MX Trip # 31 Rain and Cold (Sunday )

The weather forecast promised a cold front along with rain for most of Sunday and they were true to forum. About 2 AM on Sunday we were awaken by the "pitter patter" of rain on our roof and then it intensified to a down pour.  The rain lasted until 8 AM however the temp stayed at 15 C along with gusting wind for most of the day. 

Amazing enough, it did not stop the Mexicans from hitting the beach as it was once again wall to wall people. There were very few Gringos on the beach. It was somewhat comical as the wind gust would toss the beach umbrellas all around and once the wind died down they would set them  up and another gust would re-arrange then all over again. The Mexican sure have patience. 

We gringos where are dressed in blue jeans and jackets while the Mexicans sat on the beach with jack shirt and bathing suites. The water must have been warm because there were many people in swimming. 

Our friends Dave and Joanne had just returned from their trip back to BC for Christmas on Sat evening so they called on us on Sunday morning to go for breakfast, which we accepted. This time we went to a " better " restaurant and there was no problem with language as our waiter was a teenage that spoke fluent English. He was probably educated in the US and his dad owns the restaurant. 

Dave and Joanne are hosting the New Years party and their MH which is right on the beach so I helped Dave  install his Sun Screens which will protect  us ( the party goers )  from the wind during the party if it still windy and cool by then. The forecast is sunny and warm tomorrow. 

We had our wind jackets on most of the day and last evening we actually turn the furnace on for 10 minutes to take away the chill. One cool day in MX is acceptable. cheers 

MX Trip # 30 Busy Day ( Saturday )

We decided to go out for breakfast and one of the park residence suggested a "hole in the wall" located in another RV Park which was a  "Stone Throw " from our  park. It was hailed as excellent food at a good price but in my estimation it was acceptable food at the going price. Again we had a language barrier with our order:  our fault, we should have learned a little Spanish. Not our favorite restaurant.

After breakfast we went to Lo De Marco, a town 20 minutes away to find a jeweler who made a ring for Carroll 4 years ago because she now wanted matching ear rings. We found the place but there is a lack of parking in " Lo De " so I let Carroll off near the store and found a parking spot . Just as I went to get out of the car a Motor cycle cop pulled up to my door and said in plain English, Mr , you can not park on this side of the street. Even thought several others where parked along that side of the street, I immediately moved and found a legal parking spot. Carroll always says to park anywhere but if I lose my license she can't drive in MX so I like to be careful. 

Carroll ordered her ear rings and then we were off to La Penta as Carroll wanted to check out the " Material " store which actually sells mostly table cloth material. She picked up  5 metres of material for 2 table cloth at a cost of 38.00 Cdn. They have great materials and a vast array of patterns. 

Our next issue was to find the TelCel store but we happen to walk by a sidewalk store with rotisserie chickens so Carroll decided that the chickens look a lot like supper so we stopped to discuss the options: will I cook supper or buy it right here. Obvious answer. 
When you buy these chickens you can get a complete meal as they come with potatoes, rice, cold slaw, a pepper, hot sauce and tortillas. Since the chicken man spoke fluent English we ask for directions to the TelCel store.

Then we headed for the TelCel store because our cell card runs out on the 8 Jan so we wanted to confirm that we could buy another month at that store and we can. The prices are 100 P ( 7.00 Cdn) for 28 days, unlimited Talk and Text and 1 GB or 200 P for 56 days with unlimited Talk and Text and 2 GB. With these prices you can understand why every Mexicans has a cell phone. 

On the way back to the park we wanted to stop at the fruit and veggie store ( Fruitiera) and there was no parking space in the area so I pulled a Mexican; I double parked along with several other along the street. Now I'm feel Mexican. Cheers 

MX # 29 Tow Bar Problem ( Friday )

A week or so ago I explained that my Tow bars go bent on the trip down and that the local machine shop did a good job on the repairs. As it turns out the locking method was not repaired properly. However, it was our fault as we did not explain how the tow bars operated and it definite was confused due to the  language. 

Anyhow we took the tow bar back and explained the locking method and they assure us they it would make the repairs and that it would be done by tomorrow.

The rest of the day was pretty well a nothing day which is people watching and reading. cheers 

MX Trip # 28 Two things that Never Change ( Thursday )

Our park is located on a busy street with several hotels and we are against a 12 foot wall that borders the street so it can be noisy in the evenings from the music at the hotel bars. The music usually stops around 10 PM.

However there are two things that never change. They are garbage pickup at 3 AM and a rooster crowing at 4 AM.

I'm sure the garbage is picked up at 3 AM because they could never get down the street during the day. And most garbage is brought to the street or in a bin that borders the street. All garbage is handle by hand with the 2 " load masters " hanging on the back of the truck. Also the truck has to back down the street as it is a dead end with no turn around so we get to hear the roar of the engine and that constant nagging Beep Beep. Believe it or not we must get use to it because most morning we never hear it. 

The second item is a rooster that crows every morning. It seems that he does a warm up around 4 AM and  then once he has his voice in tune he continues until 5. I'm guessing that by 5 he has everybody attention so then he goes back to sleep because we never hear him again. Now this noise I do hear.

Today is Market Day because every Thursday is Market day and we forgot to go to the market. It not that we needed much but it becomes a "religion" and when we do go to the market we  normally go for a Taco lunch and a beer if for no other reason to meet people.  Oh well, there is always next week. Cheers

 

MX Trip #27 Morning Call (Wedesday)

Normally, each morning around 7 AM, several of the men ( and sometime a lady with join in ) grab a coffee and meet on the patio at the beach area of the park. Of course the discussion is about the politic of yesterday and how to solve the world's problems. We also watch as the beach comes alive, as some venders start to set up early , probably to get the prime spot, or maybe it is so they are near the beach entrance. 

However, the Pineapple lady has 2 boys, one is probably 2 and the other is around 10 years old and we call him the water boy. Every morning he comes into our park to fill 2 water jugs that appear to be the size of 4 gallons. He carries both jugs to his Mom's stand. Then he gets 2 more jugs and carries then to another stand about 200 feet further down the beach. However, even thought he is built like a fire hydrant he has to stop and rest for a few minutes before he gets to the second vender. During the rest of the day he tries to watch his baby brother as the 2 year old does wander away. He seems to have lots of patience when chasing after his brother. Even thought there are 1000's of people on the beach I'm sure most venders know who the 2 year old belongs to so I doubt he would get lost.

Since the beach was crowded and it will be until after New Years, we just people watched and read a book from the patio. Many park residence go for a walk along the water's edge as walking on the beach is nearly impossible. cheers

 

MX Trip # 26 Christmas Day ( Tuesday )

So what do you do on Christmas Day in Guayabitos, MX. Well, around noon you join the group to set up the patio for Christmas Dinner which will be a Pot Luck affair for 37 people.

Earlier in the morning , we mostly walked around with our coffee wishing everyone a Merry Christmas or in case of our Mexican friends, and the condo was mainly Mexicans, you wish them Feliz Navidad. One lady actually delivered a rose to each RV along with a Merry Christmas wish.

Well ; the day whiled away until 4 PM when we all delivered our potluck dish to the patio and the deserts where over the top. There were two families of Mexicans invited and all the staff that was working that day where invited to have dinner but they prefer to eat in their own lunch area. so they just fill their plate and eat elsewhere. 

The park owner ( 95 years old) and the grandson who runs the park, normally join the park residents for christmas dinner but this year they went to Leon to have Christmas with the son/father and family. Do you understand; Grandfather, son and grandson. 

Our dish for the potluck was an apple pie so we had it made at a local restaurant which are known for their pies. 

Suffice to say, the dinner was a success and everyone had the same compliant; I ate too much. cheers

MX Trip #25 Art Market Day ( Monday )

We were not too busy today and the beach was crowded due to the holiday so went to the Art market in the town park and we invited our new neighbors to join us. Besides Carroll, apparently needs another MX table cloth which we got at a reasonable price. However, we did find out that we overpaid for the table cloth  we bought at the Thursday market. Oh well, you win some; you lose some and some get rained out. 

On the way home we stopped at a small grocery store that " has everything " because in MX you always need something. What a GD calamity. The isle are so narrow that they are only  wide enough for one person so if you are going one and someone is coming the other, one of you has to back out. It was obvious that the narrow isles allow for more stock but  it didn't take long for me to get the heck out of there.

The rest of the day was a reading day on the patio by the beach along with some people watching. Cheers