Okay, so where was I with the story? Geez, I can’t believe it has been several months and I left everybody hanging!  It’s like binge-watching your favorite Netflix series and then having to wait FOR.EVER for the next season to come out!  I can’t believe I am actually comparing my meager blog to Netflix, but you know what I mean.

So my story picks up with me sitting at my gate at the airport.  It’s not like I haven’t traveled alone before, but this time it was different.  I made a few little sketches as I waited to board.  Dear Mexico, please forgive me for the massacre I made out of your lovely flag and my attempt at an eagle.  My intentions were good.

I was giddy and a little apprehensive as the plane lifted off . . .

4 hours later

The barrage of sights and sounds as I entered the baggage claim in Puerto Vallarta were slightly intimidating and a little exciting.  I had my first “what the hell was I thinking” moment, which quickly passed as I made my way to the airport bar – our designated meeting spot.

Now what?

A moment later, a friendly bartender said, “Hola Amiga, Quieres Cerveza?”  A smile crept up on my face as my high school Spanish came flooding back.  “Why yes, I said, “Por Favor!”

Two hours to wait for my group and nothing to do but drink ice cold Modelo and begin sketching. After two beers, I was calling my daughter telling her how AWESOME Mexico was.  (You can tell I’m a lightweight at this point). I tried to pick out the other “artistas” in the bar, but everyone looked like a tourist to me.  There were a handful of really “cool” artsy looking bohemian types and I was certain they must be one of “us.” Surely the girl with the fabulous head wrap (which I would later learn was called a Dhuku), amazing red lipstick, and funky linen diaper pants was an artist!  She was rocking the look and for a moment I regretted my choice of Lilly Pullitzer sundress and basic Jack Rogers sandals – but only for a moment. Remember what Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”  Nothin gonna take my joy today!

After a few hours, Bob Masla came into the airport, and sure enough, as we gathered together, the “cool boho” people were with our group!  Brief introductions, tagging of luggage, lots of very fast spanish and shoving into a few taxi vans and we were on our way to Casa de los Artistas!

I’ll try hard to not leave you dangling too long – just to whet your appetite, here is a brief shot where we stopped for a break on our hour-long scenic drive.  I couldn’t wait to get there!

To be continued . . .

* For this trip, my sketches were done on  Saunders Hot Press Rough 140 lb watercolor paper. I have a sweet little Schmincke watercolor travel set and I use a Pitt Pen (size .05) for sketching and writing.  For applying paint, I switch between a Sakura Koi Waterbrush and a Loew Cornell Ultra Round #8