My Healthy Pet Algodones Veterinarian

What a horror having a sick dog in a foreign country? Two days ago I watched Madigan my cockapoo have explosive watery diarrhea That night I stepped in wet poop on the tiny camper floor and knew I a problem. 

At 4 years old he’s house trained but there he was looking so forlorn.  His eyes said, “I couldn’t help it.:”  I cleaned camper’s hardwood floor with both Lysol spray and Pledge soap. Thankfully  I found  a left over puppy pad from years back.  I stopped feeding him.  I wasn’t going to give him any more ammunition.  Best thing for diarrhea for everyone is fluids only.  Let the bowels rest. He didn’t’ have a fever, was playful and tail wagging happy. 

All that day he was drinking water fine but still only having loose watery diarrhea and farting. He seemed a bit bloated  and his tummy was sensitive to touch.  

I assumed at first he’d eaten something off but that should have cleared in 24 hours. He wasn’t eating the rice and chicken soup I made him that next day.  I worried about parasites though he’d had his shorts and worming only a couple of months before.  The mind is a bad neighborhood and it’s said one shouldn’t go there  alone. I began to think  worse case scenarios.

On Google and Yelp here were  some very highly recommended vets in Yuma.  Ironwood and Dessert were closest. But I’m here 10 minutes from the border I can walk to.  The vets in Yuma were 45 minutes away.  I had a day of my own virtual work and wouldn’t disrupt other’s schedules if I took him to an Algodones vet on my  2 hour lunch break.  Myhealthypet had good reviews too.   

At noon I walked tail wagging happy Madigan across the border  to myhealthypet vet clinic.  It was easy to find as it’s at the intersection along the US Border fence where the cans and people line up to leave 

I entered the new building and  told the male receptionist whose English was  excellent English I didn’t have an appointment but my dog was sick with diarrhea.  He  said ‘that’s okay okay I’ll get the vet’.   He returned and called me from the waiting room into the clean and well organized examining room 

The vet was  beautiful young brunette with a flower tattoo on her forearms.   DMV Maricruz Lona Romeroa. She seemed to understand English but not speak it fluently  The arrangement was that I spoke to the administrator who translated my concerns to her and translated back the  questions she asked.  

I’m a doctor. I know good medical thinking and ;process.   I watched her thorough professional examination of  Madigan.  It  was exactly as excellent Canadian vet Dr. Biernacki would  have done. Madigan who is very anxious and not at all a good patient was very relaxed and trusting with her as he is with only Dr. Biernacki.  Animals sense confidence and experience.  I loved her firm gentle approach and  later he took a pill from her,  something I can only do with ice cream bribery.  He opened his mouth for her no problem and swallowed the pill,   She could have been a lion trainer with the confidence and assurity. she possessed. 

I showed her the zip lock baggie of  his diarrhea I’d brought..  She examined it, seeing the mucous and flecks of red,  but as I’d told her his initial stool were watery she reassuringly showed that this was forming,  “He’s  getting better.” 

I had his list of vaccinations and treatments from Dr. Biernacki in North Road Veterinary Clinic Canada  along with Rabies vaccinations. She checked through that carefully indicating she read English well, especially medical English.  

The administrator assistant, finally  said, “She still  think it’s something mostl likely something he ate or just different e coli bug.” (Traveller’s diarrhea or montesuma for dogs) 

She then said and he translated, “ I”m gave him one pill for ‘coccidia’ a parasite that is common here. l’m also giving him some antibacterial medication for you to give him twice a day for five days that will be good for his gut.”  he’ll need to take for 5 days that will address any bacteria infection in his gut.”   She then showed me how much of the liquid medication to draw up and squirt into his mouth. Again my little Houdini just accepted the ligquid with a grimace.  

That was it. I asked if she needed to do cultures or get liver blood work.  “Not necessary!”  She said ‘2-3 days he’ll be all well.’  She was confident and I was glad.  

$50 was the bill.  My catastrophising about hospitalization, MRI’s. PET Scans, Surgery, ICU’s and  helicopter costs was all for naught. 

They were lovely caring professionals and the cost was like everything else in Los Algadones a third to a fifth what the cost would be in the north.  At the border because we’ve been going back and forth these last couple of weeks and the first time I showed all the papers , they didn’t even ask for his papers this time . 

Last night I barbecued steak and cut him up some very fine . This morning he had a normal poo.  Thank you Jesus. 

At the dog park today another fellow with several dogs told me he’d been coming to Yuma for years and using both the American and Mexican vets. “The only difference is the Mexicans have been a third or quarter of the cost.”   

At Myhappypet  the vet does grooming and dental as well so I’ll definitely be back before I return north.  The administrator said that Dr. Maricruz Lona Romero’s owned the clinic.

I was so thannkful today that by the Grace of God my crazy little companion is back on the mend.  He does insist I give him his medication with ice cream still. Thank you Dr. Maricruz Lona Romero.

Myhealthypetalgodones@gmail, 442 432 7728

St. Thomas Dental Centre, Los Algodones, Mexico

I am so pleased. I finished my dental work today.  Two root canals and crowns, a wisdom tooth pulled and seven crowns on my upper front teeth.  Friday and Saturday they did a half day of preparation each. I was on the couch 3 or 4 hours then back today Tuesday for the extraction and the frontal crowns.  They also made a night guard because they said I was grinding my teeth and this would protect the new crowns.  I didn’t tell them that I thought the wear on the front teeth was as likely from holding flashlights in my teeth at sea when I couldn’t find my headlamp and had to do repairs at night in a blow.  Sailors.  I will get out the headlamps and stop holding flashlights in my teeth and use the very nifty night guard as well.  

I especially like that the crowns are discoloured by coffee.

I’ve the best dentists in Vancouver but I am afraid of getting a URI.  I’ve often had bronchitis follow teeth cleaning because I’m stressed out and overworked in winter and suffering from the rain and snow and cold. I don’t like losing time from work and having to often make several visits.  The cost is prohibitive too as I don’t have insurance.  No pension , no insurance, just a self employed middle class Canadian.  

I’m really happy with the work being done. I was praying when she was taking out the wisdom tooth. I confess I had fears it wasn’t coming and yet she beat the stubborn beast.  She was truly pretty and petite with miraculous little hands made for dental work or obstetrics.  It was all pain free and just tiresome.  Yet now I’m so happy the work is done and I’ve a smile I can be proud of.

Thank you God

Mara is the office administrator and while everyone was pretty bilingual she was fully fluent. This made explanations so easy.  Now after four days of soft food I can eat anything .  I’m about to settle into barbecued chicken because I didn’t think to take the steak out of the freezer.  

Thank you St. Thomas.

Thank you Jesus

Los Algadones. MediPlaza Cafe

I’m here again at my favourite outdoor cafe having a Mocha Grande.  I used to come here with Madigan when I was here before. This time I’m with Laura and we’ve done our share of shopping gifts again, our favourite jeweller, Sandra and leather goods from the husband and wife couple around the corner from Sol Optical. I ordered two more pair of glasses. They take 2 hours. We want to get to the border before the 3 pm line up begins.  Also we worry about Madigan at hone guarding the camper.  

Los Algodones Coffee Shop in Mediplaza

« I’m shaking, » Laura said as we drove to Mexico. 

« I was awake half the night. I felt you pulling my hair. »

« I was brushing it out of my face. You were sleeping on top of me. I looked over half the bed on your side was empty. I thought it was intimate of you to cuddle so but your hair was in my mouth. » I said

« Does it hurt much to have a root canal. I’ve never had surgery. I’ve had wisdom teeth out but the thought of surgery has me shaking. »

I reassured her as best I could telling her I’d had 4 root canals, one done in Mexico and another in Costa Rica. 

« They save the facial bones.  With dentures the only alternative the calcium is reabsorbed. «  Laura had two broken teeth and growing wrong.  She’d been covering her mouth and worried about this since Covid.  Now I worried. Hoping and praying all would go well thinking I’d have one right to have her see Dr. Doug Lovely the New Westminster dentist who had done a root canal and other cosmetic work on my teeth. I’d lost a tooth and looked like a pirate when I met him 25 years ago.  I arranged for Laura to see a dentist downtown where she lived but she’d been unhappy with the care and somehow was lost to follow up.  I really liked recovering from my root canal in Mexico I had when I broke a tooth at a conference. I’ve always felt a little icky after dental work but not in Mexico.  The heat and sun are so healing.  Algodones is the snowbird dental paradise and thousands of Americans and Canadian’a have work done here in winter because of the convenience and costs are a half to a third.  I like that I don’t have to take off work when I’m on holiday and found the experience of the clinic an adventure.

Now I’m hoping Laura will have as fine an experience. She loved the staff and her experience the first day.  I know she’s really excited about the prospect of having her dental cares finally addressed.  She doesn’t complain and yet I’ve known how she has been anxious about her teeth letting me know the second one was broken only when I asked her directly.  

I bought friends a tent and wood stove and chimney for winter camping. I’ seen them roughing it out and wanted to give them a Christmas present they’ d enjoy.  I’d only sent it when I worried they’d set fire to the tent so then I sent fire retardant material to double protect the chimney tent.  I always have these second thoughts wanting to do no harm and yet be helpful.  It all turns out well but I have this anxiety streak that has me thinking of every potential catastrophe.  Giving a plastic bag to someone I’d worry they’d put it on their head and not be able to breathe.  Thank God for prayer.  I’m praying all the time to shut off the Stephen King and Poe stream of consciousness.  Now I’m praying Laura’s dental work today is going well.  

I’m here at the coffee shop outdoors where I brought Madigan . I sat at this table a year ago.  I think I was waiting for my glasses to be done then. I’ve a couple of pair of glasses being prepared now .  Sol Opticians.  I bought 2 here and had an exam last year.  A gentleman businessman and his beautiful optician wife. They had my prescription in the computer.  2 hours..   I’ll see Laura and then together we can get my glasses. I bought her some earrings from Sandra , the lovely lady I bought earring from last year.  She texted me she wanted the little identical pair for the second earring.  I’ll get that for her as reward for surviving her first dental surgery apt.  Sandra had lovely earring I bought for gifts for the neices and I’ve already bought the belts for the boys.  I have one sweater for the great nephews but was uncertain of the size for the other so will go back with Laura and hope she can guess the size.  It’s okay if they’re too big.  

I have to get more American money too.  I’ve Visa but they say the lines are down , more likely they don’t like paying the fee but it’s not a big deal for me to get to the bank in Yuma.

Madigan is in the camper doing his duty as a guard dog. I may bring him next time.  

I’d hoped to get hearing aids but there is only one fellow selling them and they’re about the same cost as Canada.  I saw a hearing aid shop in Yuma so may go there.

I was thankful to join the daily noon zoom meeting here and learn that theere’s a daily 3 30 pm dog friendly meeting just up the street from where I am on north Frontage road.  I’m looking forward to when I’ll be riding my Harley to meetings.  I’ve Madigan’s carrier box to so it will be an outing for the little guy too.  

They have morning Spanish lessons and after noon tai chi some days at Bonita Mesa RV Resort. I’m looking forward to that.  

It’s great to sit here in the warmth and sunlight people watching and writing. Lots of motorcycles today.  I don’t remember the big white bull being here. I think it’s an addition.  

I was here au femme last year but have no such desire or feeling now. I expect there’s a link to anxiety and depression.  Here I’m happy and feel that men are appreciated as opposed to the toxic masculinity delusional world of Trudeau world, I loved Jordan Peterson’s comment, if you think strong men do damage it’s much worse with weak men. Trudeau has been such a weak parasitic leader and the WEF and Agenda 21 and Soros Open Borders NWO have been frightening.  Here I feel I’m out of that Borg like reality.  In Yuma I like the older community I’m in without the easily offended and entitled.

I’m really blessed. I loved that the Methodist Church here sent me a card and I look forward to attending their service again . They were so welcoming of Madigan.  I’d like to go to the Christmas Eve mass with Laura and hope the Catholic Church here follows with that tradition. I’d like to arrange turkey dinner from a hotel or restaurant so we don’t have to cook.

Last night we had a feast of Kentucky Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.  We watched another episode of Lincoln Lawyer and really enjoyed it.  I’ve had so many good evenings and meals with Laura. Last night reminded me of when I used to visit her old place and stay the night after a dinner and a movie.  I’ve really been blessed to have such a fin friend and lover.  Too often I think she deserves better but don’t want to ruin a good thing given the chaos of my past.  All the women I’ve known and been with have been beautiful.  I’ve known too little and now am becoming good enough person I’ve felt some contentment and serenity.

The anxiety of covid has been huge.  I had that year of treatment for TB in the US after the years of work as a flying in doctor in the far north.  The hearing loss came with the TB treatment but I joke it was guns, ex wives and rock and roll but no it was more mundane a si effect of a tb drug. Nothing to write home about. I joke to conceal my fear. Coming back from Delhi I had such severe bronchitis I couldn’t breathe. The air had been so bad when we were there at the excellent Internatial Addiction Medicine conference.  The air hunger though and symptoms were identical to Covid. I was so anxious feeling as I did when I ran out of air under the reef and had to surface to breathe.  Breathe is essential and it doesn’t take much to be humbled.  I really felt that this year I had to get out of the wet and cold to be safe from covid after years of working through the pandemic.  I was working virtually but Laura who was working front line in a clinic visited every weekend.  I was exposed to so many people too and even attended clinic once a week.  Psychologically I’ve felt my resolve waning and my anxiety increasing.  I really like my life and the work and the balance and the people but I felt that I needed a break from the fear.  My patients have been like nails scratching chalk boards and I don’t blame them with the media hysteria.  I felt a bit spiritually bankrupt too struggling to resist the onslaught of negativity.  Now I’m relaxed and truly gratefully.  

  Now my back has been a bother continuously since my last fall in Edinburgh.  It’s actually feeling better here in the dry and hot. A year ago I had such sciatica that I wasn’t able to walk a block the pain so bad but now I’n enjoying walking the dog. The only real pain is when I walk too much. Hunting season was tough. Also at night rolling over.  Dr. Gary Horvath gave me some excellent exercises which naturally I’m not doing enough. My own fault. I’m hoping here I’ll increase my exercise.  With Laura here it’s been a whirlwind and I’ve not even made it to the swimming pool yet.  So much to do.  I’m smiling to myself at times.  

I’ve not made enough time for meditation but I’m still praying and meditating and so pleased I made it to a meeting. I could do so much more but I’m muddling along.  I really feel hopeful whereas before I was feeling less so. Lydia, Gary, Belinda, Mary Lou, Karen and all the folk at the clinics, especially Minos who did the xray of my back and reassured me the fracture was old and stable, all make me feel like I’m not alone.  George and the great guys in my men’s meeting are such a comfort. I so enjoy Jack and Mario, « our table’ buddies.  I’ve told Mario I’ll get him a rosary from Mexico so must get Laura’s input into the decision.  I sometimes think of converting to Catholicism but grand dad was an Orange Man and Mom would only like Laura because she’s lovely but mistrust her because she’s papist. She ddin’t like the time I took her to Christ Church.  I was raised Baptist and taught Sunday school at the Fort Garry United so I’m caught likely the ritual and pageantry of the high church and the inclusiveness and earthiness of the methodists and united church.  

I need to pray and meditate more and study scripture more.  Willie is right about the need for bible study and I’ve been remiss in following the reading recommendations of Phillip and James.  I really ought to write a book on spirituality and psychiatry again to do my own growth in the process of sharing my thoughts.  I really want to finish another book and hoped I might do that in Jan and Feb.  The book on dogs is almost ready for publication but the book on spirituality would be better for my own personal growth and development.

Well it’s time. Laura ‘s probably ready.  I’ll run now. Thank you Jesus for this time in this outdoor cafe and all the blessings you bring.  Thank you Jesus. 

 

Yuma, Tues, day 19 since leaving vancouver

I am grateful today. I slept through the night without waking and having to take ketorolac, flexeril; and voltaren to get back to sleep.

I had a noumenistic dream last night. It was triggered by a request to assist a colleague. I had this dream I was in a high rise university tower and was greeted by full time staff and researchers. It might have been at UBC..  I was delighted to meet a revered psychiatrist from my early years of residency. It might have been Dr. Harry Prosen or Dr. Hurwitz. I said to the colleague « Now there goes years of wisdom ».  Then I was invited to a lunch where they served huge white sauce covered salmon steaks. I was delighted by the delicious meal and thought fondly of catching salmon and eating it barbecued on the back of my SV Giri.  Asked what I was thinking and I said , I was thinking how I was just catching and eating my own salmon out there and I pointed out the window to the Pacific.  I felt badly that I’d said I was just doing it and it was years before covid but Covid had affected my sense of time so that what seemed a year or two ago was more often a decade.  I talked with several colleagues and worried I was making faux pas, not being exact in my speech and being too involved in myself and the salmon steaks. I just felt so at home and welcome and one of.  I realized how much I feel like the song Desperado.  I then didn’t know if the fellow I was to supervise was as much a spy or at least by putting us together we were less alone. I wanted to but was a bit paranoid being betrayed so often.

It was a good dream.  I felt I could think about it. I woke and peed and went back to sleep feeling positive. I didn’t need to take medication to sleep.  It’s the feeling of belonging I miss. 

I loved my day in Los Aldogones . I found some progesterona.  GNC didn’t have any DHEA but I can get Laura what she wanted further along in the US.  GNC usually has it. I did get a bottle from the Vitamin store.  Cheap. It’s prescription in Vancouver. 

Tury’s Drugstore - www.pharmacyturys.com was helpful.  I bought more ketorolac. $5 for 50 pills.  

I bought another Elton John glasses at Soloptical . 2 hours and $200 ,  I’m now outfitted in glasses and came south with only 1 pair unable to find the other pair I had and worried I’d lose the one pair which I needed for driving. 

I worry about coming through the 10 lane free way in the LA foothills. I’ll be going back that way and hope it won’t be raining. I’ve the Siskiyou mountain pass to get over too though I think I can bypass by not taking I5 and taking I20 instead.  

Get your head in the same room your ass is bill!

Thank you God for

A apples , I bought some yesterday and had one. It was so tasty. From a store call Sprouts

B. Billy.  I’ve been call myself this again,  I’d been calling her amber but when I say my name is William and I’m wearing a dress it’s easy to say but I go by ‘billy’, the childhood name. The name I had when life was less heavy.

C. Car - I love my Mini Cooper racing green and it’s served so well.

D. Dog - I love madigan my cockapoo companion

E.  Evie. -I enjoy seeing Laura’s grandaughter pictures on FB in the back seat, her mom driving her to school

F Fun - I’m having fun this trip, a bit carefree.  

G.  God -I pray and meditate each day and enjoy the peace and serenity

H - Hay. - family

I. - I guess I’m loving myself more and this makes it easier to love you

J - Justice _ i love hearing tales of fairnes

K - Kingdom, God’s kingdom

L - love - it’s a bit cliche but love is the essence of God and the universe,, the glue

M - Mom, I miss you and celebrate your laughter

N - November. I really am enjoying this November of heat and sun and work

O - the Other - I’m enjoying learning Spanish again and reflecting on the otherness of Mexicans and Americans and women

P - Pulchritue - the beauty of people, the landscape

Q. - questioning mind 

R - Ron. I miss you and celebrate you in heaven

S - Sky. I love the endless sky here like in Winnipeg like in th mind of the Pacific Ocean

T - Ten - I love digits and computers

U - University - I love learning and the institutions of learning

V -  Voltage - I love energy and electricity

W - Women - I love women

X. - X-rays and medical investigations

Y. - Yuma - I’m loving my time here.

Z. - zebras though I have yet to know one

Thank you God for all your gifts . May I know you better today and do thy will.

Los Algodones, Yuma trip.

I had booked Monday off and forgotten till I sat at the computer to begin work. I think I’d arranged with the Rover .com dog sitter a couple of months ago.  Unfortunately when I was here and contacted her she was there to accept Madigan despite my arranging time and date.  I’d wanted a dog sitter so I could go to Mexico and leave him in the US.  She was such a. Flake.  When I came to her place on time nearly 10 when I’d said 9-10 she just texted me Ï’m not home,  She then tried to gaslight me while I was looking at the exchange of texts.  No I didn’t trust her with Madigan after that Maybe if she’d apologized and accepted countaility but no she trie to say I wasn’t clear,  Yet there was the Text. , I can drop him off this Friday and her saying yes and giving me her address.

I texted Laura and she told me the young mothers had this problem with baby sitters. I was miffed but decided to take Madigan to Mexico instead.  I won’t get to see the Yuma Museum or Yuma jail. In Mexico he was welcome and not a problems,  Outdoor cafes abound.  Stores and merchants welcomed him. What great dog days.  He’s saiid hello to several other little dogs,   America’s know to brig them. Two merchants have shared pictures of their dogs too.

I’m getting another pair of glassed.  

I also want to get prices for Laura if we choose to have the chipped too addressed.  Prices are excellent for cosmetic surgeery here.  The dentist own thee lane and do thee work safe day.  My Canadian is the best so if it was anything complicated I’d see him first. It’s like I’d get heart surgery in the US but if I needed an appendectomy I’d have it done here, It’s like wee say complicated delivers can be done well the city whereas complicated delivers should be done in th city. It’s hard to know who and prices. I would think it would be fun and healthy to come back for a week in spring. 

Other than the chronic pain I’ve really relaxed here.  I don’t know what it is about the stress of covid and aging I’ve felt Burt out but after a couple of weeks I’ve revived and look forward to returning.  Working 4 days a week has made it possible.  The loss of income is as expensive as the trip.

The trouble with transforming is that I feel less like transitioning when I’m less stressed.  I am principallly a cross dresser.  Robinson said I seemed to do it to relieve stress.  I feel scared and I like the anonymity.  I want another anonymous identity to hide in.  In that way I’m more an Irish Molly.  I don’t feel at all that god made and mistake ad I am happy as being a man when I’m writing and not being bullied and threatened.  I believe if Trudeau was gone I’d feel happier in my own skin.  

I had thought to lie by the pool in a bikini.  I rather like the old risqué behavior.  Lying by the pool would be fun with Laura but alone I’d rather be in in bikini..  Scares everyone away.  Alone I’d expect I might fall prey to a young woman.  It’s just too painful to think of.  Having sex has left me in pain for weeks.  I wonder what my life would be like without pain.  I plan to do taic chi again and I’m losing weight but I can’t even imagine upright sex again.  I’m not aging gracefully.   I miss dancing.   I fancied hunting again but only a few weeks ago I had no desire. 

I’m having coffee American in the Mediplaza . I’ve bought more purses and think may gift some 

I like Mexico.  I’m reminded of year I sailed down to the sea of Cortez from Vancouver Vancouver and stayed the winter in the Sea of Cortez  mostly around La Paz on th sailing vessel Giri. I felt I had more to do but now I’ve  a sense I’ve served my share.  I figure if I was here I’d eveentrually settle down to writing the books I’ve planned and started.  I am however more creative in the north.  

Being a part of the ex pat community its been easy to drift in the past. I drank too much wine smoked dope more then , a light weight compared to everyone else. I’d get drunk once a week but I always worked hard and played hard.  A binge drinker .  Low bottom.  Bernie called me that. Late onset.  How I surfed 3 divorcees and the ism, that I married three alcoholic women and liked best my friends who drank and smokier dope. I didn’t like coke or those who did.  There seems a culture around different drugs . I was a wino and a hippie pot smoker.  

Now it’s 25 years later and a spiritual journey .  I like cofffee nod chai.  I have no more desire for that whole world.  I like my dawn rising and connection to god too much.  The question I have is when I will indulge again in spiritual practice,  I miss religious studies ad long meditation . I certainly pray.

I haven’t. Made it to AA though I did get church twice. My resistance to /AA has been the dog and cross dressing though I’ve done the latttter many times/. I could even do it online, Maybe tonight,  I could can to find a dog friendly meeting.  

I leave Friday and I’m not fearing the trip home as my back is marginally improving.  

It’s been interesting au femme.  I remember Jenner saying she wasn’t particularly seeing a relationship but considered one.  It certainly makes one more womanly however I’ve had to recognize that I look at the love that women provide, sex and blow job for instance and am no longer thinking of sex as negative. I think I carried a lot of homophobi an the sense of ‘women’s work’.  Receptivity as inferior. I’ve no appreciation of ‘porn trained ‘men.  That who sandm scene doesn’t appeal.  I don’t like the attraction of homosexual sex but do like the mirroring and transexuality and bisexuality. I like the old rabbi saying, A man without a woman is not a man’. But women have been so destructive and deceitful in my life.  Meanwhile they’ve also been the best so I’m confused 

I’m tired of aggressive and bullying people of either agenda. The whole woke female agenda.  I can’t believe that government services acccepted that 

Women don’t like about sex

.These absurdities and bullying were fascists and yet no one seemed concerned. Me first. . Narcissism.  I’m tired.  I following Origen.  Chemical castration rather than permanent surgical.  

I ask God where I ‘m going,  I like being elegantly dressed but I’d just as soon be in slacks or shorts or sarong.  I always tjpigjt the gay drag queen was a celebration of the 30’s women mockery and imitation.  The Trudeau boys of Canada are girls and manliness is not tolerated in Canada except in the ethni population.  I felt fear when the Scot in kilts with ski in doo in his sock was arrested and charged with a weapon well other ethnic sots could openly carry knives. Trudea is all divide an conquer like all the communist leaders. 

Expeditioning and the SV GIRI

SV GIRI was finally outfitted for offshore sailing again.  On the last trip back from Hawaii, the mast broke in a gale.  We jury rigged a solution with a Spanish Turnkey and limped back to North America.  Since the mast footing had to be welded, I had the whole cabin taken out to avoid fire. Surveyors used ultra sound to check the depth of steel and where there was decrease I had 2 huge steel plates welded on.  After that major procedure, the mast and hull of the GIRI were good to go for a few more decades.  My friend Tom who I’d sailed with and had undertaken the work said,
“I made sure that if something went wrong on the GIRI on her next ocean passage it wouldn’t have anything to do with the mast or hull."
I replaced the old workhorse Yanmar engine last year with a new Volvo D40.  Everything on my sailboat has been replaced 2 or 3 times in the 25 years I’ve had the boat.  It’s the third radar and second autopilot. I’ve upgraded the winches to a larger size and better quality.   I replaced the wind generator recently too. I’m on my second generation of self steering vane.  Everything has back up and redundancy.  Three anchors and even a portable electric winch along with a Honda 1000 cc generator.  
Meanwhile I’ve sailed the boat around the San Jaun Islands, Desolation Sound, Beyond Desolation Sound, the Gulf Islands, Queen Charlotte Islands, the Alaska Coast,  around Vancouver Island a couple of times,  my ex wife Sherry and I sailed to Mexico, then  I solo sailed in winter to Hawaii.  Tom and I sailed the Hawaiian Islands together.  Then we sailed back to Vancouver from Honolulu. That’s the trip the mast broke.   Between refitting I've continued sailing in Georgia Strait and  off and on lived aboard the boat for months or a year or two at a time.   I found that it was only when I was actually staying on the boat that I would ensure repairs and maintenance stayed on track.  I’d actually planned with Tom to begin sailing down the coast last year  with a view to completing my original planned sail to the Caribbean through the Panama.
I still need to do a topside paint. It’s a steel boat and the rust marks coming through my last painting a few years back make it look a bit of a scow.  It’s not.  I’ve sand blasted it three or four  times over the years, each time at a cost of $10,000. The last time we brushed and sanded and I painted it myself.  I’ve epoxied and painted the bottom countless times, every 1 to 2 year on average.  Topside painting was the task left to be done.  Sailing in April  with Laura I found that one of the cockpit drains needed replacing too. The Stem to Stern Marina guys , who had done a skookum job with installing the Volvo and upgrading matters in the bilge had pointed the damaged drain out to me.  I’d forgotten till I was in a gale and with water coming over the side had to tack mainly to allow the cockpit to drain so I didn’t have to bail.
Pro Tech rigging had done the inspection and had cut all the new rope so that’s going on next spring when I restep the mast.  They did an amazing job preparing the boat for hauling out by Lynnwood Marina and shipping across the country by Andrews Trucking.  Just last year Pro Tech installed new guy lines around the perimeter and I had some new hardware to replace the stuff we designated as worn. I haven’t replaced the main sail but I got a new genoa and Pro tech installed that and ensured the foresail furling system was in good shape.
The boat was finally ready for another expedition.  Another grand adventure.  Any bits that needed doing still could be done along the coastal hops that would come before any ocean crossing. There’s always fine tuning to be done in the first few weeks of sailing.  Before last heading out to Hawaii my antennae on top of the mast came lose and needed new fittings that would last an offshore beating.  I also had to get the leech of the old foresail reinforced in San Francisco before heading out.
The question for the last couple of years had been  where to sail to next..
 I’d wanted to sail around the world. The standing joke in boat world is everyone buys a 25 foot or more sailboat with just that intention but less than half a percent or less actually get the sailboat our of the main harbour.  Most don’t leave their slip for years on end.  That was the plan too when I  got to Mexico and stayed the year in the Sea or Cortez.  I was headed for the Northern Marianas Islands with a view to sailing around the world when I last stopped in Hawaii.
Pirates is the number one reason I don’t  set out again to cross the Pacific.  Also I’ve always loved the idea of sailing to New Zealand and Australia but I have a dog and dogs are simply not welcome in the Pacific. Stuart the Scotty I’d sailed with before had to endure horrible quarantine in Hawaii and later in Saipan. The people were wonderful but the poor dog lost months of his short  life to jail through no fault of his own. I have Gilbert the cockapoo now.   I really don’t like going anywhere where my dog’s not welcome.
I was in Dublin this spring.  I’ve always dreamed of sailing the British Islands.  Scotland and Ireland are where my grandparents are from. I met an 85 year old solo sailor after he’d crossed the North Atlantic in a little sailboat for the umpteenth time.  Tom says he’d love to sail to the Azores.
My brother became ill this spring. That really brought matters to a head and finalized the course of the future. I’ve always wanted to sail with my older brother. He taught me to canoe. I’d fish from our little skiff with the Johnson motor every summer of my childhood with him and my Dad.  My brother is the mensch in the family, a true salt of the earth man . He  was always the brightest and smartest of the family.  I actually hated following his genius going through school. Everyone remembered him fondly. His teachers would always tell me how smart and accomplished he was .  Meanwhile I got by muddling along at times, even excelling.  
The beauty of Europe is that they welcome dogs. I truly love the history of Western Civilization.  I was  humbled by the 5000 year old architecture of the Palace of Knossos on Crete. They actually had indoor plumbing back then and used natural lighting in amazing ways.  I loved standing on shore and looking at the little harbour of Jaffa in Israel where Jonah set out for Ninevah. That sent chills up my spine.  I’ve loved harbours the world over but those in the Mediterranean are so rich with western history that I find every view awe inspiring.  Athens was particularly breath taking.  Last year I loved being in Istanbul, previously called Constantine, taking a ferry on that fabled strait that separates Europe and the East.  In Israel I felt in my very soul that I was walking in the steps of Jesus but in Greece and Turkey I felt like I was following St. Paul.  And even Alexander the Great.  I loved Italy and Rome and would love to return. The art and people are so enriching.  I was in the south of Spain and Morocco in my 20’s crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in ferries, once in a horrible blow.
The ports along the northern coast of France and especially the sea farer Mecca of Amsterdam have always touched my heart.  But London is my all time favourite city, a place where I lived for a year with my gorgeous brilliant first wife when I was an intellectual and couldn’t get enough of the libraries and museums of that great city.  True I’ve always wanted to return to study at Oxford and Cambridge but other universities captured me with their more mundane designs. But the Thames has never failed to beckon.  Then Glasgow and Edinburgh and last year Dublin and Belfast were the places I was most enamoured with.
I read the Kon Tiki for sure.  But the voyage of St. Brendan is the one that always captured my heart being done in the ancient north Atlantic by Irish monks in leather boats.  As a sailor I’ve read hundreds of books by sailors. It’s been my passion. While I’ve loved the countless true stories of persons who set off in little boats to sail the seas I’ve also liked the historical fiction of the sailing vessels. I’ve especially  liked reading the tales of our naval explorers like  Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver.  The story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic adventure and survival is simply miraculous.
There’s the great wealth of historical fiction of the great sea battles of the Imperial navies of Britain and France and Spain that I’ve thoroughly lost myself in during a Canadian winter ashore.  I’ve had thousands of hours of technical reading to do but never has a day gone by that I’ve not read adventures and mostly sea adventures for the sheer joy of it.  Many a trying week of work and a difficult winter has been made less so by reading of the stories of fellow cruisers in small boats.   Joshua Slocum is the great grandfather of the movement  for sure.  My ex wife and I setting out to sail around the world but got  only from Vancouver Canada to Quaymos,  Mexico We both most loved the stories of the Hiscocks and Myles and Beryl Smeeton. Not only were they made of sterner stuff so were the marriages of those earlier days.  No doubt the men were more courageous.   Like many a couple that’s gone offshore  one stayed with the boat and one returned happily to home on land. My ex was a fabulous helmswoman who could get the best out of sails coastal day sailing. I still love the adventure of the sea and love to read stories of all those who’ve travelled upon her vastness and mystery.  Tales of endurance and passage and arrival in exotic places still enthral me.
The trouble is pirates.  And governments.  I’ve found that wind and sea and boat maintenance challenges are more than sufficient for my appetite.  I’ve not particularly liked crew including myself.  The fact is I prefer my dogs company and all else is a bit of work.  In fairness to my lovely ex wife I found when I was a couple of weeks  alone at sea with my own thoughts I wanted to divorce me.  The thought of having to deal with unfriendly strangers wanting to kill me and steal my boat is simply too overwhelming to consider.
I chose to sail offshore with the trusty marine nickel plated defender shot gun. It’s fairly standard equipment for commercial fishing boats since some times one actually has to shoot the big halibut to get them aboard. I have spear guns for scuba and flare guns as well. I even have a cutlass which though real has a greater ornamental function in my rustic below deck Captains cabin.  Some might say it’s phallic.  The fact is the shorter cutlass is made for ship fighting as there would be no room to swing my Scottish broadsword.  I have these more for fashion or as one might pay for life insurance. I don’t want to use them.  I have a life raft on board too and am truly glad I’ve never had to use it and hopefully never will.  I studied fencing as a youth and as a hunter am an excellent marksman.
However the thought of taking another human’s life, even in self defence, would, to say the least, put a damper on a vacation, for me, a physician who has devoted his life to saving lives.  I remember the joy I felt off the Baja coast when we rescued a couple of men in a dinghy whose boat had caught fire and sunk.  I especially loved the time when my ex and I and a couple of other cruisers saved a baby whale that had got it’s self disoriented trapped and partially beached in some mangroves.  I would rather not have to tell a story of blowing the brains out of some psychopath trying to board my boat.  There’s more than enough adventure without that sort of nonsense. In fact going away to sea is especially enjoyable because it gets me away from some of the drug addicted psychopaths who seem unable to change their mind about seeing other humans as potential food rather than companions. These blokes have been part of my work especially when I worked with the jails. I certainly don’t want to meet this sort at sea.  That would be a busman’s holiday for sure.
In fact I’m happy to be alone with my dog and only just tolerate friends and lovers.  If there weren’t merit in numbers I’d probably just solo sail.  The fact is I get rather lonely after a week or two and actually enjoy my companions at times.  There’s a great deal of laughter when one sails with people who are adults and have got over that “I’’m a victim” stage of emotional development. As a captain I really don’t have patience for whining and passive aggressiveness or attitude.
I have heard that the cruising community has taken to hiring ex American navy personnel in guns boats to accompany the fleet as they passage south and east of Malaysia.  I was in Singapore a few years back and loved it dearly. I loved the rule of law and the order in the community. The harbours in the area are magnificent as well. Unfortunately the el Quaeda has taken hold in nearby villages so that stories abound of pirates killing foreigners, mostly Christians, or at very least stealing their boats and leaving them stranded. I’m very much a Christian but not the better sort that does a fine job of being martyred.  I was thankful that the Lord did this for me and know I’d do a very bad and messy job of dying for my beliefs.
Then there’s the Somalian muslims, a particularly uncivilized lot whose dangerous  stupidity and lack of civilization are becoming epic.  I confess I’ve loved reading of American cruisers who have been attacked by these high speed gun boats with 50 mm machine guns blazing.  The best story is of two ex marines who were sailing together on their separate yachts when a couple of these drug crazed Allah Akubar swearing criminals charged their boats.  The frightening thing was that they opened fire from far off targeting the cockpit and hoping to kill anyone on board. One American armed with a 12 gauge shot gun popped up at the last moment when the pirates came along side with their AK 47 assault rifles in hand ready to board.  With combat trained reflexes and skills he blew all aboard away with repetitive shots from his defender.  Meanwhile his friend at the last moment veered his 7 km maximum speed sailboat into the Somalian high speed tobacco boat riding right over it and sending that boats pirates to the bottom of the sea.
I read the story while I was in charge of advertising for Blue Water Cruising Association out of Vancouver, BC.  Discussing it with cruisers we all cheered the Americans. I think even the vegetarian pacifists were impressed.  Yet its not something I personally want to have to do.  When I was in Bombay, now called Mumbai, I loved the harbour and so wanted to one day sail there. I love India and must return. The people are the most fascinating and so many of my friends are Indian ex pats here in Canada.  Yet the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea seem like places one would only want to go with an American flotilla of war ships, not on a little sailboat with a cockapoo dog.
The other problem has been the governments.  Carrying weapons on board is a major issue with each port.  Most cruisers as a consequence don’t declare their guns and most authorities turn a blind eye but it suddenly puts one in a difficult position. Even if one declares them there’s all manner of insanity attached to this placed there by beaurocratic fools who have never been in a boat themselves.  In Mexico I was expected to turn in my shot gun at the first port and then pick it up again when I departed the country.  The only problem is I was coming from the north and expecting to leave the country hundreds of miles to the south.  Government stupidity is impressive in Canada but by world standards Canada is a genius compared to the silliness of paper work and restrictions elsewhere.  So who wants the hassle especially when a single corrupt official ,and corrupt officials are extremely common in the third world, can impound your boat and arrest you. Increasingly every other nation in the third world seems intent on taking Canadians hostage either officially or unofficially for extortion and ransom.
When I was younger Canadian tourists were welcome overseas and sailors were able to anchor free in harbours so the whole process was pleasant and relatively inexpensive. Now Canadians, indeed all westerners, are seen as mega rich, like Mini Fatuous Kardashians, and a source of easy income.  There are the pirates for sure, then the rapacious businessmen and finally the corrupt extorting government officials.  Friends tell me that everywhere they were charged to anchor and even a fee was charged for landing their dinghies on shore.  Prices go up the minute you speak English. too.  Whites are thought of as racist but they’re the least racist today compared to the racism they can encounter and the tribalism in primitive nations.
Further, the United Nations has created this Social Communism idea of the West being the bourgeoisie.  Meanwhile the local businessmen in all these countries are richer than the richest Canadians. The key to world poverty is not east and west but rather financial distribution within the countries themselves.  In Muslim countries the rich are obscenely rich while the poor are poor yet in Canada while we have rich, wealth is more widely distributed. Our poor indeed are the richest poor in the world.  To the third world though we’re now the enemy. Especially if one is Christian.
I love all the Fillipino nurses and doctors I know and would love to sail to Manilla but that country was only a decade back taken off of the international list of places that are not recommended for small boat cruisers because of pirates.  The South China Seas are completely off the list. Yet I’d love to sail into the magnificent Hong Kong harbour. I’ve flown there repeatedly and love the city and people. The harbour is one of the greatest natural harbours in all the world. Yet who wants to be killed a day or two out to sea by dozens of ignorant communist Chinese  who see all westerners as bourgeoise capitalists.  Communists have forever been poor at creativity and live to steal.  Without theft their thug dominated system would expire because none of the truly creative are rewarded in these principally totalitarian gang lead social systems.  Communism is so often confused with socialism which it is not.
So while I’d love to sail more in the Pacific it’s increasingly been the plan to get to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean and Great Britain.  I loved being in the Bahamas.  It was a truly inspiring moment when I visited Vera Cruz in Mexico where Columbus had landed.  My parents took a Cruise Ship tour of the Caribean Islands and spoke of the variety and diversity of every island for years after.  So yes, I’d love to sail there.
Now my sailboat has been shipped from Vancouver British Columbia here in the west to Bath, Lake Ontario in Eastern Canada.. My brother has developed cancer so the best way for us to sail together was for me to get the boat to Lake Ontario. Overland was the fastest, and probably the cheapest too, at $10,000 cost.  I have to consider how much time I’d lose from work if I tried again to sail it down the coast and cross at Mexico or Panama.  I really am looking forward to sailing in the famed Thousand Islands near Kingston.  Fresh water sailing and fishing will be a welcome change. I’ve got nephews too that want to crew. Then when my brother is better we can take the 350 mile canal motoring cruise down to New York. I’d love to have my sailboat in the New York habour and take a train to Manhatten to take in more Broadway plays.  My friend Laura would love to do some more motor sailing with me as well.  She’s not fond of being in the boat when the wind gets up a bit.
 I know Tom would be up for a sailing across the Atlantic. His eyes light up at the sound of the Azores.  I would love to have my brother along for that passage.   I’ve found it’s only men that want to join me on ocean crossings whereas women have often said they’d fly to meet me in exotic places.   These are dreams to come. For now the boat is going East.  I still want to visit Australia and there’s a medical meeting in Sidney I’ve wanted to attend for years. I may just have to fly there like others do.  I’d leave my dog here because frankly it seems everything in the Australian wild wants to kill us, from spiders to lizards.
imagine Gilbert would rather be with us in Bath.  He’ll be definiely up for sailing on Lake Ontario with his cousin cockapoo Eva. I can see them turning the deck into a dog Indie 500 chase. As a cockapoo I also expect Gilbert would gladly go ashore in France and England.   There he could proudly tell countless stories of his many adventures to his distant canine relatives.
I love that Europe loves dogs.
   

Bungalows Paraiso, Melaque, Mexico

My Canadian friend, Marion is the patrona of Bungalows Paraiso in Mexico. Fluent in English and Spanish, Marion is a genius in life as well as academia. She is a psychologist, not the sort that work with white rats in maizes but rather half betazoid like Startrek ship's counsellor, Diana Troy. Lover of intelligence, especially in bad boys and musicians, at last count she had given birth to 7 male lumberjacks and rodeo riders and 3 female goddesses in the far reaches of Canada. There she rode polar bears and dog sledded. As a youth she let her golden hair be used in Saskatchewan to create the golden grain fields that feed the world. Now, always a lover of adventures, she swims with dolphins then siestas on the Melaque beaches, no doubt digesting an excellent meal she just cooked herself with exquisite skill and love. I have been honoured to share her table and have hence been called 'gordo'. She is the friend of all, especially children, old people and dogs. Where she is, there is safety, family, great music, fine food, story telling and laughter. Congratulations, Marion,  on your success in your loved Mexico.

Dentists, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Coral Dental Center

I had seen a dentist in Canada and had a temporary filling put in a lower molar. He said I'd need a root canal and crown. My temporary filling came out while I was at a medical conference. I attended Dr. Marco Laguna, Endodoncia at Coral Dental Center in down town Playa Del Carmen on Riviera Maya. www.coraldentalcenter.com Alvarez and 25. 984 803 1622. The offices are on the 3rd floor above a pharmacy across from the Bancomer Bank. The waiting room was clean with recent magazines and one with Shania Twain on the cover. The receptionist was attractive and friendly. She took the appropriate information and spoke English well.
Dr. Marco Laguna is a handsome intelligent professional man who instilled confidence as  took a careful history, performed an examination, did an X-ray, and discussed my options. His English is excellent. He then performed a 'pain free" root canal. Then he took a follow up X-ray showing me his splendid work. 
I was then booked for an appointment with Dra. Mayra Miranda, Odontologia estetica. She is a tall beautiful intelligent young woman with a sense of humour and excellent English. Whereas Dr. Marco Laguna worked quietly, Dra. Mayra Miranda chatted pleasantly with her helpful staff during the procedures. Both approaches were calming and reassuring.
Dr. Mayra Miranada is also in Coral Dental Center where it seemed there were a couple of more dentists working as well. They had at least three, maybe four modern dental surgical suites with several staff in addition to reception. All were sensitive to my concerns.
Dr. Mayra Miranda saw me initially to build a core, make casts and put in a temporary crown. I returned for another short visit when she removed the temporary crown and installed the permanent ceramic crown. My bite and appearance are just fine.
The cost was at about a half what I would have paid in Canada. Frankly, I enjoyed not losing time from work and especially liked recuperating in the sun on the beach. I would thoroughly recommend Coral Dental Center to anyone who needs dental work while they're in Playa Del Carmen. I am very thankful. Both doctors spoke fluent Spanish as well.

Horseback Riding with Rancho Baaxal, Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen

I have just returned from horseback riding on Maroma Beach. Olimpo, who also teaches horse jumping, was my guide. India was my horse. Because of rain the other rider coming down from Cancun backed out, leaving me to go alone with Olimpo, a handsome young Mexican with military bearing.

Grandad had a ranch, my uncle lived his life as a cowboy and my cousin raised Appaloosas. I rode a lot as a young man. One of my fondest memories is a week in Saskatoon with my Dad when I was 16. He took me riding a couple of times with his cowboy and cowgirl friends. They were all wild and I had a great time, mostly being with my Dad and his friends. Later I'd marry a woman who rode English. I never rode but to stay on a horse so could only admire her comfort in the saddle. I introduced her to my Mount Currie friend Wayne Andrews, World Indian Broncho champion. That was nearly 20 years ago. We had some fun times riding with Wayne, doing "man from snowy river'downhill, racing across moonlit fields, riding bare back through ponds. She loved every minute whereas frankly I was really just glad to survive being along. Since then I've ridden only once a year, if that, sometimes a lone, sometimes with a group.

It's 2 years now since I was trail riding in Tucson, Arizona.This was just that at first. Great horses. Great guide. Beautiful trail. Jungle all around. Then we came out on the beach. Spectacular. Olimpo turned to me and said, "this is my office". Some office! A little blue sky with lots of white clouds, green foliage meeting the white sand then aquamrine water. Beauty everywhere.

What I didn't know was India thinks like a race horse. My retired jockey friend, Jim, will be impressed when I describe in detail to him how suddenly the horse was prancing(and probably why all ranches the world over have you sign a waiver). There's a couple football field beach run. The horses like to gallop here. With India prancing sideways, I asked Olimpo, "Does he smell oats or something?" Olimpo responded, "This is where we let the horses gallop if you want."

I'm getting old. But what the heck. I gave India a little rein and off we went not like the proverbial freight train, but more like a jumbo jet. I was bouncing a bit, standing on the stirrups too. None of that jockey over the neck of the horse pose. When India let loose I was lucky I wasn't back out flying over the tail. I actually stayed in the saddle thanks to a combination of prayer and terror.

At the end Olimpo who'd been riding alongside just a little behind me, said, "If you want we can gallop back." I don't know that I really wanted too. I was still thanking Jesus.

India however was gung ho to have another go. Now this time I think he had my measure. India wanted to run and run and run. That's just what he did. Faster and faster and faster! I was shouting 'whoa' and trying to remember what whoa was in Spanish. There was absolutely no time to consult a dictionary. At the end of this run, India slowed and literally grinned back at me, with a "ney" I'm sure said, "I knew you could do it."

That's when Olimpo told me, "India likes to run. He's really fast, isn't he?" No kidding. I was thinking Hadron Collider fast.

I'd circled the level 'moderate experience but not ridden lately'. I must remember to put 'novice' next time. I'm sure was glad I didn't say I had moderate recent experience or claimed to be 'an expert'. This was just enough for me. I can't remember going that fast on a horse since I was 20, back when I had more confidence than brains.

I told Olimpo I'd done more cantering than galloping in recent years. He thought I held on well. Then he said, "Most horses walk, canter and gallop, but India only likes to walk and gallop". Now I know what Harley Davidson was aiming  for when they designed my motorcycle..

We stopped on the beach for soda and snacks. Big beaked pelicans that were sitting in the water every once in a while took off to circle, scouting for fish. A sailboat was anchored down aways just off the beach. The horses had a breather. Dark clouds rolled in. We mounted again.

Now as we rode back to the stables the skies opened up. I had my jacket and hat on but Olimpo and the horses thought nothing of the warm rain. Back at the tack shop the main concern was to get the saddles off the horses so the leather was under cover. The horses were glad to join their half dozen or more horse compatriots.

I had a spectacular time. My friend Anil told me how much he and his daughter enjoyed beach riding and now I get to tell him I understand. Nothing like it.

Horseback Riding with Rancho Baaxal Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen 77710, Mexico 1-984-145-8962

My assistant, Hannah arranged everything over the internet. Thank you Hannah. Now I can say, "Yo estoy vaquero, Me llama es John Wayne!"

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada

For Greater Glory: The True Story of Cristiada is a brilliant extraordinary 2012 drama and epic historic movie of Mexico. It chronicles the Cristeros War (1926 to 1929) a war of the Mexican people against the atheist Mexican government. Priests took up arms as their people were killed and hung from telegraph poles. Nuns carried ammunitions to the rebels in their skirts on trains. No church bells rang in Mexico. Rome refused to condemn the tens of thousands of Catholics who fought the federales. The flag of the Cristeros proclaimed Long Live Christ the King and our Lady of Guadalupe. President Calles (played by a convincing Ruben Blades) begins a systematic viciously violent crackdown on the catholic faithful denying freedom of religion. Father Christopher, a kindly elder priest played impeccably by Peter O Toole (of Lawrence of Arabia fame) is ruthlessly murdered in his church by soldiers for the sole crime of being there. The rebel leader retired General Enrique Gorostieta is played with great depth and sensitivity by Andy Garcia. He is an agnostic whose faith journey parallels the war. A thirteen year old boy Jose, played by Mauricio Kuri is the embodiment of truth and heroism as he joins the rebels only to be captured and denied by his father. Father Vega, the handsome priest turned dashing and deadly soldier, but always a priest, is played by the incredible Santiago Cabrera. The beautiful Eva Longoria plays the faithful inspiration Tulita Gorostieta. Rebel farmer warrior "El Catorce" is played by the adept Oscar Isaac. Dean Wright's directing of this masterpiece written by Michael Love is amazing. The movie has all the violence and charm and cinematography of a Hollywood blockbuster but the cerebral heart of the best of European film. No individual is a cartoon character, all are human and real. The talk over a chess game is as revealing as men in battle facing gatling guns, as bodies are ripped apart by bullets. The horses are spectacular and the horsemanship even more so. Trains exploding, women protecting children, men and women martyred for their belief in God and love of freedom. The Mexican people and their history is rich in passion and spirituality. I was blessed to pray in the church for "our Lady of Guadaloupe" as I've prayed with so many Mexicans in so many churches. Long Live Christ the King. I never knew how much blood was lost by Mexicans so they could participate in mass. The Knights of Columbus, the prayerful Catholic Men's organization with the help of the American ambassador were instrumental in helping end the war. President Calles, himself once a revolutionary, in the end is a politician capable of compromise with his own views of freedom for Mexico. I would recommend this movie to everyone. There's good chance too it will have it's share of Oscar nominations.

Learning Spanish with Professor Ester Tejeda

I met Ester Tejeda through a mutual acquaintance years ago.  She came to Canada from Chile and has taught Spanish at Simon Fraser University.  I've muddled along with learning Spanish for years.  When I talked to Ester about learning Spanish she suggested I take her course at SFU.  I told her that I'd not be able to travel to Burnaby during the week but that if she ever taught at the Harbour Centre SFU downtown I'd be sure to take her up on it. At that time she arranged for a fellow lecturer to tutor me, a 10 hour tune up over the next few weeks  before I next travelled to Mexico.
Now I'm taking Ester's class. It's a whole lot of fun to be with other students studying a language. Spanish is the second most spoken language around the world and a delight to learn. I'm not good at learning languages, mind you.  My nephew Andrew has this gift but I seemed better skilled at chemistry and literature.  There's something about 'pronunciation' and 'generating' the ideas of words that stymies me.  I actually understand much of what I read in Spanish. Partly this is because I studied French as a grade school student, took a year of latin and there really is much overlap between these 'romance' languages.
As for Spanish I first fell in love with the language when I visitted Spain in the early 70's. Later it was time spent in Mexico.  Then my psychologist friend, Marion, from Vancouver Island was fluent in Spanish and forever having Spanish friends and Spanish musicians around her. She always encouraged me to learn Spanish and now I have Ester doing the same.
Yet the class has Chinese, Korean, Polish, English, French students and they're all so enthusiastic and keen.  Of course, I am the oldest in the class. I'm not so prone to 'giggling' as some of the other students.
What makes Spanish such an enjoyable language is how happy the Spanish people are with your trying to speak in their native tongue. I've been one of those tourists who pick  up phrase books in whatever country I am travelling in. More often than not I cause the locals great confusion, even exasperation.   I even  had one Parisian tell me to stop speaking French as my accent was hurting his ears.  In contrast to this,  French speaking people living in rural Quebec  were as happy to have me try to speak French by adding english words as they were to speak to me in English with their own occasional French words.
The Spanish speakers however have always been just delighted to have me  'try' to speak their language. That's what Ester does, too.  There's no 'judgement' ,just a whole lot of support and humor.

I've been to Mexico now several times, having flown to Cancun first in the 80's , then sailed to Baja California in the 90's where I lived in my sailboat for months in the Sea of Cortez.  I also visited the west coast of Mainland Mexico and a few years back had a truly splendid time in Mexico City and on the Caribean Coast.  On one trip for a week to Cancun I took spanish lessons in the morning and scuba lessons in the afternoon.  The spanish class made that trip so enjoyable.
Now thanks to Ester I'm planning a fall or winter vacation in Mexico again, probably coupling it with morning spanish classes, some scuba diving and a whole lot of beach time.  Donde es la playa, por favour?