Vacation in San Pancho and learn Spanish
January 6, 2011
I can’t believe it has been a year since I was at Casa Melissa and took the intensive Spanish class.
Last January I studied with Lander Carter and learned more in 2 weeks than I had in the Spanish class at my local community college. I think the 3 hours a day, 3 times a week was a great format.
Check it out their schedule of classes at www.sanpanchospanish.com
Peaceful Casa Melissa
December 16, 2010
Do you wonder what it really looks like at Casa Melissa? This YouTube video shows the spectacular views, but you really need to come here to experience the peaceful feeling it gives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7adUYn9Io
CELEBS spotted at Casa Melissa
December 14, 2010
Yes, we were thrilled to have hosted Rachel Leigh Cook (She’s All That; Josie and the Pussycats; Into the West; Nancy Drew; The Final Season ) and Daniel Gillies (Spider-Man 2; Into the West; The Vampire Diaries).
Rachel Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies at Casa Melissa
San Pancho wedding blog
December 14, 2010
This Thanksgiving I attended the best wedding ever, excepting my own, of course.
Some of what made it great was that it was in San Pancho, a great wedding destination.
Here are some excerpts from the groom’s father’s blog. Thanks, Tom Cook, for your view of San Pancho.
“San Francisco, nicknamed San Pancho, is a little town of about a thousand, on the Pacific Ocean an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It is a beautiful place to get married. Our son Ben and his sweetheart Erin invited fifty lucky folks to witness and participate in their wedding this past Thanksgiving. Instead of a holiday of tepid turkey, dry stuffing, surly relatives, and endless football games, we enjoyed a moving, joyful ceremony on the beach at sunset.
…..Organizationally I would have difficulty getting three couples together for a pot luck. Erin and Ben planned, coordinated and hosted a stupendous week in a foreign country 2,000 miles away. Their younger friends went snorkeling, horseback riding on the beach, and exploring the local night life. They also lined up enough adventure and challenge to delight the crew of potentially grumpy old people. There were welcome parties, swimming in an infinity pool a hundred feet above the ocean, a rehearsal dinner, lunches, and free time (read naps) for those so inclined…..
I hesitate to draw attention to San Pancho. While some ex-pats blend right in, there are the gauche, like the gringo who had a private 9 hole golf course built for his own very occasional use. The economic slowdown has derailed a number of planned developments. In one case there is a wrought iron gate supported by impressive stone arches. Alas it is not protecting anything, but one day it will be very exclusive.
The local Mexican community seems to take the boom and bust in stride. The only bridge into town was washed out in the last (September) rains. Fortunately the river is dry now and cars can make it through the gully. It seems that the twenty founding families have intermarried and make up most of the one thousand residents. The next generation simply finds an unoccupied portion of family land and without benefit of building codes or inspection, builds a small home.
The pace is slow. Everybody knows everybody. The pool man’s sister is a nurse. She can send her husband, who works at the restaurant you ate at last night, on an errand to get you the medicine you need. The tailor is married to the house keeper whose brother is a mechanic who can fix the flat tire you got attempting to navigate the cobblestone road. The informal network of goods and services puts Craig’s List to shame………”
This San Pancho vacation rental now has 5 bedrooms available!
November 5, 2010
We have just completed the remodel of Casa Melissa’s casita. This room is separate from the main house. It works great if someone wants a little more privacy from the rest of the group. This bedroom suite has a queen size bed and full bathroom. There is a kitchenette with sink, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker and of course, a blender.
You can step on down to the tennis court or you can relax on the ocean view terrace that overlooks it.
watch this youtube video and see Casa Melissa from the air!
September 10, 2010
Just found this amazing YouTube video. Some person flew down the coast above San Pancho and filmed it. You get a great (though quick) view of Casa Melissa at the beginning of the video. You can’t miss the infinity pool and white house on the cliff. Keep watching and see the mile long sandy beach too.
Iris and Otto’s wedding
July 18, 2010
First dance at wedding reception
The wedding was quite an event. First there was the service at the church and then a gigantic party at a huge metal roofed palapa.
Of course Iris was gorgeous and Otto handsome in his suit. Everyone looked beautiful. The colors of the wedding were pink and a burnt sienna gold/brown. Very nice. All the family was color coordinated, Nidia wore a dress of pink and brown, Isabel wore a brown long gown and Roberto wore a pink shirt and tie with his suit. Yeyo and Otto both had pink ties. I felt bad for the men in suits. Too hot!
Both the church and the party decorations were very classy. Isabel is a great party organizer.
The bridesmaids ranged from around 20 down to about 4. The 4 year olds were definitely the cutest in their long ruffled gowns, pink with brown sashes. The older girls wore short dresses the same colors.
The singer at the church was very good, she had a lovely voice and sang romantic songs. There were 2 bands at the party plus taped music in between. The first band was a smaller group, with an accordion and guitars. The second group was Roberto’s and Otto’s banda (without Otto of course). They are a large group of brass instruments and drums.
I loved watching all the people dancing at the party, all the different styles of clothing and ways of dancing. With 600 people it was a lot to see!
Hiking to Las Lomas and other San Pancho hikes
June 24, 2010
CASA MELISSA – WANT TO HIKE AND SEE THE AREA?
On the road to Las Lomas
- Hike the jungle road: Head down the driveway and take a left at the road. You can go a total of 3 miles from town on a dirt road with scenic views and lots of birds, maybe even a tejon. When you get to the spot where there is a sign for Clavallina, (2 private driveways with signs) turn around and head back There are good sized hills so it’s a very good workout.
- The Buddha loop: Take the hike describe above. When you get to Clavallina there will be a dirt road going up hill from there. If you go up that hill (Buddha Road) you ill eventually (after passing the Buddha and yoga center construction) you will see a fork in the road. Take the right hand fork. Keep going and you will rejoin the jungle road at the end. This is an excellent (very hard) workout. But you can see how you feel when you get to Clavallina before taking on the hill.
- The Road to Las Lomas and Monterey Beach: Take the Buddha Loop hike (above) After you pass the Buddha and come to a fork in the road stay left. After you pass the large water cistern stay left. You can walk along the ridge on this road all the way to Las Lomas and Monterey Beach…you can turn back at any time. There is a restaurant/resort at Monterey Beach. When you get to the coast you can choose to go to Monterey or Las Lomas.There is a farm/nursery on the road – it is quite a surprising oasis! See photo above.This is the old road to Lo De Marco before they put in the highway. You might see a car sometime. This is a very strenuous hike and can be quite long if you like. Again, lots of birds and maybe some wildlife.If you want to make the hike more manageable just drive to Clavallina and park your car there. That will save you three hilly miles.
PLEASE NOTE: The Buddha has been moved away from the road father into the yoga center property. You can still see if if you look closely through the palms. I understand the owner had to do for its protection.
Buddha moved back off the road for protection
A Photographer’s Mexico Vacation
May 25, 2010
Noted photographer and artist Tim Fleming (www.timfleming.com) recently visited Casa Melissa with his family and friends. “It was an unforgettable experience,” Tim said. “The setting is spectacular. Exotic birds flying overhead, whales swimming offshore, the glittering blue ocean and sensational sunsets; it was truly a feast for the eyes! The staff was very attentive and accommodating, and we were completely charmed by the nearby small towns of San Pancho and Sayulita. I hope we can return again some time soon.”
Youtube video of panaramic views
March 7, 2010
Here is my second attempt at using the FlipVideo to record the views here at Casa Melissa.
I will keep trying since this one doesn’t really show everything I wanted to have you see.
But here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7adUYn9Io