Erin's Journals

Just a thought… Don’t be afraid to try something new. It might be the best thing you ever do. [Author Unknown]

As we all settle in for more great sports entertainment from Milano-Cortina, here’s another diversion for you today. It’s more of a travel edition that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Marisa, Sheila, Barbara and more readers whose queries I answered, but whose names I didn’t save, inspired today’s blog. Who knows? You might find some things in here that come in handy as well.

You know by now that I’m down in Nuevo Vallarta (about a 20 minute drive from the main Puerto Vallarta airport) on Mexico’s west coast. (Nuevo Vallarta is the small black dot just a little northwest of PVR.)

I arrived in mid-November and, although I’m getting homesick for BC and the adventures that await with a new cottage that Rob and our friend helped move all of our stored house stuff into two weekends ago, I’m going to stay until March 19.

I realize as I write this that you may think I’m muy loco for considering returning early. But look at the view that awaits! Rob shot these deer (in the only way he’ll ever do that, by the way) as he was moving a few things in on Friday. Nice that if I can’t be there watching over him, they are!

I’ll answer the questions I’ve received via email and social media messages and posts about our stay in this beautiful country. Here goes.

Why Mexico?

It’s a direct flight from Victoria (on WestJet – sadly not Porter…yet) and we had to break our habit of going to California to escape the grey winters and the blues they bring. My sister lives a 3-1/2 hour drive away in the Guadalajara district, so I’m also familiar with how easy the living here can be. Plus it’s much warmer than the Coachella Valley of California, with far less rain. Nearly zero.

Do I feel safe?

Yes. Absolutely. Now, like anywhere, you don’t go out at night alone, and you stick to areas that you’re familiar with, but I’m also staying in a gated community with a combination of visitors and residents. And I know that in an emergency I can call and ask to be put through to an English-speaking operator.

Is language a barrier?

I wouldn’t say so. Plenty of visitors know little more than “please, thank-you, good day and how much?” and they get by with the help of apps that translate on the spot. I dove into Spanish lessons on a paid app the moment I had chosen Mexico, so with 228 days of practice under my belt (tongue?) I’m more than able to converse. Let’s just say I know enough Spanish to get into trouble, but not enough to get out of it!

How did you find your accommodations?

This is the question I get asked the most. Although I am not a supporter of the politics of apps like AirBnB or VRBO, both of whom have contributed to the despot ruining things south of the Canadian border, I didn’t have too many choices. So I used AirBnB because it had far more options.

Search filters are your biggest friend. You put in the dates you want to go (flexibility is a great help), the area you prefer (more on that shortly) and what needs you have: AC, a pool, how many bedrooms/bathrooms, is it pet-friendly, etc.. Your options are pared down for you (and yes, you can specify how much you want to pay) and then you read the reviews. I cannot stress this highly enough. I found a homeowner who was great at communicating and even offered me a bit of a discount on top of the long-stay cost cut that exists for some listings. To say she’s been incredibly helpful (to the point of picking us up at the airport!) would be an understatement.

Location, Location, Location

As with any stay, where you are is as important as your preferred accommodations. Some like having their meals made, their rooms cleaned and their towels regularly changed. Rob and I prefer privacy as we don’t care for loud surroundings with oblivious visitors (including door slams, heels on marble floors above us, pounding poolside music, etc.) and love being able to bring the dogs for long stays. I don’t like all-inclusive because I’m paying for everyone else’s booze, plus enjoying a keto lifestyle, I prefer to make my own food. Walkability for us is a plus. I learned where to find local stands for produce, use shopping apps for bigger needs, and hire ride shares for large grocery shops.

The issue of choosing a neighbourhood was a challenge, so I read websites and asked around. For example, that’s how I learned that Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta is noisy. Having visited there this trip I can’t imagine navigating the dogs on walks through the busy streets and uneven sidewalks. It’s a recipe for a broken ankle. I wanted a quiet area that’s an Uber ride from things I need (more on that next) and that’s where Nuevo Vallarta came in. Readers who are staying in nearby Bucerias (boo-ser-EE-as) love their area too.

Do you need a car?

I researched whether we did and the overwhelming consensus was DON’T rent a car! Yes, the drivers are more erratic than we’re used to at home, traffic moves quickly (until it frequently stops to a crawl for whatever reason) and it’s an awful lot to take in for a newbie to the area. Plus, it’s expensive, of course, unless you look into Uber, where you can rent a car for about 50 pesos (or less than $5 Canadian) a day. Now that’s just preliminary research – do your own – but it’s an option.

I was not too familiar with Uber before I came, but for ride share it’s my new friend: often less expensive than a cab, you get a price before you even order your car. Taxis are less predictable and I’ve encountered drivers that only want cash, which isn’t always convenient. Uber is your pal, amiga. There is also a bus system that gets residents around, but that’s just a few steps beyond my comfort zone. Download the Uber app before you leave Canada and everything goes straight onto your credit card. Easy peasy.

If you choose to catch a taxi at the airport, there can be long waits. So if you order an Uber (which aren’t allowed on airport land) you have to traverse an over-the-highway walkway and wait on a sidewalk until your ride arrives. It’s not hard once you’ve figured out where to meet. Just remember their plate numbers or letters you’ve been texted, and away you go.

Can I use my cell phone?

Rob and I have a Canada/US/Mexico plan that allows us to phone freely. But whatsapp is most frequently used by businesses and people alike down here as a viable alternative to a local phone number.

Are the people friendly?

Well, as I like to think about Canada and US tourists, “You get the Canuck you deserve.” If you are polite and make an effort, especially in situations where service people don’t speak English, you’ll be treated well and we all muddle through. Learn the customs a little. Excuse yourself a lot. Always greet according to the time of day, or simply say “hola” (silent H). Say “thank you” often. Learn to ask if they speak English and go from there. We are not entitled to be here, and we are grateful for their hospitality, from the gardeners in the neighbourhood to the men who work seven days a week at the security booth. Learn names. It really matters to them and makes Canadians look good.

What Do You Do for Fun?

There are cinemas that have films in their original English on certain showings, but nothing has lured me into a theatre. Besides, what language would you watch the Melania “documentary” in if you wanted to understand it, anyway, LOL? Go to local restaurants and street vendors if you want great homemade cuisine, or you can safely order in via Uber Eats (which I’ve never used) if that’s your preference. Of course there are regular street markets galore for food, people-watching, crafts and adventures; all you have to do is search for them on Trip Advisor or Google.

How busy you are – from golfing, to beach visits, to exploring area restaurants, to shopping – is entirely up to you. Someone asked about beaches: I’m not a sand-in-my-toes kinda gal so I can’t honestly say. But there are public beaches and if there’s not one to walk to, you just call a car to get you there. At home, you can watch your favourite shows on Netflix, bring an HDMI cord to plug your computer into the TV, or view on your device. Your options are pretty much limitless.

Finally, a Fashion Tip:

Find a Canadian flag patch, pin or sticker and affix it where people can see it. Not only is it a great conversation starter among fellow Canadians (and a few Mexicans who have been happy to let me know what they think of Trump), it also lets your hosts know you’re not from a country that is a threat to them or their loved ones in the US. I bought my supply at a dollar store in Canada and have taped a stitched Canadian flag patch on my purse and a sticker on my cell phone cover.

Am I virtue signalling? You bet your frozen bum I am. As Canadians, we’ve earned it. Funnily enough, at a restaurant a few weeks ago, my pal Lisa and I were asked if we were actually Canucks, or (as I called it) poser hosers. Um, no, buddy. Ask me what I think of Danielle Smith, Wayne Gretzky or Kevin O’Leary. That ought to answer any citizenship questions!

So that, my friend, is a little bit of inside information for you. Would I come back later this year? Not for a four-month duration; it’s too long to be away from my home on Native land. I’ve been fortunate to have a few guests while I’m here (not to mention Rob’s three trips down – the final one coming to get the dogs and me in March) and the rest of the time has been quiet and restorative. I’ve gotten a little lonely, but between you, another visit from my Mexican-based sister, the dogs and recording Gracefully and Frankly with Lisa Brandt, I’m busy enough. Plus it’s a great time to binge all of those series I never had time for, like MAID and Younger on Netflix.

I hope this answers your questions – you can email me a follow-up if you have any. Until we talk this Thursday on the podcast, have a gentle week. We’re almost a third through it already. You can do this!

Just a thought… I’m proud to say, we all make each other laugh. In my home, growing up, I learned that from my parents. They made each other laugh to the end, God bless ‘em. How great is that? [Catherine O’Hara 1954-2026]

Note: I had planned to answer a number of queries I’ve received about spending a prolonged period in Mexico – particularly in the Puerto Vallarta area. I have that blog written but it will wait until next Monday, if you don’t mind.

Today I’d like to stay here in my memories of one incredible Canadian woman, and I know you’ll understand.

Many of us are still struggling to make sense of Friday’s news of the passing of Toronto native, Canadian icon and comedic gift to the world, Catherine O’Hara. In leaving us at only 71, we can’t help feel like “Canada’s Mom” had so much more to give, so many more laughs to spark with that incredible imagination, spirit and talent of hers. How tragic for us all, but especially for her family and her close friends and co-workers.

Two other things stood out to me this weekend: it seems that every generation has a different version of the Catherine O’Hara they loved – from SCTV to everything up to and including Schitt’s Creek and, most recently, The Studio with Seth Rogan.

And there is not one person – not a single voice anywhere – who does not say what a fine, kind and generous person she was in real life, whether as a co-worker or someone they met in passing. What a legacy she leaves behind! This year’s Oscars In Memoriam is going to be unbelievably heavy.

Okay, now a confession: I really didn’t give CBC’s Schitt’s Creek (available on CBC Gem) enough of a try, largely because I found Chris Elliott’s character, Roland Schitt, gross and annoying. I’m told you have to stick with it past six or seven episodes, so when I get back to Canada in six weeks, I’m most definitely going to make it my comfort food viewing for 2026. Millions of fans and a near sweep of the comedy Emmys during Covid can’t be wrong. I can, and I know I’ll soon be admitting it.

As for films, the fans of Home Alone 1 and 2 are countless, but my absolutely favourites are any of the collaborations she made with the director Christopher Guest, from A Mighty Wind, to Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman. In so many of the scenes, the unparalleled cast (including Eugene Levy) was just allowed to improvise. And it is gold. Please indulge in these incredible gems.

I lost count of how many times Rob, Lauren and I laughed ourselves to tears while watching these quirky comedies. Lauren even picked up playing the autoharp after A Mighty Wind! We raised our daughter in a house filled with laughter and music, and anything helmed by Christopher Guest and featuring his stellar casts gets a lot of the credit for that. The connection is so strong that, yes, it’s going on 11 years since we could bring ourselves to watch any of them without her.

Rest peacefully, dear Catherine. You gave the world so much but we all got the feeling you were having just as much fun as we were. What a joy you were! I cannot imagine the loss those close to you are feeling, when we who admired you from afar are saddened so.

I leave us all with a prayer on this Groundhog Day: that February in its brevity offers us more grace and kindness than January did. My most fervent wish is for consequences where they are most deserved, and comfort where it’s most needed. We can hope, can’t we?

Just a thought… Gratitude doesn’t mean loving everything. It means recognizing what’s worth holding on to. [Carl Olsen]

What a week it’s been! I won’t even mention the absolute bone rattling cold and deluge of snow that you’ve been going through if you’re reading this in Southern Ontario or parts of the prairies; we do keep up with the weather even though “home” is BC and our current address is near Puerto Vallarta.

I check to see what the grandkids are enduring, and what my sisters see when they look our their windows in the morning. (Is this what it means to be in our sixties? The computer and phone weather apps taking the place of the weather channel that our parents constantly had, or have, on?)

It’s easier to watch the weather these days than the news, you’ll have to admit. Living through it all is painful, with the bright exception of our prime minister’s reception in Davos, Switzerland and his “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu” speech. In case you haven’t heard yet, only two other speakers have been given the same standing ovation earned by Mark Carney last week: Nelson Mandela and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Some august company, to be sure, no matter what the bots, trolls and US-backed Maple Maga accounts try to say. We have every right to be proud.

It was, as I say, a happy moment in a week that was filled with despair. Another fatality at the cruel hands of ICE in Minneapolis, to name just the worst of the moments, which was then followed by a barrage of government lies making Alex Pretti somehow responsible for his own murder.

For me to be feeling sadness at the departure of my friend from our two week cocoon of closeness feels somehow, not just out of sync with the world, but downright selfish. Yet that’s how I feel as Lisa Brandt prepares to board her flight home to Hamilton after 7 pm today. (As of this writing she’s still due to go; watching the weather has taken on another more urgent purpose the last few days for reasons of her travel.)

But as we walked the dogs under the gentle glow of street lights, a half-moon and distant stars, we talked about how the moments we shared are the ones that we have to dwell on to keep going. To fight the darkness that comes, not from the setting of the sun, but from the destruction of our 250-year old neighbour to the south. Our world is changing and not for the better, but as we lean into the stoicism of changing what we can, we cling to happier memories and hope to make more of them.

And as always, we are grateful – as I am for you coming here today, my friend.

Safe travels, dear Lisa. Along with that suitcase and carry-on we lugged twice across a bridge and ramps to find our ride two weeks ago from the PVR airport, you take with you a piece of my heart, the scent of our dogs and a lot of wonderful moments. May they keep you warm as you step out of the airport in Hamilton and wave down a taxi, your blue words hanging frozen in the night air. And may the gods of travel shine down upon you, as the gods of friendship have for me.

Just a thought… Be the woman who fixes another woman’s crown without telling her it was crooked. [Amy Morin]

There aren’t many people to whom you can write a text asking, “Is this an okay time for a trauma dump?” and get an “Absolutely!” in response. Today I’m calling a ride to take me to the airport where I’ll wait for that person to come out of the long lines and crowded terminal. And there will be a big, big hug, right there in front of everyone. No trauma, unless it’s on her end, which it shouldn’t be, since she’s flying direct on Porter from Hamilton! No US stopovers, no sardine seating (or eating, depending on what her seat mate brings in their lunch).

That friend is Lisa Brandt. For the past three years she’s been my podcast partner, but I wanted to tell you a bit more about our relationship. Today seems a good day to do that; focussing on the positive is always a healthy thing, as challenging as it can be.

We first met in the studios of Toronto radio station CHFI. Lisa would pop in hourly to do information updates, leaving her desk down the hall at 680 News to do so. Eventually she’d be promoted to half of the morning news team there and Mary Ellen Beninger would come in, followed by the sparkling Steve Roberts who was let go while I was on vacation, for reasons I believe had to do with him having better chemistry with me than the guy who was supposed to be my new co-host. Petty, petty, petty.

But back to Lisa. With similar shifts and health aims, she and I would goad each other into going to the gym together even when we were too tired to lace up our sneakers. It was there that more of a friendship was forged: there’s nothing like puffing through your list of grievances on parallel treadmills to strengthen bonds and make the time pass quickly.

Eventually Lisa left Toronto radio altogether to pursue a gentler life with her love, Derek Botten. But we stayed in touch. She grieved with us when Lauren died; we cheered her on through every change and immense challenge in her career in smaller-city radio. She got on planes to come visit me, whether in BC, California or – today – Mexico, and welcomed me to her and Derek’s home when I’d make the trip east.

More than that, though, she’s been my sober second thought. Deeply rooted in Stoicism, Lisa’s ability to see trauma and drama from a different angle has helped me off more ledges than I can count. When we’re putting together our lineup for each week’s show at www.gracefullyandfrankly.com she tamps down my rage and moves the needle back more towards sanity.

The days I want to scream, I only seethe and, for me, that’s progress. I don’t always appreciate it, but I see the wisdom and remember the motto that’s virtually printed on every lineup: “What’s In It For the Listener?”- a perspective drilled into us since college and one that hasn’t failed us yet. It’s not about us, it’s about you.

I’ve had the honour of doing that one last read-over before she published her latest series of books (the Felicity & Mitzi series you can find at the G&F website). I’ve cheered her on but felt free enough to ask questions that I know won’t offend her. She has the emotional IQ to say that she’s aware I’m only trying to bring out her best. When one of us errs in spelling, grammar or a simple missed space in a social post, the other will point it out. She’s that friend who will quietly fix your crooked crown. Whisper to maybe dial it back a bit. Tell you about the toilet paper on your heel, or how you could have worded that better.

As she arrives today we’ll spend hours talking, laughing, raging (just a bit), and preparing for a Facebook Live event happening January 22^nd at 8 pm eastern time (www.facebook.com/GracefullyandFrankly). We’ll wander a mall, take countless dog walks and get that charcoal barbecue going, like the tough Wilderness Women we are. She’ll be here when I scan and sign the paperwork for Rob’s and my newest adventure, that cottage on Pender Island. And if our previous visits have been an indication, she’ll land a great big voice job while she’s with me. Honestly, I’m a bit of a good luck charm that way!

So perhaps that luck, our warmth, our friendship, are what make it safe for me to ask her if she’ll listen to me dump the contents of my broken heart on her that day. She never says “no” but if she did, I’d step back and wait until the timing was right.

Because that’s the thing about a really great friend: they don’t just find the time, they make the time.

And starting today, for two glorious weeks, we’re going to make this time OURS. I’ll be counting the minutes until my airport trip. There’s nothing like being greeted at arrivals by someone who is thrilled to have you there. Let the “SQUEEEEEEs” begin.