What’s happening

This is a Huichol Indian beaded mask that I bought to cover up a fuse box in my Ajijic home.

It’s been some time since I posted anything to this blog. Since I’ve heard from some of my readers that are wondering what’s going on, I feel I should fill you in on some of what’s happening.

The main reason that I haven’t been updating the blog is because I have rented a house in Ajijic and I now feel more part of the community. And as a member of this community, I don’t wish to contribute to the gossip. Sure there are some things I could write about that are not gossip but I am not sure that I even want to act like an anthropologist and analyze Mexico, Mexicans and the ex-pat community. I started this blog when I was getting ready to start traveling in my Lazy Daze motor home. The idea was to chronicle some of my adventures while traveling. Well, I am no longer living in the motor home and I am living in essentially a small town. So the initial reason for the blog no longer exists. Unlike some blog authors, I have no plans of turning my writings into money by adding advertising or writing a book. I have no aspirations of even being a writer. Another reason for not updating the blog is that I don’t feel very comfortable talking about my private life with strangers. I may shut down this blog and start another about my life here lakeside on Lake Chapala and future explorations to other areas in Mexico and beyond. I am not sure whether or not I would make the blog public or private for my friends and family.

If you have read this blog from the beginning you know that I have been trying to sell my house in Truckee in the Sierras near Lake Tahoe. It’s beautiful up there but I am not a skier so the winters there are a hardship for me. I didn’t tire that much when running a snow blower or shoveling snow; the main problem was that I couldn’t afford to pay for firewood and natural gas to keep warm in the winter. Before I left for Mexico, I signed a lease/option contract for the sale of the house. That contract has caused me a lot of stress which has resulted in me not being able to fully enjoy life here in Mexico. The contract is still pending and the renter/buyers still occupy my house. Until the house is sold, I feel like I am limbo. I feel I must be here to deal with the huge problem that the sale of the house has become.

On a positive note, I am really starting to feel comfortable with Mexico and the people. My Spanish is still limited but I am now confident that I could go anywhere I want in Mexico and survive. Each day I learn a few more words of Spanish and little bit more about how to form sentences. I like Mexico, the culture, music and people. The only things I miss about the US are friends, family and some foods. I am glad to be away from the politics, so-called leaders and PC thugs. I feel much freer in Mexico than in the US. The myth about the US being the land of the free is so much bullshit.

Also, I really like my new house. It is centrally located in Ajijic, the current center of the ex-pat community living lakeside by Lake Chapala. I don’t think that any other gringos live on my block, just Mexicans. There is a good restaurant two doors away that has a happy hour with 2 for 1 drinks and good margaritas. Across the street from the restaurant is a good tienda (convenience store) with some groceries, beer and snacks. From my home, I can walk all over town. There is the Guadalajara Farmacia with an ATM machine a block and a half away. A good bar, El Barco, is two blocks away. The best Chinese restaurant, Min Wah is only a block away. The main plaza, the center of the community is about 6 blocks away. Eventually, I plan to sell my motor home and get some kind or car, maybe an old VW bug, Thing or a small SUV to travel further away.

Since I was not going out much in the last two years of living in Truckee, I don’t think that I made any new friends. In the little over a year that I have been in Mexico I probably have made about 100 new friends that I know on a first name basis. Probably about 30 percent of those friends are Mexicans and the rest are mainly ex-pats from the US and Canada. Most are people that I have met at the plaza and in bars and restaurants. Now that I am enjoying my new house and tending the garden, I think that I will not be hanging out so much. I plan to get into serious studying of Spanish and maybe get back into some former creative pursuits like photography, art and painting. I may continue to update this blog with photographs without much comment.

This is a photo of the central plaza taken from the deck of the new Exotica bar.

The San Juan Cosala flood

Yesterday morning I awoke and noticed that there was no traffic on the carretera (highway) which runs by my San Juan Cosala camp on the lake side. There was an auto bus, a taxi and several cars stopped and a river of water and mud running down the carretera east towards the balneario (hot spring bath facility). It had been raining all night but it was not when I got up. I went down to the front of the property and took some pictures of the flooded carretera.

Soon several back hoes and large dump trucks arrived and began to clean up the mud. About a half a block west of my camp is an arroyo that goes under a small bridge on the carretera. The passage under the bridge must have been blocked and the water diverted on to the carretera. A police pick up arrived and two big trucks of Mexican soldiers. I decided to walk up to the arroyo bridge to see what was happening and take some more pictures. One of the workers told me that a car had been swept into the arroyo.

The police and soldiers did not stop me as I waded through the mud and water that was a foot and a half deep in some places. At the arroyo bridge a large machine was scooping mud, rocks, trees and debris out of the arroyo to clear it and allow the water to take its usual course under the bridge and down into Lake Chapala. A huge mound of rocks and debris about 30 feet high blocked the carretera on the east side of the arroyo bridge and a couple smaller piles of debris blocked the west side. There were also parts of the car that had been blocking the arroyo but the parts were now about 3 feet in size. The largest part was a tire and an aluminum wheel so the destroyed car must have been a new car.

I took some pictures of the work and stayed and watched for awhile. On the mountain you could see water running down the gulches and arroyos. Behind my camp you can see a waterfall with a drop of about 75 feet. Then I returned to my camp thinking I would write about the flood for this blog. After I got cleaned up, I tried to transfer the pictures from my camera to my Vaio laptop. Much to my dismay, all the pictures were lost as the smart media in the camera had some how lost its formatting. I re-formatted the media and took some test pictures and the camera seemed well again and functioning correctly.

For a couple weeks I had been looking forward to a party in the afternoon at 5 PM. It was a birthday party for several different friends that share September birthdays. By 3 PM work was still going on for the flood clean up and the carretera was still closed to traffic. I decided to walk down to the balneario and hitch a ride or call a taxi at the hotel. I got a ride right away by hitching and went to the El Barco bar near the Pemex station in Ajijic for a cold Corona before going to the party near there at 5 PM.

The party was held in a beautiful Mexican house with a large garden. Several friends were already there when I arrived. The food for the party was catered by Vicki’s Hideaway and was very good. You didn’t even need to go get drinks as some of Vicki’s help came around with platters of finger food and took drink orders. Later on live music was provided by the local band, Noe and the Classics who played mainly old rock and roll songs by Santana, Elvis, Beatles and the Eagles. The party guests had a good time dancing to the music.

I took several more pictures at the party. I left about 9 PM to go to the Ajijic plaza to get a taxi back to San Juan Cosala. I asked an auto bus driver if he was going to San Juan but the road was still not open for buses. I took a taxi and got off near the balneario and walked on the muddy carretera back to my camp.

When I got back to the rig, I tried once again to transfer my pictures but again the formatting and all the party pictures were lost. Maybe the media card is bad and needs to be replaced.

This morning it looks like the carretera has one lane open over the arroyo bridge. It is still very muddy but traffic is going by slowly. I haven’t seen the TV news but I have heard that one house in the exclusive Raquet Club lost its foundation and slid into another house. I have been told that several people in San Juan Cosala died and some are still missing.

Mexico, Pros and Cons on life south of the border

This subject has been covered many times by others. I will attempt to give my thoughts on the subject. What is a pro for one person could easily be a con for someone else so you must decide for yourself if you are considering moving to Mexico what your priorities are and what you expect and hope life to be south of the border. This post will mostly be about life lakeside near Lake Chapala.

The north shore of Lake Chapala is home to one of the largest concentrations of ex-pats from the United States and Canada. Some have estimated some 20,000 gringos live here. Other names for this area are “Gringlandia” and “God’s waiting room”. Gringlandia of course refers to all the gringos that live here. God’s waiting room means that most of the ex-pats are retirees over the age of sixty and are waiting for Saint Peter to call their name.

The north shore of Lake Chapala has four main towns and a couple small communities. Chapala is the largest town. It was the first place that gringos started to come to here lakeside about 50 or 60 years ago. It is the nearest to Guadalajara. The main town for the gringos now is Ajijic. It is the artistic and cultural center and has many restaurants and businesses that cater to gringos. Some of the gringos that live here don’t even bother to try to learn Spanish because they don’t need to. San Juan Cosala has a few gringos that live there but I know of only one business, a coffee shop, that seems to cater to gringos. Jocotepec, the most western of the lakeside towns is also very Mexican with a few resident gringos. Jocotepec has the lowest prices on the north shore for fruits, vegetables and most groceries. There are plans for a Walmart in Jocotepec. This may make the area more attractive to some gringos so it might be a good investment to buy land near there now.

The main reason that most gringos move here is because of the climate and the lower cost of living that Mexico offers. The climate is excellent with not even a jacket needed the whole year long. Now it is summer, the rainy season. The rainy season is actually a little cooler than the winter season due to the cooling rains. It rains mostly at night sometimes with thunder and lightning that provides a spectacular light show. Some prefer the rainy season because it cleans the air, everything turns green and the dust becomes mud.

To live here happily, you must enjoy Mexicans and adjust to their culture. Please don’t come here and try to change things. If you can not adjust then please stay home. First, the Mexican government does not want you interfering in its affairs. You can be deported for being politically active here. That said, it is my opinion that Mexico has much more freedom than the USA. The police here are not out looking for people to bust and harass. They are much more laid back and seem to want to help the citizens. There are some bad cops but it seems that the best thing to do is be friendly and get to know your local police.

You can smoke in most places. You can ride your horse downtown. You can drive your 4 wheeler without a license plate in the towns. You can have livestock on your land. Of course you may not like it if your neighbor raises fighting roosters or goats or pigs. Your neighbors may play loud music late at night or early in the morning. The religious holidays are punctuated with fireworks explosions and sometimes bands marching through the colonias.

In the smaller towns, the streets may be cobblestone and narrow. You may loose your side rear view mirrors if you forget to move them in. The sidewalks are also narrow and hazardous with pot holes and obstructions. My advice is to try to walk only during the day and sober. The curbs may be high so you cannot exit the car on the curb side. The ideal car in these towns is sturdy, small with good road clearance. The topes (speed bumps) can tear your car apart if you hit one at 40 miles an hour.

For the most part the Mexicans here lakeside are friendly and tolerant of the gringos. They know that the gringo money helps to provide jobs and opportunity for their town. A smile with a friendly attitude and an attempt at Spanish is appreciated.

This area gets quite a few tourists on the weekends from Guadalajara who come to enjoy the mineral baths in San Juan Cosala and eat some little fish (Charales) from the lake. Most gringos don’t eat fish from the lake because it is contaminated. They also don’t go swimming in the lake for the same reason. This area is a great spot to live and to visit other parts of Mexico. Many go to the Pacific coast for a month or so during the winter. There are not a lot of activities here for gingos to enjoy. Chula Vista has a nice golf course but it is only nine holes. Chapala and Guadalajara have bigger golf courses. There are some different clubs you can join if you care to. The Lake Chapala Society helps gringos and has events and opportunities for service. It has beautiful grounds and gardens, a lending library of books, video tapes and DVDs. It offers a service to have your mail mailed in the United States.

There is not much night life lakeside. Most Mexicans can't afford to go out and the older gringos stay home. Guadalajara has a lot to do at night if you care to make the about 35 mile trip. Many gringos go to Guadalajara about once a week to go shopping. You can find about anything you need there. Many go to Costco or Walmart. Many find driving in Guadalajara intimidating but during the day you can take a bus for about $3.50.

Medical and dental care is usually very good and cheaper than in the USA. You can buy things like antibiotics over the counter in pharmacies. A minor infection in the States might cost you around $100 USD to get treated with a doctor’s visit where here you just go buy some antibiotics for $4 USD. I got a broken tooth rebuilt, a cavity filled and a cleaning for under $100 USD. Plus you can join the Mexican health care system, IMSS, for around $300 a year.

Some of the drawbacks to life here is the Mexican custom of “manana, manana” which means that when someone says they will do something it most likely will not be done then. It may take two or three days, a week or a month to get done. It is hard to get some items that you are used to getting easily. Many of your favorite foods can be found lakeside but they may cost more than they do in the States since they are imported. It would be more difficult to buy and sell things on eBay. Your favorite sport teams may not be on TV. Parts or some items must be ordered from the USA and then you will need to deal with Mexican Customs. Scorpions and spiders can be a problem and the roaches are big.

Real estate lakeside can be purchased by foreigners without getting a bank trust. But the prices here are much higher than in some smaller town that does not cater to gringos. Life in those small towns may be cheaper but then you must love Mexican food, speak Spanish and live like a Mexican. Here if you have the money you can buy a mansion with walls all around and think you are living in Beverly Hills. Many people living here in retirement can afford a maid and a gardener. Behind the walls there are many beautiful homes here. Construction is mainly brick and concrete because wood is scarce and expensive. If you are interested in real estate prices, use Google to search for sites. Of course if you live here, you can sometimes hear of incredible deals. I just missed out on a three bedroom house in Ajijic for rent for $1,500 pesos a month, less than $150 USD.

Well, I think this is enough on this subject for right now. Use an internet search engine to find more information if you are interested.

No Internet

A little over a month ago I started having problems with my Hughes Net satellite internet system. I contacted Hughes technical support and they told me that the equipment is still under warranty.

I was having a TX10 problem with the Hughes equipment. At first when I turned on the system from a cold boot, I could connect to the internet for one or two minutes and then the TX10 message would appear and the DW7000 would no longer connect with the NOC. Reboots via software did not help. The system had been working fine in the same location for about 3 months.

Later when the DW7000 modem was turned on from a cold boot the Transmit codes were TX3 “Transmitter locking to receive carrier”, TX8 “Transmitter Ready”, and then TX10 “Can’t communicate with the Network Operations Center”. The receiver code was RX5 “Receiver Operational”. The software download status reported “Received first heartbeat message”. TCP acceleration status was “Not Operational”.

I am assigned to 990 on SatMex5.

I tried forcing ranging and it would attempt to range (TX9) for about 10 minutes and then give a TX13 error code.

I had an extra cable for the dish and used it to test if there might have been a problem with the original cable. The problem continued so the problem was not the cable. I tried to go through the procedure of re-aiming the dish with the OPI meter but since there was a transmit problem, the procedure did not complete.

The horn on the end of the LNB got a crack in it some time ago and the equipment continued to function okay until the rainy season started. So I thought that the transmitter had gotten damp and was no longer functioning correctly.

I am not happy with Hughes Net technical support. The technicians offered no tips or resolution to my problem. Their only response was to say I needed a visit from a technician at my installation. When they finally understood that I was in Mexico, they said they could do nothing.

On the Datastormer’s forum, I was able to get some tips from others of what to check to resolve my transmission problem. After trying all the suggestions, I decided that the transmission unit must be bad. A fellow, Dexter, suggested I contact Jaba Networks in Cuernavaca, Mexico. I called Jaba Networks and they said had the right parts for me. Samuel with Jaba Networks, who speaks English, helped me and told me he had a used transmitter that he could sell me. Since it would be simpler for me (not having to deal with Mexican Customs), I bought the transmitter with LNB and wave guide for $250 USD. The parts arrived in about four days and I am now back online with the Hughes equipment for the first time in over a month. Jaba Networks has a web page (in Spanish) in case you are interested:

http://www.jabanetworks.us/HughesNet.html

Since I first tried to get help from Hughes Net while my equipment was under warranty and the problem was a faulty transmitter, I expected a credit on my account of $250 USD and credit for the one month’s service that I could not use Hughes Net. I did not ask for a credit of about $100 USD that I spent on Verizon roaming charges talking with Hughes Net Support.

Hughes Net says that they will credit me for a one month service fee but will not credit me for the parts I bought.

Customs & Deaf?

Next to my camp site on the east edge of San Juan Cosala is an outdoor restaurant called "El Globo". The place evidently has a deal with Coca Cola because to has a couple of large tents with no sides and tables and chairs with the Coca Cola brand on them. It has one building with a roll up door that contains coolers with Coca Cola and Corona beer and some racks of potato chips, etc. The kitchen is outside next to the building protected by some tarps. In a near by area is where the tortillas are made and cooked. A woman about 40 makes the tortillas and cooks them on a stove there. I see her walking to work early in the morning. She is crippled by what I assume is some kind of genetic problem that left her with knees that fail so that she needs a cane to walk. Her stove started out as a wheel barrow. It is now supported by a large stone and has stone and bricks that support a large circle of steel that serves as the cooking surface for the tortillas she makes. The wheel barrow stove is protected from rains by a plastic tarp and is fired by wood that is stacked behind it.

I stop in El Globo a couple times a week because the price is right, it's convenient and the food is pretty good. El Globo seems to do a pretty good business with its food and selling grande Corona beers (940 ml or about a quart) for 16 pesos with a returned empty bottle. It has a pretty good view of Lake Chapala across the careterra.

I usually get the Milanesa de Res for 40 pesos which is a breaded cutlet of beef with beans, salad and tortillas. Today I went there and decided to try the Camorrones con Ajo which is shrimp cooked with garlic and salad and Mexican rice for 75 pesos along with a grande Corona. It was very good.

Seated at the table next to me were a couple of fellows with several grande Coronas on the table in front of them. They were carrying on a spirited conversation in a sign language, not the usual sign language but more like speaking with their hands. At first I thought they were deaf mutes but later on friends of theirs arrived and they spoke in Spanish. So now I am confused. What was all that sign language all about?

If you followed this blog you know that I damaged my Vaio notebook computer when it fell on the floor at my son's house in Armeria last January. The hard drive 0 failed. I reconfigured the computer from Raid 0 to Raid 1 so I could use it with the remaining good drive. I didn't send it in for repairs right away because I needed to be in touch with the people that want to buy my house in Truckee. The house sale is still not finished and the end of my warranty is in June so I thought that I should get it repaired.

I looked for a place to get it repaired in Mexico but Sony said I needed to send it to San Diego, California to get it repaired. I went to Mail Boxes, Etc. in San Antonio Tylacapan to send it to San Diego. It cost 1,500 pesos to pack and send the computer to San Diego. The good news is the computer was sent and delivered to Sony in San Diego in less than 24 hours and Sony repaired it and sent it back via Federal Express in two days.

The bad news is that Mexican Customs (Adwana) put a hold on it at the Guadalajara airport. I went to my friend Judith's house for two days to await delivery there. After tracking the package, I figured out I had to go talk to Mexican Customs.

I hired my landlord and friend, Jose to drive me to and from the Guadalajara airport and talk to customs. The first day they said that I needed to pay a fine of $30 USD for failing to fill out a form stating I was sending a used computer to the US for repair. Even though I had the money and my passport and FM3 with me, they would not release the computer to me and told me I had to return the next day to pick it up.

The next day Jose and I returned. The fine had increased to $412 pesos but we got the computer. So it only cost me about $2,612 pesos plus a couple meals to get my computer repaired. Actually, I feel fortunate because I have heard stories of Mexican Customs charging the full purchase price in duties. So if you are ever in Mexico and need to send something across the border to get it repaired, make sure you fill out one of those forms.

What’s happening

Upstairs is the future location of Bad Bob's
Bad Bob in the Old Aztec
60's in Paradise

It has been about a month since my last post and I returned to the north shore of Lake Chapala. For some reason, I have not been too interested in keeping this blog up to date. Maybe it’s because not much of interest has been happening or more likely it’s because I have become a lazy old fart retiree who is enjoying the laid back slow life style of Mexico.

Every day since I have returned the weather at “Lakeside” has been perfect, cool at night for a good sleep and warm for wearing shorts and a light shirt during the day. We did have a little rain one evening but since I was already home for the night, it didn’t bother me.

Here is what a typical day has been lately. I wake up around 8 AM, get dressed and turn on the satellite modem and check my email. Then I usually catch a bus about a block away into Ajijic for 7 pesos. Sometimes my neighbor, Ron offers me a ride to town and one day a taxicab driver offered me a ride for 20 pesos.

There are three possible types of buses I can catch, the “Directo” which bypasses Chapala and goes to Guadalajara, the “Secunda” which goes to Chapala and the “Local” which leaves the carretera and takes side streets and ends up in Chapala.

I usually get off at the “El Torito” stop in front of Salvador’s restaurant. There I have several cups of coffee, maybe breakfast and talk with friends at an outside table. After an hour or two, I usually walk to the plaza in El Centro. There I sit on a bench and people watch. Usually friends stop by and we talk. Some days after noon we buy Modelo beer in cans from a tienda on the square for 10 pesos and sit on the benches, read, talk, watch the people, smoke cigarettes and drink beer. Sometimes you can strike up a conversation with someone new. When I get hungry, I usually get something to eat at nearby restaurants.

There is a new to me bar on the square called “El Viejo Azteca” that I sometimes go in especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they have “2 for 1” beer days when beers cost 9 pesos. The police have shut down the Azteca though because they failed to repair a broken window before the Easter processions and fiesta.

One new to me restaurant that I enjoy is “60s in Paradise” about a half block from the square. This place serves one of the best burgers I have ever had. They also make excellent fries and milkshakes. I usually only go when I am real hungry because they serve a big burger. One problem eating here is the price is pretty high, around 85 pesos for a burger, fries and a milkshake but when you’re in the mood for a good burger, you can’t beat this place.

I have prepared a meal for myself on only two occasions since I have returned. I have eaten only about eight Mexican meals, half of those have been tacos from street vendors. So I have mainly been eating gringo style restaurant food. There are a lot of restaurants in and around Ajijic; someone estimated there are over 400. I recently made friends with a fellow from Seattle, “Bob” who is planning on opening a BBQ place on the square which will probably be called “Beto Malo’s BBQ & Bar”. Bob has experience running several restaurants and I hope he can make a success of his new venture but he will have a lot of competition and will open during the slow season sometime in May.

The night life in Ajijic is not usually exciting. Sometimes after a fiesta, the Mexicans party at “The Music Box” until early hours in the morning but usually the restaurants close at around 10 PM and the bars close shortly afterwards. The last bus running is about 10 PM and the taxis quit about then too. So most nights that I’m in town I catch a bus to my San Juan Cosala camp at about 9:15. Sometimes I stay out a little later if a friend has offered to drive me home. Several days I have felt like a siesta and returned to my rig before dark.

I cannot pick up any TV channels here because the stations are over the mountains in Guadalajara. I sometimes listen to music streamed over the internet and watch the light show in Windows Media Player. I usually listen to KFOG from San Francisco (old Rock and Roll) or archived shows from KFAT out of Gilroy (rare and unusual stuff, Rock, Country, Blues, Blue Grass, etc.). Sometimes I listen to a Guadalajara station or watch a DVD movie.

I have decided that I am not going bust my butt learning Spanish. I will continue to pick up what I can and I carry a Spanish/English pocket dictionary with me but I do not intend to take classes. I know enough now to find my way around, order food, find the bathroom or bank, say I’m sorry and thank you. The Mexicans are very good at reading sign language and figuring out what stupid gringos are trying to say.

Right now my life is in a kind of holding pattern with no definite plans. I am waiting to find out if my house at Lake Tahoe is sold or not. It sounds good that it will be sold but until I have the money in the bank I will wait to see if I have to return to California to once again to prepare the house for sale. If the sale can be handled remotely from Mexico, I will do that. Then I will look for a place to rent here or maybe buy. After that then I may put the motor home up for sale. I will probably have to return to the US to deliver the motor home.

So at this point, I am pretty sure that I will be living the life of an Ex-Pat in Mexico. For my next post to this blog I think I will list the pros and cons of living “Lakeside” in Mexico.

Lakeside Again

On Monday, March 5th, I turned over a set of keys to the Casa de Schroeder to Sergio. He and his wife will live there, take care of the pool and plants and do some work on finishing some construction. Norma helped clean up the house in preparation of the change. The next morning, I washed the rig, stored the satellite dish, took a final swim in the pool, took a shower and then was off to drive to Lake Chapala.

One thing that I was not expecting was Norma planned to go with me. It wasn’t until about 5 minutes before we left that I figured out that she was coming too. We got on the road about 10 AM. Everything went well until a little ways north of Ciudad de Guzman, the rig started loosing power every time I stepped on the gas. My top speed was reduced to about 40 MPH and I couldn’t pass a slower truck I was behind. Finally I found a place to pull over and see if I could figure out what the problem was. A Mexican highway patrol officer stopped and asked if I had a “problema”. Si was my answer. At that point I thought maybe I had a clogged fuel filter. The Policia suggested that I turn the rig around and go find a mechanic in Guzman.

I started the truck and turned around toward Guzman and to my surprise everything seemed back to normal with full power again. We continued south until we found a “Returno” and then turned north again. I doubt if the problem was the fuel filter. It must be some intermittent electrical problem where not all cylinders were firing. If any readers with a mechanical bent have an idea what the problem was, I would like to hear it.

We arrived lakeside at San Juan Cosala about 2 PM and I turned down the main street that runs by the town square. Well, it being a Tuesday, it was a market day with tiangis at the square and cars and trucks were parked on both sides of the narrow street. Somehow I managed to squeeze the rig through and parked in front of Jose’s house. Jose owns the lot where I had previously parked. Jose and his wife Ilena were home and I paid Jose a 1,000 pesos for another months rent to park the rig on his lot.

Jose and Ilena both speak English and Spanish so Norma felt comfortable. They offered us pecans and we sat and talked for awhile. I mentioned that I may be looking for a house to buy and Jose told me he knew of a place so Norma, Jose and I took a walk to see it. It turns out that the house is only one lot away from my friends, Brian and Ursula’s house. The place was walled with solid metal doors so we couldn’t see much of the house except for part of the second story over the fence. Norma and I hadn’t eaten a regular meal yet that day so I wanted to try out the only restaurant in San Juan Cosala. Jose offered to show us the way. This was the second time I wanted to try the restaurant but again it was not open. We returned to Jose’s house and Jose and Ilena offered to feed us. We had Chili Rellanos, rice and beans and it hit the spot.

Jose told me he wanted to remove the van that was parked on his lot so I could pull my rig farther into the lot on a higher area. Jose is planning on putting a “T” into the large PVC pipe that leads to the septic tank so I will be able to use that. Jose also needed to build a ramp so I could get the rig up to the higher location. The work was done about sundown and we got parked.

Wednesday and Thursday, I showed Norma around Ajijic and Chapala. Norma had not been to Lake Chapala before. I think she liked what she saw but was probably amazed by all the old gringos in Ajijic. I made myself reacquainted with most of the friends I had made previously. We had the gringo breakfast food at Salvador’s on both days. Salvador’s also serves Mexican food so Norma got something she liked.

On Friday at around 2 PM, Norma left to take the bus to Jocotepec and on to El Molino. Jose had told her that she could connect to the bus to Colima from there. I have since talked to Norma on the phone and she arrived home safely.

I like the new parking spot. I have a good view of the lake and hills south of the lake from the rig’s wrap around rear windows. Norma and I used some bricks on Jose’s lot to make a path leading to the rig’s door. There is a photo following showing the new location.



Saturday I have made a reservation for the St. Patrick’s Day meal of real corned beef (rare in Mexico) and cabbage at Tom’s Bar. The Canadian singer Glen Charles will be playing and singing Irish songs. Tom has a new bartender, a cute young woman (about 22) who has been down here a year visiting her grandmother. She is a rarity where most gringos are over 60.

We may have some rain today. I am hearing thunder and the skies are threatening. Yesterday, I saw lightning south of the lake but it didn’t rain here.

This evening I plan to go back into town to go to the Old Pasado where Ron and Sally are playing tonight. Brian and his friends usually go every Tuesday night as they love to dance. Kas and Maria will be there and I want to see them before they leave for Florida at the end of the week.

Here are some shots of stores in Ajijic.

Changes

Today I went to Manzanillo to pick up my FM3. I picked up Norma and her sister, Rosa a little after 8 AM at Norma’s house in the Valle de Sol colonia. My idea in leaving this early was to get to the immigration offices around 9 AM when they open, thinking I would get a good place in line and not have to wait very long. Well, others seemed to have had this idea and the wait was about an hour and a half. I provided the January bank statement immigration had requested and shortly thereafter got the FM3. The FM3 booklet almost looks like a passport.

I have had a problem with my son, Marc and as a result will be leaving his house, Casa de Schroeder in Armeria. I am a little sad about this turn of events because I will miss out watching the plants grow that Norma and I planted and I enjoyed using the swimming pool. However, I probably would have suffered during the hot summer even with the swimming pool to cool off in. The major problem would have been trying to sleep nights when it is 95 degrees and humid for weeks at a time.

Of course, air conditioning could be installed but then you have to pay to use it. A major reason I was moved to sell my house in Truckee near Lake Tahoe is that I couldn’t afford to keep it warm during the winter. And of the two situations, I would rather pay to keep warm than pay to stay cool. This turn of events has me again in search of the perfect climate, not too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

Another thing that I realize after this time in Armeria is that I would not be happy living as the only gringo in a Mexican community. Not that I miss the company of gringos that much but because in areas where they live, there are more services which cater to them. Mainly I miss a variety of foods that are not available here. As I have said before, I’m bored with eating just Mexican food every day.

I am now planning on returning to the Lake Chapala area. The climate is almost perfect and you have access to different kinds of foods. I checked with a friend and I think that the spot I parked my RV in before is available. If so, I will park there for awhile and wait for the sale of my house to be completed. I will check around for a nice place to rent or buy.

My relationship with Norma will now be strained with me living at Lake Chapala and Norma living in Armeria. We have talked about this (with the help of an interpreter) and I think that if I can come up with a nice place to live that she may want to join me.

Carnaval in Cuyutlan

Yesterday around 5 PM, Norma and her new helper, BD showed up at Casa de Schroeder and we took off in Norma's truck for Cuyutlan, the nearby beach town for the Mardi Gras parade. The town was alive with many visitors, many from Armeria. We found a place to park near the Hotel Fenix and went there for some margaritas before the parade started. When Olivia and Geoff's daughter, Paola, showed up in a beautiful gown we found out that she was the Reina (queen) of Cuyutlan.

When the parade started, we moved a couple of chairs from the hotel to the intersection in front of the Hotel Fenix and had great seats to view the parade.

I didn't get a picture of it but one of the highlights was a slightly over weight woman wearing a short skit made from coconut bark on the back of a flat bed truck. She was dancing around and would bend over and moon the crowd with her ample butt. Luckily, she was wearing a white thong. A Mexican fellow near me with a digital camera got the perfect picture of the woman's butt and showed it off to all the nearby spectators, much to their delight.

The parade ended at a stage on the beach about a block away so when the end of the parade had passed our location, we moved over to the stage area. The Mexicans have certainly figured out sound re-enforcement and had an excellent system set up that moved your innards when the sub woofers kicked in.

The entertainment was a couple of good bands. One played Santana songs and the other was in the current popular Mexican style of music. I almost had the feeling that I was on the beach at Cancun during spring break.

Everyone moved closer to the ocean when the fireworks started. The show was short but included many star burst motar shells that lit up the sky. There were also a couple of boats anchored just past the shore break that set off fireworks.

The Mexicans sure know how to party and I had an excellent time. I might just be staying here full time after all.

The queen of Cuyutlan and her parents, Olivia and Geoff, owners of the Hotel Fenix.

Norma and BD

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Lazy Daze in Armeria

Here are a couple photos of my rig parked in front of Casa de Schroeder in Armeria, Colima, Mexico. These were taken about a week ago but I forgot they were in the camera and didn't load them on the Vaio until today. Notice in the top picture that the rig is parked under a coconut palm tree. This could pose a danger as coconuts could fall on the rig's solar panels. Before Tonio returned to Guadalajara, he climbed the tree and trimmed it and removed the coconuts with his machete.

The Old Surfer

Tonight Norma and I went to Tecoman, a nearby town of about 100,000, about four times the size of Armeria. Norma had a couple of people she wanted to see and I wanted to check out the Consupo. The Consupo is a government run store that supposedly has low prices on some items and I wanted to know where it was located and to check some of their prices. After Norma had visited the people she wanted to see, we stopped at the Fenix Super Mercado. This is not the Consupo store but Norma said it was better than Consupo. Norma bought some items and afterwards I was in the mood for a margarita and some food. I asked Norma if she knew of a good restaurant in Tecoman. The first place we went to was closed for some reason so we went to a hotel that had a dining room. I can’t remember the name of the place.

We ordered margaritas and food. Norma ordered a T Bone and I had Milanesa de Cerdo, a breaded pork cutlet sort of like Wiener schnitzel. I liked my meal but Norma’s T bone was just too thin to her liking.

A couple walked in and sat at the table next to us. The man was a Whetto (white guy) a little younger than me with a Mexican girl friend. He had on a shirt that on the back said “You will sweat. You will get dirty. But you will never forget it. Troncones, Mexico”. I tried to interpret what the shirt said to Norma. The fellow got up and went to El Bano and when he returned, I started to say something like: “Senor…” and the guy responded in English so I asked him if he could tell Norma what his shirt said in Spanish. Which he did. I asked if he was living nearby. He then informed me that he was a surfer from Texas who was returning to the states. I then asked if he was familiar with any of the nearby surfing beaches and he wasn’t except for one near Tecoman.

I guess that being the only gringo in Armeria is getting to me as I wanted an opportunity to speak to someone who spoke English. I made the mistake of saying that I didn’t know there were surfers in Texas. He responded that didn’t I know about all of the coastline that Texas has. Being from California, we don’t consider the mediocre break in the Gulf of Mexico as “surf” and I said something about it. Well this seemed to piss the Texan off and he told me he came in there to have dinner with his girl friend and he wasn’t interested in talking to someone who obviously didn’t know anything about surfing.

So we finished our meal and drinks and left without saying goodbye to the Texan and his girlfriend.

Keeping it clean

The typical Mexican likes to keep himself and his casa clean. Even if his place has dirt floors, it gets swept and cleaned. This also applies to the street in front of the casa. At sunrise the women start cleaning the sidewalk and street adjoining their place. I have never seen a man sweeping (except for me). The task seems to usually be done by the oldest woman in the house. This task not only gets the street clean but allows one to interact with the neighbors with a “Buenos Dias”, who walk by on their way to work or the corner tienda. The dead leaves and basura are swept into piles and at some time during the day usually burned.

Does the person call the fire department to see if a permit is needed to burn or is this a safe day to burn? I don’t think so. Do the neighbors call the fire department to say that there is a fire? No. The only thing that might be said is if your fire is close to your neighbor’s thatched palapa roof or wood fence is to watch the fire. Does the fire department come by? No. In Mexico, there is personal responsibility for your actions. If you burn down your neighbor’s house, expect to build him a new one.

In the mornings and/or sometimes evenings, the cobblestone streets are watered to keep the dust at a minimum. I’ve seen men involved in this activity. Some days when the water pressure is too low, this doesn’t happen. The water is sprayed carefully so as to not get passersby wet.

You often hear gringos bitching about the basura in Mexico and there is a problem in public areas but the Mexicans usually clean up areas under their personal control and sometimes laugh about the basura problem as they toss an empty plastic Coke bottle. But if it is on their property it is usually picked up later.

Last night, I had an unpleasant experience. In the bedroom, I had a pair of shorts draped over the back of a chair. I moved the shorts and saw on the wall what at first I thought was a large moth. On closer inspection it turned out to be a scorpion all flattened out and scrunched together to make itself as small as possible. My camera was nearby, so I smashed the scorpion with it.

This is disturbing for two reasons. First, I was not aware that scorpions could climb vertical walls and second, my bedroom had been violated. I thought the scorpions would stay outside and hide under rocks or bricks but now they are in the house in an area where I usually walk around in my bare feet sometimes without the lights on at night. And now, I will have to inspect clothes before I put them on to make sure no scorpion is hiding there.

All in all, my current thinking is I may be leaving Mexico. A good old friend of mine who lives near San Francisco is very ill and I want to visit him. The 40th anniversary of “The Summer of Love” is happening this fall in San Francisco. Learning Spanish is harder than I imagined. I’m getting a bit bored here. I’m missing some foods I like. I need to get my Vaio repaired. I may need to be in California to finalize the sale of my house.

I still may look for a place in Mexico but maybe closer to the border, like TJ, Rosarito Beach or Ensenada. After all my main reason in checking out Mexico as a possible place to live was economics. It’s hard to find any place decent to live in the US on a fixed income of social security.

FM3 visa

There hasn’t been much exciting to write about here in Armeria. Now that construction on the new house has been suspended things have settled into a slow, more relaxed pace.

Last week, I went to Manzanillo to apply for a FM3 visa. There is a group in Manzanillo called Manzamigos that helps foreigners in Mexico. I emailed them if they knew of someone that could assist me with the visa application process, thinking that they might suggest an English speaking lawyer who had experience with immigration. The president of Manzamigos, Nigel, responded with an offer to help and listed what he thought the current requirements were for the visa.

I got copy of my electrical bill (to show place of residence) and my passport (all pages). I had my California credit union email me 3 months of bank statements in PDF files. I burned the files to a CD because I have no printer with me. I went to a local Internet café and had them print the statements for me. The statements are to show I have enough monthly income to meet the current Mexican requirements. The minimum amount varies according whether or not you’re married, if you own Mexican real estate or the office you apply at. Nigel told me that at the Manzanillo office the minimum is $1,000 for a single person.

The only thing else I needed was 2” black & white photographs from the front and right side. Nigel told me there was a place at Jardin and Mexico Ave. that could do the photographs. I made an appointment to meet Nigel there and then he would show me the location of the immigration offices. Norma and I drove to Manzanillo and parked near one of the ships docked near El Centro for 6 pesos. When we walked to Jardin and Mexico Ave. we saw a Kodak store and went in to get the photos. A young woman clerk told us that they did not take photos and directed us to a photographer’s studio. We started to walk to the studio when I saw Nigel (yellow shirt, 6’ tall). It turns out that there are two Kodak stores at the same intersection and we had gone into the wrong one. So I was able to get the photographs (4 front and 4 right side) for 60 pesos.

Nigel told me that of North American foreigners in Manzanillo, 80 percent are from Canada. Nigel himself was born in Great Britain and had lived in Canada for 30 years before moving to Manzanillo 10 years ago. We followed Nigel in his car to the area where the immigration offices are located in the harbor master’s building. He told us where the offices were located and left us to try and find parking in the busy area.

We lucked out and found a place to park near the immigration offices. We went in and I got a number to wait in line. About an hour and a half later, I was given two forms to fill out. One was entirely in Spanish and the other was in Spanish with English hints. I was a little confused by the forms and frustrated by a ball point pen that didn’t work most of the time. A nice young woman from Ecuador who spoke English offered to help me fill out the forms. I was surprised to learn that the forms asked for two Mexican citizens as references. I was able to supply that information and then I was directed to go pay the fees for the application at a bank. The fees were 1,172 pesos and 444 pesos for a total of 1,616 pesos (about $147.16 USD).

The bank was about 6 or 7 blocks away and after paying I returned to the immigration offices where I gave them 3 photos from the front and 2 from the right side. Nigel had told me that I only needed 2 each but who knows if the requirements changed or they just saw I had extras and wanted an additional photo from the front. They told me to return on March 2nd to pickup the FM3 and to bring my January bank statement at that time.

Afterwards, Norma and I had lunch at a palapa restaurant on the beach near the immigration offices. We had beers and Norma had a sea food cocktail and I had shrimp with garlic, rice and salad. The view of downtown Manzanillo was great across the bay from the restaurant. Too bad I forgot to bring the camera.

Lately, I haven’t been doing much except cleaning the swimming pool and watering the plants. Watering the plants has been a problem though as there has been very little water pressure for about 5 days. The swimming pool is making me kind of popular here in Armeria as people want to enjoy the pool. The last two days, 8 friends of Norma’s have come by to use the pool. Yesterday, we had a barbecue of beef, beans and tortillas that turned out great on the poolside barbecue.

The weather here today is absolutely perfect as I sit typing this near a window looking out to the pool area. I was using the computer in the rig parked out in front of the house but it is nicer with more ventilation setting it up here in the house. I was having a problem with a very low signal to the wireless router which is still located in the rig and has to go through cement, bricks and rebar, but I fiddled around with the orientation of the router and did some tweaking of the Linksys-G and now the Internet connection is pretty reliable.

I rigged up a TV antenna from a FM radio wire and now have good reception of a local channel on the Vaio. I have spent a little time watching the Mexican novellas hoping it will help improve my Spanish. Norma is picking up some English and sometimes it gets too confusing when you’re trying to learn Spanish. Sometimes I tell her “no mas Englis” when she uses the English “you” because it sounds almost like Spanish “yo” and it makes it harder to learn Spanish.

You might be interested to hear that one of my favorite foods here is the Mexican breakfast of frijoles on a tortilla. I am in no danger of giving up meat however. I like carne asada and carnitas too much. But as I said before, I’m starting to get bored with just Mexican food. In this town the diet is even more limited, like you can’t find good enchiladas or goat stew. I’m lucky I’m not living in a part of Mexico where insects are a popular food.

Before coming to Mexico, I thought it would be easy to cook some of my favorites but when you can’t find the right ingredients it’s impossible, like to make a good steak you need aged beef cut thick. But they don’t age the meat here. I am eating a more healthful diet here, more fruits and vegetables and I’m getting more exercise walking and swimming so I think I have lost some weight.

Bank Frustration

It is my understanding that when applying for the FM3 for the first time that you can do so with your bank accounts in your home country. For subsequent renewals of the FM3, you need to have a Mexican bank account that shows deposits monthly that cover the minimum required for the FM3. In the state of Colima, I think the amount to be deposited monthly for a single person not living in Mexican property owned by them is currently, $1,250 USD.

Since this is the first time I am applying, I really don't need a Mexican bank account but I thought it might be a good idea to get one now and develop a relationship with a local bank. Also, I have been having to go to the bank almost everyday because I can only withdraw $3,000 pesos a day. I need to get enough to make the payroll for the work crew and out of pocket expenses. Another bank account could help reduce the number of trips to El Centro. In Armeria there is only one bank, HSBC.

A couple of weeks ago, Norma and I went to the bank (where no one speaks English) and I tried to open a checking account and get an ATM card for it. The lady made copies of my passport, California driver's license and my FMT. We left thinking that everything was set up for the account. I just needed to wait until I got my first electricity utility bill and bring it to the bank to prove my address in Armeria.

After the electricity bill was delivered to Casa de Schroeder, Norma and I took it to the bank. The required initial deposit was $1,000 pesos which I had. I also wanted to deposit a check drawn on my California credit union account for $1,500 USD. Well, this confused Norma and the bank lady. They thought I wanted to cash the check. Although I said "No combio, solo deposito" I did not get the account. Norma then proceeded to take me to a lady where she thought I could cash the check. Finally I got through to her, I didn't want to cash a check.

I went back to the bank without Norma and tried again to open the account. This time I spoke with an hombre. I didn't say anything about depositing a check and I thought he was going to go ahead and open the account. I was wrong. This time I think he thought that I wanted Norma to be able to use the account so he wanted me to return with Norma.

At this point, I am disappointed in my ability to speak Spanish and I am thinking about putting the idea of an FM3 application on hold. I finally got an email response from the Colima attorney stating that he would get in touch with me the next day and email a document for Denise to sign stating that I was living in her house in Armeria. That was three days ago.

Maybe, I am being frustrated with the so-called "Manana, Manana" trait of Mexicans and need to relax and go with the flow (which is "muy despacio").

Update on the fiesta for Divino Nino Jesus

Last night we went again to the fiesta for Divino Nino Jesus. I walked this time to the Valle del Sol colonia from Casa de Schroeder and arrived about 7 PM. This late, I missed the procession and the outdoor church service was going on. The Aztec Danza group was there again and danced after the service.

This night their performance was followed by another dance group whose name I believe was Conquesta de Mexico. The dancers were dressed as Aztec warriors with bows and arrows that make a clicking sound when pulled and released and conquistadors armed with swords and with one named Cortez on the back of his shirt. They danced around in a mock battle for some time.

After this the fireworks bull made its appearance running and exploding fireworks for about 20 passes through the crowd followed closely by teenage boys not wanting to miss the action. The crowd loved this and I don't think anyone got hurt but the adults did scurry away when the bull got close. The previous night the fireworks was mainly exploding rockets but tonight there were also the beautiful star burst rockets with the remnants sometimes falling amongst the crowd.

The main stage entertainment was a nice looking but slightly overweight woman singer about 28 with blond hair dressed in what looked like a prom gown. She had a nice voice and sang along to a recorded sound track. She started out on the stage but soon enlisted the help of a man who lifted her down to the cobblestone street. She wandered through the crowd and interacted with crowd while singing her songs. Norma noticed this and warned me to watch my Ps and Qs in case the singer should come over where we were sitting.

And come over she did to sing directly to me. This happened not only once but twice she singled me out of the crowd. I guess I should have been flattered but I was mainly embarrassed.

Later on when she was into her encore, she came over and shook hands, first with Norma and then with me. I asked Norma if the singer was from Armeria and she told me that she thought the singer was from the big city of Colima.

The rest of the entertainment we saw before leaving was 3 girls about 13 dressed in short skirts who danced somewhat provacatively to several songs one being Shania Twain's "I am a woman".

By the way, on both of these nights of the fiesta, I saw absolutely no police and no trouble.

On Mexico

I have now been in Mexico for over three months. Shortly after I arrived in this blog I made some observations about Mexico, most of which was stuff that I had heard from others about Mexico, the people and culture. I want to update that with personal observations. I am sure some may differ with what I have to say. I may still not be accurate and I am sure that some areas of Mexico are different from other areas.

I now think that the general feeling that one gets up north that Mexicans are thieves is grossly exaggerated. Since I have been down here the only thieving I have seen is some Pemex employees will short change you. This problem can be easily avoided if you watch the pump, know what you owe and count your change. I have seen other situations where people have forgotten a bag or something in a restaurant and have returned days later to find all their possessions intact and nothing missing.

One thing I find admirable in Mexican society is the whole family has fun together. They can go to a fiesta and the kids are free to run around, the teenagers do their thing and the adults do theirs. Teenagers do not seem to be embarrassed by their parents. You do not hear some of the stuff you hear in the States like: "Johnny, get away from that. Come here!", etc.

A fiesta continued last night. One thing I found unusual was that this fiesta seemed to be confined only to the Valle del Sol colonia here in Armeria. The other colonias did not seem to participate. You could still hear the fireworks explosions here in the El Pelillo colonia where Casa de Schroeder is located but you didn't see the processions.

Norma's house is located in the heart of the Valle del Sol colonia. We were at her house at around 5:30 PM when a procession went by the front of her house on the way to the main gathering area about a half a block away where the street was blocked by a stage, several trampolines for kids, tables and chairs, outdoor restaurant and some booths.

The procession was headed by a dance group. In front was a banner of a man and it said San Juan Diego so my initial thought was the fiesta had something to do with this person but later I came to think that San Juan Diego probably had something to do with the dance troupe. The dancers were about 30 women attired in golden yellow dresses with gold breast plates and adornments. They wore golden headdresses with feather plumes invoking Aztec dancers of the past. I later noticed the banner stated "Aztec Danza".

The dancers had a drummer and the dancers had rattles. The procession was proceeded by young men with rockets who would fire a rocket about every quarter block. The rockets zoom high in the air and explode with a terrific blast.

I regretted that I didn't have my camera with me. After the dancers came a pickup truck adorned with balloons and flowers. In the back of the pickup stood a young boy and at his feet were two even younger girls dressed as angels with wings sitting on the floor of the pickup. After the pickup were a procession of neighbors in the colonia chanting and praying.

At the center of the action where the stage was set up there was also an outdoor church set up where the square would be if this colonia had a park. A sign on the stage said that the fiesta was to honor the Divine child Jesus. What Aztec dancers have to do with Jesus is beyond me but that is part of the mystery of Mexico.

The priest did a short service with hymns accompanied by an organist playing a Yamaha keyboard. After the service, the Aztec dancers danced again and then recorded music started to be played, some of it risque, like Rap about big butts and Mota. Did these people understand the lyrics?

Norma and I got seats at a table in front of the stage and got some Modelo beers. I may just be paranoid or weird but I think everybody in town (at least in this colonia) knows about the "old Gringo" because I hardly get a second glance anymore and people wave and say Buenas Noches. I am now Norma's novio.

The stage entertainment was several different dance groups of youngsters (about 8 to 12 years old). Some were dressed in costumes from other areas like the state of Veracruz. While the adults drank and ate food some of the young boys had fun harassing the dogs with thrown fireworks that would pop when they hit the cobblestone streets. A young fellow flirted with Sara by squirting her with some white foam from an aerosol can. So Sara got a can herself and chased the boy with it. They both ended up with foam all over themselves.

We got some enchiladas and pozole and watched the dancers until I started to fade and wanted to go to sleep. I had arrived at Norma's in her truck which was now blocked by other cars and trucks parked in the street so I slept at her house. Around 3 AM the band started up again and marched around the neighborhood with the fireworks explosions.

Could this have happened in the US? Not a chance. First you would need a permit applied for months in advance with probably a bond for insurance and security guards. You would not have been allowed to have fireworks. Most of the neighbors would have bitched about the noise, someone blocking their driveway, someone trespassing or pissing on their plants. Excuse me but most of the people in the US are uptight assholes.

Armeria house decoration

Here are some images of some of the decoration currently in the house. Most are located on the first floor with one tile being on the outside front of the house. All are tiles except for a framed article on one of Sergio's champion fighting cocks and a painting with the Colima volcano painted by Freddie, the caterer and restaurant owner.

Night of the Iguana

Tonio is a brother of Norma's. He currently lives in a small pueblo near Chapala with his wife, Lourdes and 5 kids. I first met Tonio a couple of years ago when he and 3 other uncles of Denise were in California working for Marc on construction jobs. He speaks little English but more than the rest of the work crew here in Armeria. After Marc and Denise arrived here in Armeria, Tonio came to work on the new house. Tonio is a good, talented worker and I like him.

Just before the Schroeder Fiesta, Marc paid for Lourdes and the kids to come to Armeria on the bus. They stayed in the new house, sharing the house with Marc, Denise, Catalina and Keone. After Marc, Denise, Catalina and Keone returned to California, Tonio and family started using the two beds in the house.

After a week, Lourdes and the kids returned to their home. I started using Marc and Denise's bed so Tonio and I became roommates in the new house. If you know anything about Mexicans, you know that for them to be away from their family is a major hardship for them.

A couple of days ago just before 5 PM, Sergio captured a green iguana that wandered into the driveway. Tonio wanted to keep it as a pet for his kids so he put it in a sack in the kitchen.

Norma and I went to the Hotel Fenix for drinks and some food. While at the Fenix I met Jordan’s dad and we had a talk about Mexico, Keone, etc. When we returned to the house, Tonio was gone so Norma and I had some time alone in the house. I went to sleep and sometime in the middle of the night, Chay, one of the other men on the work crew, and Tonio showed up at the front gate too drunk to figure out how to get in so I got up and let Tonio in.

I couldn't get back to sleep because Tonio was staggering around, banging into stuff and talking. I got up again and he had the iguana and was kissing it. After awhile he dropped the iguana and it escaped.

Finally shortly before dawn, he fell asleep. He managed to get up for work somehow.

While I'm on the subject of wildlife, I tell you about some other in the area. One night at dusk, in the living room, a bat zoomed in one window and out another. One day after a new load of sand was delivered, we killed about six scorpions. On neighbor's rooftops, we have seen large dark iguanas. I have mentioned before that there are now three geckos living in the house.

I think that almost every house has chickens so it is not easy to sleep in late with the roosters crowing. Last night there was another fiesta going on so the night was punctuated by fireworks explosions which got the dogs barking and the roosters crowing.

Tonio told me that Lourdes was sick maybe with appendicitis so he caught the bus and has returned home to his family.

Schroeder Fiesta

The day before Marc, Denise, Catalina and Keone returned to California, Marc had a fiesta at the new house. The event was catered by the Campestre Caminero Restauant located on the autopista between Armeria and Tecoman. One of the owners, Freddie, served as chef and provided excellent food, beer and tequila. Here are some shots taken during the event.