the heat, the goddamn heat

With the passing of "winter" here in Mexico, summer is quickly approaching. I am learning what humidity is and it is only beginning. Oh for the love of a small cold front to come through...

When I wake up in the morning I am sweating. When I walk the beach with my dog, I am sweating. Walking up the huge hill to my "home", I am dripping. And all of this is before 9am. There are places on my body that I didn't know could sweat. But after being out at let's say 3 in the afternoon, I find every one of those places, they are sweating. Last night as we ate dinner in the house we were sweating. My friend Joe had more sweat coming down his chest than if he had taken a 5 mile run. And we weren't eating anything spicy...

So you learn to adapt. All housework is done before 10 am. At three in the afternoon you really don't want to go anywhere outside. You stay transfixed to the fans, or at least I do, starring at them endlessly. You have plenty of water in the fridge for at times you can thirst can't be quenched. And some times you just want to pour it all over you. Showers are really pointless, you are sweating as you get out. If clothing was optional in this town, I'd opt for the nakedness. Clothes just become absorbient rags on your already moist skin. But, I don't think it is such a good idea for the white women to be walking around Mexico naked. So don't worry family members, I am keeping my clothes on.

And this is just the third day of it, only the begining. It only gets worse everyone tells me. HOLY HOT NESS!

More later, it is getting close to noon. I must get close to a fan...

Peace and love, H

It's official

It is official, I have been granted the rights to stay in this Country for a full year. Even though some say the process is difficult, I found quite the opposite. As with most business functions (sounds like I am applying for a job...I will need one soon...anyone hiring)I was fully prepared. After asking numerous people, and getting help from a local gal Sarah, I had my folder filled with all the requirements. From forms that describe my nose, my forehead, my chin, my moustache, my eye color (blue-green is not a described color in Mexico-either blue or green), my hair color, my personal references-less telephone numbers-are they going to contact these people to validate-doubtful, to the bank statements, to the prision mugshots, all was had. And so in going in today I was handed the official green passport. I am legal, once again.

Now what does that mean for me, yet to be determined, yet to be determined.

La Manzanilla still remains a beautiful place. And after a weekend spent dogless in Puerto Vallarta with a visiting friend from San Franscisco (god bless Erin Lemoine and a little girl time), I realize that the big cities, while entertaining at night, don't offer the Mexican experience that I am personally looking for. La Manzanilla gets even more quiet with each passing week as the part timers head back to the respective homes in their respective countries. While nice to be more Mexican with each passing day, it does lose the feel it had before as the social circule shrinks. Many of the people I probably won't see again as they don't return until November or later. So once again I must contemplate my next step. This, as allows, is a bit sad as I have had many fun times with the people here. But again, that is part of the experience with my vagabond lifestyle.

So while I await the arrival of friends on June 5th for a fun filled entertained week, I may, just may take the map out, and drop a random 10 peso on it and see what city it lands on.

In the meantime, I will continue on here with various road trips to make (airport trips, etc.) and of course enjoying my morning walk/run on the beach with Maddie moo at my side. Or, at the side of the various food stands (ramadas) on the beach as there is always left over food for her to eat up. I am sure that is her favorite part about being in Mexico - free food on the street, and beach - everywhere. If you can't find her, she has made herself at home next to a bag full of garbage.

With that I bid adieu, or shall I say "adios".

Heidi (or Eidi as pronounced in Spanish) y Madelina.

small animals

It is true what people say, there are a lot of wild animals in Mexico.

Maddie has seen more wild animals in the last six months than she has in her previous life. There of course was the scorpion crawling next to her, and then the countless cows roaming the area, the random horse that just shows up behind Joe's place in the arroyo, I call Stupid Steve, small pigs walking in the street, and of course the countless dogs that roam. But last night I had a different "guest" in the house.

Around 11pm, I was just about to go inside for the evening when I saw Maddie get up quickly and bark at the wall. Now, I know mi perra can be a little crazy at times, but barking at a wall? The last time I saw her do that we had an earthquake. So I go in and turn on the lights when a bat swoops down and flys past me at mock speed. I won't deny the fact that I ducked, or hit the floor as one may say. It scared the crap out of me. But I quickly pulled myself together and went to go find the little thing, but as I did, I went back in my mind to the conversation I had had last week; vampire bats do exist and they live in this town. I had asked many questions last week, like does garlic work, do they bite humans, will I turn into a vampire...you know the ususal important questions one asks. Of course at the time I was kidding, and now I am eye to eye with one of these varmants? And where is the dog, and why is she not trying to chase this thing out...?

I am here to tell you all, use a broom and duck when they swoop at your head. And keep your screen doors closed...

H&M, survivors of scropions, farm animals, bugs and now bats.

Cinco de Mayo

Hola hola

Many of us have heard rumors that Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, I am here to officially tell you, everything is celebrated in Mexico. Granted not to the drunken debauchery that we see so common in the States, but there was still some drinking to be had....

I started by going to the local championship futbol game, La Manzanilla versus Barra de Navidad. It was a big deal since La Manzanilla´s team doesn´t typically make it very far, or so I have heard. The crowd was enthusiastic, and as long as I could keep the beer guy somewhat near, so was I. Imagine a young kid walking around with buckets of beer, and plates of limes...a bit of a dream come true. But even though the game was a close one, Barra was the winner.

Afterwards we heard that a pig roast was happening in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, but we were unable to find it so we went back to my friend´s Mary and Dennis´s restaurant and cooked all the left over food...from shrimp, to steaks, to fish, to rice and potatoes and salad. I had so much fun donning the apron and going to work in an official kitchen as Dennis kept my wine glass filled. After filling our tummies, we headed to the Jardin for the nightly entertainment of loud musica. Have I mentioned before how everything is much louder in Mexico, and how Mexicans LOVE their music albeit the men don´t dance much. So myself with a couple other local ladies proceeded to entertain ourselves with dancing with all the small kids. Many laughs were had, and the kids, as always put a smile on my face. They were having just as much fun as we were!

But now the holiday is over. And I am resting my weary body until the next one, Mother´s Day which in Mexico is celebrated this Thursday. I´ve heard that the festivities begin with a lunch and end with a huge dance. Even though I am not a Mother, I have been invited to attend. It should be another fun filled day...

Until the next time,
Heidi and Maddie moo too.

the end, fin de mes

so the continuation went on...

a week was spent in San Miguel de Allende, finding all the cute little churches and other sites worth seeing. Every morning we would walk to the main square to watch the risings of people, vendors, pigeons and all else that flocked the plaza. It seemed as if that was the local place to hang out and drink your morning coffee or read the newspaper. And then we would begin our day(s) of site seeing. Many miles, or so it seemed, were put on walking around San Miguel. The winding, narrow streets always offered a new view. But I realized that a week was long enough in this town, which along with many art galleries also housed many gringos. And even though I was in Mexico, I at times felt like I could be in a small town in Europe or even the States. We did take a road trip (an hours drive) to a neighboring town named Guanjuato, which had we not had the dogs with us, I believe I could have spent hours there. The town was founded on mining, so the old mining tunnels now act as the roadways for the town. So navigating your way through these small tunnels that wind this way and that way was fun to say the least. It was amazing to see such old tunnels working in such a modern way, with parking below, people milling, bus stops and of course the enivitable vendor selling his-her goods. We were able to walk and see a few of the sites, including one of the most beautiful basilicas I have seen yet with a huge silver chandelier mounted in the middle. It was proof that in its day this town was wealthy. The grandiose of the town showed that even more. With huge wrought iron balconies, infamous, well-kept jardines and teatros (theaters) that you could imagine the wealthy waltzing in. Some of the history of the town includes streets with famous stories to them...the one I liked most was Beso de Calle (if I remember correctly). There, a daughter was killed when her father found her having an affair with an unsuitable man...how is that for parental control? Tradition is that you walk into the corner and kiss whomever you are with. Maddie got to be the receiver of such a kiss, although she really had no idea why! A-ha.

Next we moved onto the final leg of our journey searching for a place named Basque de Primavera, Rio Caliente. That was all the information I had. Oh, and that it was somewhat near Lake Chapala. The drive was long, mostly because we had no idea where we were going and ended up in Guadalajara instead. But finally, at the end of a long, hot day, we stumbled upon the gem of all gems. Luck had it that we find it, literally. But we did. It was a beautiful campsite with fir trees and all the room to move imaginable. No-one else was there, beside the cattle and horses that is. But, it also was 4 km to the Rio Caliente, also known as hot springs. It was a full fledged river about the temperature of warm bath water. The dogs didn't particularly like it, but I did. Especially since I hadn't washed my hair in days...

Then on to home, or La Manzanilla where I remain for a time being.

I have officially applied for an FM3, which allows me and the car to stay in Mexico for a year. My time line was getting close and the idea of high-tailing it to the border because my visa was expiring sounded nauseating. So after pondering and pondering the idea of extending my stay, and after talking to migration officials I finally went ahead and did it. So, as of May 23rd I will have more rights. In the meantime I will stay in La Manzanilla. I just moved into some friend's bungalows, Mary and Dennis, and will stay there for a month. I have also heard word that people are asking if I would be willing to do some long term house sitting. While as appealing as it sounds to live in a huge mansion for free...I also need to be realistic about where I want to spend my time. As of now, everything is up in the air. But, I am still enjoying myself and those around me...but of course missing all of you...

So until the next time, I wish Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Salud. H