Tuesday, March 3

I'm home and unpacked. I decided to continue here until I defeat the inertia at Virgin Mobile just to have a place to vent.

I have not, as yet, heard back from the man I bought my backup phone from.

Not to be deterred, I found the old phone number in the phone internal memory and called it. It rang and went to voice mail, indicating the number was still in  use.

After a few calls, I left a voice mail and received a call back this morning. I explained the situation and she offered to call virgin and release the phone. Then, she called me back to tell my I was all set "but, they said you may have to wait up to an hour tof the changes to get into the system.

Three hours later, I'm still unable to swap. I've written a snotty email to the service reps. The battle goes on.

Sunday March 1

Well, I got the local time thing wrong. Mexico City and Puerto Escondido are the same time zone.  NO big problem, just got an early start on my day by getting up at 4 AM.  I never sleep real well while traveling anyway.

I ate dinner in the hotel restaurant. Pretty good. Chicken leg quarter which they cut off the bone pound flat and grill.  I went for a walk before eating, looking for a place to catch my eye. This hotel is in a pretty basic area. Big park across the street. Kids playing, but a fair sized number of street people. No stores of any kind with any image at all. Decided to stay inside my hotel's walls.

Flight went perfectly. Left on time landed 12 minutes early.

Suprise!! Suprise!! US customs is greatly improved. Step one they scan your passport and take your picture. Step 2 they look at your "arrival reciept" step three they ask if you have anything to declare and you're done.

No one rifled through my bags or looked at my dirty underwear. Nice. It took longer to get my bag.

My son in law, Randy, showed up right on schedule about 5 minutes after I reached the drive through. It was raining cats and dogs, but soon stopped.

On the way home, I stopped at Walmart and bought the cheapest phone available, a Trakphone, for $10. Also bought a 60 minute air time card, for $20. The sales girl activated it for me. somehow, I ended up with 130 minutes.

This bottom dollar pay as you go looks fine to me. it can access the web. Only down side is you can't load contact lists in via USB. Everyone I ever called in the last 5 years or so is in the Google list. I manually loaded the close family and friends. It'll do until I clear up the SNAFU at virgin mobile.

Saturday, February 28

"All my bags are packed , I'm ready to go"


The new guest who arrived Thursday night was never seen again by me. And no lights or coming and going that I noticed last night or this morning. Strange.

The trip is about done. I am still trying to activate my extra phone, but, Virgin Mobile support is not up to it.

They put my service on hold when I reported it was stolen, but apparently kept the subscription meter running. After getting instructions to activate, I couldn't get anything to work, I then tried to make a payment but that wouldn't work either. Customer service verified that there was a problem and offered to do it for me. That's the last I've heard.

Since customer service is somewhere "over there" I probably have to wait until that person comes back to work "tomorrow". Oh well! The phone service itself is fine and cheap. I looked into getting a pay as you go cheapie phone when I return to buy time. Apparently as cheap as $10, but not stocked in the store. I'll have to wait until I'm stateside.

I can't set the time on my backup phone. It's a vicious circle. No service. Can't download apps without service even though I can access net via wifi. This means I don't have a clock without booting the laptop.

I really meant to buy a cheap wrist watch, but I haven't needed to know the time for the last month. I just look at the sun. Kind of nice, really.

A lot of sitting coming as I travel home. I will have time to look around in Mexico city this afternoon and have a nice dinner. Alain (the rental agent) thinks I should take a tour. We'll see. I'll probably just walk around and explore a little bit.

Later, in Mexico City

Today's flight went wonderfully. The airplane is just perfect for this type of flight. We had thirty or so. full load is 50 I think (12x4+2). It is amazing how big Mexico City is from the air. I got a taxi with no problem he drove here straight away without getting lost. The people in the Hotel are friendly and even let on they understand a little English. And, there is an hour time zone between Puerto Escondido and Mexico City.
It's a  nice  looking room. No?

And , on the cellular front. No News. To reply. Looks like I'm going in phone-less. Dumb shits. Oh Well. My son in law is a competent man. He'll be there.

Virgin mobile thinks my phone is stolen. sheeesh. When I bought it, It checked okay. Luckily, I have the email address of the previous owner.

AAAK!
It turns out the previous owner isn't. He bought it used from from some senior citizens from New Port Richy and never used it. He is looking for their contact info. "No problem" he says!!

I think a $20 flip phone is in my immediate future.

Thursday, February 26

Getting close to the end of my visit here.

This morning, I heard Andrew's voice in the courtyard and went out to say hello.

He was out here to take a walk on the beach with the dog loving man, Alesandro and his girl friend and her friend Sara. I was invited along.

He was also here to say goodbye and commiserate with the other couple who live downstairs. They had been scarce for a few days, staying inside. (Sam and Tessa)

Turns out they got arrested for smoking pot on the beach, spent a day or so in Jail and were leaving today. The girl, being young and cute,  had a particularly unpleasant time in a Mexican jail with almost no Spanish. They are getting out of town and returning to the states.

Interestingly, the resident meeting on local crime the other day (remember a week or so back) resulted in a general Police toughening of enforcement. That might explain why the police were hassling the fishermen the other day too.

 In typical police fashion (as I sadly understand it ) they hassle all the common people. The actual thieves, who tend to be stupid but clever are unaffected. I'd like to be wrong. But  "eso si que es" in my humble opinion. (that is it.)

I am the only tenant here now. I have no idea how Andrew is so aware of the local news while I remain unaware. Age and linguistic abilities, I suppose.

Wednesday February 25

Up and ran before eating. bought two pan dulce con rado baya (one for tomorrow. HA!) went home and ate them both.

Today's mission it to go to the centro, get a hair cut and buy a raft of tee shirts for friends and family. I will remember my mochilla this time.
I will also try to buy one of those roasted whole chickens like I got the first week here.

New observation. casual street greetings alternate reply "Hola. Bien"
As I read it, you answer as if you heard "como estas?" and reply "Hello. I'm well".

Today's vocabulary for hair cut:
donde esta Peluqueria?
Lo quero corte cerca mitaad de lo que. Y recortar la barba del mismo.
tienes bloques par su maquinilla?

The trip went pretty well. I found a barber shop near the mercado. The barbers are women. Cost was 35 pesos. I apologised for my terrible Spanish and read from my notes. She read over my shoulder. Anyway, it came out good. I have been cutting my own hair since 1971, so this broke a long string. I tipped an extra 10 pesos.

Then I asked the attendant at the mercado where to buy souvenir tee shirts. He thought a shop on the adoquin would be the best deal and gave me direction."turn right and eight blocks. At nine or ten blocks I reached the carreterra (highway). So I began to ask every five minutes. Maybe he meant go straight 8 blocks and then turn right.

 I finally stumbled on what I thought was it and a Senora confirmed. I walked up and down and picked a store. A girl helped me. I bought ten in total in sizes from xl to 2 year old. cost averaged out to 59 pesos each, much cheaper than I had estimated.

Then I went to Graco's fish Taco place for lunch , Only to find they don't open until three. It was one PM. Andrew's sky nest across the street looked closed up so I went home. I suppose I could have climbed up 4 flights to be sure. HA!! I took the collectivo home.

There is a street side cafe just off the carreterra that always has locals eating, so I went in and stumbled my way through ordering breakfast. I ended up with fried eggs and tortillas cooked in a comal (like the one below) over a wood fire with beans and salsa rado. Really good.

The cook had a picture perfect Mayan profile.

Tuesday February 24

No big news. I suppose you're getting used to that. I'm in the slow lane and liking it.

Yesterday, I went to the centro for a haircut and meat. There are no barbershops of butcher shops in the Punta area. One would think , since it costs 14 pesos to ride the Collectivo round trip and that represents quite a bit of food, that someone would open up. quien sabe?

Anyway, I got there without drama and bought tasajo and another Mojarra (fish) and some rolls and pan dulce,(the bakery wasn't open this morning for some reason). I had forgotten my mochilla/backpack so I had a load of  individual bags. I went home, forgetting my haircut entirely. (Memory is the second thing to go). another trip is in order soon.

Ran and read. In the afternoon, I was standing on the second floor balcony in the rear corner, when the old man who lives there called up to me. He began talking animatedly. I tried to tell him I didn't speak spanish. His stupid dog, who barks incessantly, was giving me hell. I understood nothing, trying as hard as I could to pick out words. I told him again "no habla" . I even called myself an"estubido gringo que no habla". he was not deterred. I didn't want to be rude, so I stayed and listened. Finally, he ran down and must have felt better. I sure wish I could "chat"

This morning, the water jug was empty. The water truck drove by, headed down the dead end street. I high tailed it down and set my empty 5 gal. bottle by the gate. The truck came by. I shouted "AGUA!!" and he stopped. quince pesos and I am set for the duration. Water use has gone down since I figured out the coffee maker boils water and doesn't need agua purificado. This bottle will last all week plus.

Well, it's past time to run. later.

Those who know me, know I tend to procrastinate. Today, contrary to my natural tendencies, I began to make arrangements for the return trip Saturday by reserving a room for Saturday night.

The place I stayed at on the trip down was called "Mini Suites". Using that email confirmation, I found a link and Expedia suggested Mini Suites "Sounds good to me." I said, so I followed along the prompts and soon had a room. The rate was $414, which I assumed was in Pesos. I remember thinking "No way this could be dollars."

BAD ASSUMPTION!!!

Assume equals "Makes an ASS of U and ME".

Luckily, I checked my bank account soon after to check and a charge of $492 US Dollars stunned me!!!

 I had two days for a free cancellation. Which privilege I promptly used.
It turns out the "standard rooms" were sold out and only Deluxe remained. Better lucky than good, I guess.  I wonder if the ruse ever works.

I found another place and made a reservation for $45 US.

My lazy Mexican life continues.

Saturday, 21 February

It is quiet at the apartment today.
I did the normal morning routine. Bought two pan dulces . Now all I have to do is not eat the second until Sunday morning. They were sold out of baguettes. I have a half left, which should be enough til Monday

Got hungry for Fish Tacos, so I walked down to the "Other" Brisas de Zicatela and ate at Cafe Olita again. Dang!! Those Tacos are good. All kind of veggies sliced and chopped on top.

Andrew saw me and stopped to say hello. Apparently they had a meeting about crime in our neighborhood. Andrew and Nina went to it. He said no big news or developements were revealed. Kind of typical of that sort of thing.
The picture below is the apartment he rented. Apparently the entire top floor. Looks good if the climb doesn't kill you. The right side is  open air, viewing the beach.

On my way home, there was a BIG motorcycle ride leaving the area 50 to 100 bikes, Many were full size American style.

Kind of made me miss my motorcycle back in Florida.

Friday, February 20

Today the Canadian contingent moves out. Ben and Chloe are returning to Ontario this afternoon. Andrew and Ninia, and their friend Sara are moving to an apartment they found last night. They took me with them to dinner.

 We ate at a Streetside Cafe and had fish tacos as they are meant to be.

https://www.google.com/maps/@15.851687,-97.052692,3a,75y,296.93h,87.13t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1snAqu9ZC2kEZy3FB8Q7T6Dw!2e0

(NB I tried and tried to put the actual image, but am not smart enough to copy a google street view.

Andrew's surfer friend "Graco" runs the restaurant. He knew of an apartment. It's across the street from the restaurant on the fourth floor (top floor) with a thatched roof and with spiral staircase up the outside. plus the landlord threw in a unit on the third floor for $300 pesos per night, so that Sara has her own private space. That calculates out to about $20 US per night. On the Zicztela strip right in the thick of things. 

Graco owns a huge St Bernard type dog, Dogs name is RUOK. which Graco keeps repeating as "are you okay?" he is a real gentle giant. He says he has an offer to go to Stolkholm, Sweden for three months to start a restaurant and train the staff. The dog can go as part of the deal. Interesting.

Anyway, they left this morning. It will be peaceful (too much so??) the last week here. I will probably see them on the beach though.

Thursday February 19

Typical morning. Wake at dawn, coffee and computer for Email news, etc. Then run. Went out for pan dulce. Bought two rolls without any theatrics. Then went out for produce and cheese. On the way out, my neighbors were inbound with their dog sick.

Later Andrew told me the ladrones (thieves) returned last night and poisoned the dog with sausage. He says there were two men and one tried to get him to give chase. He didn't fall for it.

They took the dog to the dog loving local guy (an amateur vet.) who induced vomiting and by noon she was looking like a survivor. My neighbors say they are moving elsewhere up or down the coast tomorrow.

What a shame. They are good neighbors.

Anyway, security ramps up for the duration. The property manager is here now. The police were here last night. They seem to be as effective a police anywhere as concerns small crime. Take a report and leave.

Today's general subject was to be: "the sounds of the street"

Interestingly, they are the same as in the big city of Oaxaca. The Water guy calls "Agua" but adds a little horn toot. the Tamale vendors call "Tamales". The trash truck honks a diesel horn. A few other vendors of ??? stand at the gate and inquire about interest. Generally, I have no idea what they are saying and reply "no quiero" .

I continue to be in awe of multilingual people. My neighbors live near Quebec. It turns out that they speak French too. They were speaking with the property manager about the break in . He is French Canadien. They were conversing away without problem in French. Two of the three are fluent in Spanish as well.

My friends, if you are young enough to learn a language, do it now. I can tell you, from first hand, that it is near impossible when memory is not first rate anymore.

Wednesday February 18

This afternoon I went to Barra. It is beyond La Punta a few miles. Andrew came along. Good thing he did, because, the drop off point for the Collectivo is a long way from the ocean. Andrew brought his surf board just in case, but the waves were no good

We walked to the mouth of the river. The beach over here is almost deserted. There was one couple. The man walked past us and floated to the ocean. He waved on the way by.

We decided it was about as much time to walk back to the town, catch the collectivo and walk to the Apartment as to just walk.

During the walk Andrew called my attention to a pristeen Puffer fish skeleton lying on the beach.

The mile or two of beach was mainly deserted. There were a few big resort homes. They apparently bought the surrounding land to keep out the riff raff.

Then it was up and over the point. I'm glad I turned back yesterday, because Andrew's path was much better.  This is the cliff we climbed down.

Back on "MY" beach the cops were (arresting/talking to/investigating)  a bunch of fishermen. Mexican police never work alone. There were four talking to the guys. AND adding insult to injury, It looked like they had a pretty good catch today. Two net fulls, each of which a boy could barely carry. Another half a dozen police were on their way to the scene.???

Who knows? The shadow knows.

(la sombra sabe!!)

Tuesday, February 17

I did very little today. I ran this morning and read a story I'm into for quite a while.

Late this afternoon, I started to walk to Barra, a town a bit south of the Punta. This involves climbing up a cliff and then down the other side. It was pretty steep, I kept three things connected. ( this was how my father taught me to climb trees when I was three or four years old. two hands and two feet, move one at a time and you will never fall).I was busy climbing and therefor took no pictures. Sue me!!At the top I could see down and the tide was high, so that I couldn't get to the beach proper without wading. Not wanting to walk in wet shoes, I went back. There were two Mexican Policemen on the path. Luckily, they weren't interested in me.

There is a Sea Turtle sanctuary and a lot of sea birds on the other side. Andrew, my neighbor, suggested taking the collectivo to get there. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.

I didn't mention that I ate fish tacos for dinner last night. They didn't move me. I ordered them  takeout (para llevar) , so maybe they cooled off too much in the ten minutes to get home. The corn tortillas just do not thrill me. If you get them hot off the Comal they are pretty good. But the restaurant variety are eh??

I'll try to be more entertaining tomorrow

Monday, February 16

"mi espanol esta mejor hoy, pero aun terrible!!"

My latest approach to learning the language is to script a chore or mission. And then try to go do it. This seems to be more effective than memorizing and immediately forgetting vocabulary. "Yo aprendo una palabra Y olvido dos."

The game of bread continues this morning. I was able to buy pan dulce immediately. And, using todays script, I asked 

"es posible prepagar por una baguette?" . Amazingly enough, the propprietess replied "si" and asked if I pay for all now, which I did. I now have Bread in the bank in the game of bread.  OLE!!

I also took in my laundry this morning. I swear I can't hear spanish. He replied when it would be done and probably how much. I understood nothing. Asked "Que hora listo" and finally understood "seis" He then told me clearly "twenty eight pesos" in english. Too bad I can't tape the reply to puzzle out each word later.

Anyway "poco a poco"

This afternoon, after my run I walked down to the punta. there was a man pulling in a line from the sea. I stopped to watch. It was a gill net. by the time he got the net all the way ashore the net was about 30 or 40 feet long with wooden floats to hold it off the bottom. There were a few small fish caught every foot or so. None bigger than a foot. Seems like a hard way to make a living. I hope some catches are better, for his sake

Sunday, February 15

I started off to run, but am feeling achey and stiff, so I changed to walk mode.

After a bit of beach. I cut back into the small side streets. They still interest me a lot. Pretty nice fine houses behind high walls next to shacks next to unfinished houses that appear to have been left behind. The common Mexicans seem to stock pile materials as a form of saving, rather than (or along with) money. It is common to see piles of cement bricks along the lot lines.

I finally found the neighborhood Turkey, a big Tom, strutting and preening at me or the chickens.

Here's some pictures of an unfinished house about a half mile nearer to town. This one is on piles, (to allow storm surge to pass under it??)

I have no idea why they stop midway through. There are lots of places in various stages of completion. Maybe the housing collapse hit here too.

I just know that if you are a neatnick, you won't be happy here. I don't think there is a zoning officer to call, filled with righteous indignation, to get your neighborhood cleaned up/ ( :-) )

Toward the walks end I went back to the produce stand. I bought a Toronja (grapefruit) a few bananas and a Jicama (a big turnip looking thing) I thought it might be sweet potato like, but it's more potato. 

There are always piles of things that look like potatoes, so I'll get a new kind each trip and try it out.

At home I fried up half of the Jicama and it was, indeed, potatoish. No big difference.

This is a camote. It looks just like a sweet potato back home. For some reason, there are  none in the mercados. Maybe they are out of season here.

A tip for my hiking friends:

If you can find a latin american market that sells "Tasajo" buy some. When I translate the name, my computer said "Jerky"

It is the leanest thinnest sliced beef you will ever see. It comes in pieces about three foot long. It would save a lot of work trimming for your home dehydrated jerky.

Late in the day, I went for a run/walk and passed the house pictured above. This time there were 4 or 5 kids playing on a side porch and the door was ajar. Maybe someone actually lives there without window glass and decking?? It's kind of hard to tell.

Saturday, Feb 14

Red Sky in the morning, sailor's warning?

It was much redder in real life. And I don't know if the saying holds on the West Coast. I think the adage was based on the Atlantic trade winds and east to west weather patterns???

Friday, February 13

NO blog yesterday I was in mourning for the loss of my phone.

The neighbors had a fiesta last night and invited me. That was nice.  They have five friends in their age category here in the Puerto at present. How lucky is that. All reside in eastern Ontario or Western Montreal.

Anyway, we had fish tacos. Then played a game called "pick two". It was a high pressure timed thing. start with 7 letter tiles, two man teams. When any team has played all seven (in words in a cross word type grid) they call "Pick two" and you do. Play goes on until all the letters have been picked up and someone has played all of theirs.

It was fun, we got to call "pick two" once or twice, but were never the one to end a game.

They were talking about going out to party when I excused myself at 10 PM.

Went to the market to get food. It worked out alright. I got tasajo, and some sausage (Chorizo), Lechuga ( but maybe not lechuga since I found some endive, which I prefer. I don't know if they call it lechuga also)

The surf was bigger today. Way out in the second picture you could see a few boats fishing. There's always a few men on the beach with cast nets or handlines, but I've never seen them catch anything. 

I cooked some sausage and made burritos for lunch. Then read and took a siesta.

I forgot to get cheese and wanted vinegar so I went on a mini shop in the hood.

We (the neighbors and I) are going out for dinner to a small "Antijitos" place near here for Cena . the have "tlayudas" on the menu. (open face tortilla sandwich with lots of quesadilla melted on top). Maybe some food pictures later if I remember.

This was as close as I got to a food picture. Ninia and her friend getting a beverage. Andrew in foreground.

Tlayudas are tasty. G'nite.

Wednesday, February 11

Excitement in the house!!

I woke up in the predawn darkness and groped for my phone to check the time. Couldn't find it in the dark, so I put on my flashlight. Still couldn't find it. Looked outside on the table. slowly, it dawned on me that my Hammock was gone.
Somewhere around this time I noticed Andrew trying to talk to me (I have started sleeping with earplugs the last few nights to screen out the morning roosters and late conversations next door) I removed the earplugs and it turns out we were robbed at around 3 or 4 AM. He saved my hammock. it was lying on the floor.

He lost his surfboard. AND they stole his plastic flipflops. Sheesh!! I must have left my phone on the table outside (bad me!!) the people downstairs lost some swim fins and floats. He was awakened by his dog barking (she never barks) and investigated. The robber(s) fled. They had put a ladder up against the balcony. Maybe to avoid the dog (??? 10 pound wet)

The phone won't work in Mexico because the grid here doesn't support CDMA . I brought another smaller phone for a carry around camera, It has the translator software loaded, but I can't figure out how to set the time off line. I guess I have to buy a watch. And work around coordination when I return home.  I can't activate the other phone until back in the USA.

Life goes on. I ran this morning and now need to do Yoga. Mas tarde.

I contacted Virgin Mobile had had my phone taken out of service. And I changed my Google password. That should take care of security. Any money stuff took place through Gmail and was password protected again at the url involved . Just before I return I'll activate my backup phone and then make the final call from the destination airport when I have coverage. And the phone time reset itself via wifi. go figure!!

The Mercado was not closed for a holiday, but to be fumigated. They do this twice a year, I am told, as a preventative measure. Tomorrow I can shop again.

I ran again this afternoon. belly gotta go. Can't see anything yet  but I sure huff and puff.

Tuesday, February 10

This morning, I will tell you about what I have come to call "The Game of Bread"

For some reason, I haven't mentioned the bakery a block for my apartment. Their sign is at the center of the above picture, taken from my porch.

 I found them the first morning. A man and woman were sitting outside drinking coffee. I asked if they had any bread. they told me  "Eight O'Clock". I wanted to buy a loaf of white bread. This led to a number of return visits. I was able to buy some pan dulce "sweet rolls" one time and a loaf of whole multi grain another, but the baguette purchase eluded me. "One hour" "All gone" "No".

For days I have been in search of white bread. ("How mundane!" I hear you say.) This has lead me to call the whole process "The Game of Bread". They don't have any at the Mercado in the Centro either. Only Rolls

In the process, I have learned that a loaf is a "Forma" the long french shape is a "Baguette" . They do not make Gran baguettes, the 12 in plus baguettes do not qualify.
 as grand.

So, today, I gracefully surrendered and pre-purchased two baguette pan blanco and pre-payed. The bread I prefer is apparently made to order. The bread was "Proofing" when I ordered. Went back in an hour only to be told "45 minutes" Clearly, I don't know all the rules of the "game of bread" yet when it takes three or four visits co complete a transaction.

the victory loaves.

Monday, February 9

A new week. and so I decided to do something useful. My old rolling duffle bag had gotten rotten sitting around waiting. The baggage handlers broke one strap on the Mexico City leg and the end handle broke by the time I got to the Apartment. Time for New.

A quick buscar of Mexico prices and the words involved.

Duffle Bag is Bolsa de Lona, or, apparently Bolsa de Duffle. With rollers is rododura.

So I want a "Bolsa de Duffle de Rododura".

I caught the collectivo to the Centro. Exact same trip as a week ago. For some reason, it looked different and I wasn't sure where to get off. The folks kept me straight. Way too many words, as usual, but the gestures told the story.

There is an information booth in front of the Mercado and it was staffed, so I asked if I could buy a duffle bag in the Mercado. He said no. He had a little English and was willing to try it on me. Would be better to go to "COPEL" (is what I heard). And nearby. just a few blocks up and on the right.

Off I went, three blocks---four blocks---no Copel. Doubled back and asked again. This man waved me to follow and turned down the second street. Half a block to the store.     http://www.coppel.com/

 It was kind of a "Big Box" store for household items. Electronics, bedding, furniture, etc. Price tags list total cost and the payments.

                             

I found the bag I wanted and asked if other colors were available. "NO" So I bought this one. Unlike USA, a clerk makes out a sales slip, you go stand in line to pay, then you are finally given your purchase. Cost was 650 pesos or $46.00

I went back to the Mercado for some food. bought rice, string cheese , lettuce and a small fish (called Mojarra). The sales woman scaled, gutted and packed it in ice for 7 pesos (60 cents or so). Once again, there was no white bread available in the market.  I'm going to have to adjust to tortillas I think. I then found the collectivo point and rode  home. Determined not to miss the stop, I got off one stop too early and walked a bit further.

Stopped at "My Bakery" but the bread was sold out there as usual. He did have sweet rolls, but I declined.

Cooked my fish for lunch

And ate it. The pan should have been hotter, but I was scared. Pretty tasty anyways. It always is when you cook it.

A "lost" draft from yesterday, Sabado

The most interesting facet of Mexico , to me, is the near complete lack of "zoning". Unlike the USA, the rich and the poor seem to live side by side.

My big grand rental house backs up to an old man and his wife and a flock of dogs that seem to share the back wall of my house. They have a sizeable garden.  The man and his wife work on either maintaining fishing lines or making fishing nets.

There will be a few hotels and apartments and then another "near vacant" lot with a small shed and a Palapa for outdoor living room. Properties are always fenced. I have no idea what property costs off the Playa. I wonder if the common people are "grandfathered in" . Zicatella was pretty undeveloped 25 years ago. But, the common people clearly LIVE here. They don't drive in to work here. And not all their houses are shacks. Some are quite nice.

Sunday, February 8

Yesterday, I didn't post the building activity along the beach. the top picture is a big hotel or apartment. No construction activity apparent all week. There are one or more people living on the ground floor. No evidence of electrical power or plumbing. Maybe watchman family or squatters. I saw a young woman rocking a baby in a hammock one day.

there were workmen doing masonry at this site.

 Here's my pet lizard again today. Research leads me to believe he is a Desert Iguana. He must be a child, because they reach 2 feet long.

On a new subject, I was discouraged to find that Skype doesn't work out too well here. I called my friend and neighbor, Stuart, to see what's up in the hood. At first things went well, but soon he could't hear me. I was either breaking up or mute on his end. We gave up and later I checked connection speed. Upload speed is terrible. varying from none to 70/80 KBS. Says you need 83 KBS minimum. So I now have $25 credit that will be hard to use. Oh Well!!

I have been ready to record the "Howling" for the last two mornings. It didn't happen. It occurred to me that the nights of the big noise did coincide with the full moon. Maybe that was the reason. I dunno.

Saturday February 7, 2015

One thing about Mexico is the lack of apparent zoning. There are big, grand houses, like my apartment with relative shacks right next door.

In fact, the house behind mine appears to use my back wall for one wall. An old man and his wife live there with a flock of dogs. I see him working on either fishing lines or making fishing nets. His wife helps. They  have to be in their sixties. Have a small garden.

Everyone fences or walls their property to the lot line. So that, walking along the street, you can't really tell much.

The common people have a small house and a much larger palapa covered outdoor living area.

and next door (away from the beach. a much nicer home, with a top floor living area to catch the sea breeze.

 There are quite a few closed businesses scattered around, so success is not guaranteed.

The main roads are cement paved, but all others are plain sand. The property walls line the road, so it's kind of a mystery.

Friday, February 6, 2015

The sun rising through the palms in our courtyard.

A while before dawn, something starts the animals hereabouts into a combined group howl. It's the dangest loudest thing you have ever heard. It lasts for a long time. I can hear roosters chickens, turkeys and dogs and maybe a burro or horse or three.  I plan to try to record it, but I would have to jolt awake, find my phone in the dark and activate sound record. Probably easier said then done.

Had coffee and toast and went for a run followed by yoga. While stretching I looked up at the side window and saw this:

This lizard was at least a foot long. It was on the outside of the screen. I was glad of that.

I'm debating enrolling in a language school this trip. I realistically have no hope of actually speaking Spanish in the short time I am here. I just can't memorize enough words fast enough. Maybe I'll do some field trips or something. Time is drifting by pleasantly enough without the study. 

We'll see.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

The movie last night (Silver Linings Playbook ) was surprisingly entertaining. I identify with crazy people I guess. My first exposure to J-Law in a non Katness role. Quite believable.

This morning looking for a routine I did coffee, toast and internet. Then hit the beach. I'm feeling ridiculously fat these days (+10 lbs over high normal) so I decided to jog.

Yesterday, I tried swimming but that's pretty hard with the waves. I walked jogged  for a half mile or so. Enough to get a bit huffy. In recent years, when I try jogging, My back stiffens up big time and I can't sleep.

So, upon return I did my whole Yoga routine and administered Vitamin I. We shall see what tonight and tomorrow brings.

nothing big to report today. Here's a picture of a zany house across the street from mine. Bright pink in the sunlight. With a story:

Supposedly, two Canadians own it and had a falling out. One shot the other and is now in Jail. My neighbors are also Canadians and were kind of circumspect about the details.?? Anyway, weird looking house. Probably a weird story too.

I was going to swim at sunset, but changed my mind. walked a couple of miles instead and then ate stir fried noodles at a small place near the point.

Holy Shit!! 9:00 PM and it's actually raining in the Puerto. I wonder if I get a refund!! Nice little shower.

Wednesday, 4 February, 2015

Slept well. Great mattress here. Woke at full daylight. Made coffee and toast with my new nutella and mango mermalada. Then had a bowl of cereal. Dang!! the mexican powdered mild ( leche polvado con grasso vegetal) is great. The added fat makes it taste rich and creamy.

Walked the beach to the point and back.

The corner store (abarrote)

For My newly certified yoga instructor, Andy, a local studio next door to the abarrote:

 The Punta itself. The south end of Playa Zicatella.

I finally ate the last of the chicken I bought my first day here. It was a whole chicken, with rice, grilled onions, something like fried cabbage and salsa for 85 pesos. I've eaten three meals and a snack.

I'm not real happy with my Samsung Galaxy II. It won't let me work on wireless unless I have data coverage (which, of course, I don't have in Mexico it's a CDMA type.Mexico is GSM) I brought an old LG that does everything easily. Seems all the latest Android generations are full of nooks and crannies that the GURUS can impress you with. 

Just went to the store for cheese and eggs. No tienes. Fresh daily, I guess.Activities really die down in the afternoon. I guess I'll adapt and take a siesta. Then swim and then go out to eat at near sundown. I downloaded an old J-Law movie for tonight's entertainment.