Uncategorized – Page 30

LOST A DAY OR TWO OR MAYBE JUST ON MEXICAN TIME.

It strikes me as ironic, that the floor below us flooded, not us, but the tiles in our apartment lifted. We had been noticeing some of our floor tiles squeaked a bit as we walked over them the last couple of days and we decided to let our Arturo our landlord check out the situation. By the time he arrived two rows were peaking where they met. Arturo said they would begin work tearing out the tiles and replacing them today at 10:00 and our options were to cover everything in the room or move next door. Mt first thought was just cover every thing, it would be a chore to move everything. The Senor was emphatic that we move next door as there was no guarantee how long it would take, and the dust problem would be horrendous. So we began the chore of relocating next door. We had settled in here long enough that everything had a place and now we are in semi chaos. Although moving was a pain the Senor was right and I’m glad we did.

After getting semi settled in we went to dinner with our downstairs neighbors and friends, Will and Sylvia. We

opted to go to the new Italian place Bella something on Nicholas Bravo and H Galeana. I should pay more attention to proper names. The food was very good, most of us enjoyed the meal. After dinner I drug everyone to the little shop across the street that sells baskets and other things. I had been admiring something in there for days, I had negotiated a decent price and then got the Senor to pay for it. It will make the most wonderful Christmas gift for my oldest daughter and family. I had already decided on something for my younger daughter,( so don’t get jealous Jeanette.) The proprietors, were very gracious, and I believe they were as thrilled with the sale as I was and presented the Senor with an initialed handkerchief. We all then headed to Banditos for a drink and to listen to the marvelous Michelle La Valle. Another very pleasant evening.

We went out to breakfast the next morning and as beautiful as this breakfast was the bacon took out one of the teeth on the Senor’s plate. but by late afternoon we located a denturist who fixed it for a nominal sum of less than $30

After breakfast I had set out to find Tess at her apartment for her to teach me the wonders of skype. well not only did I learn about Skype, Telcel Mex and many other ways to make living and staying in Mexico more enjoyable.

Thursday is the Sailfest chili cook off and auction, probably their best event. Huge attendance but we were still able to score a few dinners for 2 and one raffle. This ensures I get to go out a few times as we have to eat anyway and if it costs a few extra pesos the kids have benefited

At the end of the day our apartment is no where livable, so we head out to the “Monkey House” to get the Thursday Barbecue. The barbecue is great, can’t say as much for orders off the menu on barbecue night. With luck they will finish our apartment tomorrow so we can move back in. My net book is giving me fits, very slow and at times totally non cooperative. sorry for the complaint, I just had to vent. Signing off KO

DO YOUNEED A PHONE WHEN ON VACATION?

Yes, yes and yes. Problema #1

This morning I was woken up by a knock on our door about 6:00am. It was our downstairs neighbor Sylvia explaining that their apartment was flooded with a couple of inches of water and could I call Javier, our apartment manager. So we made a couple of attempts but no answer. She said the water was coming from the apartment next door to them. We went down to investigate and could hear water running and coming from under the door. I banged on the door but got no reply, tried the door it was unlocked and yelled to see if anyone was there, but no reply. So I went in, the apartment was steamy from lots of hot water, checked the bathroom, no problem there on to the kitchen where I discovered the leak was under the floor board of the kitchen sink cupboard. Luckily there was shut off valves, turned them both off and once the hot water valve was closed the water stopped flowing from under the floor board. But there was still 2 inches of water on the floor.The Senor and I took towels and bed linen to dam the water flow at the door so we could swamp out Will and Sylvia’s apartment which was the pressing need. Again I called Javier with no answer, then tried Arturo the building owner. Autro speaks a little English, I speak very little Spanish, I told him PROBLEMA and tried to explain broken pipes, I thought we had communicated and we anticipated his prompt arrival. 3 hour later no Arturo.

Mean time we got every broom and dust pan we could find and started sweeping the water down the stairs. Will and Sylvia would sweep the water out of their apartment and the Senor and I would sweep it from the hallway landing down the stairs. We had a great water fall going. But even once their apartment was free of standing water the locked apartment across the hall kept draining water from under the door. It had evidently filled up with water as did the hallway. We have no idea how long the water had been running, but long enough for the entire downstairs to have a good 2 inches of water. Sorry no pictures, we were too busy mopping and sweeping. Took the 4 of us well over an hour to get their apartment livable again. When Javier opened up shop I explained the problem, he called Arturo who will soon be here to fix the problem and he can swamp out the other apartments.

Problema #2
I open my wallet to find our B of A travel credit card missing in action. I search each and every purse I brought twice. The Senor searches each and every purse I every brought. Together we tore the room apart searching every crook and cranny, but it is still MIA. My initial reaction after checking our bank statement on-line was to wait and see before reporting it, but on the best advise of everyone I talked with I decided to report it. I do make copies of all our cards and ID’s when we travel and there are directions to call collect if out of the country. Now just how do you reach an operator and explain collect call when you don’t speak the language, and even if you reached one you have to say the numbers in Spanish which they don’t necessarily understand my pronunciation so I chose to go to the telephone exchange across the street. After several tries and several different numbers I was told NO. The next morning I went to the other exchange and they said no without even looking at my numbers. I think now that almost everyone has a phone, it’s a service they no longer provide. I sent an e-mail to the bank to cancel the cards and decided to try to call them my self without going collect as I had finally learned what the USA country code is. I explained my problem and we were discussing options of receiving new cards when the phone went dead, out of minutes. My first thought was to have them sent to the Santander bank which is a B of A affiliate. But of course I didn’t have the address and it was Sunday. But by Monday after buying more minutes I decided we would have it sent direct to our apartment as it had to be signed for, and Javier’s Liquor Store and Scooter rental business is under our Apartment and open 6 days a week, except for Siesta time. Monday I gave the bank the full address and they said it would be there on Friday. And big surprise it was!. That morning I got a phone call from someone speaking Spanish, I knew it had to be the delivery company. the only word I understood was “ahora” now, so I said si and asked Javier to sign and when we got back from the beach our cards were there. Oh and 2 days after canceling the card we found the missing card.

Our original purpose for purchasing our Mexican phones was to keep in touch with each other when we have separate plans, which is seldom, but we have decided that we will do the global upgrade when we come next year and bring our phones from home for a multitude of reasons. I want to travel with a phone I know how to use and copious quantities of minutes. Signing off KO

BEACH + BEER+ TEQUILA= TATTOO

Friends invited the Senor and I to spend the day with them at Ixtapa Island today, so back to the beach we went. Charlie and Christine picked up the 4 of us and we drove to Playa Linda were we caught the water taxi to the island. We always go to Paraisio Esconido where we get great food and service from Juan and his lovely wife.

It was a beautiful day, a huge, beautiful yacht pulled in I swam out to it and if they had been friendly I was going to ask for a tour, but they weren’t friendly. What a disappointment!

Lunch was excellent, the company was also. The Senor and I got matching tattoo’s in an attempt to scandalize our children. They weren’t shocked, the replies I got were ” I hope it’s real” and “You are having too much fun”, haven’t heard from the rest yet.

One of the people we met there was from Lake Tahuya, WA. Small world, you have to be from our home area to have ever even heard of Lake Tahuya. But there on the beach of Island Ixtapa in Mexico is a beautiful 12th man flag. GO HAWKS!

As the afternoon moved on many more boats arrived and moored out, one looked like the little brother to the big yacht, obviously the same manufacturer. It was such a relaxing afternoon, but Mexico seems to have that effect on the Senor and I. Here we don’t get that guilty feeling for just laying back and enjoying ourselves our friends and this beautiful country. Signing off KO

PLAYA LAS GATAS

Playa Las Gatas is the favorite beach for the Senor and I. It’s a short walk to the pier, 2 40 peso tickets and we are on the water taxi and on our way. We did find our favorite waiter Jose at Gloria Del Mar, at least I think that’s the correct name of the restaurant. As they are side by side all along the beach it can be hard to distinguish one from another at first glance. This day we got the right one we were looking for. Will and Sylvia accompanied us and we staked out our lounge chairs and table. I seem to be the only swimmer in the group, everyone else comes to eat, drink and enjoy the ambiance of the beach, shop and people watch.

Juanita, my favorite beach vendor always has beautiful and interesting bead and shell necklaces, bracelets. I always find something I like and this day was no different. I would love to shop the silver vendor, but silver

Juanita changing the length on my necklace while Sylvia looks on

makes me itch. The candy lady comes by, as does the lady who hauls a huge load of beach wear around, it must weigh 50 lbs. I am always impressed with how hard these people work, long hours, physically demanding work and then hear they earn very little. I love lying on a beach lounge soaking up vitamin D and having the stores come to you. I know some folks find all the vendors annoying, but I enjoy them. The Silver salesman even carries a visa swipe machine with him.

I choose to swim out to the point of Owen Lee’s beach property. Swimming against incoming swells at times, I

: Point I’m swimming to

could feel the rise and fall of the swells, kind of fun. It was a much easier swim on the return as the waves

give you a push. I’m so directionally challenged when I swim that I had to walk back past a dozen or so restaurants to get to our location

Our fish was cooked to perfection, our drinks were perfect (not the killer kind) it was anther great Zihuatanejo day, with enough of a breeze to keep one cooled off. Signing off KO

MEXICAN MORNING ON CALLE ADALITA

My flock of chickens were lazy this morning and just getting off their roost in a tree when I arrived with their breakfast. After feeding them I continued on down Calle Adalita, a beautiful recently bricked paved street of small hotels and restaurants. It’s early and some of the establishments are

beginning to open for the coffee and breakfast crowd. The street has already been swept, the flowers are in bloom and only a few residents are out and about. Many of those out are out for exercise, they walk fast, and many jog. At home I walk for exercise on the weekends when the pool isn’t open, and I walk a pretty brisk pace. In Mexico I walk for culture and beauty and I walk quite slow, making sure I smell the flowers along the way. I speak to everyone I pass, either good morning or Buenos Dias and everyone

Kitten found shelter, but crying for food

replies.

Along the way I hear the plaintive cries of a small kitten. She has made her home under a kind of man-hole cover on the side-walk. She’s not more that 6-8 weeks old and I’m sure she is hungry and she is alone. I feel bad as don’t have anything to feed her, but since the street is very popular I’m hoping someone else drops her something. She is probably the only one of her litter mates that have survived this far. For a street kitten to make it to full-fledged “cathood” you’ve got to be tough. I hope she is as tough as she is our spoken.

On my way back up Calle Adelita I walk on the other side of the street to get a different perspective and make sure I’ve missed

nothing. I stop at a small restaurant, Terracita. It has come with high recommendations. I plan to have coffee, but also decide on the yogurt and granola. I looked at their dinner menu for future planning, it looked good. I’d like to return. It is new with nice tables and friendly service. Just before crossing the La Madera bridge I stopped to buy a coin purse from the Senor who kids with me each morning when I go to tend to my flock. Off to the beach this afternoon. Signing off KO

BET SHALOM BENEFIT CONCERT WITH EXPRESSIONS INMUNE

The Senor and I along with two other couples arrived at El Pueblito a half hour early anticipating getting a great table, but the restaurant was almost full already in anticipation of a great evening of music.Judy greeted us asking if we had reservations,. The thought of making reservations never occurred to us, we just show up. She found us a nice table near the back but said there was a table for the dignitaries and if they didn’t show she would try to move us there. They were a no show and we got the ringside table.

At most concerts the warm up band is a new up and coming group. Last night it was the reverse, the “old guys” opened for the up and coming band. The Mike and Andy Show played some rock and roll and some folk music and had the crowed warmed up nicely for Expressions Inmune. Expressions Inmune consists of 5 local youth ranging in age from 16 – 26. They dressed in matching mauve satiny shirts with the one very pretty Senorita in a dress of the same color. They looked very professional and wowed the crowd with their skill and enthusiasm belting out all the old

favorites us oldies grew up dancing to. It’s timeless music, Beatles, CCR and many others. Some couples danced every dance, others just to their favorites, the Senor and I not at all. The Senor wasn’t feeling his best, normally he likes to dance.It was hard to just sit and listen. We contributed to a 50/50 raffle and the Senor was lucky and won the pot. About 1100

pesos, the other 50% went to benefit the home. Before the end of the evening the band played a salsa number that i just couldn’t resist and went out on the dance floor with some Mexican ladies.

At home we don’t go out a lot, so It’s fun here to dress up and go out. Now dressing up here consists of the Senor selecting his favorite comfortable shorts and a loose shirt and sandals, As for me, I got a manicure, wore my newest sundress, put on my strappiest sandals, hung my new”limon” earrings that are actual lime slices from my ears, and selected the proper hat for the occasion

Bet Shalom is a worthy project providing needed care for the elderly in a culture where that is the normal responsibility of family. Not everyone has family, and some elderly citizens had no one to come to pick them up after a hospital stay.

Another wonderful Zihuatanejo evening of good food, good drinks, good friends and good music for a worthy cause. Signing off KO

A VISIT TO EL DOCTOR

The street where we live from the balcony

For the last several days I’ve had a bit of a sore throat that bothers me mostly at night. during the day with enough food and drink It’s not been as uncomfortable. But in the evening my voice gets horse and at night it feels dry as sand paper. So I wake up a hundred times a, night drink water, but no real relief. Since I am extremely healthy I thought it might just run its course and go away. Well not the case, so I decided to go to the doctor. Two or three years ago I got the same sore throat, but at that time the Dr. Grayeb was just around the corner, and I probably would have gone sooner if he was still there. Now he is several blocks away and I vaguely remember how to get there, and decide to walk. But was smart enough to take a map. I knew the far side of the market just beyond Kyoto Circle, and bless his heart there is a sign on Las Palamas pointing the direction. There is always a couple of folks waiting to see him but my wait was very short. I got a shot 2 prescriptions and I already feel better today.

Dr. Grayeb told me to drink some orange juice with in 20 minutes of receiving the shot. so on my way back I

bought a little bottle of OJ but due to an ongoing digestive issue I was only able to get 1/2 the bottle down, I was a bit concerned that might slow everything down. I filled my prescriptions but wasn’t feeling to good-by the time I got back home. Slept all afternoon and didn’t wake up till 6:30 spoiling our plans to go to see “The secret Life of Walter Mitty” in Ixtapa. I was pissed, with no one to blame but my self (and the Senor for not walking me up). The Senor could care less and he has his TV. At home we never go to movies maybe once or twice a year. I love movies and here is willing to go as often as they change. Also there is a clothing shop not far from the movie theatre that I like, and since my weight loss I’ve dropped 3 sizes and was hopping to do some shopping before the movie.

All’s well that ends well, I feel one hundred percent better this morning and looking forward to going to El Pueblito to-night to see the young group of Mexicans that have been doing street performances under our balcony twice a week. This is their debut “professional appearance “IMPRESSIONS INMUNE” doing a benefit

concert for aid for the home for seniors in Zihuatanejo. In Mexico the culture is that families take care of the aged, but if you don’t have family you are in a tough spot. From everything I hear the senior home has great need. I believe it is a $10 donation to get in, and while these kids don’t speak any English, they sing in English the Beatles, CCR fantastically and also a Latin Salsa number that makes you want to get up and dance. Signing off KO

One of the beautiful statues in Zihuatanejo

Sunday, Monday, and now it’s Tuesday, How can that be?

Steve and Brian accompanying the children from the orphans home.

We seem to stay busy even though we have no daily agenda, and time passes so quickly. Sunday evening we went to the Zocolo which is the town square or plaza and also the basketball court. On Sunday it looks like the entire town gathers there to eat from many of the vendors carts, buy trinkets and toys for children, socialize and watch a evening performance. This Sunday the children from the orphans home presented a few songs they had learned. There had been no music program there until Brian, a gifted professional musician, who happens to be our balcony neighbor, volunteered to start one with the children. He has spent much time teaching them songs and they performed a couple of them Sunday at the Zocolo. They sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” in Spanish and then in English Not a one was shy and a couple were very busy stealing the show. Some people just have more heart than others and Brian is definitely one. we finished the evening with dinner on the beach with Will and Sylvia.

The Senor enjoys the bakery, Mexican bakeries have the most enormous selection of goodies I’ve ever seen. The senor takes a tray and tongs and walks around placing his selected items on the tray and then goes to the bakery counter and she wraps them up for him.

The senor and I went to the Mario’s Leather shop as I was looking for an attractive leather binder to hold my wedding ceremonies. Fortunately he spoke English, knew what I wanted but didn’t have anything with “rings” First try was take a 6 inch set of rings off a daytimer size binder but they were much to fat, so then he left us in his shop, while he

went over to the “papeleria”,(think stationary store) bought a 3 ring binder, took the rings out of it installed them in a beautiful red leather folder and now AI have exactly what I needed. I’m amazed the lengths that people here will go to serve you.

On my Monday morning walk after feeding my flock of chickens I had meat scraps for a deserving street dog. Not many dogs out and about in the morning, they are mostly night time wanderers. But I found this sad eyed dog, encouraged her to come get my treats, she was very wary and very skittish and no wonder as I’m sure she had been abused. She had a rough hemp rope around her neck and body kind of harness like. I tried to untie it but she wouldn’t let me tough her and would jump out of the way once almost getting hit by a car. Today

when I go out I will have scissors with me, and may be I can cut her loose.

Part Siamese kitten with a beautiful face

While breakfasting on our balcony the Senor noticed some kittens on the overhang of the balcony below us, they were coming and going thru the drain hole on the building next door. This kitten has the sweetest face and if I didn’t have a cat at home that would object I would have climbed down there and claimed her.

We had a wonderful stuffed avocado a that the Senor and I shared at the Monkey

House for lunch. 5:30 finds us on our usual bar stools at the Flophouse. We prefer sitting on the stools that

are actually on the side walk as it is cooler. Soon Will and Sylvia joined us as we enjoyed the “blues” with Alan and Patricia. Our choice of a place to eat was a mistake, our mistake. We didn’t want a big or expensive meal just something to eat, but a Sushi House just isn’t what we should have picked. Signing off KO

ECOTIANGUIS SANKA Y MAS

Ecotianguis Sanka very loosely translated is a local, ecologically/organic farmers market that is held each Saturday morning it what I call the artist plaza at the waterfront. It’s a fascinating array of food, some vegetarian, some organic, all local and all very good just depending on your personal tastes. It also hosts a variety of crafts people with a very creative area of items to purchase. Many of the food items you can taste to help you make your decisions. My friend Sylvia and I made our first stop for a cup of local coffee. We then headed to the food

table where we had our breakfast served on a banana leaf for a plate. We choose to sample all three of the organic vegetarian choices, one was a tofu in barbacoa seasoning, one was a shredded egg-plant dish and the third I can’t remember. Three tortillas were spread with a small amount of refried beans then a serving of each was placed the tortillas. We each ended up with 3 tortillas one of each flavor on a banana leaf plate. We both thought the egg-plant was fantastic, the one we can’t remember the name of was good and we weren’t crazy about the seasoning on the tofu. Other things we tasted was apple slices with a tamarind, a hibiscus jelly, and date/nut/fruit ball that is marketed as an energy snack very good and no sugar and small rolled candies that have nuts and a bite of a maple flavor. We bought papayas, and grapefruit and I bought a pair of earrings that are actual lime slices. Very interesting! We saw everything from beautiful jewelry made from coiled paper to coconut soap. All made here locally.

We visited with friends, people watched and only wished there were more sitting space as we might have lingered longer. On our returned, the fruit cart vendor was in front of our apartment so we purchased

bananas and strawberries. This is cart is basically a

wheelbarrow with a board on top, then loaded with boxes of beautifully displayed fruit. He has to be immensely strong to wheel this around.

The Senor and I waited until after dark to head out for dinner, we browsed several menus along the malecon and decided on Casa Elvira as the rib eye steak was reasonably priced for the Senor. the waiters remembered us from last year and the service was very good. Next on to the Zocolo as I had heard that Zihuatanejo was going to be a sub venue for an international film festival based in Acapulco. There was a large crowd and many chairs had been set out. It appeared that what was being played was a Japanese animated film. The music from the Baracruda drew us in for the Steve Allen Show, that soon becomes a jam session as other musicians join in. The music we hear in Zihuatanejo is beyond comparison, we love it. signing off KO

LA ROPA, THEN MUSICA

Friday it looked like it was going to be very hot so the Senor and I decided to go to the La Ropa Beach. Good choice as the breeze kept us cool. While la Ropa is a highly favored beach, is not our favorite beach. And once again it proved so. Now it could be that we don’t know the best place to go, or how to negotiate for what we want. We went to Rossi’s had a nice lunch of fish fillet in garlic. All the lounge chairs were in the sun, and my fair gringo skin doesn’t handle the sun well. The lounge chairs had numbers on the back giving the Senor the idea that they were reserved and or “pay per lounge”. The Senor does well in the sun, becoming a lovely copper color and does enjoy a lounge chair. But for this trip we sat in plastic chairs at a table with a nice umbrella where we watched the parasailing and the Catamaran Picante’s big Genoa giving people ride

high in the sky then dipping them in the water. I like to swim, but I find Las Gatas or Ixtapa Island better for swimming and snorkeling. The waves at La Ropa are a bit tough to get past and then there are a lot of small swells and too many boats that have drivers looking skyward not for swimmers. The Senor is happy to have a couple of beers, wade in the water to cool off and people watch. We had a pleasant but short stay.

The evening found us once again at the Flophouse Bar, which has one of the most interesting music venues in El Centro. And the music comes early in the evening, you

don’t have to stay out late to enjoy. Last night it was Allen Alto, Tim on the Harmonica and Brian Hill also on a guitar. We met new friends and hooked up with our old friends Will and Sylvia for dinner at Don Memos’ and to listen to the great Jimmi Mamou.

Everyone’s meal was great, but I will rave about the fillet in wine sauce that I had. For my tastes it’s about the best fish I’ve ever had. I could only eat half of it and saved the other half for a lunch. Another day another adventure signing off KO

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