Hi. As you all well know I have a dog, I have a car and I thought - hey, why not drive down to Mexico? Well... it was a little more in depth than that, but y'all got the idea. In the posts that will follow, I hope to share some of my experiences, both the good and the bad. Of which I figure will fall into the catagory of either; a girl, or the dog, or the car. Hopefully there will be funny ones to counter the not-so-funny ones, but I can't create the story unitl it happens.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Things that make me giggle

Britney Spears could move here because apparently it is OK, if not common, to drive with a baby on your lap

Men can't dance to fast, modern music. The girls may look like Shikira, the men look like the white guys at my High School dances (no offense boys)

Dogs in heat on the beach. A lot of attempts at reproduction going on there, quite the show at times

No matter how nice you ask, or how specific you are, you just can't seem to get cheese on a taco. If you want queso (cheese), you must order a quesadilla, not a taco!

Only the driver is required to wear a seatbelt...screw the passengers....same goes with drinking in the car, although reversed

When the boys constantly ask me what time it is, just to engage in a conversation. Particularly if they have a watch on

Mexican soap operas. Everyone watches them, at all times. Every store you go into has one on the tele

Alto (stop) signs, no-one stops, they slow to about 45 mph

The crazy gringos here that only socialize with each other and don't speak a lick of Spanish. I mean come on, at least say "hola"

The boys at the military checkpoints. Boy do they stare

Me walking across the bedroom floor at night, on my tipy-toes for fear of stepping on a scorpion. Particularly after the night one joined me in bed

Sweat in my belly button

Mexicans that talk to me really really fast. They think I am a lot smarter than I am, hell, I just figured out how to say damn in Spanish the other day. Pinche calor.
Well, not exactly true, I learned that word a long time ago...

Sweat on the top of my feet

Me standing at the beach during a thunder and lightening storm, praying that the rains would come pouring down on my head. Oh please, oh please I want to be like the girl in flashdance

Martin taking a picture of me standing out waiting for the rain to fall on my head, I'm sure he was thinking, "crazy white girl"

Crazy Glue is called loca loca

Always giggling,
Heidi and Maddie moo too

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

part uno pics

Hola people,

So I have been informed that I listed the same photos twice in my last blog entry, whoops is me...

The correct link for the first part of the trip is under:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IbsmrFwxcOOg


and the second part of the trip is under:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IbsmrFwxcOXA

Good thing I am not in the computer business, I don't do so well with all this techy stuff!

Anyhow, all is still well. Will catch up later.

mucho besos y grande abrazos,
H

Monday, June 18, 2007

Pictures of April travels.

At long last. No, I am not home, yet.

But I finally got some pictures downloaded and ready to share.
Mind you, this is from a collection of 1500 pictures for one month. The cameraman Joe was always willing to shoot. And those of you that have known me for a long time know my hate of the camera...

xoxo,
Heidi y Madelina.

Part uno:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IbsmrFwxcOXA



and part dos is in
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IbsmrFwxcOXA

Instructions for those of you that don't know (ie my mom and other people of that age bracket):

Drag mouse over the web address and copy the web address. Paste onto the direction spot (upper left corner) and hit go, or enter. The album should pop up. It is not password protected. Advisable to click on the "view slideshow" button. Mom, note that there is a button where you can increase/decrease the speed of the slideshow. Someone, for the love of god,please help her, Scotty...?

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Un foto



The girls and I at Playa Parasio

Friday, June 08, 2007

The life, the good life.

As the sun sets and the sun rises. I'd like to be able to give an accurate count of how many sunsets I have seen since November 10th, but like the topes, the curva peligrosa signs and all else that I have encountered on this journey thus far I always think of it far too late.

But with friends here I am able to remind myself how beautiful it is to see the sun setting. Every night around 7pm, we rush upstairs or to the nearest vantage point to watch the inevitable sinking sun. The bright globe seemingly brighter and bigger here than anywhere else. And the comments always the same, "ahh, that is beautiful".

It is like that with every thing we see and do. Their eyes, ears, and nose taking it all in. From the cheap taco stands, to the cute kids on the beach that innocently play in the surf with them. From the constant "hola's or buenas dias" from each passerby to the picture of all of us standing a mere 8 feet from about 20 American Crocidilos that live in the Mangrove's here in La Manzanilla.

And at night while we all sit around the table talking about each of our individual lives and what is going on in the particular moment. My friends elated to be here, but also somewhat jealous of my lifestyle. It is not always easy I tell them. There are the stares, the constant stares. The whistles, the obsession with the white girl. Even though I am not the only white women here, by any means, I seem to be one of the few my age, traveling with a dog and a car, through Mexico. There is the fact that everyone knows me and where I am at 10am, at 2pm and again at 5pm. There is the language barrier, not knowing "exactly" what is being said, but hoping (with fingers crossed) that I have not offended anyone or better yet not said something that gets me in trouble. This morning being a prime example when I told the man at the beach that my dog was married as opposed to being tired (cansado versus casado). You would think I would have that one figured out the many times I have told people I am married. No mom, I have not gotten hitched.

But then there is the beauty of all that and more. The laughs you get when you say things like your dog is married. The fact that my Mexican neighbors look out for me and know when I am gone too long, or there is a stranger up by my house.

My mom always asks what is it I do all day. Her friends asking her. Communicate. That is what I do all day I say. Life is slower down here, people do sit around and talk, and talk, and talk. Sometimes that is not such a good thing, being that gossip also abounds with that. But it is also heartwarming that people do sit around and communicate with one another. If I go to someones house to borrow a book, an hour and a half later I return. If it is with a Mexican, it would take me twice as long since, as previously mentioned, I don't seem to be able to use my Spanish words so well. If you go to the tienda (store), you always sit for a bit and talk with the women. They asking me where the dog is if I don't have her. Or, noting how tranquil it is with nada mucho gente (not much people) around. Yesterday Brooke and I went to get our hair "done" and 3 hours later we emerged. Because along with our incredible Spanish lessons, Maria only speaking Spanish to me so I can learn, it is also a place where people talk. Friends of Maria's showing up to say "hola", or the moms with their kids showing up to get the much needed buzz cut. All the while, talking and laughing. And everyone being courteous enough to speak slowly so we can understand. So while at home we are challenged by the constant clock, the need to be somewhere, or do something, here in Mexico the clock ticks at a different pace and allows one to "smell the roses", or see the buganvillas as that being the prominent flower. If I had been at home, I would have been tapping my foot or looking at my watch after 2 hours, yesterday however, we didn't want the time to end. Brooke and I both wishing that we had spent the day in Marichuey's beauty shop.

Seven months seems like a lifetime in some respects, but it also seems like just the beginning for me. And even more so when you have friends from home visit you and your life here. Thankfully they remind me why it is that I am here. And why it is that I enjoy the lifestyle here so much. And the need to continue my pursuit of exploring and experiencing.

Hopefully all young and old that read this will some day take the opportunity to also smell the roses. Afterall, what is life but an experience of different experiences.

-Heidi and Moo, John, Burton, Michelle and Brooky too.