Jaltemba Times

16 January 2003

 Trip to San Blas

 Boats at the dock and restaurant
There is a nice restaurant at the main dock. Good food and the prices were reasonable.

River to Tovara - crocodile
A crocodile is hiding on the far bank

A crocodile hiding
We saw a number of these crocodiles. They range up to 15 feet long.

 Our boat comes in to Tovara Spring
We stop at the spring at Tovara for a half hour. There is a little outdoor cafe.
Good food and drink and the prices are not bad.

 Restaurant and swimming hole - Tovara
A nice clear water swimming hole. This comes from a deep spring that
provides the water for San Blas.  There are a lot of large fish. Water is cold.

The swimming is great
One of our guests on this trip enjoys the spring.

Old city ruins above San Blas
These ruins were heavily damaged by the recent hurricane.

Damage was heavy to the old counting house
Much of the counting house was rebuilt in recent years and much of that has now been destroyed by the hurricane

The plaza and church at San Blas
Looking across the plaza toward the church. No damage to be seen here.

Mc Donalds at San Blas?
Looking past the 3rd generation McDonald restaurant in San Blas.

Where is the Mafia?
This hotel was built as a vaction spot for the Mafia in the early 50`s. Never did really go over.

Was a beautiful hotel of about 150 rooms
The fate was sealed at the grand opening when the crowd, including the
Mexican President, was broken up by an attack of jejenes (small no see ems)

No swimmers in this pool
As the hotel decayed, only a few ex patriot gringos used a few odd rooms
with electric and plumbing coming in through windows from outside sources.

Lobby and winding staircase
This once beautiful lobby with it`s winding staircase must have been something.
Maybe the ghosts of its planners linger here. Would the Mafia accept this kind of a goof?

This was a home on the beach
I was a guest in this home a few years ago. Not much left now.