Fin de Ano 2010

Diciembre 31, 2010!!

It is currently 530pm and after a siesta, I find myself sitting here writing the last blog of 2010.

Before I start telling you about our day, I need to update you about a super fun interaction Bexico had.

Ayer, Bexico was doing some shopping at the little store next to Gabriel the Owls, and had just picked out some headbands and earrings, when in Espanol, the sales lady offered them items at locals pricing. Bexico is now a local…at least at that store!!

And despues, she told Bexico to pick out a pair of earrings for herself, por gratis…free!! A regalo por su she was told. Bexico was feeling great because of the super simpatico Mexican!! 

You know who has also asked that I put a shout out to RJ for the “super fun” e-cards she has been receiving. She looks forward to waking up and seeing what else has been sent her way…possibly in French and possibly for Dia de Padre?

As for my day, it was pan frances otra vez…again!! Then off to meet with Lanny, where I received some interesting feedback regarding our property at Mojon. I have put out some feelers to confirm what I have been told, because as with everything in Mexico, there are at least 3 different opinions. Stay tuned.

Che on the way home…crazy busy, but found real leche!!! Score a latte for Bexico in 2011!!

Also stopped at Telmex to get the address on our bill changed. I did it all in Spanish…even if a few words were missing and some of the verbs were not conjugated correctly!! It was all about telling the service rep that I had a small problem. The address was incorrect, it was causing a problem for the post office, and here is the correct address. Again, it felt good to be able to communicate something as simple as that.

I saw that the otro fitness studio was open, so we planned on going there and then Bexico was going to continue onto Playa Chahue for some sun and oceano.

We packed up and walked to the gimnasio, to find it now cerrado and the operator, Alejandro heading out. He wished us Feliz Ano Nuevo, gave us both some hugs (can you say super friendly…but my first ever hug from a Mexican the size of Governor Arnold?) and apologized that the gym was closed. Heck, it is Fin de Ano, we understood.

Bexico decided to hang with Bubba instead so we came home and had some alberca time. Crowded pool but it was more the screaming ninos that drove me batty and strengthened my resolve that our rental villas will not have screaming ninos in them!!! Behaved ninos are more then welcome!!!

Knowing we are up late tonite for our fun at Mojon (BBB…beach blanket bingo por Annette y Frankie?) we took a rare siesta!!

La cena is our favorito pizza, we will come back and chill and then hit Mojon around 1030pm for the bonfire and fireworks at medianoche!!

I need to make some calls now…hasta luego!!

Have a safe night everyone y Prospero Ano Nuevo from Bubba y Bexico!!

Jueves Diciembre 30, 2010

Well…there is only una dia mas until Fin de Ano!!

And yes, they do make New Years resolutions here too!!

A great day…otro vez…again.

Started the day satisfying my sweet tooth…pan frances por mi desayunos!!

On my way to the gimnasio, I stopped at 3 different grocery stores and found no “real” leche…busy times here in Huatulco. I did manage to pick up some arroz at one store (I have not found this pack in town recently) and then some crema de cacahuate…the trocitos style.

They have 3 styles of peanut butter, creamosa, dulce and trocitos. Creamy, sweet and “pieces”. Trocitos is mi favorito, as it tastes like it is fresh from the shell.

Gym was quiet again. I guess peeps are taking some vacation time? Had a sentence prepared for Rosa and here it is.

First I showed her some calcetin viejo…old socks. Then it was “despues de que ya no se utilizan, Mama los convierte en manos de calcetin de los ninos.”

This is all about sock monkeys. Monos de calcetin. When you cannot use the sock anymore, Mom would make it into sock monkeys for the kids.

I showed her the photo of Bono the Mono and brought a pair of the grey woolies, and she fully understood!!

Rosa left at 1pm to spend some time at the play with her ninos y Padre, and for the first time in 3 months, she wanted a kiss on the cheek (Mexican hello and goodbye) as a goodbye…and to wish both if us well for Fin de Ano. Funny thing…she was with an amiga who had been working out, and she too wanted the kiss!! Lol

Came home, had some alberca time and then went out to meet with Mike and Alison at Los Portales. M&A are from Calgary, have a condo in Pt Angel and we met them briefly at Migracion in Santa Cruz a few months back.

It was a good time and nice to have some Mexico talk with fellow Canadians. Mike had made the drive south as well so we also had that in common. M&A picked up the tab….thanks…and we repaid the favor by taking them to see the Mayor. Mike wanted some fireworks for Fin de Ano and only one hombre in town knows all…Lalo!!

We both loaded up and when Bexico saw the load of munitions, she asked where we were going to light them off…Mojon? I let the cat out of the proverbial bag and told her our plans for Fin de Ano were to go to Mojon despues la cena, and celebrate medianoche on the playa, with a big bonfire y fireworks.

We finished our walk by buying some fresh pan, some more veggies y sandia and then picked up my surf shorts from the seamstress. For $30 pesos, $2.50 Cdn, they took in the waist…we will now bring in my otro pair as well as a pair for Bexico.

La cena was the sausage y pollo in tomato salsa on top of penne. Delicious!!

And ahora? Now we watch Pretty Woman while updating the blog.

Here are the photos from today.

Found this one on the small camera. Our arbol de Navidad before it went to the playa.

On the way to the gym, I spotted the hombre de herbs.

Here is the start of our pile of wood for manana’s bonfire. It is all dead wood from our lot and surrounding lots.

And here is what we will set off....all for $170 pesos. I am not concerned about the first three.

But these next two are home made…hmmm?

So you are now up to date in regards to the comings and goings of La Crucecita.

Manana? I have a 10am meeting with Lanny and since mi gimnasio is cerrado, we will go to the playa and work off some pasta by boogie boarding....and possibly surfing. Mind you the olas are supposed to be better on Sabado.

La cena is pizza and then we will head to Mojon for the show. We might stop at The Tipsy Blowfish as Roman and some peeps will be there celebrating.

I also need to call mi M&P to say hello and I owe mi hermana a phone call as I missed her on Navidad.

Hope your last day of 2010 is successful. All you MS peeps…don’t work too hard.

Hasta luego.

Bubba y Bexico

Miercoles Diciembre 29, 2010

Hola!!

At 930am it was overcast and remained that way for most of the day…in La Crucecita. We did have several hours of sun at Mojon…more on that later.

Pretty standard day. Gimnasio, said hola to Daniel, great chat with Rosa and upon return to the condo, we left for Mojon.

Great news on the trabajo de Bexico scene. She is working on an animation contract for someone in New Hampshire. Felicidades!!

Here are the photos from the day.

Senor Bono is a mono (monkey) and here he is hanging around with the platanos that grow in the back yard of the condo grounds.

Said hello to Daniel and saw this sign.

They are holding a zapatos expo…lots of shoes.

Follow up photo from ayer. Here is the senora’s full mobile cocina y comedor, kitchen and dining room.

I liked the colors of this cowboy's ropa and his surroundings.

Here is a sign on the front of one of the turismo buses. It refers to a religious group from the state of Mexico (kinda like NY NY).

Here is a link to more info on Tultitlan Mexico.

Tultitlán Mexcio

I was at the same street corner as ayer, where all the buses had been stopped. I was taking the photos and saw another truck selling the pine furniture. I had previously taken photos of pine furniture manufacturer/sales people, but I looked closer and saw this.

This nino was mimicking my camera, and then when he knew I had spotted him, he became timido.

As mentioned, a great chat with Rosa. Her hija is in town for a week or so, then goes back to Mexico City for escolar. Her padre is coming for a visit, and her friend Paty is still looking for love, but will only settle for Richard Gere.

Ayer, we bought Rosa a galleta (cookie)…a galleta we describe as a Mexican shortbread. So close to shortbread from home…but never as good as mi Madres!!

Manana, I need to bring a wooly sock to the gimnasio. Por que? I showed Rosa the photos of Bono the Mono and she is stuck on the Ingles term “sock Monkey”. She understands “sock” and “mono”, but nit the concept. It is quite humorous.

Despues (despwes…after) gym, we hit Mojon and had a brief stop at the Copalita. The militar asked us “donde vienes”…where are you coming from? Due to the expertise of mi novia…I was ready. My reply? Donde vienes La Crucecita y adonde vas playa Mojon. Coming from la Crucecita and going to playa Mojon. He asked if we were going surfing and my reply was “bueno olas”…good waves.

A simple conversation, but we are making progress and it feels GREAT!!!

Bexico is hooking us up with a possible Spanish class for Enero…January. The only apprehension I have is that I am good at learning words and stringing them together for sentences, but not so good with the proper use of verbs etc. Important to learn…it will happen one way or another.

Alas, the olas were not great for surfing, but we had some great boogie board waves. It is the Navidad break and we have seen more people at Mojon then ever before. Must have been 4 Mexicans in the oceano and a group of 7 or 8 Canadians hanging around the playa. Crowd control almost necessary!! Lol

The sun was out for the first few hours and then became overcast. Not to fear…the 7 day forecast is sol and more sol!!

As we drove down to the playa from the highway, we saw this.

It looks like a brand new road up to the western headland.

And from our property, we saw some construccion being conducted up in the hills.

Here is our palapa with some new signage.

And after a hard day at the oficina, here is Bexico getting ready to head home.

Waved through Copalita on the way home, stopped at Che…a big run on Coca Light for NYE…and then home for la cena…roti pollo!!

Manana? No special plans, but I may stop by Marina Park (Senor Pucks), to talk with Lanny regarding the Mojon documents I left him.

Have you all made your resolutions de Ano Nuevo?

Hasta luego.

Bubba y Bexico

Martes Diciembre 28, 2010

Hola!! Virtually the same old, same old…won’t bore you with the details. But rest assured…I am not bored living them!!

Here are the photos for the day.

Nuevo ropa por dish washing.

We saw this on the outside of a school and did not know what it meant.

It is the government certification for this escolar privado. If they don’t have the certification, you can still go and learn, but the Mexicans would not recognize the work and grades.

Calle Carrizal. It is a very busy one way street with taxis racing down it.

Lots of turismo buses in town. You rent one and fill it with friends and family and it will tour the country during the holidays.

The smart salespeople on carts know where to set up shop as the buses seem to stop by them, unload the passengers and everyone eats up.

Here we see two carts, one hidden, selling their goods. The first cart is selling fresh fruit stored on hielo.

This is the second cart…helados…ice creams.

Just past this cart, I saw mi amigo Daniel and his HUGE smile!!! He was excited for his photos, asking me how much he owed. I told him they were again gratis, but no more…until ano proximo…next year!!

Here is another street corner showing more of the turismo buses.

More of the carts.

And this smart senora set up her hot food and cart in a parking lot across from the buses. She was busy!!

What the front of one of the buses looks like.

The picture is of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Telmex installer doing his thing. This is a picture of Bruno, the guy who did our work.

Up “garage alley”, there was a Marine bus getting some work done, They had two Marines keeping an eye on things. Here is one of them.

Just another hard working hombre.

Just a sign pointing to 2 of 35 bahias…bays.

Nicely groomed intersection and two of the cacti.

This padre and his nina both said Hola and waved…but I was too late in taking the photo. At least I got the nina waving.

Mi gimnasio.

And all the tables and chairs set up for esta noche’s strata/home owners association meeting.

At mi gimnaso, I had a great chat with Rosa…nothing new there... and then stopped in to see the boys. After that, it was alberca time con mi novia and then we did a quick walk around town.

We are getting my surf shorts taken in an inch…around the waist!! We then grabbed some fresh pan for la cena and some veggies.

At 530pm there was supposed to be the big condo meeting, but it started at 6’ish. Rick & Heidi were there and I showed support by joining them. I really only wanted to bring up the smoking issue, but 3 hours later, the meeting adjourned with very little accomplished and no time for questions.

My suggestion for ano proximo? Send out the notes ahead of time, and don’t let the loud mouth owner talk so much and ensure his drunk wife stays home. Just my observations.

I did enjoy sitting next to and talking with the senora that runs Sueno Real, the condos on Punta Santa Cruz. Bexico and I have stayed there several times and always enjoyed it. The senora lives at Condos Pacifico and recognized both Bexico and myself the first time we saw her here.

Misc from the meeting…a special $3000 peso fee per condo to start up a contingency fund, as they don’t have one. That works out to around $275 US…or $274 Cdn…lol!! Monthly fees also went up by $150 pesos…or $12 Cdn.

Had burritos for la cena and ended the day watching the NFL on TV and at the same time via the internet, I watched the Nucks look REALLY good so far against Philadelphia!! 

Great sunny day today…some overcast rolled in at 4pm. The long term forecast predicts some possible showers on Domingo. We have had no day time precipitation since September 29.

Manana? Gimnasio and then Mojon.

Hasta luego mi amigos!!

Lunes Diciembre 27, 2010

Buenos Noches!!

It is 8pm and we are just sitting in our condo. Bexico is working on a new online project she just received (felicidades!) and I am watching MNF and listening to a group of vacationers get drunk at the alberca. Only a few more weeks…

I must start off by letting you all know that there are no new photos today. I did my usual walk and then Bexico and I did a walk to Telmex y Che, but we saw nothing to take a photo of.

But…going through my USB key, I did find two from Bexico’s collection and here they are.

This is from our first trip to Huatulco in Nov 2004. What a photographer will do to get a shot…walking across the bocana (river mouth) of the Copalita. Agua from the rio flowing one way, and the agua from the oceano heading the other way.

And see if you can guess where this was taken.

If you said Nassau Bahamas, you would be correct. Our room was not ready and it was about 10 degrees Celsius outside. It cleared up the next day…and we found the casino too…were I cleaned up!!

To save you from a ton of reading….bullet points.

-saw Daniel (from Fonatur) and told him he would get his photos manana. He had a huge smile and made my day

-went to get his photos printed and the place was packed. Lot of vacationing Mexicans wanting photos asap

-the town is packed…lots of people here. A cruise ship was also in town and the boys at the jewelry store are busy. Good for them to make some $$

-I was asked at the gym if my muscles were naturally developed. Doph…anabolic means the same in both languages

-Bexico educated me on the use of a question mark in Espanol. Since a phrase can be used as both a statement and a question, the upside down question mark at the beginning of a sentence, tells you it is a question. Esta bien… it is good/fine and ?esta bien?... it is good?

-no mail for us at the Correo…waiting on two letters

-picked up some more pickles…hot commodity since we have only been able to find them in one store

-I have these very small replicas of Mexican peso notes. They are used to fill piñatas, but I use them to put smiles on the cashiers at the checkouts. I slip them the small note and then they look confused for .1 of a second and then smile or laugh.

-still no Telmex bills, but went online and found out that we had one waiting, so we walked and paid the bill. $600 pesos/mes for a phone line we never use but for an internet line that is like gold

-la cena was pollo…delicious

-read online that Mt Washington received 8 feet of snow in 48 hours…crazy!!

No big plans for manana…but surf is supposed to be better on Miercoles so we will hit Mojon then. Also looking into a sorpresa (surprise) for NYE.

Hasta luego.

Domingo Diciembre 26, 2010

Did you all survive? 

Today is Boxing Day in Canada and the UK…I think. Hope you didn't spend too much today!!

Publishers Note/Clarification:           

It was posted in ayer’s blog that Bexico was caught cheating at one of the carnival games. The game was a horse race where you had to roll a golf ball up a ramp and into one of 7 holes. The tougher the hole, the higher the score and the faster the horse went.

Well, the clarification is that Bexico DID NOT cheat or get caught cheating. Prior to the game starting, she was conducting some practice throws and the hombre next to her made it VERY clear that she could not extend her arm too far into the game…if she did, she might win and thus he would lose.

Our day started with desayunos…it was a hash made up of molida de cerdo con papas and salsa de bbq. All topped with some huevos revoltos.

Then we headed to Mojon with our neighbor and her novio. We stopped at La Bocana to grab them two boogie boards, as there are no surf waves right now.

Full security check at Copalita, but no issues and I had a nice chat with one of the soldiers. He asked if we were going surfing and I said no, the olas were no bueno, but we were going to boogie board.

And yup, the waves were ok for boogie…and got better as the tide started coming in. About one hour after low tide is the best time for boogie boarding. I cannot believe how low the tide actually gets.

We rode some waves (Bexico spent hours out there), soaked up some sol and did some landscaping with the machete.

No check on the way home, and once home it was a VERY quick dip in the alberca. The pool is a bit cloudy now a days…we hope that it clears up manana or at worst case, once all the crowds go home.

Chilled until it was tiempo for la cena…watched some NFL…go Colts.

La cena is hamurguesa and the primero uno was delicious!!

Bexico just finished her iChat with RJ & RS, and we await the segundo burger.

Sorry there are no photos today. Hopefully that changes for manana.

Our plan for manana? Back to the routine…gym, the boys and el sol.

Not sure of our NYE plans. After the cost of anoche’s cena de Navidad, we might just go to our favorite pizza parlour and spend the last hours of 2010 with each other. I think we will walk around parque central at medianoche, just to experience whatever may happen here.

 

Whistler has just received 40 inches of snow in the past 48 hours…we sooo look forward to our vacaciones in BC and Whistler!!  

Hasta luego amigos!!

Navidad 2010

Feliz Navidad to all!!

So I am confused again. I was told by some peeps that ayer was buenonoche and by others it was nochebuena. And some people said the 24^th was Navidad and others stuck with 25. Who really knows?

Anoche, I did go out to meet up with the boys. They worked until 10pm and if you did not know it was Dec 24, you couldn’t have told by walking around La Crucecita. Everything was open and everyone was working.

As I approached Gabriels, I saw a pick up drive by with a group of very young ninas in the back, all part of a baby Jesus display. The truck was followed by 20 or so Mexicans carrying candles. Later I told Lalo that I have lived here for 4 months, and have seen 20 parades. They love their parades and fiestas!!

After Gabriels was closed, Lalo, Daniel and I went next door to Bettos and had a few refrescos. The boys don’t drink alcohol anymore, so we were a lively group.

As the night wore on, we saw more and more large groups come to eat. Many of them were carrying a “baby Jesus” that they had taken to Mass and had blessed by the Padre.

Not too late a night, but the area around the zocalo was hopping when I left.

We got up this morning and were surprised to see Santa had found us this far Sud (south). After opening presents, we were off to Mojon. We were not searched at Copalita, but we did stop and give the CO (commanding officer) a 6 pack of Coca normal as a regalo de Navidad. Coke is the primero bebida in Mexico!!

When we first gave the 6 pack over, the CO looked a bit like “what are they hiding?”, but that quickly changed into a very nice smile once I think he recognized us. He did even say gracias…something that does not always happen here.

No good olas for surfing, but waves that I rode, and rode me, were 10 plus feet tall!!

Another shout out to Jay and Krista for dropping this prized borad (and duct tape), into our possession!!

This afternoon was also time for some photos of our arbol de Navidad. Here is what we have to show for the effort.

Our arbol under the palapa.

A few scenic playa shots.

And a few photos with Bexico exhibiting how much she enjoys the Charlie Brown arbol do Navidad…at Playa Mojon!!

Chilled at Mojon and then headed back for some iChats and Magic Jack calls. I managed to say hola to mi Madre y Padre as well as a call to mi hermana, and Bexico had a quick chat with some familia…quick as they were about to eat dinner in Ontario.

We had reservations for la cena at 6pm and upon our arrival, we were told that our seating was now 7pm. Oh well…the drinks were free. Cha ching.

Senor Pucks being owned by Canadians, the ceasars are very good!!

A four course meal and most of it was very good. The friendliness of the staff made up for any culinary shortcomings.

Came home and saw the carnival was happening, so we walked over to the parque. Hilarious as we were the only gringos there and many people just had to stare at us. Maybe it was because Bexico was trying her hand at carni games and was caught cheating and told so by the hombre playing next to her? Lol

And now it is 1015pm and we are home ready to chill!!

Manana? Molida cerdo hash con huevos por desayunos, and then we are taking our neighbor and her novio to Mojon.

And yes…manana is hamburguesa Domingo!!

We hope everyone had a great Navidad. Nice getting a few emails from some amigos!!

Hasta luego.

Buenonoche o Vispera de Navidad 2010

Christmas Eve is here!!! I am told you can either say buenonoche (no "s") which means "the good night" or vispera de Navidad, "the eve of Christmas". Your choice.

Not a busy day for us…but fun all the same. Got up a bit (hee hee hee) later then normal and then we headed out to La Bocana.

Took a new route to show Bexico a shorter way to Santa Cruz, as she may do some yoga there in the ano nuevo. We then stopped in at playa Chahue…a playa at the end of the blvd. We had not been down there before and decided to check it out.

We saw our neighbor Shawn there and said hola. It is a nice beach with some great amenities, so we will use this as our “quick” playa if the alberca gets too crowded. Playa Chahue is only a 5 minute drive from home.

Headed to La Bocana and made the correct choice of leaving the surf board behind. High tide and the waves were breaking right on shore. No good for either board.

So we set up camp and just chill-laxed.

Bexico went into the oceano and made a friend. The young nina was VERY afraid of the water and the waves, but Bexico did her best to keep her calm. Here are some photos.

Nueva amiga.

Discussing the big olas (waves).

Walking out to the grande olas.

Here it comes.

Aftermath of the the grande olas!!

After taking a break from nina sitting, Bexico was asked to re-join the fun. This time she brought the boogie board to see if she could teach the nina.

Strapping up.

Motherly encouragement

Big wave coming. Looks like a change of plan.

Change of plan is confirmed!!

Here is a photo of another young nina who had spent the day on the playa, just amusing herself with whatever was available.

We headed home with a quick stop at Che. Even though they are abierto manana, the place was busy!!

Quick rinse off at the alberca and got out of there pronto. The most people we have ever seen there. Only for a week or two…and we have our own playa to go to meantime!!!

La cena is pechuga de pollo con arroz…ready in diez minutos.  Esta noche? Christmas Eve? We are going to put on our nice t-shirts, some bug spray, and then head out at 930pm to hook up with our Gabriel the Owl amigos. They often eat at that time of night, but we will probably have an appy and some refrescos.

They are all from Acapulco and most of them have kids and are divorced…so no family locally. We thought it would be nice to hang with them for a while tonight.

Misc photo. I found this on a Yahoo chat group site for El Mojon. It looks like the south headland (by the orange casa) but not sure when it was taken. It might have been taken prior to any development.

Manana? Navidad!! Open our presents at Mojon…spend some time in the sol and hopefully some grande olas por surfing!! Then la cena at Senor Pucks…pavo, papas puree, stuffing and gravy of course!!

Have a great Christmas Eve, and enjoy all the festivities manana!!

Bubba y Bexico