WEEKLY ROUTINE
Apparently it has arrived here - COVID. It seems we are having an Omicron wave. Several reported cases around town, although the numbers are still suspect. Most illnesses appear to be fairly mild. We are not ruling out the possibility of 'false positive' tests. We are concerned but not alarmed and continue to take precautions as before. We are not letting it scuttle our routines too much. We were already fairly much home-bodies.
The urbanization of Bucerias continues apace. As mentioned in our last edition, we are no longer a sleepy little town where the tourists from Puerto Vallarta come to see 'real' Mexico. Nope. We firmly have become an exurb of PV with uncounted condos going up. Just last week a new tower unexpectedly began construction right across the street; the sounds make concentration difficult. And the air has been filled with more dust as the previous building is deconstructed. Apparently there are many people seeking places close to the ocean, probably for retirement, with a balmy climate. Or there is a lot of investment money. In any case, the culture of the town is shifting.
We don't think we would trade for the weather up north. Rebecca composed this as the big winter storm crossed the US, particularly in the east. Freezing temperatures as far south as Florida do not encourage us to be in Philo, probably about 5 inches (12cm) of snow at the house. No thank you.
Mrs.T writes about her weekly routine. She does scuba on Tuesdays, horse riding on Thursdays. Spanish classes Mondays and Fridays. She needs recovery time on Wednesdays and Fridays. And puzzling fills much of the remaining time. She has great fun with fish and horse friends. These activities promote her ongoing stroke recovery and rehabilitation. We received several encouraging comments on our last post about Rebecca's challenges. (Thanks AH especially.) On to this installment:
I was riding Speedy Gonzales up the dried river bed. Every week I ride further before the first trickles and small puddles appear. The first week there were hordes of butterflies and dragonflies of every shape, size, color, and hue. We rode through a magic tapestry of color and movement; I was entranced. The horses splashed through the shallow stream the way a five-year old in boots splashes through mud puddles. I suppose the water drew the butterflies. Now the butterflies are here and there; the dragonflies are rare. As we travel further up the valley we pass the place where a farmer piped water from the river to irrigate his chiles; dry now, the pump gone. The horses and cows, animals who need a lot of water, are nowhere to be seen. Moved to near water tanks I suppose. Occasionally a horse, nearby but unseen, hears us and calls out and Speedy answers, The little pigs wallow elsewhere. The fields beside the river now hold sheep and goats, We travel through a dry, thirsty land.
Mexico, in general, can grow three crops a year if there is enough water
But we are in a dry season and not expecting rain for months. This is great if you are a tourist and want to lounge on the beach. In the North which is the breadbasket of Mexico there is a drought and the price of fruits and vegetables is up or they are not available. (Many things grown in the north are for export. -dt) But Speedy and I have come at last to a place where the river creeps slowly down from the mountains. It is time for us to turn around and amble back. I will stop at the fruteria to buy some mandarinas - tangerines - for us and Pablo's, the horsemaster, familia, and some manzanas - apples - for Speedy and Pinto, Pablo's horse. Speedy is quite fond of apples and I am quite fond of mandarinas. I remember when I was a child we had tangerines (Oranges? -dt) in our stockings at Christmas; what a treat! And now I have them every day, and still I love them.
Nick is here and he and I go down and look at the ocean every day or so. We have always been beachcombers, he and I. Marla loved to play in the waves with me. Dan used to build sand castles with Marla and Nick. Nick and I would wander up and down the shore picking up tiny pink shells, watching the glass crabs, digging up the tiny holes to find the creatures hiding underneath. Dan does not like to go to the beach these days. (I go when asked. -dt) Too much sand, he says. Sigh! (And I am chastised for what I observe there. -dt)
I cannot really swim since my stroke, except for elementary backstroke, in that I go sort of sideways. However I kick around a bit in the pool to get in shape for scuba. If you wonder how I scuba, Alex holds my hand and tugs me in the appropriate direction while I kick. It can be a little contentious when Alex sees an eel in one direction and I see a ray in another, but we manage to work it out.
One day when we were diving we saw a seahorse; this was quite exciting because we don't see them often. It was bright orange. Another time we saw two absolutely huge flounders. Flounders are not unusual but these were by far the biggest I had ever seen. Alex said that because the water was so cold they had come up from the deep. (Tasty meal for Alex if he had had his spear gun. -dt) Then we saw a really big blue speckled puffer. Perhaps my favorite was the grumpy fish. He sat on his two front fins and looked up at me and gave me the evil fish eye. He was about 8 inches long and dappled blue and green with large transparent fins. That fish had an attitude! (They have seen dolphins and whales also. -dt)
The most difficult part is climbing back in the boat, but with Alex shoving from behind and someone on the boat tugging I manage. I might actually do better with a little less help but it is well meant. (There is some similarity to her getting in the saddle. -dt)
Today is the day for the maid so I retreat to the palapa to let her clean. We have a new maid, Ete; Estella has retired. Eta cleans very vigorously and cheerfully. She doesn't know much English, but she likes to do puzzles. Ete is a luxury for us. She changes the sheets, makes the beds, cleans the bathrooms, and mops the floors all in one morning. (And much more -dt) Of course we spend an hour or so cleaning up before she comes. There is something wrong with cleaning up for the maid but that is what we do. I never had a maid when I really needed one when I was working and the kids little. Dan forbad it. I don't know why. ($$ -dt) I have tried using Amish girls since we retired but they don't seem to work out; the fault I think is mine. I didn't give good enough instructions.
Our condo is full of dust and noise. They are tearing down the house across the street and building new condos behind us. I hate it. Most of the new buildings they are building are straight white box-like without the interesting curves and columns of the traditional Mexican architecture they are destroying. I would think about moving but it is the same everywhere. Sigh! The jackhammer sounds like the drill of a monstrous dentist. But there was a refreshing moment when someone dropped a steel plate or some such thing and it peeled like a bell. (Taco Bell commercial? -dt) We treasure the times on Saturday afternoon and Sunday when there is no work and we have quiet. But just when the dust has settled it is Monday and we start again.
Here are just a few photos. We hope you can watch the videos:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzzdfz (Thank you, Ellie and Alexandra - dt)
Some commentary on the photos is appropriate. Mrs.T did not mention her vacation. She took a short trip to Monterey, California, to meet with Rita to visit the monarchs that migrate there and other sites in the area. They visited the aquarium - Rebecca liked the octopus - and drove along the coast in the Big Sur area. The ladies had a good time.
A major news item for us was the big conflagration that destroyed the Masonic Temple in Zanesville. It was the tallest building in the city and housed galleries and studios for nearly sixty artists, many of whom we know. We wish them all recovery from this major disaster. We know that the MCCF, ZAAP, and ArtCoz will do their best to assist.
More visitors ahead. Shortly after Nick departs we will be hosting sisters Ruth and Rita. Rita visits routinely but it has been a while since Ruth came here. It will be a full condo.
Hope you all are well and warm.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
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