Sunday started much like Saturday, but this time a bit earlier. The sun shown through the window, and I could hear the sound of distant cars and tourists in the streets. The noise was less though, Sunday seemingly a slower calmer day then the others. I remember taking a shower and walking out to a set table, full of food and drinks. Karina had made breakfast and we all sat at the table to eat. It was a nice day, cool and breezy, and as I sat and ate my breakfast I thought about the events that had occurred so far. The long lazy days, and the crazy fast paced nights. Sunday served as a day somewhere in between, where you could relax and reflect on the crazy weekend nights you had just had, and the plans for the week ahead. Even Vallarta was slower and more relaxed on Sunday, there seemed to be less tourists somehow. Maybe the stores closed early, maybe they stayed at their hotels to rest, maybe they Sunday was their day to fly out. Either way it started as a great day of ease and relaxation, and it was only going to get better.
At the table Karina told us that today we were going to go to the beach. Great! I loved the beach, and had been aching to get into the water. We packed our things in the car, rounded up the boys, and soon were on our way. We headed north of Vallarta, towards the Marina, and still past the small retirement community of Bucerias. We drove the length of the bay, the whole time watching its sparkle in the sun just to the left of our car. I could tell we were going to one of the most northernest parts of the bay, where the curvature first starts. The place I believe was called "Punta De Mita" but I'm not sure if we stopped there exactly. It could have been in the general area, but from what I gather it was close to there. We got out of the car, which our bags and towels and the kids snorkeling and swimming gear, and made our way down to the beach. As we arrived I noticed there were many people there, it being a restaurant right on the beach. We passed through the restaurant part, and made our way down to the beach, to a sea of umbrellas. All sizes and colors, with small wooden lounge chairs under them fighting for the shade. It was a beautiful site, the colors, the white sand, and just to the left a pile of rocks that jetted out into the bay. The waves weren't very high, and the warm water was very calm and clear. It was a nice place for the kids, the rip current wouldn't be strong here, and the water was not very deep. We found ourselves some chairs under some umbrellas and parked our belongings there on the sand. I sat down in the chair and stared out over the beauty that was right in front of me. The water just glistened in the sun, as the mountains rose above it, and far in the distance Vallarta could be seen. We ordered food, enchiladas, and they were brought out to us under our umbrellas. I sat there in paradise, eating great food, drinking a cold mexican coke, and looking at the white sand and the ocean as the breeze brushed across my face. I was in heaven. I thought to myself, I was experiencing a moment in paradise, this was a moment of pure happiness, and I longed for her. I longed for her to be there with me. I wanted her to experience this with me, I wanted us to have this moment together. I remember the words echoing through my head as I looked out over the ocean scene:
I dig my toes into the sand.
The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket.
I lean against the wind, pretend that i am weightless and in this moment i am happy.
And yes as the song put it so simply and correctly, "I Wish You Were Here." I did. I wished she was there, to experience that with me, so no matter what happened in the future, we would have that moment. But alas, she wasn't there. Karina, Iliana, and the kids were, but that, that just wasn't quite the same.
I accepted my plight and brushed it off. I was still happy, she would want me to be. So as I sat there in my chair, stomach full with the breeze calming moving across my face, I slowly fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept, but sometime after Iliana woke me up. The kids were already out in the water, and Kalani (being still a baby) was playing in the sand in front of our chairs. Karina asked me if I could walk around with him, and I hesitantly said yes. I like kids, I enjoy them, but I'm not well versed in them. I lack experience when it comes to taking care of them, being that I don't have any myself. But I agreed and watched as Kaylani took off running down beach. I chased after him and brought him back to our area, where he continued to play in the sand and in the small calm waves. I didn't get in the water myself, but just walked in the seafoam and through water at the girls. The hours passed quickly and soon the late afternoon was upon us. We packed up our belongings, I said goodbye to my paradise of food and beach, and we made our way back to Vallarta. We got back as the sun was almost going down, and made our way back to the apartment. I took a shower to get rid of any relocated sand, and put on a t-shirt and Adidas. My face was already showing signs of sunburn and I could feel the tightness and the heat on my back. That night we ate at Archi's and decided to relax for the rest of the day. Sunday nights in Vallarta reminded me of Sunday nights here in San Antonio. Here all the young ones, the teenagers and even those in their early 20's going "cruisin" down a long straight street. Basically to show off their cars and spend time with their friends. In Vallarta, the young one's did basically the same thing, but instead of in their cars they were on foot, and instead of a street they used the Malecon. The young ones would pretty much just walk around the Malecon, talking with their friends, and hanging out by the beach. It was relaxing time, it was a time to be with family and friends and to eat and chill. So this is exactly what we decided to do. Iliana and Me thought it would be good to take the boys, but because Christian was no where to be found, and Kaylani was too young, we ended up with just Jonathan. We made our way down to the Malecon and walked up to the main square where Los Arcos was. I had never noticed it before, but Los Arcos (some famous stone arches) was actually an amphitheatre. The area was sunken in, with levels up that made steps to sit on. Los Arcos seemed to actually be up on a stage, with room for performers next to it. As we walked over a crowd started to gather, and soon the show began. It was a show of dancing, dancing of all types, from all the different regions and states of Mexico. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Acapulco, Cancun, all the major cities and the states they are located in where represented. It was actually quite a good show. We sat for a bit longer, and a little old man walked by and asked us something in spanish, what I understood to be "Queres tuba?" "Do I want what?" I asked Iliana. "Tuba" she replied. Tuba? What the heck was this? The only meaning I knew for tuba was a large horn instrument, why would I want that? Turned out "tuba" was actually a drink, a kind of punch made from a number of fruits and nuts. I decided to take a chance and nodded to the little old man. He was carrying a big container on his back, with a string over one shoulder. It was a hollow container, and looked very much like he had made it himself. He pulled a plastic glass and gave it to me, as he poured my "tuba" in the glass. It was a brownish color, and as I stared at the glass I started to get second thoughts. They say don't drink the water, and I hardly listen to that, cause I've never personally got sick. But this, this was extremely homemade, and I was nervous. Curiosity got the best of me though, and I took a drink. It was great, great flavor with a hint of what seemed like could have been alcohol. The drink was more of a meal then just a drink though. It had pieces of apple and other fruit, also small nuts in it, all together being a great drink to chill out with. So as I drank my "tuba" the show carried on until it's finish. As we walked back down the Malecon, we decided to treat Jonathan to some ice cream from the best Mexican Ice Cream shop, Bing. Bing is like the Baskin & Robbins of Mexico, with all different flavors and creations made from Ice Cream. Jonathan was a happy camper. As we made our way back to the apartment, I could see a large group just in front of Carlos O'Brien's on the Malecon. Iliana told me she remembered this. As a kid born and raised in Vallarta there isn't much to do, so the teens would gather in groups in front of the clubs, gleaming into them, dreaming of the days that they would be old enough to get in. I laughed to myself about the whole thing, if only the kids new the craziness that comes along with the clubs, maybe they wouldn't desire them so much. Iliana took Jonathan up the apartment and I stayed down on the Malecon to take a few pictures. The Malecon was nice at night, with the light ropes wrapped around each palm tree that lined the beach. It was a beautiful sight to see, and I felt happy that I was there to see it. I still wish she would have been there with me though, I longed to see her, and every day that passed I knew I got closer to day. The day of our reunion, the day I would surprise her with the new me. I was excited, just two more days now and I would have her in my arms again. I finished my picture taking and made my way back to the apartment. I was tired from the eventful weekend and went to bed somewhat early that night. The night was calm, and I fell asleep quickly. The ease and tranquility of Day 4 was in the books.
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