A Slow Adjustment

Dear Friends and Family,

I have taken to trying to journal a bit at a time and them post it to you. This, of course, not mean it will be any more interesting than before, but it does help this aging mind keep track of the days' activities.

 

 

Sunday, 27 December

A very gray, very rainy day today. I headed off on my walk, partially in pursuit of a proper litter box. The one our old landlord, Alfred, had given us, along with Kira the cat, was a converted cardboard box. The cat was not pleased with the arrangement and demonstrated her displeasure by "pooping" in the corner of the living room. Point taken! Finding nary a litter box in PV, even at the vet (Most cats are outdoors, so it makes a kind of sense), I headed out to a larger store, Mega. Just as I reached Mega, about a mile and a half, the skies opened up and even after thoroughly searching for a litter box at Mega, it was still pouring. Since I was already a mile and a half north, I thought next stop: Walmart. I scrambled across the highway and was shortly onboard a city bus; the best 7 1/2 peso adventure ride in the area. I reached Walmart, pretty much drenched as it was a good run from the bus stop to the store. In fact, I had to run along the highway for a bit as there was not place to cross the swamps that had formed up against the curbs. Still no little box. However, in a brief moment of creative clarity (desperation?), I thought about just a standard tub in housewares. Voila! A new litter box. So, feeling somewhat triumphant, I caught a cab back home

Rain continued, so Polley and I stayed in the remainder of the morning, reading. About noon, we ventured down to La Fuente. The previous 4 days the place had been dead and we even feared that it was not going to survive. Sunday, it was packed and we had to retreat to a sidewalk table, as there were none available in the actual restaurant. It was clear that because it was not sunny and warm, but rather wet and rainy, tourists had strayed away from the beach and come further into town. The place was so busy, in fact, and the staff so minimal that I had to bus a couple of tables and seat a family and take their drink orders. Ah, the price for being a regular! We must have sat for nearly an hour, satisfactorily sipping our margaritas (we did manage to get those), before we got some actual lunch. As we always do, we ask about the soup of the day. Previously it had been cream of spinach one day and cream of carrot the other two. Surprise, surprise, today it was cream of spinach and carrot! Surprisingly (or not, as their soups always excellent), it was very good. After working our way through lunch, it was siesta time and a bit more reading before heading down to Roberto's for sunset, which we never actually saw! The Malécon was packed. Families, skateboarders, bicyclists, musicians, the whole town seemed to be gathered before us. We were soon joined by a new friend, Russ, from Vancouver, BC. We have seen him and his wife (Yvonne) regularly for the last couple of years, but have never really spoken until right at the end of last season. He was on his own last night, accompanied by his little dog, and ask to join us. A very interesting fellow. A retired tugboat operator (from a family business of more than a 100 years), Russ and Yvonne have been coming to PV for the last 20 years and own a condo up the hill. Despite the gray skies, it was a very nice evening and we talked until it was clear that the little dog had had enough (of us?). So Russ headed one way and we headed up the hill. We comforted ourselves with some wine and a nice bowl of chicken chowder that I had made earlier in the week. Despite the weather and with a suitable litter box in place, we turned in, Polley, Kira and me!

The next couple of days continued rather cool and cloudy. Each day it was up with plans for the beach, only to have the cloud cover dampen out enthusiasm for the trek. So life remained simple and very routine. With the holidays, there are many Mexican families in town. Hotels are full and the nightlife is active (a polite term for LOUD!). The entertainers are out in force. This fellow plays the Angel Gabriel (I would guess) and it is a feat of engineering, as he hovers a foot or two above the ground

Probably the most successful entrepreneur is a fellow who climbs into his bandito outfit each night and becomes a living photo-op for tourists.

Amazing the creativity that comes with a high unemployment level. I have know idea how much he brings in a night, but he seems to be a very busy man.

Yesterday, the sun broke through and the long-awaited journey to the sea was realized. We visited out old haunt, Langosta Loca and I caught a few rays of sun. We reconnected with our waiter-friend Ricardo and swore that we would be more visible this year. Then it was back to Roberto's for an actual sunset.

They have been few and far between so far. More to come I am sure!

 

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