IN AJIJIC AGAIN



Doug, Helen and Elva in Hotel Nueva Posada

      We arrived here in Ajijic on Tuesday the 29th.  Checked into the Hotel Nueva Posada for a few days while we find a place for a month.   Met up with our friends, Helen and Doug, and had a nice dinner at Yves.
     This little town is so clean and the air is clear.  We love it here.  Lake Chapala is low again this year but we found out that the threat of Guadalajara siphoning water out of the lake is no more.  Last year there was a big protest against that happening.  Glad to hear they won - for now.  Of course, the restaurants come and go but some of our favorites are still in operation.  I am sure that I have written about the people here before.  They are all so friendly whether they are Canadians, Americans or Mexicans.  Always say "buenos dias" etc.  Thank goodness that hasn't changed. 
     On Wednesday we went to the Tianguis (outdoor market).  It is wonderfully crowded with all kinds of people buying and selling.  You can buy everything from fish to flowers, vegetables and fruit in abundance, nuts and candy, jewelry and pottery.  I really wanted to buy a watch but will wait until next week.  I don't really need to know the exact time right now.
     We walked for about 3 hours and came back and took a siesta.  For some reason, I was a little tired.  We are at a high altitude and it takes a day or so to acclimate.  The siesta was refreshing and we met D & H for snacks and happy hour.  We had dinner at the hotel yesterday and it was delicious.  We are trying to eat only two meals a day and make dinner light.  (Wish us luck on that.)
     Today we looked at a rental house in the Villa Nova area - a longer walk to the plaza than I wanted but it was huge - 3 bedrooms - 4 bathrooms - upstairs - downstairs - mirador.  We would be rattling around in it.  Then we saw another and it was just right BUT she is showing it to a couple who want to rent for 3 months and if they take it we are back in the market.  No worries - we'll find something.
     Tonight we have happy hour with Malcolm and perhaps wll be able to meet our friend Inez for dinner. 
Adios Amigas,

MAZATLAN-GUADALAJARA-AJIJIC



Stephen and Cuquis

      Sunday, we drove from Mazatlan to Guadalajara.  Five hours - really not a bad drive at all.  With our friend, Stephen, along we had a great navigator riding shotgun.  The only tricky part is when we arrived near Guadalajara.  It is such a large city and there are no freeways or such through this old city with off ramps and such so the streets are intertwined.  That is how it seemed to us anyway.
     We arrived just in time for comiida with our friend Cuquis' family.  Yum yum  How lucky can you be.  Cuquis is Stephen's wife and her family is so welcoming and warm.  I have a new fresh appetizer recipe that I will certainly make when I have an opportunity.   It takes a lot of chopping and dicing in very small pieces - jicama, cucumber, miniature pieces of fresh pineapple and lime juice and a little salt - sprinkle with red pepper when serving.  Loved it.
     We were fortunate to stay with Stephen and Cuquis for two nights.  OMG they have the most beautiful house and garden. Strangely believe it - they live in a section of Guad which is called Zapopan and in Zapopan the section they live in is called Seattle.  How about that?    
     Our dinner that evening was on Mexican time about 8 or so, can't remember the name of the restaurant right now but the food was delicious. 
     The next morning we had a delicious breakfast in a french restaurant,"OUI".  While we were there our car was washed by a fellow who had been to Seattle, Portland, Yakima etc.  Our license plate is proving to be an asset.
     Cuquis gave us a tour of her business. She sells all kinds of things, clothes, candles, bibles and all sorts of things for Catholic ceremonies from baptisms to 15 year celebrations.  It is a thriving business and Cuquis is an excellent businesswoman.  I admire her very much.
     I was able to buy some paint pigments in that area of downtown.  I hope to find a wholesaler.  Well, maybe next time.
      We took off from downtown Guadalajara with some directions from Cuquis and my programing the GPS.  We didn't know if we could find our way out of Guadalajara or not but alas we did and made it all the way to Ajijic easy peezey.

BODY SURFERS

 
Here I am sitting in the shade with sun all around watching for two old guys get in the ocean. The waves are crashing on the shore but the tide is low. There they go, two really white guys ready to get all wet. I watch them as they confer about the temperature of the water, the size of the waves or whatever it is they and converse about. Sometimes it is pure nonsense they enjoy.


Overhead there is a person being towed by a boat and is flying high in the air in a multi-colored parachute.

Now the two old white guys are slowly making their way out to the waves. The water is not up to their knees yet unless a small wave comes along. Oh, there comes a big one to jump over. It doesn’t seem as if the conversation has slowed down and the old guys still haven’t gotten their suits wet.

Wet now, they are becoming very brave, jumping and bobbing like young ones.

Small boys, young women and men walking along the shore selling the usual souvenirs.

Okay! Now they swim. I think they are having a great time. Good old buddies.. So far neither has tried to body surf which is ….okay with me. Now BIG waves are coming and the old guys ARE trying to body surf. Hope they don’t scrape something.

Pelicans skimming low over the blue water. Now , the waves are coming really big . The man with the hats - a dozen or more on his head - walks by.

Its been some time, I hope the guys don’t get overtired but - no - farther out they go. Yikes, I forgot the camera but they are too far away to get a good photo anyway. Why should I worry, neither is 80 yet.

Beautiful young women in bikinis fast walking along the beach. People in the shade under the palapas reading their Kindles.

The old guy who doesn’t hear is gesturing so we know he is still talking.

Another parachute guy flyes by. What a view that must be. Sun glistening like diamonds on the blue water.
Now I see the first seadoos going out. In the roar of the waves the motor of the machine is almost silent.

One old guy in yellow caught a good wave - maybe he didn’t loose his suit. Back out he goes.

The beach is so beautiful long and clean. A lovely color against the water, waves and reflections . In the distance three small islands - in the foreground a rather large island of sand and hills and green.


That wave must have left some sand in the suit. Jumping and diving, the years don’t matter - these grey hairs are teenagers again.


Finally Steve and Pete come to shore, stimulated but not tired. Shower off the sand and come to join me in the sun.



COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE

We really didn’t get an excellent cup of coffee for most of the trip including the ones we made and those we bought in the US. We didn’t manage to make a trip to Starbucks so were trying to do it ourselves.

This is a short story of the best/worst coffee ever and I guess this blog should be dedicated to Paul because he managed to “seem” to enjoy the worst coffee ever made.


Paul and I are coffee lovers. We search for the beans, get some flavored ones and brew it up. We both tried with little success to make a cup of strong but good coffee. Paul just about accomplished the goal in Green Valley. Not to be outdone, and to show my gratitude, I thought I would search for a coffee in the Mexican store and make a really good cup for him. I bought expensive already ground coffee and was delighted to invite JoAnn and Paul for coffee and cookies.

I prepared the brew in my “expert” manner, putting in the correct amount of water and coffee, maybe I added a little more just for good measure, and it smelled really, really good like only coffee can.


When we poured it however it was like black coffee syrup - really thick and strong - yuk. However, Paul managed to put in milk (and maybe a little water) and like a good sport drank some. Thanks Paul. My friend, JoAnn, missed the best/worst coffee, fortunately, because she drinks only decaf . Lucky JoAnn.

We finally got the best cup yet in Culiacan for breakfast and I think I have conquered this coffee and have made a good cup or two.



And, by the way, I finally read the package - ESPRESSO!!!

SOME PHOTOS

MAZATLAN AND CHANGES

One of the first things I want to mention is that it is ideal weather here in Mazatlan now. We were heralded by others who proclaimed we brought this beautiful weather with us as it had been chilly the weeks before. The water is wonderfully blue, the surf is lulling us into relaxation after all of the miles we have driven.

We have noticed that the prices of everything here are almost the same as in Seattle. Now that was sort of surprising.


We have met and spoken with many people who have moved back here after 15, 20 and more years of living and working in the states. One young man went to Utah at about age 15, finished high school, married a US citizen of Mexican descent and has 3 US citizen children. He finds making a living difficult because prices are high but wages are low but his family loves being here with all of his family and her relatives. People see our Washington car plates and are eager to tell us, in English, that they have worked in Bellingham, lived in Kent, or Boise or California or Portland. One of these people was at a stop light selling juice, another was a shoe shine man who was older and had left the US a long time ago but still spoke English very well. The knowledge of English gives them only a small edge but does help especially in the gringo areas and in hotels, restaurants etc.

What hasn’t changed is the beauty of the people and the friendliness of everyone. Pete really doesn’t have to practice his Spanish but they let him try and those who don’t speak English almost always understand him. I still have to tell him what they said. LOL

NOW IN CULIACAN



Men of a certain age wear the HAT.



 As we have traveled south it has become warmer and warmer.  I think I left us heading to Hermisillo where we stayed for one night.  Headed out for Guaymas.  Along the way the scenery is much the same as it has been for hundreds of miles - desert and mountains - sometimes very beautiful but .... now we are into more smoke and smog.  Since the landscape is generally the same I will note some things that I saw which are a little different than what we usually see along the highway.

• parakeets in cages for sale at toll stops
• bicyclists on highways
• cattle and goats munching on the median with men on horses (cowboys) guarding so we won't run over them
• people wearing surgical facemasks (are they sick or do they not want my germs or is it the air?)
• man selling eggs with a trick egg where a chick came out
• old men in the median gathering grass or hay
• large farm machines on the highway
• jacaranda trees blooming purple on the mountain sides
• crop dusting planes

So lots of different ways of doing things. 
On we went to Cuidad Obregon a modern manufacturing busy city.  More smog.  Agriculture fields go on for miles and miles growing maize, corn, strawberries and sugar cane.  In the parts that are dry (most) they have some irregation. 
We passed thru Navojoa and went to Alamos, a very small town in the mountains which is supposed to have a large population of anglos but we were the only ones in town that day.  Some beautiful restored homes and some new condos but mainly a nice very Mexican town with the narrow streets.  By the way, the first man we talked to in Spanish was the shoe shine guy who spoke English.  Of course he spent some time in the US.  By this time, it is about 84 degrees but the locals are really cold and wearing coats and hats.
Entered the state of Sinola which must be like the Emperial Valley in California.  So much growing and a long growing season.  We spent the night in Los Mochis and I would recommend the Hotel Plaza Inn. 
Today we made it a short drive from Los Mochis to Culiacan.  Along the way more sugar cane and farms so large we couldn't see the end of the planting.  Then, of course, there were the plastic farms growing along the road side.  Mexicans are very dependent on plastic bags so I guess that is the reason they are blooming everywhere. 
That's all for now.