when again he yells “ouch!”

Apparently the nipple nibbler swam around and decided to take a little bite at his back.

Well now I can’t breathe I’m laughing so hard, this is awesome, I mean you can’t make this shit up.

“I’m outta here” he says, as he starts to quickly make his way to the shore.

No blood drawn, I follow him in, laughing the entire way. Needless to say, he wore his rash guard shirt for the rest of his sea dwelling days of our trip.

Somehow this hot, and sweaty, perimenopausal chick made it through Mexico in October, with the help of some really good tequila, great friends, bed time air conditioning, and a lot of swim time. It was good for the soul, and I cannot wait to get back to the streets, people, and beaches of Bucerias.

Becca and I cheers with the morning coffee, Picture 2 infinity pool at the condo, picture 3 view of the front of the condo building from the beach, picture 4 my hat and backpack ready for the beach,

Cheers

Friend Nathan is a great cook, BBQ master, king of meat, and I might add, a pretty kick ass bartender. His martinis are legendary and have gotten me in trouble a few times.. When he sets one in front of me I am powerless. But that recipe is for another time.

Today, its all about the Nate Claw. My husband gave them that name in honour of Nathans cocktail making prowess. They are refreshingly sneaky and delicious.

Enjoy!