Puerto Vallarta update

I've never stayed at an all-inclusive in Mexico.  I have visited Mexico many times by cruise ship.  I've done the Western Caribbean and the Pacific Coastal so I've seen both sides.  I prefer a cruise ship because you only unpack once but see many different cities.  I love the Entertainment and all the activities that a cruise ship has to offer.  Many people I know enjoy the all-inclusive resorts.

Western Caribbean cruises going to Cozumel are docking.  All tours to the mainland have been cancelled.  I assume they feel the island of Cozumel is safe.  One ship on the western side of Mexico cancelled Puerto Vallarta yesterday and spent an overnight at Cabo San Lucas.  Cruise ships will never go anywhere where passenger and crew safety is at risk.

The problems in Mexico with the cartels are troubling.  You wonder if they will recover to where tourists will find it a place they want to return.  Time will tell.

Here is another post I read that was positive:

When the cartel chaos began in Puerto Vallarta, we weren’t at our condo. The street we were heading toward was one of the areas where the explosions were happening. Not knowing where else to go, we ran to the closest place — Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta.

They didn’t hesitate.

They brought the four of us in for safekeeping, welcomed us to enjoy their all-inclusive amenities, and gave us a beautiful room for the night. While chaos unfolded outside, they created calm inside.

What moved me most was this: their staff couldn’t leave because the Resort was looking after their safety — the resort’s top priority was everyone’s safety. Yet the next morning the staff were smiling, gracious, and treating us like honored guests… all while their own homes and families were unsettled.

That is leadership. That is heart. Management stood strong and supported their team — and the team showed up with dignity and grace.

For everyone asking if we feel safe — we do/we did!!

The helicopters overhead aren’t symbols of fear; they’re protection. The presence of Mexican military and security forces is reassuring. You feel watched over, not watched.

But beyond security, it’s the community that defines this place.

Restaurants reopening with limited supplies. Neighbors checking on neighbors. Strangers offering help without hesitation. There is no panic here — there is solidarity.

Puerto Vallarta isn’t broken. It’s united.

This is a place you return to — not just for the ocean and sunsets, but for the people. Loving. Kind. Resilient.

If anything, this moment has reminded us why we hold Puerto Vallarta so close to our hearts.

With deep gratitude, thank you to Secrets Resort and every single staff member who chose courage, compassion, and professionalism in a moment of crisis. You didn’t just give us a room — you gave us safety, dignity, and peace when we needed it most.

This is Puerto Vallarta ..... hospitality and kindness!!

If you are thinking of booking a trip to Mexico, check your travel insurance. This is what mine says:

Any medical condition you suffer or contract, or any loss you incur in a specific country, region or area while a travel advisory of “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” is in effect for that specific country, region or area and the travel advisory was issued by the Government of Canada before your departure date, even if the trip is undertaken for essential reasons. This exclusion only applies to medical conditions or losses which are related, directly or indirectly, to the reason for which the travel advisory was issued. If the travel advisory is issued after your departure date, your coverage under this insurance in that specific country, region or area will be restricted to a period of 10 days from the date the travel advisory was issued, or to a period that is necessary for you to safely evacuate the country, region or area, after which coverage will be limited to medical conditions or losses which are unrelated to the reason for which the travel advisory was issued, while the travel advisory remains in effect.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico says:

Regional Advisory - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the following states due to high levels of violence and organized crime:

• Chiapas, excluding:
  • the city and ruins of Palenque (and highway 186 leading there)
  • the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez (and its airport and the main road leading there)
  • the city of San Cristobal de las Casas (and toll highway 190D between this city and Tuxtla Gutiérrez)
• Chihuahua, excluding Chihuahua City
• Colima, excluding the city of Manzanillo only if accessed by air
• Guanajuato, in all areas south of and including highways 43D and 45D
• Guerrero, excluding the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo only if accessed by air
• Jalisco, within 50 km of the border with Michoacán state
• Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos
• Michoacán, excluding the cities of Morelia and Patzcuaro
• Nayarit, within 20 km of the border with the states of Sinaloa and Durango
• Nuevo León, excluding the city of Monterrey
• Sinaloa, excluding the following areas, and only if accessed by air or sea:
• the city of Los Mochis
• specific areas in and around the city of Mazatlán:
• Centro Histórico south of Avenida Gutiérrez Najera
• the road connecting Centro Histórico to the airport
• the main coastal roads from Centro Histórico to Playa Delfines, including Zona Cerritos and Zona Dorada (the Golden Zone)
• the resorts on Playa Estrella del Mar and the road leading there from the airport
• Sonora, excluding the cities of Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
• Tamaulipas, excluding the city of Tampico only if accessed by air or sea
• Zacatecas, excluding the city of Zacatecas

Black Diamond Cheese

I only buy Canadian cheese.  I buy Balderson brick cheese and Black Diamond Cheese Slices.  

From school lunches to holiday cheese boards, Black Diamond has been part of Canadian kitchens for more than 90 years and its story is as rich as its flavour.

Black Diamond began in 1933 in Belleville, Ontario, when Robert F. Hart founded Belleville Cheddar Cheese Limited with a clear goal. To export aged Canadian cheddar to Britain at a time when Canadian cheese was highly respected overseas. What started as an export focused operation quickly became something bigger. Black Diamond emerged as Canada’s first nationally recognized brand name cheddar, helping set the standard for consistency, aging, and quality in Canadian cheese making.

The name itself came from tradition. In early cheese making, wheels were dipped in hot wax to protect them during aging and transport. When the wax met the rind, it often turned black. Cheeses with that dark rind were associated with longer aging and stronger flavour. The result was a name that suggested both quality and character. Black Diamond.

While many small Canadian cheese factories disappeared during the Depression and postwar consolidation, Black Diamond endured by modernizing early and building trust with consumers. Its reliability made it a staple in rural communities, lunch pails, and family kitchens across the country. It was cheese Canadians could count on.

Today, Black Diamond is still made in Belleville and remains a familiar presence across Canada. Now produced by Parmalat Canada as part of Lactalis Canada, the brand’s roots and production stay firmly Canadian. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, Canadians grate it, melt it, slice it, and yes, squeeze it into countless favourite meals.

It is more than just cheese. It is a reminder of a time when Canadian food brands were built on patience, craftsmanship, and pride. A local product that earned global respect and never forgot where it came from. 

Another great Canadian company to support!

Puerto Vallarta

On Saturday night I had dinner with my friend Laurie.  She said her cousin was returning from a holiday in Puerto Vallarta and she would pick him up at the airport the next afternoon.  In the morning, she got a short text message from him.  His flight was cancelled.  No reason was given.

Through the morning, I kept reading about all the problems they were having in Puerto Vallarta.  I called Laurie and later in the morning she got this message from him:

The airport is closed! There has been an uprising of the cartel!!  

Laurie said:  He will keep me posted. I am supposed to pick him up this afternoon! 🤔

My next door neighbour who is in the travel business got this message from his friend who is staying at an Air BNB in Puerto Vallarta:

Yes, we are here. 

Yes, the situation is bad. Probably worse than you've read. Here's what's up:

As I understand it, yesterday, the government launched an operation against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Today, they killed the leader of the cartel, El Mencho. 

In retaliation, CJNG launched a massive campaign of mayhem in Guadalajara, Vallarta, other cities in Jalisco and (I'm told, but cannot confirm) Michoacán and Tamaulipus states. 

It started 8:15am central time this morning with multiple coordinated car and bus-jackings, followed by burning those vehicles. All on major roads in and around the cities. This was accompanied by a lot of spreading of tire spikes. I was watching the hockey game and heard some bangs. Went outside and saw smoke. 

More and more vehicles were burned, all around the bay. Looks like as far north as Bucerias. 

About two hours ago, it progressed to property fires. Gas stations and convenience stores, mostly.

The OXXO store just down from my house was firebombed about noon. A taxi was also lit on fire, about 12:30. 

There are cartel members on motorcycles zipping around with guns, setting fires. Police and the army are pursuing, although mostly in Versalles nieghborhood, and near the airport. Very little vehicle traffic here in de Diciembre/Centro because all the roads in/out are blocked. 

There is a military troop ship circling in the ocean, in front of our house. 

Flights in/out are cancelled or diverted. Expected to be running again on Tuesday, but ????

We are sheltering in place. We have food, tequila, power (for now), and Internet (for now). 

We're in no immediate danger. 

But our hearts are broken that our favorite place is under attack, from within.

Here is another email I read:

We are all here at the ****.  Because of the “situation “, they gave us all our same rooms free of charge for tonight.  The airport is completely shut down….no flights in or out since early this morning so my whole family is still here.  We are under a “ shelter in place” order until who knows when. The Concierge called the **** to hold our rooms until we can safely leave the resort …who knows when?  Hopefully the message got through.  We have no idea what tomorrow will bring…fires were all around us but have quietened down now.  Keeping all phones, devices charged as power outages are anticipated.  Sunwing agent is no where in sight.  No buses…burnt, no taxis….burnt….crazy.  No one on the roads.

We will see what tomorrow brings?!

I've taken out names and places for obvious reasons.

There is a lot of misinformation on social media.  These are reports from people who are there.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.  If the airport won't open, maybe a cruise ship can help them leave safely!

For Canadians in Mexico: The Emergency Watch and Response Centre is available 24/7 at +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted) & e-mail at: sos@international.gc.ca Canadians needing emergency consular assistance can contact the Embassy of Canada to Mexico at +52 55-5724-7900.

Canadian Curling

 Curling: The Most Canadian Infrastructure We Have

Curling is not a hobby in this country.  It’s infrastructure.  It’s cultural bedrock. It’s the sport that quietly shaped us long before we had a flag, a railway, or any idea how to pronounce “about.”  I never tried the sport, but my sister did in her teens and loved it.  When I worked for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Lisa, a co-worker was on the BC Team and went back east to the Scott Tournament of Hearts!  We all watched her with joy and although they didn't win, they had a great time.  All moms and all very good curlers.

The first curling club in North America opened in Montreal in 1807.  Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States, and Canada didn’t even have a Prime Minister yet—we wouldn’t get one for another six decades. Curling existed before Canada, which technically makes curling more Canadian than Canada itself.

This sport predates the lightbulb, the telephone, and most of our vowels. We were sliding rocks on ice before we had a national identity, and honestly, it shows.  Curling fits us perfectly: slow, polite, rule-heavy, and powered almost entirely by volunteers named Doug.

A Sport Built on Strategy, Not Swagger

You don’t win curling by overpowering your opponent.  You win by placing one irritating rock in exactly the wrong spot and forcing the other team to think about it for a full minute. It’s not aggression—it’s diplomacy on ice.  If Canada had a foreign policy mascot, it would be a granite stone with a handle.

And don’t think we take this lightly.  Our first women’s Olympic gold medal in curling came in 1998 under the leadership of Sandra Schmirler, a name spoken with reverence in rinks across the country.

A Nation of Curlers

Canada has more than 1,000 curling clubs and roughly 1.2 million active curlers in a country of 40 million.  That makes curling one of the highest-participation sports per capita in the world—yes, even ahead of hockey.

If you’ve ever tried throwing a 42‑pound rock down pebbled ice while someone in polyester screams “HARD! HARD!” at you, you know it’s not for the faint of heart.  Frankly, a couple of hair dryers might be more effective than a broom, but tradition is tradition.

Why We Care So Much

So yes, we argue about curling.  Passionately, because when the world feels loud, chaotic, and out of your control, curling offers something rare: a universe where the chaos moves at three kilometers an hour and you can literally sweep your problems away.

It’s therapy.  With rocks.  And beer.

Should I purchase a cruise ship liquor package?

 

Cruise drink packages can be a good value if you typically enjoy five or more alcoholic drinks a day, or if you like to mix cocktails with specialty coffees, sodas, and bottled water throughout the day. They offer predictable budgeting and plenty of convenience. However, they’re usually not cost‑effective for light drinkers, families with children, or travellers on port‑intensive itineraries where you spend most of your time ashore.

I do the math.  Some drink packages include tips, wi-fi and a shipboard credit.  On my next cruise that is 23 days, I did not order the drink package.  We are Elite on Princess and we get 50% off wi-fi packages.  The drink package only includes 1 device.  We each take a phone and computer and ordering the four device package is worth while for us.  We will pay for our drinks and that will make us aware of the sugar and calories we are consuming.

The first cruise we went on after COVID 19, we had the Princess Plus package.  It was a great cruise and we were with friends who loved the bar.  We drank far too much!  We were thrilled to be cruising again.  When we came home we realized by the scale on how much damage we did.  Oh well, it was fun but next time we will be more responsible.  

If you've never had a dirty banana, order one.  I would gladly pay for that drink.  It's a chocolate banana milkshake with a lot of alcohol.  I ordered one when I heard it was good.  I sent a picture to my daughter with a caption "we are having a great time".  Her reply was "mom, don't drink two or you will never find your cabin"!  She was right.

This Dirty Banana cocktail recipe is a dangerously delicious and boozy frozen drink recipe loaded with rum, banana, coffee, and chocolate flavors!

• 4 cups ice
• ▢1 banana
• ▢1 ounce dark rum 
• ▢2 ounces Kahlua
• ▢1 ounce Jamaican rum
• ▢2 ounces Banana Rum or Banana Cream Rum I like Blue Chair
• ▢1/2 cup heavy cream
• ▢1/4 cup chocolate syrup plus extra for glass
• ▢whipped cream for topping
• ▢maraschino cherries for topping

Foncie Pulice

 

Vancouver's famous street photographer, Foncie Pulice in action at the corner of Robson & Granville in 1968. Foncie snapped an estimated 15 million photographs over his 40 year career from 1935 to 1979. He would take pictures that captured Vancouverites going about their business on the streets of downtown Vancouver. The next day customers could redeem their claim ticket and buy their picture at Foncie's storefront.

I have pictures of my parents taken by Foncie! I'm sure many people have Foncie photos in their family photo album.

I don't know who these gals are, but it's a great photo.

Robin Williams

 

I never know what to believe on Facebook.  I liked this post and I checked it on AI and here are the results:

Yes — Robin Williams did leave his children an inheritance with specific conditions, and these conditions were part of a carefully structured trust.

Here’s what the available reporting shows:

🌟 What the trust required

Robin Williams’ three children — Zak, Zelda, and Cody — were to receive their inheritance through a trust with age‑based milestones. While the exact percentages aren’t detailed in the sources surfaced here, multiple reputable estate‑planning analyses note that Williams set conditions tied to the children reaching certain ages, rather than giving them a lump sum all at once. This is a common structure among high‑net‑worth families to encourage financial maturity.

🌟 Additional provisions

Williams also included clear instructions for his third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, ensuring she could remain in their Tiburon home and receive funds for living expenses. His children were designated to inherit the Napa Valley property and other assets through the trust.

🌟 Estate dispute context

After his passing in 2014, a dispute arose between his widow and his children over personal belongings and interpretations of the trust, but the trust’s structure — including the children’s conditional inheritance — remained intact. The parties eventually reached a settlement in 2015.

🌟 Bottom line

Yes. Robin Williams intentionally set conditions on his children’s inheritance, using a trust that released funds at predetermined ages. This approach reflected his desire to support them while also encouraging responsibility and long‑term stability.

Thank you Co-Pilot, my new best friend.