The Senor and I are back, on vacation, but it feels remarkably like home. We are fortunate that they always reserve the same apartment for us so it is truly like coming home. We arrived Tues evening,were greeted by Arturo, the
owner, who helped us haul our 3 bags up 2 flights of stairs to our 3rd floor balcony apartment. We put our belongings away that we brought on the plane, knowing in the morning we would have another suitcase full of stuff we stored there to deal with. Changed out of our traveling clothes, into Mexico clothes and headed out for dinner. We opted for El Mirrador a new place at the foot of the pier that has had many positive comments posted on the local message board and we were not disappointed.
Doyle went for the spaghetti, but I had fish tacos. When in Mexico in a fishing village eat fish is my motto. The Frank the manager was very welcoming and explained all the plans they have for now and the future. It’s a place we will certainly return to.
On our return to the apartment we stopped to socialize with what I call “the gathering”. In the evening Javier’s liquor store and scooter rental business turns into an impromptu bar. The plastic chairs come out, people seem to form a half or full circle in the pedestrian street in front of the store, some one buys a bottle of tequila, the shots are poured and folks sip tequila or beer or beverage of choice. There will be tourists, snow birds, local mexican and expatriates, all are welcome, many languages will be spoken. We became reaquainted with friends from previous years, a very pleasant end to our first night.
Wednesday we headed out to the “Commercial Mexicana”, the Mexican equivalent of a super market. There is another big market, the Bodega, but we prefer the Commercial to pick up our basic supplies. Needless to say we had many, many bags and when the taxi driver dropped us off he could see that our street is a pedestrian only street. He couldn’t wait to bomb out of there. I think he was afraid we were going to ask him to help us haul our groceries the half block to our apartment. After off loading the groceries from his trunk he was back in his cab before Doyle even had a chance to pay him. Fortunately Javier our apt manager and next door bar owner Ron offered to help get the groceries to our building and then we hauled them up the stairs. It’s the only big shopping we do. The rest is pretty much done on a day by day basis.
We’ve learned to “live Mexican” which means honoring the siesta. We take it easy after lunch, maybe nap, read, rest or watch TV or a movie, but we rarely go out in the “noonday sun”.
Late in the afternoon we retrieved the suitcase and storage box that Javier stores for us. Opening them was like like Christmas all over again. We were as excited as little kids opening presents discovering our refound possessions. Oh look this is our ……..or I forgot we had one of these. The only casualty of our storage items was my very pretty plastic wine glass. The stem broke from the base. Now those of you who know me understand why this is such a tragedy. So tonight I must sip my wine from a coffee mug. just not cool! Also plastic wine glasses are very rare around here and with tile floors glass isn’t the most practical. I proved that today by dropping the glass microwave turntable. It hit the floor like a shrapnel bomb, scattering shards of glass everywhere.
In the very late afternoon we headed to the very Mexican Mercado where we buy our fruit, veggies and eggs. You can buy everything there, pots, tools, vanilla, sea salt, meat ,fish, whole chickens complete to head and feet and beautiful fresh vegetables. Its best to go in the morning when everything is freshest, but that just didn’t work our today.
It never ceases to amaze me that eggs in Mexico (and most other countries) are not refrigerated, nor are they protected in cardboard egg cartons. We brought home our dozen eggs in a plastic baggie. Our fruits and veggies we soak in microdyne before using, many people don’t but why take a chance. We set the fresh produce out to drip dry in the dish drainer and headed out to
For dinner we choose not to go far, just around the corner to Chez Leo where we had a nice meal, with a young man singing and playing acoustic guitar. Great back ground music. While there the “canasta” or basket vendor came buy and we asked for a basket por fruita, he had none of a size or shape that was suitable but promised he’d be back in 10 minurtes with one. Well it took him 3 tries but he found us one. I’m sure he had to trade with another basket man to get it. They work very hard to please.
We have had great difficulties getting our “dish sling media” working. Morgan, our granddaughter has been trying to straighten it out on her end at our home in Washington. I don’t know what did it, but the Senor is happy at last, he has TV. It is a little smaller screen than he is used to, but TV just the same. Hope it holds.
The nights here are soft and warm, it after 10 and I’m on the balcony listening to the music from the restaurant we ate in tonight. The last of the folks who spent there evening at Zocolo walking and socializing are headed 
home. The streets will quiet down as none of the noisy bars stay open late during the week. So I must call it quits on this day leave my balcony and head to bed.
Signing off KO
Zihuathyme 
So glad we had the chance to meet over New Years. I know I will enjoy reading your blog!
Dorothy
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