Final hours at the Iberostar, and the trip home

After our diving and whale-watching trip, we came home to the hotel to shower and have lunch. Neil had a nap -- not me, for a change!
We were treated to a great sunset, which we watched from the rooftop lounge, while we listened to the music of an Indian wedding party. It was warmer than it had been, and the sunset lingered.

Eventually Kevin joined us, after work and a trip home to freshen up. We met Kat for dinner (she had also been home and even done some laundry, now that the hot water was fixed!) and lingered outside the lobby bar for a while, with drinks, and did some serious people-watching. So many different people, all ages, origins, languages and attitudes. The large wedding party of Indo-Canadians certainly added to that.

Friday's adventures meant that we slept soundly. Saturday morning, we did most of our packing, then met K&K for breakfast, then packed some more. I went down to the dive shop and hung out with Kevin, who was not very busy just then.  Neil came along, a bit later.

The turtle and birds were calm. 

There were preparations and music all over the hotel for the big wedding.

I wanted to take a picture of the hummingbirds that visit these lovely flowers, but they were too shy.

The pelicans were wave-skimming.

We went to the room to close up suitcases and await the bellhop to take them away, Kat came back from town, and gave us a lovely Christmas present, the first 2 t-shirts she's having made. We get the slightly-imperfect, one-of-a-kind ones, which is special!

Back down to the dive hut, because Kat had to man the desk. So we said our goodbyes to her there, and Kevin drove us up the hill in the noisy dune buggy. Then we waited some more, till the bus came. The traffic flowed well and we were there in good time.

Colourful whimsy along the road

Puerto Vallarta airport was pretty calm, and check in was easy, although we had to pay for our third bag (Air Canada: why not on the way south when it was so heavy?). We had some lunch at a nice restaurant called Wings, and made our way uneventfully to the gate, though miles of shopping opportunities. Once we were ready for takeoff, I saw this odd configuration of planes on and near the runway.

It was a bit cloudy and we were on the wrong side to get pictures of Kevin's beach, but it was clear over most of Mexico: so dry, mountainous and empty-looking. There were many lights twinkling through the American Midwest.
Toronto: walking, baggage, walking, customs, walking, and finally, the plane to Ottawa.  Cynthia met us, and so did the snow. Just a light snowfall and less than a centimeter on the ground. And we slept in our own bed last night. Laundry, unpacking, buying a Christmas tree and groceries... back to Real Life.

 It was a lovely trip!