I’m fascinated with the differences of culture here, true they are small differences, but differences just the same. An therefore I usually carry a camera with me where ever I go. I wish I were more brazen about taking pictures, but sometimes it feels rude to take some of the pictures of people doing things that I find so different. I don’t want to be an “ugly American” to quote an old phrase. I’m very cautious about taking pictures of the police. I’m always concerned that they will confiscate my camera. But the police around here are very different and very interesting. There are several types here, Tourista, Municipal and Federales. Also we have both Army and Navy base here with their police. They all carry rifles with them plus side arms and ride around 4-8 of them in pickup trucks with a manned gun mounted on the roof of the cab. You feel very safe with enormous amount of armament traveling all around the town. All this fascinates me mostly because you sure don’t see it in Port Orchard.
I went to use the ATM at the Commercial yesterday and they were refilling one of the 4 machines. Two bank guards with rifles and side arms kept the crowd at bay while one filled one of the machines. No one could use any of the other machines during this process. At other times you will see a whole contingent of police types surrounding a bank. No not a robbery, just restocking.
This afternoon we went to La Madera, me for swimming the Senor for a massage. On the walk down I noticed a cute teen couple in front of us. Both in school uniforms, he with a back back on and carrying her pink back pack under his arm. Chivalry is not dead. I reached for my camera to take their picture, but the memory stick was back in the computer. No picture! A little further on we came upon some pictures drawn in the sand. Some were just detailed designs but there were also mermaids and fishes. We waved to the young artist to let him know we liked his pictures, he smiled back, but no camera to record the art work.
On my morning quest for a watermelon and a news paper I did see this most unusually second story abode. Everything here is usually concrete and stucco as the humidity here creates an environment for insects that love wood. But there it was a rustic wood faced apartment. It looked more3 northwest than Mexico. I have expected a blonde surfer dude to emerge, but it was a handsome young man who briefly opened the door.
Tonight we are going to the movies, it’s just across the street, in an old and not very comfortable seats. But the price is right. less than 4 bucks. Several years ago they served guacamole and chips,I thought that was better than pop corn, but not any more . We will eat popcorn.
Zihuathyme 