December 30, 2008 Tuesday martes
It is cloudy and cool again this morning. The bad weather up north must be affecting our weather down here. I am wearing my blue jeans today.
Larry made 2 trips to the shoe repair shop today. He finally got his sandals back. The cost to have them fixed was 50 pesos or $5.00 US.
We walked over to the bank to get money exchanged as yesterday the rate had gone up. The exchange rate that was posted in the bank window was 13.45 but when we looked at the receipt the rate was 13.50. We would hate to wait for a better rate and it go down. This is one of the best rates we have had. If it goes up—oh well it goes up.
Larry was going to have some tie- chi lessons this morning at 9. He went to the place but didn’t see anyone there. But he really didn’t go in the building he just watched for people going in and saw none so he came back home. Then he saw the guy that was giving the lesions, he said to come back and they could have it anyway. Larry thought he was going to meet him here and the guy waited for him where he was giving them, so Larry missed it again.
We went to the plaza at 5:30 pm tonight in hopes that the club would open at 6 like they keep telling us they do. Bridget joined us at the plaza. The doors did open just before 6, we went in but they weren’t ready for us to go upstairs to order our steaks so we sat at the bar and ordered drinks. Something we don’t do very often.
They didn’t have the NY strip again this week so we had the rib eye again. They were cooked just right and very tender.
My margaritas (I had 2) were 50 pesos each; I spent 100 pesos or $10.00 for my drinks. Last week we spent 125 pesos for both meals this week it was 255 pesos, Larry had 2 beers. Guess I won’t have a drink with my meal next time.

December 29, 2008 Monday lunes
Was cloudy and cool this morning.
Larry went to check on his sandals early, the shop was open but his sandals were not done. The man told him to be back before 7. He went back at 5 but the shop was closed.
We walked to the bank twice today to get some money exchanged but the line was so long both times he decided to wait until tomorrow. We think the rat was 13.10 as the blinds were covering the last part of the rate.
We walked to Kane mini market to get some pina juice. A liter of juice is 7.50 pesos. I bought 2 some mustard and some peanuts all for 54 pesos which is about $5.40 US.
We went down to the plaza and visited with Norm, Jan and Britney.
We bought some sausage wrapped in a wheat tortilla, which we added onions lettuce tomatoes and a few other things. It was better than a hot dog, 2 for 30 pesos, or $3.00 US.

December 28, 2008 Sunday domingo
Music played until 3:00 am this morning. A lot of parties and the wedding party made for a lot of noise during the night.
Took dirty clothing to have washed, I think I had 3 kilos which would be just over 6 pounds. The cost to have it done was 45 pesos or $4.50 US.
We took a walk to the plaza around 11:00 am. We took some of the bread rolls that were spoiled to feed to the pigeons. Then walked around the town trying to decide if we wanted to get something to eat, but our favorite places were closed. Larry decided on an ice cream cone. I got some frozen strawberries, that she added whip cream too for 15 pesos or $1.50 US
At 2:00 pm I walked back to get the laundry. There seems to be a lot more people in town today. The plaza had a lot of people in it.
Larry asked me if I would like to go to the Chinese restraint to get some egg rolls. We got one order of the roll and an ice tea for 73 pesos. They gave us a poster of San Blas and a calendar but we lost the calendar on the way home.
When we got back home they were trying to get the cable up for Ellen’s laptop. For some reason it would not work so they are going to try something else in the morning.
Today has been much cooler, it has clouded over. The bugs that bite have been out all day. They are bad on the new moon and the full moon but don’t normally come out during the day. They like the early morning and the early evening. We have had on our long pants all day.
Now that we have internet here we seem to be spending a lot more time on the laptop than we did before.
I have received news from home about the weather. We have had about 16 inches of snow (glad I am here). Power has been out for some time, not sure how long. One of our renters car port collapsed and totaled his car. I am sure his was not the only one. I hope that our water pipes didn’t burst when they thawed out. While I am glad to be here I really wish it wasn’t so bad at home.

December 27, Saturday sábado
This morning we strung the cable from our place to Ed’s. Ed was not up as early as he normally is so we had to wait for him. When he finally got up we had to get a ladder from Tony, luckily he was back from the beach (he has a restaurant on the beach). Ed plugged in the cable; we have two or three feet more than we needed but that is a good thing as we will be able to attach it to the wall so it will be out of the way.
I am now able to use the internet here at the bungalow. One of the first things I did was sign up for Skype. For those that don’t know about Skype it’s a site that provides phone service. I can now call someone that also has Skype on their computer and the call is free. I can also call someone’s phone for a small fee.
I called my friend in Oregon, we talked for 18.05 minutes the charge was $0.44, a little over $0.02 a minute.
It was so nice to hear her voice, if she signs up for Skype we can also see each other if she has a web-cam.
We went to the plaza and sat with Norm and Jan. Betsy and Britney joined us.
A man set off some type of firecracker. It sat on the ground and twirled around for a few seconds with sparks flying, then it shot up in the air, came back down close to some other people. Then it went back up in the air and came our way but before it came back down it exploded in a flurry of sparks. Was neat to watch but could have hurt someone if one of the sparks landed on them.
I heard a band playing in the street by the church so went to see what was going on. It was a wedding. The band was escorting the car that had the bride in it.
She had a very nice dress; the train must have been 20 feet long.
We had been invited to this wedding but decided not to go as we really didn’t know the couple. I have seen them almost every day setting on Ed’s stoop.
We could hear music until the early hours of the next morning.

December 26, Friday viernes
Tuesday:
We went to the Social Club for their half off steak dinner. We had rib eye as they were out of the New York strip. Larry’s came with a pepper sauce on the side that he could add as he wanted. Both meals came with a salad and fries. Cost was 125 pesos for both meals.
We sat out on the terrace were we could watch what was happing on the plaza. It was very nice, we will do this again.
There has been some carnival rides set up in the streets for the kids. I don’t think they looked very safe but as far as I know no one has been hurt.
Wednesday:
We did walk down to the plaza early in the day. They were selling lobster at the market. They don’t get to sell lobster except on rare occasions. They wanted 150 pesos for a kilo; a kilo is a little over 2 pounds. We didn’t buy any.
I went to Wallis and ordered an apple pie for the dinner on Thursday.
Thursday:
The pie was to be ready by 12:00 but it was not out of the oven until 1:30. They put it on some flat egg cartons so I could carry it back.
The pie cost 160 pesos.
It was a good apple pie, not too sweet and a little tart.
We had a great Christmas dinner. We had turkey, chickens, 3 different salads, pork, seafood soup, mashed potatoes, gravy, rice pudding and apple pie.
We went to the plaza but didn’t stay long as I was very tired. I didn’t even get my strawberries.
Friday:
Larry is not feeling well this morning. We think it may be because he ate too much yesterday.
I went to the Social Club to get on the internet this morning. I couldn’t get on the blog site and didn’t want to stay too long there. I decided that I would try later.
When I got back to the bungalow John Paul said that we have internet. We checked to make sure my laptop would work with the connection he has, it does. Larry and John Paul went down to the store to get the cable that I need.
I just hope it is long enough as I made an adding error and it could be 2 feet to short. If so I will just have to move the laptop.

December 20, 2008 Saturday sábado
Back to the dentist at 9, but I had to wait until 10 to get in. He finished the cleaning and polishing. The total cost was 1250.00 pesos, that’s just under $125.00 US.
While setting in the waiting room I was watching the people at the market that sell fish. Several men brought their catch of the day to sell to the vendors. They weigh the fish then are paid for them. One of the men had the scale so full that it tipped over and all the fish fell on the ground. They just continued to weigh the rest of his fish then they picked up the ones on the ground and reweighed them.
While people are not allowed to park their cars on the street were the fish vendors are a customer will drive up to the stand, look over what the vendor has, then go park the car and come back to buy. I watched one man do this, when he came back to buy his fish he must have bought 25 to 50 of the same type of fish. They may have got them for a big dinner party.
I have also decided on another way to tell if the fish is fresh or not. If they fish is stiff it’s not real fresh.
Its market day, we went as soon as I got back from the dentist. Larry wanted to find some new sandals but had no luck. We did get some limes, an avocado and two tomatoes for 9 pesos. We also bought a pineapple for 15 pesos.
We walked down to the store that sells ham and bought half a kilo of ham and bacon, for 50 pesos.
We stopped at all the shoe stores we could find. I think he found a pair he liked but there wasn’t anyone in the store to sell the shoes.

December 19, 2008 Friday, viernes
Went to the dentist at 9, he had another person waiting to see him. I didn’t get in until 9:30.
Ellen had warned me already that he would say no pain, this won’t hurt. He did ask if I wanted a shot. I told him I would try it without the shot but if it did start to hurt I had to have it.
The top cavity was behind an old filling so he had to drill out the old filling and the cavity, it was a big hole when he was done. He also drilled one tooth on the bottom. I am still shocked that the drilling did not hurt.
I go back in the morning to have the rest cleaned and polished, and then I am done for this year.
We have been trying to get internet service here. There are 4 of use that would like to have it so we don’t have to go to an internet café or the Social Club to get on line. Yesterday we were told that all the servicers are full. I really don’t understand how they can be full; in the states they (the services like MSN) beg you to use their service.

December 17, 2008 Wednesday, miércoles
My mouth is feeling a lot better. I hope Friday goes as well as yesterday did.
Larry took the laundry down and checked out the exchange rate. The rate has gone down to 12.71. He is mad at himself for not exchanging when the rate was 13.21. It’s so much like the stock market you just don’t know when to buy or sell.
Larry went again today to see if the shoe shop was opened. It was not. He said that the street there is getting tore up. They do a lot of road repair during the winter as it is the dry season.
Yesterday they put the stage back up on the plaza. At 5 when we walked down to get the laundry there were some ladies singing on the stage.
At 7 pm they had three groups of children do some dance routines. The first group did some folk dances. I am not sure what the second group did, it had something to do with pineapples. The third group did some sort of Christmas dance.
Larry had bought some ham yesterday; he had the last of it for lunch.
He bought some more buns for sandwiches when we got back from the plaza.
The guy did come to work on the internet but no luck, he will be back tomorrow.
December 16, 2008 Tuesday, martes
Ellen walked with me to the dentist this morning. She came in the room while he worked on my teeth. It was very helpful to have her there, as she is able to tell me what he is saying.
The dentist has no problem with a lot of the things he needs you to do but I did not understand don’t swallow and open your eyes.
I had a tooth pulled. I go back on Friday for fillings.
Larry found a shoe repair shop. He went twice to see if it was open but had no luck.
I stayed in most of the day but at 5:30 felt good enough to go to the plaza to meet up with Bridget to go to the San Blas Social Club for steak dinner. They are half off on Tuesday. We had been told the Club reopens at 6:00; we waited until 7 then went for tortas. Right after we ordered our tortas, you got it then the, Club opened. Oh well we can do it another time.
The tortas with a drink were 37 pesos. Larry had his without a drink, which was 27 pesos.
We are still waiting for the guy to come and get us on line, may be tomorrow.

December 15, 2008 Monday, lunes
Not much happened today. A man was to come this morning to work on getting the internet up and running for us but that didn’t happen.
This afternoon we rode our bikes to the beach. Larry ordered a beer and I had a coco (coconut opened so I could drink the juice).
We could see dolphins swimming in the ocean. Some were jumping out of the water.
After Larry finished his beer he went for a swim. When he got back he ordered another beer and we ordered dinner. He had fish cooked with garlic. I had shrimp cooked the same way. The dinners came with rice, sliced tomatoes with onions and cumberers, and fries. The meals were very good. The total price was 181 pesos.
While we were waiting for our food the waiter noticed that the bugs were starting to bother us, he brought us a bottle of bug repellent to use. It helped right away. Will have to remember to take some with us next time we go.
We got back to the bungalow at 5 pm. This gave us enough time to get ready to go to the park. I had a pop cycle for 8 pesos. Some kids were selling slices of cake, for 10 pesos to raise money for the school. Larry and I shared a slice. It was a good moist cake; it was made with cream instead of milk.

December 14, 2008 Sunday, domingo
Another Sunday without the gas trucks or the water trucks, no loud sounds from them. I think with the new mayor he has stopped them working on Sunday. This means we can sleep in if the bells don’t wake us up.
I didn’t go anywhere today; Larry went for his bike ride and to get some tequila. I did buy some shrimp from a lady that came to our door, half a kilo for 25 pesos. They were shrimp from the sea not farm shrimp.
We did set on the porch and talked some with the neighbors. A Mexican came and sat with us and talked, Ellen was able to tell us what he was saying. From out of nowhere he asked if I did paintings of the sea.
Many years ago I did do some seascape oil paintings.

December 12, 2008 Friday, viernes
The prerecession to the church last night was the biggest one yet. There were two groups of dancers but they were dancing as one group.
We can always tell when the prerecession is close as young boys run ahead to get away from the devils. The Devils are a part of the dancing group, they represent the Spaniards, and the rest are the Indians. The devils will chase after the boys and try to hit them with long socks that have been filled with other materials. The devils also take part in the dance, weaving in and out through the Indians.
Music started playing last night around 9:00pm. It stopped around 2:00 am this morning. Then someone close by was shooting of what sounded like a shotgun, for at least another hour.
Party’s like this will be going on more and more until after Christmas.
December 11, 2008 Thursday, jueves
We were lazy this morning, read some of the book Larry brought down (North and South). I took a shower when I discovered we did have hot water. Ellen had complained to Tony (our landlord) that we did not have hot water this morning.
I reminded Larry that we were to be at a party at 1 pm to help hand out gifts to kids that were from poorer families. We had missed this party last year as we were in PV, and promised Jan and Norm we would be there this year. We left here at 12:30 so we would be there in plenty of time.
We missed it again this year as it was at 10:00 am not 1:00pm. Jan said that they did have a lot of help and hopefully we will make it next year.
Lunch was at our favorite café again today. I had pollo enpanisado, which the cook said was sort of like KFC. It was batter fried chicken. Larry had milanesa d/res which is like chicken fried steak. The meals came with salad, rice and macaroni salad.
We arrived back home in time to greet two more of friends of John Paul’s. John Paul had gone to the beach with his family, but had left with us a note for his friends. I gave them the note then told them that we knew were John Paul had found a place for them to stay and we would take them there.
Later John Paul’s wife told us that we had no hot water. She had taken a shower and ran out of hot water. John Paul and Ed said they would talk to Tony.
We have been trying to get internet hooked up here, Ed told me today it is going to be Monday before we can get it. But then we need to remember this is Mexico and it could take longer. I will go to the Social Club to get on line tomorrow.
December 10, 2008 Wednesday, miércoles
We went to Walla’s for breakfast. We both got poached eggs, which comes with a choice of beans or hash browns. We both chose hash browns. They also serve real coffee, not Nescafe. Price for breakfast was 45 pesos, coffee was 15 pesos.
The poached eggs there are the closest we have found to eggs over easy here in Mexico.
We went to the bank to exchange some of the larger peso bills for smaller ones. The bills come in 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It can be hard for the vendors to get change for anything 100 and above. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10 and while I haven’t seen any 20 pesos. There is also smaller than the 1 peso but they are rarely used.
On our way back to the bungalow we stopped to look at the fish in the market. The dentist saw me and came out in the street to ask if I was going to have any work done. We had to move to the side of the street as cars and trucks were trying to drive down the street.
The cars have to drive down this street very slow as there are vendors on both sides of the street. Not on the sidewalk but on the sides of the road.
So standing in the street, we got a better understanding of what he wanted to do and made an appointment for next Tuesday.
John Paul went to PV yesterday to meet his wife, his son and son’s wife. They got back today at 12:3.
Tony brought us another set of clean sheets for our bed, he asked for the ones we had on the bed so he could wash them for us. He was willing to do this last year but we had taken them to the laundry before I knew he would wash then.
We got all the brick back that we had used last year to make a shelf and night stand. This year they are the legs for a small computer desk and night stand.
This morning we had no hot water so I heated some on the stove so I could do dishes. Around 1:00pm we discovered we had no water. I found Tony and told him. He went to fix the problem and came back to have me check if I had water. When I turned it on in the kitchen there was no water. Tony who does not speak a lot of English said very clearly “oh shit”. He then went and found what the problem was and once again we had water.
We have also moved the dresser/closet to the end of the bed, to make room for the computer desk and to block out the light that shines all night in the window. Our bedroom window looks into our landlords garage, this year he has a light that is on all night, not sure why.
This evening we sat on our porch and talked with our neighbors. We did not go to the park. It was a nice evening; it had cooled down a little, but not to where it was cold.

December 9, Tuesday, martes
I learned to day that the names of the day are spelled with a capital letter like ours are. I am working on learning them, which is why I am using them with my dates.
We haven’t been to the park for the last two days, Larry’s cold was a lot worse, but we are doing much better today.
We did go to the park tonight. Norm and Jan were not there. I hope that they haven’t caught our cold. Bridget showed up and she has our cold. She said that she knew that I really tried to not give it to anyone. We did not touch; I did not cough on her. She did say she come down with a cold at least once a year. I feel really bad about her coming down with this cold.
Larry had a torta for 15 pesos and a drink for 5. He ate while I was visiting the dentist. I walked down to get some chicken for 35 pesos.
I am going to have to have some dental work done, 1 extraction, 250 (25 us) pesos, 2 cavities 600 (60 us) pesos, and 1 cleaning 400 (40 u) pesos. I also should get 2 bridges but they cost 6000 (600 us) pesos.

December 7, 2008 Sunday, Domingo
We didn’t do much Saturday, as Larry is really feeling worse. He did go for his morning bike ride but went back to bed when he got back. He did almost the same thing today.
We did make it to the Saturday market where Larry found a pair of sunglasses and I found a safety pin that he wanted. The glasses were 50 pesos; pin was less than 1 peso.
Yesterday I bought about 14 of the small red bananas for 5 pesos, I gave 4 to John Paul, Larry thought we still had too many but as of this evening we have only one left.
The only thing I have done today is go to the store for juice and tea.
I would like to make some soup but don’t have a large pot to make it in. Looked at one yesterday but they wanted 195 pesos for it. Larry has no idea of what things like that cost at home; he asked if we could wait on getting one.
It’s very quite here today, no gas trucks, no water trucks, and no motorcycles selling tortillas. I know its Sunday, but I don’t remember that stopping them before.
Friday John Paul bought a new bicycle, it’s a one speed, has finders, a basket and a bracket on the back that will hold a box for hauling things. I don’t know what happened to the bike he had last year. He paid 1600 pesos for the bike. The name on the bike is Schwinn.
We won’t be going to the plaza tonight with Larry feeling the way he does.
$33.50 + $17.00 = $40.50 + $60.00 (rent) = $100.50 for the day, now that’s pesos, it would be less than $10.00 with the current exchange rate.

December 5, 2008 Friday, Viernes
I am feeling much better this morning. But I am not going for my morning walk. Larry went for his morning bike ride, then went right back to bed.
At 1pm I woke him up and asked if we were going to the café for lunch. He really didn’t want to get up but did and off we went to the café.
We both had Pollo En Creama Poblana, chicken in a cream soup like sauce. Once again it came with salad, rice and beans.
We went straight back to the bungalow and Larry went right back to bed. I did take a short nap too.
Larry did get up in the late afternoon.
We decided that we felt good enough to go to the plaza, Larry rode his bike but I walked. I can almost beat him down there when I walk but tonight I stopped to talk with Ellen and Nigero (our Landlord).
I had a pleasant surprise when I got to the plaza. The vendors that sell the strawberries with cream were there and they had strawberries. I get a small cup full with cream on top for 10 pesos.
I am feeling a lot better and had strawberries what a great way to end the day.

December 4, 2008 Thursday, Jueves
Oh, to have a headache in the morning in San Blas. The bell ring, the gas man says ah gas loud, the tortilla seller toots his horn, the water truck rings a bell and it goes on all morning.
Early this morning around 5am the church bells rang and three bottle rockets that make a loud boom noise went off. This happened three times. Normally the bells go off at 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30, calling people to church, both morning and evening.
I was going to go with Ellen to meet her Dentist but was really not feeling good. I had Larry put the hammock up so I could lay in it out side. There is less noise out back, I slept real good there and felt a little better when I got up.
For lunch I had the Pollo En Birria, with beans and noodles. Larry ate Puerco En Mole c/Nopales. This was steak in a Mole sauce (thick, sweet sauce) with cactus.
I started feeling worse, so as soon as I finished lunch rode my bike home. I have developed a harsh cough. Larry says I sound like a bull sea lion.
We went to the plaza, mostly to find a store with cough drops. Jan took me to a farmacia (drug store), were I got a cough syrup that will help to break up the congestion. Cost was 15 pesos, the bottle said 100 pesos, don’t know why the difference.
I asked Jan why the bottle rockets with the church bells. This will be going on until the 12th, for the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe. There will be a procession every night; each section of the town has its night. They dress in Indian costumes because the Virgin appeared to an Indian. They march from their part of town, holding candles and singing, to the church.
On our way back to the bungalow we stopped at Martha’s store to see if she had any cough drops as I was going through a real hacking phase. No drops but she gave me some tea and told us were the doctor was.
Then our landlord showed up with some drops. Hope everything helps.

December 3, 2008 Wednesday, Miércoles
We are having our laundry done today the plan is for Larry to take it down the laundry first thing this morning the on our way back from lunch we should be able to pick it up. The laundry opens at 8:00am, before when we dropped our things off early we could pick it up at 2:00pm. We will see how it goes this year.
Around 12:30pm John Paul showed up. He said his wife Milne will be here Monday along with his son Fred his wife and friends of theirs. They will be here for a month and a half. I told him it is good that he is here makes our street feel whole.
At the economical I had Chile Relleno, it was hotter (picante) than the last one I had there. Larry had Fajitas ď Res, what we call pepper steak at home. He said I was very good.
I thought we were going to stop at the laundry on the way back home to see if it was done but he rode right by. He went around 4pm and got the laundry. They had told him it would be ready at 3. Laundry was 40 pesos.
I can now say thank you Larry for your cold, early this evening I started coming down with it.
December 2, 2008 Tuesday Martes
Larry went riding his bike first thing this morning, he saw Britney and learned were she is staying.
He didn’t last long at home and went for another ride. When he got back two nurses were giving a man that was sitting on our front porch a flu shot. After much discussion we decided to get one too. I guess one of the requirements was you had to be at least 60.

The shots were free.

We went to the economical for lunch. We both had a steak cooked like what we would call a chicken fried steak. They didn’t have the menu wrote down on the blackboard. The meals are 32 pesos’ if you eat there and 35 if you take out. They don’t seem to be having as many customers this year as we remember from last year.
When we left the café we rode to the beach. The waves were very calm. Larry was able to walk out quite a ways before it was deep enough for him to swim. It was afternoon and the bugs were not biting. I wish I had my swimsuit on. He also said it was bathwater warm.
I walked down to the market to find some juice but it was after 2 pm so most of the stores were closed. I had to walk to Anna’s before I found something opened.
I wore my pedometer today. I walked 6063 steps which is 2.29 miles. Three years ago my doctor told me I should be walking at least a mile. He wanted me to do it in the mornings but I couldn’t at that time as I had to be to work at 6:30am. It should be easier to get that mile in down here.
We went to the plaza but didn’t stay long as Larry was really tired.
Right after I went to bed at 8:00pm a party started just down the block. They sang songs and played music until midnight.

December 1, 2008 Monday, Lunes
I could hear the bands playing again this morning, same time but farther away.
We had real hot water this morning so I got to take a good hot shower. Yesterday we were without water most o the day.
I went to the Social Club to internet around 10. I walked through the plaza, there seemed to be more people than normal. The fountain was running again.
This picture was taken in the evening of the fountain.
I walked down to the bank to check on the exchange rate, it was 12.90.
By the bank, on the street some chairs had been set out under a tent gazebo, not sure what was going on there.
I walked on to Kane’s Mini Super Market. This time I found salt in a shaker, small one was 250g for 5 pesos’. I also found the peanuts I discovered last year. They are called CACAHUATE ESTILO JAPONES de la Rosa; they are a mild hot peanut with a hard shell covering. 1 bag at 900g was 25 pesos. I also got 2 bottles of pina juice for 15. I spent 45 pesos but down the street I found 50 pesos on the sidewalk, no one was around to see who it belonged to so I took it.
I stopped at the market and got some limes for 5 pesos. So my morning out only cost me the 10 pesos I spent at the Social Club for the coke, while using the WI-FI.
For lunch I finished the chicken I bought Saturday. Larry heated up some of the potatoes, added some cheese and an egg. He had gone to Martha’s store and bought an egg, hard to believe you can buy one or two eggs instead of a carton.
The eggs are not refrigerated, if you buy more than you will use it is best to store them not in the refrigerator, they will last for three months that way, so I have been told. I have never had them that long to say for sure if that is true.

November 30, 2008 Sunday
We were awaked this morning with a band playing around 5:00am. They played for a good 2 hours. I think they were practicing for a party for someone tonight.
We rode our bikes to the beach; Larry did get in the water but not swimming. He said that the water was very nice. We were down there early as the bugs were biting me. I think the best time to go is in the afternoon.
They are working on the street to the beach so it is blocked off for an auto which is nice for bikes. I think they will be done with the street work in two weeks but I could be wrong. They are laying new cobble stone.
We noticed that McDonalds was having spaghetti, with your choice of meat or seafood sauce. I had the meat sauce and Larry had the seafood. We also got a pitcher of lemonade. Total cost for the meal was 192 pesos, which I think is around $19.20 US but Larry said with the exchange rate as it is right now its more like $14.00+US. It was a good meal.
We walked down to the Plaza at 6:00pm, not much going on. We sat there watching people for half an hour then walked back to the bungalow.
I can hear bottle rockets going off and a band playing some blocks away from here, someone is having a party.
The fountain was not flowing tonight.

November 29, 2008 Saturday
We went to the Saturday Market at 9:30 am. I found some sandals for Larry, for 40 pesos. He also bought a papaya for 9 pesos, I bought a kilo of star fruit (too much) for 10 pesos, and a coffee cup for 6 pesos. So we spent less than 100 pesos at the market today.
I went to the social club to finish uploading the Norton program first thin this morning, after the market. Then to Kains super mini market for juice. I buy a coke for 10 pesos while using the WI-FI at the social club. The juice was 7.50 pesos for a liter, I bought three.
Larry was sleeping when I got back from the social club. I woke him up at 1pm thinking he would want to go to the economical for lunch but he had eaten half of his papaya and was not hungry.
I bought half a chicken and a bag of potatoes for 40 pesos. Larry and I had lunch with the chicken and I will be able to have another meal off the chicken and the potatoes will be good for at least two more. If we get eggs I will make hash browns.
We went to the plaza again tonight, they have painted all the benches, and they were black now they are green. The fountain is flowing with much cleaner water.
We have noticed that it has cooled down; we put a light blanket on the bed, and turned off the ceiling fan.

November 30, 2008 Sunday
We were waked up this morning with a band playing around 5:00am. They played for a good 2 hours. I think they were practicing for a party for someone tonight.
We rode our bikes to the beach; Larry did get in the water but not swimming. He said that the water was very nice. We were down there early as the bugs were biting me. I think the best time to go is in the afternoon.
They are working on the street to the beach so it is blocked off for an auto which is nice for bikes. I think they will be done with the street work in two weeks but I could be wrong. They are laying new cobble stone.
We noticed that McDonalds was having spaghetti, with your choice of meat or seafood sauce. I had the meat sauce and Larry had the seafood. We also got a pitcher of lemonade. Total cost for the meal was 192 pesos, which I think is around $19.20 US but Larry said with the exchange rate as it is right now its more like $14.00 US. It was a good meal.
We walked down to the Plaza at 6:00pm, not much going on. We sat there watching people for half an hour then walked back to the bungalow.
I can hear bottle rockets going off and a band playing a some blocks away from here, someone is having a party.
The fountain was not flowing tonight.

November 29, 2008 Saturday
We went to the Saturday Market at 9:30 am. I found some sandals for Larry, for 40 pesos. He also bought a papaya for 9 pesos, I bought a kilo of star fruit (too much) for 10 pesos, and a coffee cup for 6 pesos. So we spent less than 100 pesos at the market today.
I went to the social club to finish uploading the Norton program first thin this morning, after the market. Then to Kains super mini market for juice. I buy a coke for 10 pesos while using the WI-FI at the social club. The juice was 7.50 pesos for a liter, I bought three.
Larry was sleeping when I got back from the social club. I woke him up at 1pm thinking he would want to go to the economical for lunch but he had eaten half of his papaya and was not hungry.
I bought half a chicken and a bag of potatoes for 40 pesos. Larry and I had lunch with the chicken and I will be able to have another meal off the chicken and the potatoes will be good for at least two more. If we get eggs I will make hash browns.
We went to the plaza again tonight, they have painted all the benches, and they were black now they are green. The fountain is flowing with much cleaner water.
We have noticed that it has cooled down; we put a light blanket on the bed, and turned off the ceiling fan.
November 28, 2008 Friday

Went with Ellen to the Social Club to use the WI-FI, it was up and running again.
Went to the economical for lunch I had the Pollo (chicken) Birria (a Salsa) with rice, beans and a salad for 35 pesos.