My Mondays....

Mondays start with taking the laundry to the nice lady who does our laundry. For the first three weeks I did all of our laundry by hand. Now you may ask why I did laundry by hand and I would have to tell you, "I have no idea why I did it!!!! I just did it!!!!" It costs us about 45 pesos a week for our personal laundry and the same for linens. That amounts to $3.75 Canadian!!! Quite the deal!!!

See my lovely bike?!?!?! I love it!!!

From the laundromat I head out to the beach. This is the main road that takes you about a mile out to the beach. It amazes me that we live so close to the ocean but rarely go there. This road is four lanes but as you can see there are no lines on the road so everyone drives or rides where ever!!!! There are always lots of bicycles on the streets.

My next stop is here at the Hot Spot where I write the blog every Monday morning. I usually get breakfast here served by Marco the fine fellow in the picture. I just ask him to serve me what ever and he does. It usually turns into something of a buffet with fries, an egg, bacon, salad, rice, beans and shrimp. It is never the same but always delicious!!! Marco also sells the best coffee in town by the bag!!! I will be buying some today to take home as a week from now I will be in Puerto Vallarta at the airport!!!!

After I have finished breakfast and the blog I head down to the beach just for the bike ride and a look at the ocean. Quite the beach eh??? San Blas is know as a surfing beach. The waves are generally smaller in the morning. You will note there are no houses or hotels on the beach. There are many ramadas or palapas. They open about 10 in the morning and close about 4-5. You can have a wonderful lunch, sleep in a hammock, walk the beach, buy food from the roaming vendors or Mexican crafts etc. It is a great place to be.

It is with great sadness that I will leave San Blas next Sunday but I know I will be back!!!!!!

Mal Perro - Bad Dog!!!!!

I so didn't want to open with this picture but I can't move it!!!! This is a problem I have sometimes with the blog site. Anyway....

Saturday started like so many other Saturdays here in San Blas. Wake early. Little read in bed. No coffee in bed because "A" my coffee tastes like gnats pee as my Father would have said ( don't know how he knew that piece of information ) or "B" my coffee tastes like the main ingredient in asphalt!!!! Grabbed a banana and a piece of cheese and I was out the door before 8.

I was anxious to see the woman who had had a set of king size sheets in a silky kind of material the week before. I had dickered and dickered over spending this $17.50!!! In retrospect, like a lot of other things, this seems ridiculous. She had sold them but assured me that by next Saturday she would come up with another set so I will check that out this Saturday. I bought some fruit and vegetables for about $2.50 and headed home. It was still not 9:00 o'clock.

There are many ways to get back to our house from the market. I decided on a longer route as it was early and I had no other plans for the day except doing crafts with the local kids at 1:00. I turned off the interlocking road onto a cobblestone that would take me half a block away from our house. I noticed a large dog kind of running beside me but didn't pay too much attention as there are many dogs on the streets of San Blas. There are probably as many dogs in town as people!!! I was almost at our corner when I heard this low growl beside me and then felt sudden pain as a new dog to the scene sank its teeth into my fleshy part extending over the side of my seat. I screamed and yelled no and peddled harder to get away. It kept right up with me and bit me again!!!!

There were two men working on the road at the corner and when I stopped I was just about joining them in their project. I hiked up my shorts to feel for blood. I thought I had lost a couple of chunks out of my bod. I showed the two men who told me to go to the hospital. Not a good sign!!! I had been yelling for Suan to come out of her house and she finally did and took me inside.

Saun was great. She washed my parts off with peroxide,slathered me with antibiotic cream and two bandaids. She also comforted me with hugs and much needed kisses!!!!!! The affection probably helped more than the medical attention as I was feeling very much alone. I was really angry when it first happened but that changed to self pity. I hadn't cried at all until Suan suggested that I was bitten because the dog knew I was afraid of it to which I responded, "I'm not afraid of dogs!!!!" and cried 5 tears. I think I was now rethinking that statement.

I took the groceries home, picked up the computer and headed to Marta's to phone Ray. I had 5 more tears when I walked into Marta's and she took one look at my face and said, "Honey, what's wrong???" and gave me a big hug. One look at my wounds and she insisted that I go to the hospital against my wishes. She called a cab for the two block ride and off we went.

As we walked into the emergency department and I saw all the people I figured we would be there for the weekend BUT we were ushered right in!!! Not exactly what I would call a life threatening injury!!!! I say the doctor who asked all kinds of questions I didn't know the answers to but when he asked if the dog was healthy I was quick to say that it could run like the wind and had really big white teeth!!!! Marta was wonderful interpreting everything back and forth. 5 more tears when she told me they were going to give me rabies shots. I had heard about them and I knew I didn't want them!!!!! Then she checked again and it was a tetanus shot! Ok, sounds fine but doesn't that normally have to do with metal??? A nurse spent a long time washing and sterilizing the wounds and then I was good to go.

We went out to pay the bill. I was given a script for antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. I haven't gotten them filled as there is no sign of infection. The doctor explained that the staff who had helped me were going to be here for the next three days if I wanted to come back and have the wounds washed again. They were incredibly nice. Now for the big news. When I went to pay, there was no bill. It was all free. I guess this kind of accident is bad for tourism!!!!!

The aftermath of the whole thing is that I'm really jumpy, insecure, afraid and have no kahunas!!!! So not me. I don't want to be alone and feel real sucky!!! So not me!!! I know this will pass. I just hope it passes quickly so I can enjoy my last two weeks in lovely San Blas!!!

More bits and pieces....

Ray left a week ago to go home to Canada. It was time for me to do my own thing. Number one was to go off to the Chinese restaurant and load up. As I did, you can see!!! Enough for 4 dinners and I loved every one of them!!!

Next was to get some charo or whatever they call this delicious stuff. It is a concoction of flour and water. It is extruded from a massive hypodermic needle like thing. Fried in lots of trans fats and then cut and rolled into sugar and cinnamon. Ray can't stand the smell let alone the taste!!! I slapped down my 12 pesos and got about 7 long pieces. Went home and ate them all. Woke in the night with the worst heart burn I've ever had and probably won't do that again!!!!!

When we first moved into our house I thought we had an abandoned house beside us but within a few days I realized that it is actually an appliance repair business. I was happy to see this truck arrive one day and a lot of the treasures from the front of the house were loaded on, I never thought they would all fit but they did, and were hauled away. These guys are constantly roaming the streets with their load speakers trying to get folks to sell them metal. A super recycling project. They pay you for your metal. A definite win win situation.

Daily Shopping

From our garage you turn right. Peddle on our cobble stone street for three and a half blocks. Turn right again. Peddle for two blocks on the interlocking brick road to the main square of San Blas. There are no paved roads here, cobble stone or interlocking. Turn left and then right around the square and you are at the market. Note the fish sellers on the left of the main building. The market opens at dawn and closes every day at 2.

Here is Ray at his favourite breakfast place in town. Just inside the door on the right. We share a licuados ( a drink with a base of orange juice or milk and then you add all the fresh fruit you want from individual bowls or you could go for a green one with lots of miscellaneous green stuff ) for 20 pecos and a torta or sandwich in a bun for another 20 pesos. Breakfast cost 60 pesos or about $5. Please note the new born babe on the counter!!!! Gotta love San Blas!!!

This is the view as you walk in the door of the market. It is all about eating. Ray's place is on the right. You can buy everything you need here. If they don't have it, you don't need it. There are no supermarkets here or large grocery stores. There are many great mini-supers.

Remember the fish sellers? Walk past them and look for a tiny alley way on your right that will take you to this gem - My Grocery Store. You find a blue plastic basin and fill it up!!!! No one speaks English and everyone wants to get served first. I have had women pass me cucumbers when they thought mine were too small in my basin. Too funny!!!!! Or, they have put my papaya back and got me another one and these are other shoppers not the staff!!!!

I think this woman is the owner. You never know where the parrot will be but it is always there. Many times it is eating a green chile!!! One tough bird!!! I couldn't eat one of those!!!!

We usually shop every day. The only thing we have had in our freezer is popsicles!!! It is so different from shopping at home. I tend to go about every two weeks there. I have less than three weeks left here so I need to start thinking about changing the life style again but maybe not quite yet.

Bits and Pieces

This is one of our household critters.

This is my "garden".

One of San Blas' best restaurants but in an odd place. It is probably one of San Blas' best kept secrets. Notice the bike/walking path. It covers the sewerage pipe that runs through town. This awesome restaurant is on this path. The food is the best and the prices can't be beat. They also deliver!!!!!

While I was waiting to take the next picture this cowboy happened to pass by. Not uncommon!!!

This was too funny but yes, a tad dangerous!!! The kid on the 4x4 is dragging the kids around the block in this little plastic red car. The kids were all yelling and jumping up and down and having a ball. I only saw one kid wrap himself around the telephone guy wire!!!! Great fun until the Mom of the 4x4 kid appeared in her car and made him take his mean machine home. It was like the San Blas Indy for Kids!!!

A Trip to the Dentist

"Oh, no!!!! I've broken a tooth!!!! Oh good grief, it's next to my front one!!!!"

I had to go to see Doctor Rafael Rodriguez, Ray's dentist. I confess, I'm a complete dental suck. Once the appointment has been made everything in my life evolves around that day and time. Like someone on death row I guess.

I arrive early in case he isn't there and I can leave but he is waiting on the sidewalk for me. He shakes my hand and we enter his waiting area. A small room with two concrete benches. I think there were cushions on them two years ago but not any more. There is no receptionist. No hygienist to hold my hand and say,"How are you doing? We're almost done. You're doing great!!" This guy doesn't even speak English!!!!

I tell Ray, "If you hear me yell, break down the door, jump on your mighty steed and come rescue your woman!!!!" Yeah, right.

I sit in the chair and the first thing he does is give me a serviette. "No thanks, I've had breakfast." Then I remember the last time I was here and recall there is not a sucking snake in your mouth and you have to continually spit. As you may recall, last time I was here, I spat with such gusto it flew out of the bowl, hit the wall and ran down to the floor. I try to spit with class. I must have done about 100 sit ups/spit ups. Great exercise.

He drills and drills and drills. I feel the tooth and freak to realize it is now tiny!!!!!! I liked it big and matching the other side!!! Then I hear the drill behind me. "Oh my God. He's going to start drilling through the back of my head!!!!"

After he has applied a liberal amount of porcelain, the tooth now feels immense. Lots of more drilling and I'm done. He gets his little mirror and I get to see this lovely looking tooth. I'm done. I'm free. I can make plans for Christmas and I didn't even need freezing!!!!!

The Birthday Party

A week ago Sunday we were riding our bikes to Kane to load up on liquores when we were stopped by our landlord Gustavo. He wanted to know where we were going and what we were doing. Very unusual questions from a Mexican. They are really big on noninterference!!! He then invited us to a birthday party in honour of his two sons, one to be 12, the other 7. All plans were canceled and off we peddled to the party.

What a great experience. We were greeted at the door by this clown that carried on all night and did an amazing job. He made everyone balloon things. I got a yellow flower on a green stem. The boys all got swords and naturally started fighting with them. The girls got poodles. The kids also got masks and throwing confetti all over your friends was big.

The party was held in a "casino" or party place. It was so clean when we arrived and an hour later it looked like a war zone. The pinata above was the first of three that the boys beat the snot out of. Interesting that this was a male only event with lots of yelling and making fun of one another. Lots of laughter!!!!!


There were two young teenage women looking after this baby. We were sitting quite a long way away from them. I told Ray I really wanted to hold the babe when, oh my gosh, one of the young women got up and gave it to me!!!! I was so surprised. It was such a thrill!!!! Sure hope this doesn't mean I have to take it home!!!!

The food was prepared by Alicia, Gustavo's wife and it was fabulous. It was probably the best meal we have ever had in Mexico in 10 years. This woman should open a restaurant.

Following the food came the live entertainment, a group of local teen musicians. They were having such a great time playing and the kids were having a ball dancing. It was tiring just to sit and watch!!! It was so much fun to have this experience. An honour and pleasure.