February 9

February 9

Because of the unreliability of wi-fi here, in today’s blog I shall attempt to be brief. Attempt!

Shower.

Shave.

Café americano from OXXO.

Watched the dolphins fishing as a pack in the bay in front of the hotel.

Enviously wished all MY  “pack’ a great day on their zip line adventure.

Ley’s eggs and ham with frijoles for breakfast in my room.

Took our laundry to a lavanderia a few blocks away. As I was scanning the street for a sign, I heard, ”Alberto! Where you go?” I looked and there was a man, obviously Mexican waving at me from across the street.

“You don reconize me?” It was Antonio, the man whom I had met at the Plaza the previous day at the band concert.

“Of course, I do, Antonio!”  As I said his name, his face broke into a big smile and there were also a lot of smiles from a group of people he had been standing with. Obviously he had been relating his story to them and here was the living proof walking down the street. He had a small tamale stand which he and his wife ran. He showed me to the lavanderia which was a few metres from his stand. I had missed it because there was a large SUV parked in front of it and a small palm tree hiding the sign.

I signed in my suitcase of clothes. I would pick up our washed, dried, and neatly folded clothes at 6 p.m. All for 39 pesos, about $3.50 Canadian.

Spent a frustrating morning getting my February 8 blog done. Finally able to publish it just before bedtime.

Took a long walk on the Malecon absorbing the sights and sounds and smells of Mexico on the Pacific! 

Looked into some shops and admired some paintings. At the bridge over the river I turned back as my legs were starting to pain me.

Ice and refreshments from Ley’s.

Ham sandwich and a Diet Pepsi for lunch.

Then 3 hours poolside.

At about 4 p.m. the zip liners returned from one of the most exciting experiences they had ever had. A series of 12 zip lines, a burro ride back to the top of the mountain, a lunch, and a return trip to the Malecon with their tour group. Phil got some great pictures with his strap on web-cam.

I went at 5:30 to get our laundry. It was still in the dryer! I paid her 50 pesos for the laundry and she said it would be delivered to our hotel.

The zip-liners plus Millie, who had spent her time at the Botanical gardens, and I then made our way down the Malecon to the La Dolce Vita, a highly recommended restaurant for a farewell supper for Jeanette.

She would be leaving us at 8:00 p.m. for the bus terminal and her overnight trip to Queretaro, a distance of about 700 kms with a lot of mountain driving on a 2 lane highway, PV to Guadalajara, and then a mostly 4 lane highway to Queretaro.

Everybody enjoyed their meal. I had garlic shrimp. Phil kept us entertained with the videos of the zip-lining adventure between meal courses.

We said good-bye to Jeanette at the hotel and made plans to visit her next year at her parents’ place in Merida.

Our laundry still hadn’t showed up. Visions of being gitchless and shorts-less and top-less went through my head…not a pretty sight. Patti went to the lavanderia and retrieved our neatly folded clothes that had been packed into the suitcase. The poor woman had been besieged with laundry to do from not only the locals but from many of the tourists in the numerous hotels nearby. She usually closed at 8:00 p.m. but she was still dealing with customers at 8:30 p.m.Another great day!