Mexico Daily Living

Morning Thoughts--Possibly Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:50:00 +0000

It is still very hot here now. I have been having water problems at my casita. The pump isn't working. But the workmen have been here on and off for several days, trying to get it to working properly.

I may have to move. The man who lives in the main house may have to move back to Canada. I can't afford to rent this entire place.

If he does move, he may give me Chico. That is a huge added responsibility for me, especially in finding another place to live. I have a lead on an apartment in town. That might be interesting since I never go out at night. I would feel safe going out at night there because it is just a block from the plaza.

I am not good with change. Especially since I have been very happy in my little casita for six or seven years. I have lost count. I must have had some inkling that moving was going to be in my future when I bought all this furniture.

I was thinking this morning that I have become too complacent. Things have been too easy for me. Life is giving me a kick in the butt..... But what terrible timing. I am leaving for Portland on June 6th for seven weeks. I must have faith that this is all going to work out for the best......

Lunch on the Ajijic Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:01:00 +0000

That young man appears to be on the roof just to pick something out of the tree to eat. Brave man or very hungry.

Pit Bull Puppy is still Looking for a Home

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:56:00 +0000

She is about four months old. She has had shots. She is a really cute puppy. She needs a home. Let me know if you are interested.

An Uncrowded Wednesday Market in Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:31:00 +0000

Morning Thoughts--Cats and Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:35:00 +0000

I have been feeling a lot of guilt about being gone for nine days and not feeding the stray cats. I don't know much about cats. I didn't understand that once you start feeding a stray cat, you are obligated to feed it for it's entire lifetime, or else you will suffer untold bouts of guilt.....

The one tame cat was here two days ago and hung out on my window ledge all day long. She looked very sick so I cooked her some chicken and opened a can of tuna for her. She managed to eat it all. She disappeared yesterday and I worried about her. I was sure she had died and that death was on my conscious. Then this morning she showed up, meowing as usual with great gusto, refusing to touch the dry food that she has been eating for years. Now she wants the good stuff... cooked chicken. Canned tuna.

How did I get myself into this mess?????

I know. Love. Love is a powerful force. I have to admit to myself that I love this cat, the neighbor's cat. So I have the responsibility of taking care of my landlord's dog, Chico, and three cats, two wild ones plus the one that belongs the neighbor. (I also have an herb garden that needs to be watered or else it too will die.) I am going to be gone for seven weeks. My trip to Portland starts on June 6th. I don't know what to do about all of these responsibilities I have gathered up. I can't afford to hire a house sitter. I am like the shoemaker whose kids have no shoes.

More Sunday Afternoon at the Ajijic Plaza Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:41:00 +0000

Ice cream shop on the plaza

Lois and Shirley

Inside the fabric store next to the plaza

Another Friday Market in West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:53:00 +0000

Berries, Ranbutan and other things for sale

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:07:00 +0000

These are ranbutan. They are good but you have to peel them first.

Lunch wish Chico at Bruno's Restaurant in Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:04:00 +0000

Chico and I were the only customers. The restaurants are having a hard time now during the low season. We loved the hamburger.

The Consignment Shop in Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Their roof dog was very suspicious of Chico

The Ajijic Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:58:00 +0000

Morning Thoughts--Home Again

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:09:00 +0000

I am back in my two room casita. One of the downsides of living in these beautiful homes is having to live like this again. Everything together in two rooms. With all these new shelves it will at least be easier to find things.

The wild cats that I have been feeding are still coming around. The youngest looks like she hasn't had anything to eat since I left. I was hoping that while I was gone, they would have given up on me and found someone else to feed them. Instead, they went hungry and I feel guilty. (I can't feel sorry for myself for living like this. Many Mexican families live in just one room. Entire families. Instead of feeling envious of me, they would probably feel sorry for ME because I live alone.)

My herbs have dried up. The outside table and chairs are decorated with bird drippings. Jackson Pollock masterpieces. It looks like today is a good time to reclaim my home. Chico was practically doing back flips, he was so excited to see me.

I hadn't been into the main part of town for nine days and last night when I was riding home I felt like I had been gone for months. I hadn't realized how much I missed the activity of town. It is very quiet out in that gated community. I spent a lot of time watching television. And cleaning up after myself. As I said in a previous post, they have high standards. It takes a lot of work to keep a house looking perfect.

One thing about living in a gated community, it could be anywhere in the world and still look the same. Beautiful and generic. The pool was nice. Wish I had one.

I leave for the States soon. Time to gather up all the gifts I am planning on buying for the people I love. Earrings made out of coconut shells, a hammock, scarves, etc. I will have a suitcase full of gifts. I wish I could pack all of Mexico into my suitcase so I could share it with my loved ones. Imagine this, you open a suitcase and are immediately standing in the Wednesday Market with all the vendors calling out and the wonderful smells and colors surrounding you. I love Mexico....... I am also glad to be back to my humble casita again. HOME SWEET HOME.

More Flowers in Los Sabinos

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 +0000

A Walk along the Carretera in West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:27:00 +0000

These people have chosen not to walk on the path but above it.

This path runs for many miles but if you walk it, be careful of people on bicycles coming up behind you.

I don't know how this part of the barrier was broken. I don't want to know. Scary.

Man on a bike, coming towards me and the dogs.

The hills are very dry now.

This horse appears to be living along the side of the road.

It looks like this shrine was set up for a little nine year old girl. Just in case you are tempted to forget that this roadside path is dangerous, you will be reminded from time to time by these shrines.

Morning Walk to the Pasteleria Francesca, AGAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:16:00 +0000

On the right is Patrice, one of the owners.

This is becoming a habit. Not good for the diet but delicious.

This is Ivette.

I love to walk with the dogs to this French bakery. Is it in West Ajijic on the carretera. They are open Monday through Saturday from nine am to five pm. Their phone number is: 331 840 1109. It is fun in the mornings to listen to them speaking French. The owners are Patrice and Sophie. Patrice doesn't speak any English.

Morning thoughts-- Going Home Again

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:28:00 +0000

I am going home a little early from my house sitting job. It is very beautiful here and I love the dogs but as I have often said, There is No Place Like Home. I miss Chico. I even miss my little overcrowded casita. (Overcrowded with that beautiful handmade wooden furniture. What was I thinking?) I miss my morning walks with my friend and her dog. I miss walking to the Lake Chapala Society with Chico. I miss the Wednesday market.

I am spending the day cleaning and washing sheets and towels. Everyone has different standards of housework. Theirs is up at the top of the scale. This place was spotless when I arrived. The kitchen looked like it had never been used. It looks used now. Even though the maid was here for several hours, there are things she missed. So, I am doing some scrubbing today.

I am going to Portland to house sit for my son and daughter-in-law on June 6th and staying until the end of July. This will be the longest I will have stayed out of Mexico in seven years. And the longest I will have stayed with my family. They will be on two trips so I will have some time alone there.

It is funny to listen to people complain when they return from the States. After living in Mexico for awhile, the pressures that exist in the States are blaring. The thing that people mention the most is how hurried and unfriendly everyone is up there. I always notice my money quickly disappearing. Everything is so much more expensive in the States.

A friend from Portland came down a couple of months ago. She had been worried that she wouldn't know anyone here. The first day she was here, she met a group of expats. They invited her out to dinner and she walked into town and had breakfast with them at the Jardin restaurant almost every morning. She met a man through me that she hung out with for a couple of weeks. She extended her trip an extra month but half way through that she changed it again to leave earlier. Not that she hated being here. She was just homesick.

Homesickness. It is a powerful emotion. I hope it doesn't ruin my seven week visit to the States.

Well, off to work, cleaning this house. As I already mentioned, the couple I am house sitting for have extremely high standards. Their entire house looks like it is a model home instead of a place where people live. I am a lot more lax in my own living standards.

Before he left, the man said to me, "If you get bored and have nothing to do, you can take out one of these two vacuum cleaners and do the floors." Then he showed me how they worked. I didn't want to say this, but I have NEVER gotten so bored that I would take out the vacuum cleaner just for something to do. I can think of a lot more interesting things to do than vacuum the floors. But my standards are much lower.... Chico, I will be there soon. Thank you Leslie for taking care of him.

Beto's Motel in Downtown Chapala

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:46:00 +0000

I went to the spa today and ran into Beto in the hot pool. I have written about his motel in downtown Chapala several times. But I didn't have his new phone number. Here it is: 376 765 2797. Great place to stay. Reasonable prices and half a block from the Chapala Plaza.

Tuesday Market in West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:40:00 +0000

Wicky and Cami loved the market

The entrance before it opened.

Morning Coffee at the French Restaurant in West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:28:00 +0000

Wicky and Cami


I got the waitress to smile. Beautiful woman.

Another smile. Lucky me. Handsome Frenchman.

Lunch on Mother's Day with friends at Tio Domingo Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:21:00 +0000

They are great beggars.

My friends, Shirley and Lois

Morning Thoughts -- Concerning Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:13:00 +0000

I am still house sitting out in the Los Sabinos gated community. I go home on Sunday. Tomorrow I am going grocery shopping at Wal Mart with one of the neighbors. I won't be able to go to the Wednesday Market in town. It is too far away. This morning, I am walking to the Tuesday Market out in this area with the two dogs. The maid comes today and I need to get out of the house while she works. Hard life. Getting out of the way of the maid and gardener. He comes this evening. I will go to the pool while he is here. How did I get so lucky?

I remember dreaming of living here and reading everything I could find about it. I did that for many years so I understand when people write to me with questions. I had so many questions and most of them I had to find out for myself after I arrived. It is difficult to tell others what it is like to live in a particular place.

Recently, a friend from here visited Guatemala and a small mountain town near the lake. Lake Atitlan. I have often thought about visiting that lake because the photos of it are spectacular. But I never seem to get things together enough to travel. Partly because it is so nice here. I have a great life. So why change it? But sometimes I get a little bored. A trip would be good for me. So I sent my friend a list of questions about that area. He decided he likes it there better than here and I wanted to know why. Was there a pool I could use? Was it difficult to find rentals? Would I be able to walk on the mountain there? All the kinds of questions people send to me.

I had to laugh at myself after I sent it off because when I get these kinds of e mails I really just want to say, COME ON DOWN. Find out for yourself. Most all of your questions will be answered within a few days after your arrival.

My friend quickly responded and answered all my questions. I really appreciated that he took the time to do that for me. It also made me realize that I too am helping people with their questions. Most questions are just our anxieties coming to the surface and our desire to control the uncontrollable. Going to new places can be stressful and scary.

I guess asking questions is like going into a cold pool one inch at a time, compared to just jumping in all at once. I think the jumping in all at once is a better way to do it but I am a one inch at a time kind of person. So I too ask a lot of questions and usually I end up not going at all. It is just too nice here...... Maybe I will walk with the dogs to that French Bakery and have coffee and a pastry out on their patio before going to the market.

The Beautiful Gated Community of Los Sabinos

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:34:00 +0000

Lunch at Azul Frida Restaurant n West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:19:00 +0000

More West Ajijic Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:13:00 +0000

The French Bakery in West Ajijic

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia W.) — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:09:00 +0000