Today already we have done well and it is just noon. First, we wanted to locate Dr. Leon’s office as Barbara is due for a blood test for her INR (clotting rate). There is only a very understated sign high above the door; we missed it as we walked down the Carreterra (the highway and main street). We ended up quite a long way. However, we did discover the Weber BBQ store. It turns out that the owner is formerly from Calgary; his main business is moving, but he sells Weber BBQs as a sideline. Weber is the BBQ Barbara had in Bedford and the one she wanted to get (Consumer Reports said they are the best). He will give us a discount, deliver and assemble it. We will probably get it early next week, like Monday or Tuesday!
We walked back and did find the office; in fact it is only half a block down from where we are staying! We intended only to see about Barb’s blood test, but they had us fill out patient forms and got in to see him. He is every bit as nice as Kate and Jack had reported. He took a quick history and what we need medically right now. We both brought charts from our NS doctors but at the moment they are buried under all our stuff in the car. He took blood for Barb’s test and said they would have the results by 5:30 this afternoon. We also arranged for my testostorone injection (which I get every 3 weeks) next week.
We plan to go to the LCS (Lake Chapala Society) this afternoon; this will be the first time since we arrived as we were too busy yesterday. We have nothing to do today except that Damyn has invited us to dinner tonight with his partner.
Yesterday for lunch, we went down to the pier where there is a newly open restaurant. It is a lovely place with water on 3 sides and the mountains across the lake. It was a bit hazy yesterday, but you could still see the mountains. It is hot in the afternoon, but does cool off at night. Later, this afternoon we’ll go to the internet store. It charges only 16 pesos for an hour of time on line; we can use our own computers with wireless so that it is easier and faster with a computer and software that we are familiar with. Also, by doing this before hand in a word processor, all I have to do is copy and paste (virtually no time at all).
We are more than happy with our decision to move here. We see terrific possibilities, using here as a home base. In fact we both feel that it was a pity that we were so rushed in driving here on Monday. For us the mountains were just a hindrance when we were so anxious to get to Guadalajara and Ajijic. However, they are really something in themselves. They are not as high or as rugged as in Colorado or BC, but there were a number of wonderful lookouts beside the road if one had time to stop and take pictures. It is only 320 kms from Guadalajara to Zacatecos. The latter is regarded as one of the most beautiful little cities in Mexico. We just zoomed through as fast as we could go. We would like to go back in a leisurely fashion to enjoy it. Saltillo is the same. I think that that is only the beginning. The more I learn about Mexico, the more possibilities there seem to be.
I must tell you about driving and traffic in Mexico. It can be unnerving. The big highways going in are kind of like freeways except that they are not controlled access; in fact, there are houses, stores, side streets, etc. along both edges so there are vehicles edging in and out all the time as traffic in the inner lanes are moving very quickly. I use the term “lanes” very loosely. If there were ever lane markers, they have long since disappeared. Thus, you have 3 or 4 cars moving very quickly abreast and you just have to imagine where the lanes are. About all you can do is get behind someone else and hope that he/she knows where the lane is.
To get to Ajijic we had to drive from the north-west of Guadalajara to the south east. It is a big city. I had a map that I had printed from Mapquest. It looked fairly easy. There were several highways marked on the map and a pretty clear route from one to the other, around the city centre and on to highway past the airport and on to Chapala. Reality was not quite as simple. They do not put up many signs and if they do, they are right at the corner by which time it is too late to cross 2 or 3 lanes of rush hour traffice to make a right or left turn. To make a long story short, we were quickly lost and I realized that we had to abandon my planned route. I knew that we had to go east and then south. Barbara was sure we should ask for directions. I tried that a couple of times, but it is not easy when I speak no Spanish and they speak no English. I tried to show my map as I thought they could point out where we were and then I could figure out how to go. They were completely flummoxed with the map. I’m sure that they make their way about this huge city, but they sure as hell don’t do it with maps! I tried saying Chapala, but they were confused; there are several areas with similar spelling and I expect with my accent, they couldn’t figure out what I was saying. However, when I said, “Ajijic”, their eyes lighted up, “Si, si” and they started waving in the direction we should go. It worked because finally, we saw signs pointing towards the airport and Chapala. And hence, we finally made it. However, I have to admit that lost in Guadalajara, Barbara and I were both a bit testy. It passed quickly when we were finally on the road to Chapala.
This is getting rather long. We should be in our new house by noon tomorrow!
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