Blog #7 Happy Valentine's Day

Our week began on Monday with a trip to Las Islitas on Matachen Bay which is the first beach south of San Blas. For the first time in my life, I went in the back of a pickup truck. Boy, did we turn heads. The Mexicans were in the front of the truck and the non Mexicans were all in the back. People were smiling ( ok, some were out and out laughing ) as we passed. I ended up waving at everyone which made it even funnier.

Las Islitas is a great beach to go to as the waves are small and tame and the water is shallow for a very long way out.


My friend Suan Pierce opened her art show on Friday at the Cultura Centre. It was quite the deal with lots of speaches ( ofcourse, this is Mexico ) and even a ribbon cutting ceremony. If you get a chance, check out the show. It is on until March 11, 2011. It really shows her love and passion for Mexico and its people.

I was the maid, filling plates and glasses etc. It was really interesting to learn that Mexicans won't fill their own glasses so that kept me busy!!!

This is the Mexican solution to that age old problem about cleaning up the yard after your dog!!!

This is a lovely looking tree. It is called a yaka tree. These fruits can grow to be huge like water melons and form some pretty interesting shapes. There is a small section of the inside that is eaten. Yaka is an aquired taste. To me, yaka is yuka!!!

Last Saturday the art class got up to 16 participants. I think that is the max it should be. Here they are making Valentine's cards. Some of the cards had so much stuff glued on, there wasn't hardly any room for words!!!! The glue on gems were a big hit!!!

Next week we are going to paint. I must be crazy!!!

This has been a week of gift receiving. The lovely embroidered cloth was from my old grandmother neighbour across the street. She also gave me the cup of fern and marigolds from her garden another day. We have very warm hellos, how are yous but can't go much further due to our mutual language restraints.

The pot on the right was from another neighbour. It is from the cactus family and close to blooming. I have a "garden" along my window sill and around the door so all of these additions are very welcome!!!

I finished delivering vitamins this week. We went to a small local town called La Palma. A delightful 7 year old boy has been getting vitamins for 4 years now and this year we added his 2 year old brother. The father was so happy to receive them that he gave me the large bottle of nanches in tequila. I am supposed to let them ferment for another 2 months so I will have to come home two weeks late. Nanches are a small yellow fruit - another acquired taste!!!

Finally the barbe!!! I was so thrilled to come home yesterday and find the barbe outside the door waiting for us. I'm not into frying meat and don't want to get to know my gas oven so the barbe has been really missed. It was gifted to us by Canadian friends and we are so thankful to receive it. Tonight we are having barbequed dorado and from now on, it will be used lots!!!!!