070119
It's Monday morning and I'd better get started on this weeks page. I got a table and a couple high back chairs from Blanquita last week which will make it a lot more comfortable working at home. The view out my window is of the tented cantina the contractor put up to feed the construction crew working on the condo development across the street. If the meals are not free then real low cost. These hand picked workers seem eager and cooperative to say nothing of being highly skilled.
That black plastic trash bag I've got clothes pinned to the A/C is to duct cool dry air down onto the U/W camera and housing before sealing them up to insure there is no moisture in the housing to fog the face plate. Here's a photo from last year showing the bag in use preparing the u/w video outfit.
The Mission restaurant on 30th that I frequent has a daily lunch special for ~$3. There is a steam table with 4-5 entrée's you may choose from. It is served with rice & beans as well as tortillas or Pan (slices of toasted garlic bread) after an excellent bowl of soup. I like to drink ice water with a twist of lime.
Today was pork chops in a seasoned tomato sauce. The soup was creamed squash they call pumpkin.
It's tough for me to stick strictly to my eating plan with temptations like this.
After lunch I got to watch the Chef start up the grill. He laid out a bed of fresh charcoal that is made out in the jungle. He dug a hole ~6" round and 4" deep in the center. They use a cotton 'waste' material to wipe the grill and cooking tools with, instead of towels. He sprinkled some cooking oil on a wad cotton waste, put it in the little pit he'd dug, and set it afire. While it burned he started to delicately build a dome of charcoal over the fire. In time all the charcoal around the fire was burning nicely and he then distributed the glowing chunks throughout the rest of the grill.
The Mission is near the major intersection of 30th/Jureze as is the bicycle shop I like. Here is the latest model bike they've gotten in. Boy! Could a kid have some fun with that, maybe even turn a buck here and there.
I wonder if we will start seeing them at the ferry dock.
=)
There is a Kudzu like vine that has gotten a head start in the post Wilma recovery and can be seen smothering lots of jungle here on CZ. I noticed this Pallapa has attracted a creeper. I wonder if it adds to the waterproofness.
The cameras foreshortening view makes this cruise ship appear as if it's on it's way up this shopping lane. Similar to a view down my hotels street last year.
As a mater of thrift they use twisted clothesline here and thread the clothes into the strands rater than use clothespins. I'm still using a 5 gal plastic pail in the shower to do each days laundry. It not only cleans the clothes but my feet too. Over 75% of our clothes wear occurs in the dryer. Just look at the lint trap. Also I like the smell of line dried clothes.
Jerry from the clubhouse and I rode up North to look over the Marina and stopped in to visit Lynda in her new diggs. Here is a little VW we passed along the way.
There is a faux castle near the marina with the most artful stonework.
Last year I wrote a little about a yellow Warrham catamaran that came gliding in from Florida on the heels of Wilma. Apparently the owner had been leasing a local cat for day trips and snorkeling tours with the understanding that he would carry his own insurance in addition to the lessors policy. Because of some misunderstandings and a bit of bad luck the boat was destroyed by Wilma without his having his policy in force. He thought he had it all sorted out when he brought the yellow one down but. . . . .
Another favorite place to stray from the eating plan is still La Choza. Their Azteca soup is $3.50 and all the chips and yellow salsa you can eat. (the salsa is to die for) Visit previous years for more on this great place.
Early Sunday morning I took off for PDC on the ferry.
It is rumored that Bill Gates is back on-island for a visit.
Some say to visit with the new Mexican President at his local retreat.
As the ferry left for PDC there was a nice view of the CZ coast North of the ferry dock.
Scroll right to view, Bill >>--> >>-->
As soon as we left the dock things changed. There had been nice East wind blowing all morning and we headed into the white caps from the deceptive calm of the inner coast.
Lots of 'sky, water, sky' views out the side windows again and the bilious lavender barf bags were handed out with abandon. I survived. . . . . again.
The event that lured me off the 'Rock' was a double sobriety celebration at the PDC AA club-house and a visit with a couple who had just moved from CZ to PDC for the second half of their winter stay in Mexico. There is a Men's meeting at 8:30am I was trying for and stopped at the bakery for a few chunks of the greatest bread puuuuuding to take along. I passed the old 'Green Chairs' location on the way and couldn't believe the remodeling going on. It's going to be a palace when they're done.
After the meeting I got a chance to visit the new Wal-Mart and found it quite amazing. Unfortunately there wasn't much I really needed. I just had to take a picture of this 'high art' packaging. It must have taken a while to teach a machine to make that box but Wow! what a sexy box!
In years past I've enjoyed keeping an eye on this little wood shack. It looks like a Yuppie finally found the right price.
There is a clothing store on 5th (the pedestrian only shopping street) that still offers a book exchange.
After the 5:30pm meeting we all caravaned over to Roy and Dianne's place in Phase 2 for a pot luck birthday party and it was awesome. So many friendly familiar faces and lots of new ones too. It was well worth the trip.
The ferry trip back was into the wind and even more exciting. Most of the passengers on the back deck were driven indoors by the wind and spray. There was a drunk tourist who had his hand in his pocket clutching all that strange paper money until the boat took a lurch and he had to reach out to hang on. The cash flew everywhere and these lovely Mayan people happily helped him gather it up and I don't think he lost one bill. It was a sight to behold. Lots of laughter and shouting.
When we got back to CZ there was a Cuban band in the Plaza just starting up so there was much stylish Latin dancing.
I belong to a bike club in Minneapolis and post update notices to their discussion list. In the past I've taken some guff for not showing enough bike pictures. The problem is that the bicycle is less of an art form than are cars here. Non the less, here is a Senorita's bike I spotter the other night that's well worth publishing. Note the wooden kiddie seat with foot pegs on the fork.
I've also taken some guff from you gals about all the car stuff. Sorry, this thing goes out to a very diverse readership. And just lookie here at another Smart car I found with a good view of it's trunk and some interior details. Check the size of that ignition key behind the shifter!
Last summer Walgreens in Minneapolis were offering fake Crocs for $8 and I bought a pair. They were OK except the plastic rivet that secures the strap was too long and it's edge would wear a blister on the arch of my foot. The Mexicans are such clever folk they just eliminated the strap and rivets all together, cured the problem and reduced the manufacturing cost.
The VW Thing was manufactured in Mexico and you still see a few around. This is my favorite configuration, with the windshield down. It's like riding a motorcycle except you don't have to put your feet down when stopped. P.S., the doors come off easily too.
This is a double bungalow they were working on last year.
I stopped and took a closer look at the local 'Kudzu'. Any ideas what it actually is?
When I show up at the library I begin by unpacking my iBook.
I carry it in a backpack in a plastic pail because of the water-proof seal, and it seems to be pretty good 'theft' camouflage.
The library is well managed and staffed but not much used; pity. This is one of three rooms plus the computer lab.
The AC in the lab is too cold for me so I WiFi from here. There is an electrical outlet behind me.
Now be honest, when is the last time you heard the sound of a typewriter? I looked up the word for 'modern' in my Spanish dictionary and she smiled. She is working on a form the library bureaucracy uses.
Prior to the cruise ships arrival there are activities the passengers can sign up for. One is to ride in a jeep (count them!) to a beach snorkeling site. There is a lifeguard on a jet ski keeping an eye on the brood.
I should have paid more attention to the snorkelers. They are drifting South which is counter to the prevailing current. As the normal current flows North most of the 'dust' settles into the seascape like a filter. When the current switches direction that filter is back flushed and the dust gets blown all over the place again. Needless to say the visibility was not as clear this day, but OK if you stay close to your subject.
Like this Big Eyed Squirrelfish.
I think this is called Elk horn coral
I still get off on this color orange.
This little Barracuda was quite a way off and with the dust in the water if there isn't sharp detail to record the camera goes soft. He looks close but this view is narrowly cropped and full telephoto too. Great little camera but not magic. I wonder why all the little bite sized fish took off.
This is a grapefruit sized brain coral.
Next we are looking down into a little basket sponge.
What a car day. On the way back to the Air Station to drop my tank off for refilling I found this Smart Sport at the Chedraui grocery store. It appears that the transmission is 'in-line' shifting like a motorcycle.
A couple weeks back I mentioned that a pal of mine was preparing a Sprinter van for use as a mobile cabinet shop. Here is a 'cab & chassis' with a van body.
When I got to the 'Meridiano 87' air station to drop my tank off, I met another diver who said he had used a Triciclo in the past but now preferred his Honda C90.
Well, about all that is left is a sunset. This time lets look out the AA clubhouse window for a view just before the folks start showing up for the 6PM meeting:
If you know of any AA's headed this way, please pass this little flier along:
(you may click/drag or copy/paste it into an email if you wish)
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