THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

LA IGLESA DE NESTRA SENÓRA DE GUADALUPE

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS begins December 1st just before daybreak with the raucous, joyful ringing and clanging of church bells.  It is the beginning of the “peregrinaciónes” (“pilgrimages”), which are often a journey to a shrine or important location of someone´s faith.  Sometimes they are that, plus a celebration and festival.

For twelve days, barefoot “Aztecs” in glittering sequined costumes and “colonial” Mexicans in colorful Oaxacan full, embroidered, lace-trimmed skirts and embroidered blouses stamp and twirl their way the eleven blocks from the popular Woolworth store on Juarez street to the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  In this carnival-like atmosphere, dancers are joined by “pilgrims” carrying lighted candles singing “La Guadalupana,”

groups of mariachis singing and playing trumpets, guitars and violins.  There are also marching bands with tinny horns, rat-a-tatting, rolling drums and umpapa tubas… and “floats.”

Both sides of all the side streets are filled with food stands selling homemade tacos, tamales, tostadas, quesadillas, burritos, cakes, pies, crepes, etc. At the plaza in front of the church, tented “kitchens” with tables and chairs set up outside were selling much of the same.

Early in the morning on December 12th, stars were still bright in the dark sky before the bells began to clamor their loudest and longest of the days of the peregrinaciónes. 

EN LA MAÑANITA EL 12 DE DICIEMBRE

MÁS TARDE EN LA MAÑANA – CALLE JUAREZ EL 12 DE DICIEMBRE

By late morning,  the eleven blocks of Juarez street are completely filled with “pilgrims” carrying offerings of food and flowers to leave at the church. 

These gifts to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the “Mother of México”, are distributed to the poor and needy.

ORCA!!!  On December 10th, our little panga group had the extraordinary experience of seeing an orca (and maybe we saw a second one) in the wild.  Far out in the middle of the Bay of Banderas we had stopped for a swim.  Swimming in the bay feels different in deep water.  One is more aware of currents and changes in temperatures at different depths in the water.  And one senses there could be more surprises.  Back in the panga, we saw a large dorsal fin quickly approaching us. A communal yelp was let out.  ORCA!!!  A large orca sped towards us, passing close to Carmen´s feet that she was dangling in the water.  For several minutes the curious and solitary orca, which Karla identified as a female,  swam around and under the panga, inches way from us.  The boat would tip to one side and then the other as the group moved back and forth to observe her.  And then the orca powered fast away, leaving us with feelings of awe and appreciation for this completely unexpected encounter.

PHOTO OF CARMEN DE ALBA´S FOOT AND ORCA TAKEN BY CARMEN!

This blog does not normally report on the Pets for Life team with which PEACEAnimals has a work agreement.  Pets For Life is a business (Mexican SC) versus PEACEAnimals, which is a charity (Mexican AC and U.S. 503 (c)(3)).   The more clinics Pets for Life can schedule, the less money we need to raise.  Because of the Pets for Life schedule and Christmas break, PEACEAnimals has no clinics until the first week of January.

HANGING BRIDGE FROM AQUILES SERDÁN STREET TO THE CULTURAL CENTER ON THE ISLA CUALE PUENTE COLGANDO DE LA CALLED AQUILES SERDÁN HASTA EL CENTRO DE CULTURA.

I stopped by the Pets For Life (first Sunday every month) clinic at the cultural center on the Isla Cuale on December 3rd.  One hundred and four cats and dogs had been registered by 9 AM.  Santa Elena had brought twenty-seven of them.  Co-organizer of the island clinics, Shannon Beston, was holding what she said was a “very heavy baby” while the daddy was putting his large black- and -white rescue dog into a kennel.  He returned for the baby right away and his dog a few hours later.  Final count for clinic:  102 cats and dogs sterilized.  This clinic was sponsored by the SPCAPV.

SHANNON BESTON – CO-ORGANIZADORA DE LAS CLÍNICAS EN EL CENTRO DE CULTURA – ISLA CUALE  ELLA ESTABA AYUDANO CON “EL BEBÉ PESADO” MIENTRES SU PAPÁ ESTABA PONIENDO SU PERRA EN UNA HAULA.

STERILIZATIONS AT PETS FOR LIFE CLINIC DECEMBER 3RD ON THE ISLA CUALE:  Final tally – 102 cats and dogs

BEAUTIFUL MALE PIT BULL WAITING FOR SURGERY – HERMOSO PIT BULL ESPERANDO ESTERILIZACIÓN  ISLA CUALE – 3 DE DICIEMBRE

CALLE CERO – national spay/neuter campaign.  Unofficial count was 250 cats and dogs sterilized at their two-day clinic in San Vicente, Nayarit.  There is a close family connection between the founder of Calle Cero and  the owner of Vallarta Adventures, which helps so many animals in the area of Banderas Bay. 

CALLE CERO – CLÍNICA EL 9 DE DICIEMBRE EN SAN VICENTE,NAYARIT

VALLARTA ADVENTURES´ donations to animals include monthly food for cats and dogs at the centro de acopio (no-kill pound in Vallarta), daily food for dozens of street dogs in Mezcalitos (town located between Nuevo Vallarta and Mezcales) and seven annual monthly donations of medicines and vet supplies to PEACEAnimals.  Vallarta Adventures also collaborates with Circo de los Niños, Save the Vaquita Project and is a founding member of Bahía Unida, funding the environmental department for the protection of Banderas Bay.  Responsibilities of that department include rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals. 


FOR THE HOLIDAYS – OR ANY DAYS:

BOCA DIVERS:  For a day or half-day on the Bay of Banderas – snorkeling – free diving – scuba diving – swimming – visiting remote beaches or simply enjoying the beauty of the bay with a good chance (but no guarantee) of seeing dolphins, mantas, turtles, and/or whales.  Karla de la Peña, dive master and owner of this great little PADI dive shop, is a gem.  She is personable, knowledgeable, experienced and has a great love and respect for the planet and the creatures that inhabit it. Calle Pelicanos 518, Boca de Tomatlán –  Phone: 01 322 228 0713   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNKOIM59f_M&feature=youtu.be

KARLA DE LA PEÑA – BOCA DIVERS Y AYUDAMUTT

Karla is also co-founder of AyudaMutt, a dog rescue group in Boca de Tomatlán.

HEALING HANDS – Excellent  (legitimate) massages, mani, pedi, reflexology at a simple, clean location in Centro with lovely staff.  Very fair prices, all cash.   Bliss!   Pipila 240 (almost catty-corner from Pipi´s restaurant – but not at the corner, which is another massage business).  222-8441

CANDI, MASAJISTA  (MASSEUSE) Y DUEÑA (OWNER)  DE HEALING HANDS

ALFARÍA JALISCO – A large, very typical Mexican store in back of the San Miguel Arcángel church in the nearby municipality of Pitillal.  The parking lot across the street from the church makes this a very easy location to get to.  The store is a bit like going on a treasure hunt: It´s filled with handmade pottery…baskets…wood toys…creche scenes and stocking stuffers for Christmas.  Calle (street) Hidalgo #184

DONATIONS TO PEACEANIMALS:

Vallarta Adventures- 10,000 pesos worth of medical supplies (monthly donation November-May).

NOTE:  Sterilization cost per cat or dog for PEACEAnimals is approximately $11.35 USD.  Monthly donations in any amount would be a big help to the clinics.  Automatic bank payments are easy to set up via the internet.  Monthly checks also appreciated.  Please consider.

ESPERANDO ESTERILIZACIÓN – CLÍNICA EN LA ISLA CUALE

The mission of PEACEAnimals is to end the future suffering of cats and dogs.  The most efficient way to do this is via a massive, free spay/neuter clinic.  In 2016, PEACEAnimals sterilized 5,403 cats and dogs.

RESCUED- A white, male German Shepherd mix approximately 11 months old – in Boca de Tomatlán by Karla de la Peña.  “Loup” had been following a dog in heat when hit by a car.  After surgery for a broken femur and being neutered, Trisha Aljoe, PEACEAnimals board member, agreed to foster this very pretty, sweet dog that needs a home. Contact her via FB if interested.

“LOUP” – RESCATADO DESPUÉS DE ESTAR ATROPEADO EN BOCA- FÉMUR QUEBRADO Y OPERADO. VA ESTAR EN ACOPCIÓN DESPUÉS DE 45 DÍAS DE RECUPERACIÓN.  CONTACTO:  TRISHA ALJOE POR FB.