#4 The Foodless Edition....well almost!!!

Earrings for sale at Iguana Rana, the name of our hotel.

This week I have been able to fulfill a dream or wish that I have had for 6 years. Many of you have heard me say how I wanted to talk to an American woman who was a Republican and voted for Trump. I met Wendy at the beginning of the week at dinner and after I'd had three glasses of wine I discovered that she was actually the woman I had been seeking out. I wasn't in my best form so we agreed to meet later in the week and go for lunch. The Virgin Sangria was lovely. I had honestly lost sleep over this coming conversation. It was an excellent talking and listening time and after all was said and I was done, I really like this woman and now have a new very precious new friend. 

This fellow across the road from us is catching bricks. Yes, you heard it right. Catching bricks. Sure saves carrying them up a ladder!!!

A few hours later we had a wall. I thought it was going to be an upper story but Martha told me that it is to prevent people from coming onto the roof of Casa de la Pelicano. That hotel actually has solar panels. I think they are in more danger of disappearing in the night than the pelican that is supposed to live downstairs. 

I love this guy. Every day he comes up the street yelling, "Fresh fish, fresh fish." He is a little odd as he talks to himself as no one else appears to talk to him. I wanted to buy one or two of his fish and have Martha cook it up for us all. The answer was a hard no as she didn't want the smell of the fish to permeate the house. Poor excuse but it is her house!!! I lost.

We needed to get our toe nails trimmed so this guy arrives on a motorcycle with this box attached to the back. Once he is in the house, he starts assembly.

I would have been better off not seeing some of this stuff!!!

I want my nails trimmed not surgery!!!

A Dremel? Yes, a Dremel!!!

Well it wasn't all bad as he finished with a vibrator. Correction.....massager....

On every trip we take there are a few experiences that rise to the top. That are memorable forever. This was one of them.

Our friends Sandra and Francisco took us an hour a half from San Blas for lunch. First we went north east to Tepic and then south east to a restaurant without a town attached. Honestly. Right in the middle of absolutely no where. The scenery on the way was amazing. This country is so gorgeous!!!

Oh look. They have an abundance of kitties here...

On the other side of the mountains there was a valley of field after field of crops, lots of sugar cane, agave, corn. Such fertile land and so well kept!!!

We finally get to the restaurant after I started whining about when are we going to get there. The place is huge. This is how the meat is cooked. Around this fire on these metal rods is pork, rabbit, lamb, goat and chorizo which is a sausage. It was truly an amazing sight.

Sandra and Francisco snuggling up... She has to be one of the happiest people I have ever met. I love spending time with her. 

Sandra did the ordering. Everyone got a plate and a cup of brothy kind of stuff. It was for drinking as a soup or dipping the meat into. I did both. Next is a plate of kind of pickled vegetables. The large cups contained a pineapple drink which was ever so good and then you can see the plate of meat which contains all of the 5 meats that they cook. It is called the family plate. What a feast!!! After we finished this dish of meat we ordered a second. All for the same price. You keep eating until you are full at one set price. So Mexican. We just want you to be happy.

Yes the rooster was beside our table and yes it crowed!!!

This was an interesting experience. I saw the sign on the right saying Damas and knew that was me. Went in. Couldn't lock the door. Did my business. Couldn't flush. "Sandra are you there?" "Yes, I'm right here beside you." "How does this work?" "Go outside, get a bucket of water and put it down." "Ok." And it flushed away!!! Did you know that you never put toilet paper in the toilet for urine in Mexico anywhere? It always goes in the trash. Just a little travel tip.

This is a field of sugar cane. I love the sign telling drivers not to pass. This is a two lane road with lots of twists and turns. Lots of transport trucks and I think this sign becomes a machismo challenge. Watch me!!!

On our way home back in Tepic, we say many trucks such as this loaded with sugar cane. There are two factories to process the cane into sugar. I think I'd like to see how that happens. 

I recently learnt that this structure in the main square was designed by a young woman who had never spent a day in San Blas. It is so not San Blas....

If you don't get food posts, you get pigeon posts....

Will you look at the face on this one!!! He really wasn't sure about these two old folks sitting in the square taking a wee rest.

But when he left, the young prince decided to say goodbye.

Now we are sitting in the market having a wee rest. All of these oranges and carrots will go into liquados or drinks. We have these spots where we like to sit and watch the San Blas world going by. I hate to say this but it is quite hot some days like 30ish. We try to get out early like before 9 but it doesn't always happen so we need our wee rests.

Breaking us is hard to do.

We were sitting outside having eggs benny with smoked salmon Saturday morning when I noticed this couple across the road. Mexicans tend to be very kissy face huggy people and this hug went on and on and on. Then I noticed the shoulders moving and realized that they were both crying. Eventually he sits down here and she starts telling him all of the reasons they can't stay together and he is not taking it well. Hey my good man, there will be another love in your life. Believe me!!!

Hey my Spanish speaking friends!!! Read this and plan to come. It is going to be a fun time and a great cause as a fund raiser for the spay and neuter clinics being held every month here in San Blas and Aticama.

Hey my English speaking friends. I'm going to this fund raiser and would love to have you come with me. Let me know. I really don't want to go alone!!!

I find reading labels for nutritional info difficult here. They tend to give you the details for the whole package not by a serving size BUT look what is on the outside of most packaged goods. See the little octagonal black symbols in the upper right hand corner? The top ones say too many calories and too much sugar. The bottom two say too much saturated fat and salt. Pretty obvious. We ate them anyway!!! The symbols are just about on everything except papaya.....

When coming to Mexico we pack some necessities that we know we won't necessarily find here. A bath mat as the tile is deadly when wet. A plug for the sink and one for the shower drain to keep the scorpions at bay and facecloths. I really want to see someone wash without a facecloth. Boggles my mind. We come prepared!!!

Martha has been ordering Chinese food from some place for ages and says you can have rice or pasta and something else. The other day I convinced her to take me to the Chinese food restaurant. The first one we went to was closed but then we found this one!!! I got 10 different dishes for $19.21!!! We have enough Chinese food for days and days and days. 

Saturday saw us at the Hichol market across from Hotel Hacienda Flamingos. I've had a great time finding earrings for one friend and if you would like something please let me know. I love looking and made Ray promise to keep reminding me that I don't need any more Mexican clothes or jewelry.

At the beach yesterday. I love the vendors who come along with their wears. These are coffee cups hanging in the bags and then there is lots and lots of other stuff. I'm not bargaining any more much to Ray's relief!!!

 What a gorgeous picture to end this blog with.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for the messages. Please pass it on. I'll see you next Monday. Be blessed!!!