It has been a busy time, especially this last week with the ladies from Halifax. On Tuesday, Jack & Kate had the whole gang to their place for dinner. We relaxed on Wednesday night, but the ladies had all of us to their place for dinner on Thursday night. Friday night we all went to Bodega restaurant for dinner and a bit of dancing. Saturday night, everyone was here to help us celebrate the completion of our gazebo. We were lucky in that it was a warm day (27 C) and evening so that we could eat and sit out all evening. Tonight it is much cooler. This morning, I took the ladies to the airport for their return to Halifax. I think that they all enjoyed this short, but meaningful emersion in Mexican culture.
They got to witness most of the Ajijic’s San Andres fiesta (about 11 days). They went a couple of times in the evening to witness the activities (including the fireworks) and of course the morning firecrackers at 6 a.m. each day to wake people up for mass. Today in the plaza in front of the main church, there were Indian dancers putting on a long dance programme. I don’t know how they could keep going for so long. This is the last full evening of the fiesta. Each day’s events, including the fireworks and free entertainment in the town plaza, is sponsored by a different group or area of town. Apparently, as soon as one year’s fiesta is finished, the groups start saving money and planning for their day the next year. Each group wants to put on as lavish and grand a display as possible.
As I mentioned, the gazebo is finished. However, we also got a heavy screen door (with iron bars) installed in the guest bedroom. I had expected a frame that would be screwed into the walls. However, when it came (it was made-to-order by a blacksmith), it was intended to be embedded in concrete. They chopped the cement door step so that they could put the door with a piece of rebar down about 4 inches and recemented. Along each side were three 4 inch, v-shaped pieces of metal. They then chopped holes in the wall so that these could be put in place and cemented in! It is mostly done, except that the painter has to finish a few touchups on Monday. Like the gazebo, it is extremely solid and well built (cost including installation 4000 pesos--$400). Also, we had 4 other jobs done around the house while they were here. The extra charges for these was 850 pesos (about $85). I almost fell over because I was expecting 3 or 4 times that amount. Jose Luis’ reputation for good and very reasonably priced work is well deserved.
It is hard to realize that tomorrow is December and we shall be leaving for Halifax on Dec. 16, just a little over 2 weeks away. I expect that the temperatures and weather will be a bit of a shock. BTW, our friends, Kate and Jack also have a blog so you can get other news and views from Ajijic http://www.kateandjack.blogspot.com/
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
A small world
I think the workers finished the gazebo at about 6 p.m. tonight. I went out and gave them each a bottle of beer to celebrate. They’ll be back tomorrow to collect their gear, but I think the work is done and a fine job they did. It is a really solid structure and really looks nice. Tomorrow, we’ll do some cleanup, get the furniture moved around and under the gazebo and will take some pictures which we’ll post here to show off our new addition.
Today, I went early to the restaurant where we play bridge to get a bite of lunch. There was a woman sitting alone (although I knew that she was also going to be playing bridge) so I asked if I could join her. In conversation, we discovered that we are both from Canada. We chatted as we ate. Just as we were getting up to go play bridge, we exchanged names. It was then that I discovered that her name was Rajhathy! She is Judit’s mother. She was surprised that I had met Judit in Dartmouth. We keep getting reminded that it can be a small world. When Jack & I were playing bridge, the first couple we played with are from New Brunswick; they are snowbirds, but have been coming here for 12 years. The next couple we played with are from Alberta. Lots of Canadians here. Nancy’s son-in-law mentioned to his boss that Nancy was in Mexico. She asked where Nancy was . He couldn’t remember the name, but his boss then asked if it is Ajijic. When he confirmed that it was, his boss then had a relative who is visiting or living here also. The word seems to be spreading rather widely.
There is a little story about Barb’s bowflex exercise equipment. We had originally discussed with the seller taking the machine apart to try to fit it into our station wagon. However, when we got there, he said he had worked out a better arrangement. A friend who has a pickup was coming with another friend (all in the same neighbourhood) to take the machine, more or less intact, to our place. We got here and they were very intrigued to see the place. One of them had lived right next door and the other one just in the same block down the street. Barb said, “So you all lived here and then moved to the mountain.” They agreed, then they said as they were leaving, “We’ll see you next year when you move to our neighbourhood.” Their neighbourhood is well out of our price range, but we are not sure that we would prefer theirs anyway. Their views are gorgeous; however, they are not within walking distance of anywhere. They are at least 5-6 kms from Ajijic and over 3 from Chapala. Thus, except for walking along the Carretera (there is a walking/bicycle path for at least 15 kms), they have to go by car or bus to get anywhere. We often go for several days without ever getting into the car as we can walk to everything in Ajijic.
It turned out that they also knew the workers who were working on our gazebo. Jose Luis had done work for them. In fact, the seller of the bowflex said that Jose Luis had been up that very day to look at a faucet or some such at his place. They spoke very highly of Jose Luis and his workers. The latter certainly have built up a big, solid reputation among the ex-pats down here. Jose Luis was recommended to us by fellow Nova Scotians, Gary and Cathy.
Today, I went early to the restaurant where we play bridge to get a bite of lunch. There was a woman sitting alone (although I knew that she was also going to be playing bridge) so I asked if I could join her. In conversation, we discovered that we are both from Canada. We chatted as we ate. Just as we were getting up to go play bridge, we exchanged names. It was then that I discovered that her name was Rajhathy! She is Judit’s mother. She was surprised that I had met Judit in Dartmouth. We keep getting reminded that it can be a small world. When Jack & I were playing bridge, the first couple we played with are from New Brunswick; they are snowbirds, but have been coming here for 12 years. The next couple we played with are from Alberta. Lots of Canadians here. Nancy’s son-in-law mentioned to his boss that Nancy was in Mexico. She asked where Nancy was . He couldn’t remember the name, but his boss then asked if it is Ajijic. When he confirmed that it was, his boss then had a relative who is visiting or living here also. The word seems to be spreading rather widely.
There is a little story about Barb’s bowflex exercise equipment. We had originally discussed with the seller taking the machine apart to try to fit it into our station wagon. However, when we got there, he said he had worked out a better arrangement. A friend who has a pickup was coming with another friend (all in the same neighbourhood) to take the machine, more or less intact, to our place. We got here and they were very intrigued to see the place. One of them had lived right next door and the other one just in the same block down the street. Barb said, “So you all lived here and then moved to the mountain.” They agreed, then they said as they were leaving, “We’ll see you next year when you move to our neighbourhood.” Their neighbourhood is well out of our price range, but we are not sure that we would prefer theirs anyway. Their views are gorgeous; however, they are not within walking distance of anywhere. They are at least 5-6 kms from Ajijic and over 3 from Chapala. Thus, except for walking along the Carretera (there is a walking/bicycle path for at least 15 kms), they have to go by car or bus to get anywhere. We often go for several days without ever getting into the car as we can walk to everything in Ajijic.
It turned out that they also knew the workers who were working on our gazebo. Jose Luis had done work for them. In fact, the seller of the bowflex said that Jose Luis had been up that very day to look at a faucet or some such at his place. They spoke very highly of Jose Luis and his workers. The latter certainly have built up a big, solid reputation among the ex-pats down here. Jose Luis was recommended to us by fellow Nova Scotians, Gary and Cathy.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Fiesta time
We have been busy. The work around the house, especially on the gazebo, has continued and is almost finished. I just spoke with the contractor and he says that there will just be finishing touches for Monday. The roof is about 80% tiled. On Friday, the blacksmith came and took measurements for the screen door to be installed on the spare bedroom. That too will be finished and installed sometime next week. With the tiles mostly fiinished on the gazebo roof, it is looking very good, as good as I had visualized it.
Barb had been trying to find a way to get a Total Gym exercise equipment, but has found that there is no way to get one delivered in Mexico and no one seems to sell them here. She even went to the new Wal-Mart store which opened just last week a few blocks from us. Barb was swearing that she would never go to Wal-Mart, but she was desperate. They had nothing worth buying. However, she saw a classied ad for a Bowflex machine. We went to see it; it is a professional model with all the bells and whistles. We bought it. Barb will be able to start getting herself in shape again.
The guy we bought if from has a very interesting story. He and his wife are Canadians (from Nova Scotia) who have lived down here for 12 years. He said that they had been in the restaurant business for many years and had been able to sell out and retire early. However, they had invested their money in the US and have lost so much in the current financial collapse that they have to sell and go back to Canada to return to work. As you can imagine, he was pretty bitter about those responsible; however, for some reason, he is blaming Democrats in the US Congress, rather than the Republicans who I hold responsible--the entire ‘deregulate everything’ bunch since Ronald Reagan. He says that his wife is already back in Nova Scotia working while he tries to sell. The house (for which they are asking almost US$550,000) is beautiful. It is up the side of the mountain with gorgeous views of the lake. It has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Very luxurious in all respects. I noticed and commented on the huge stainless steel BBQ. It was obviously his pride and joy as he described all the features. He said that it had cost over $6,000. All the furniture is going with the house.
The Ajijic annual saint’s fiesta officially go started yesterday. That means big, loud, ‘boom’ firecrackes (rockets) in the evening, and again in the morning. They were going for almost half an hour starting about 6 a.m. this morning. The fiesta lasts for about 2 weeks. The entire area about 2 blocks around the town plaza is closed to traffic and rides for the children as well as all kinds of stands to sell food and other things are set up in the streets. Then, there are entertainments almost every night in the plaza. Our ladies from Halifax are down near the center of all this. It should be very interesting for them even if they would be happy to do without the firecracker serenade at 6 a.m.
The weather this week has been cooler than it usually is this time of year. However, the forecast is for warmer weather next week. Of course ‘cooler’ is relative. It has been going down to 9 - 11 C at night and only up to about 20 - 22 C in the afternoon. Not exactly frigid, but one does have to put on a sweater at night and I have given up my shorts for long blue jeans and my sandals for shoes and socks. Real hardship!
Barb had been trying to find a way to get a Total Gym exercise equipment, but has found that there is no way to get one delivered in Mexico and no one seems to sell them here. She even went to the new Wal-Mart store which opened just last week a few blocks from us. Barb was swearing that she would never go to Wal-Mart, but she was desperate. They had nothing worth buying. However, she saw a classied ad for a Bowflex machine. We went to see it; it is a professional model with all the bells and whistles. We bought it. Barb will be able to start getting herself in shape again.
The guy we bought if from has a very interesting story. He and his wife are Canadians (from Nova Scotia) who have lived down here for 12 years. He said that they had been in the restaurant business for many years and had been able to sell out and retire early. However, they had invested their money in the US and have lost so much in the current financial collapse that they have to sell and go back to Canada to return to work. As you can imagine, he was pretty bitter about those responsible; however, for some reason, he is blaming Democrats in the US Congress, rather than the Republicans who I hold responsible--the entire ‘deregulate everything’ bunch since Ronald Reagan. He says that his wife is already back in Nova Scotia working while he tries to sell. The house (for which they are asking almost US$550,000) is beautiful. It is up the side of the mountain with gorgeous views of the lake. It has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Very luxurious in all respects. I noticed and commented on the huge stainless steel BBQ. It was obviously his pride and joy as he described all the features. He said that it had cost over $6,000. All the furniture is going with the house.
The Ajijic annual saint’s fiesta officially go started yesterday. That means big, loud, ‘boom’ firecrackes (rockets) in the evening, and again in the morning. They were going for almost half an hour starting about 6 a.m. this morning. The fiesta lasts for about 2 weeks. The entire area about 2 blocks around the town plaza is closed to traffic and rides for the children as well as all kinds of stands to sell food and other things are set up in the streets. Then, there are entertainments almost every night in the plaza. Our ladies from Halifax are down near the center of all this. It should be very interesting for them even if they would be happy to do without the firecracker serenade at 6 a.m.
The weather this week has been cooler than it usually is this time of year. However, the forecast is for warmer weather next week. Of course ‘cooler’ is relative. It has been going down to 9 - 11 C at night and only up to about 20 - 22 C in the afternoon. Not exactly frigid, but one does have to put on a sweater at night and I have given up my shorts for long blue jeans and my sandals for shoes and socks. Real hardship!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Barb goes solo into Guadalajara
The work on the gazebo continues. Doing the roof rafters was quite a problem for the workers, because with 6 sides, the angles are very tricky and Jose is very demanding and requiring that they not only get it right, but that it looks right. He had them move some secondary rafters because he wanted them turned the other way. We also found out about how some things are done here in Mexico. The workers need 240 volt power for their welding equipment. However, because we don’t use use electric stove, electric water heater or clothes dryer, we have only a single 120 volt wire into the house. However, this problem was solved by bringing 2 long wires (at least 150 feet) to go from the back of the house, across the street to the power pole. There, they use a long bamboo pole to hook the wires over the power lines. Today out walking, I saw another house with wires leading from the power pole into a house where there is no meter! Apparently, construction workers do this all the time. I expect there are quite a few places where the meter is bypassed.
We have had Jose’s workers do a couple of other jobs as well. There was a leak in the master bathroom where the drain from the roof (it is flat there) comes down through the wall. Also, they added about a foot to the bevelled lift up the curb to the driveway. The front of the car (and in the middle too if there was a load in the car) frequently scraped. Finally, they installed an electric plug beside the fountain and ran the wire under the grass, up the side of the wall and into a kitchen plug with a switch. Now we can turn the fountain on/off from inside the house.
Today is an adventure for Barbara. There is a big craft/art show in Tlaquepaque with artisans/artists from all over Mexico and even farther in Latin America. Someone had to stay home to let the workers in. I did that while Barbara drove the 4 ladies from Halifax in. This is the first time that she has driven much in Guadalajara and certainly the first time she has driven in by herself. She called on the cell to tell me that they had made it in without any trouble and she has now reported that they are all back safe and sound in Ajijic. Driving to Tlaquepaque is pretty straightforward. However, after this, Barbara may feel more confident about driving in.
We have had Jose’s workers do a couple of other jobs as well. There was a leak in the master bathroom where the drain from the roof (it is flat there) comes down through the wall. Also, they added about a foot to the bevelled lift up the curb to the driveway. The front of the car (and in the middle too if there was a load in the car) frequently scraped. Finally, they installed an electric plug beside the fountain and ran the wire under the grass, up the side of the wall and into a kitchen plug with a switch. Now we can turn the fountain on/off from inside the house.
Today is an adventure for Barbara. There is a big craft/art show in Tlaquepaque with artisans/artists from all over Mexico and even farther in Latin America. Someone had to stay home to let the workers in. I did that while Barbara drove the 4 ladies from Halifax in. This is the first time that she has driven much in Guadalajara and certainly the first time she has driven in by herself. She called on the cell to tell me that they had made it in without any trouble and she has now reported that they are all back safe and sound in Ajijic. Driving to Tlaquepaque is pretty straightforward. However, after this, Barbara may feel more confident about driving in.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
More Brunch Club in Mexico
We have had a busy time since the contingent from Halifax arrived. Also, the mid-term exams for my online course finally arrived. Thus, I had to do some marking during the other activities. However, as Barb can drive, she and the other women went to San Juan Cosala to check out the spas and had dinner at Reuben’s restaurant. Last Friday, we all (8 of us) went to Chapala for a display of Indian art/crafts. Barb and the 4 women went by car while Kate, Jack and I took the bus. The latter is a really interesting Mexican experience just on its own. The buses run very frequently all along lakeside so that one does not have to wait very long. However, the one we got on made it way down into San Antonio before going to Chapala; the bus had no springs or cushions on the seats. You could feel every bump (some really big ones) directly in your bottom. There are direct buses, but we didn’t want to wait. Next time, it might be worth it. However, as I said, it was an experience.
Almost everyone bought something at the show. I got a ‘rainbow’ shirt. Once I got it home and tried it on, it seems a bit too big, but maybe we can take it to a seamstress to get it adjusted. After, we went to the restaurant on the pier. It has wonderful mocajetes. These are a special Mexican dish. It can have beef, chicken or shrimp (or in this case a mix of all three) plus some vegetables (onion, green peppers, etc.) and lots of cheese. It is then served in a large bowl carved from lava rock and heated to a very high temperature. They are really too big for one person. For the 8 of us, we got three and everyone had more than enough. There were 2 bands playing for some of the other patrons; they took turns playing songs. I know that the one band (9 players) charges 100 pesos per song. However, when they came to our table, we demurred.
This morning at Open Circle, the speaker was Judit Rajhathy, another Nova Scotian from Dartmouth. I mentioned meeting her at the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara in October; it’s a small world after all, as the Disney song says.
There is a bridge club every Monday. Jack & Kate played last year, but Kate is not too keen this year; Jack has asked me to be his partner. However, while they are here, the 4 ladies (all bridge players from the Brunch Club) are going to go as well. That is tomorrow. We shall continue to have a busy time, I’m sure.
Almost everyone bought something at the show. I got a ‘rainbow’ shirt. Once I got it home and tried it on, it seems a bit too big, but maybe we can take it to a seamstress to get it adjusted. After, we went to the restaurant on the pier. It has wonderful mocajetes. These are a special Mexican dish. It can have beef, chicken or shrimp (or in this case a mix of all three) plus some vegetables (onion, green peppers, etc.) and lots of cheese. It is then served in a large bowl carved from lava rock and heated to a very high temperature. They are really too big for one person. For the 8 of us, we got three and everyone had more than enough. There were 2 bands playing for some of the other patrons; they took turns playing songs. I know that the one band (9 players) charges 100 pesos per song. However, when they came to our table, we demurred.
This morning at Open Circle, the speaker was Judit Rajhathy, another Nova Scotian from Dartmouth. I mentioned meeting her at the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara in October; it’s a small world after all, as the Disney song says.
There is a bridge club every Monday. Jack & Kate played last year, but Kate is not too keen this year; Jack has asked me to be his partner. However, while they are here, the 4 ladies (all bridge players from the Brunch Club) are going to go as well. That is tomorrow. We shall continue to have a busy time, I’m sure.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Halloween and the Day of the Dead
Halloween was a bigger deal here than we expected. There is a 2 day event here, the Day of the Dead, Nov. 1 & 2. Mexicans set up small altars with candles, flowers, etc. in remembrance of dead relatives and/or friends. This custom predates the Spanish conquest and appears to have been tacked on to the Christian All Souls Day. The Catholic Church does not like it very much and has long tried to discourage it because they feel (correctly I think) that the Indian population simply used it as a cover to continue a pre-Christian custom. It is like the cult of the Virgin of Guadaloupe which was a way to continue worship of a pre-Christian Aztec goddess. According to our Spanish instructor, the Day of the Dead seemed a few years ago to be dying out as the enthusiasm for the imported Halloween custom was taking over. However, deliberate efforts have been made to revitalize the Day of the Dead. The restaurants we went to over those two days all had altars commemorating the custom. However, Halloween is popular with the kids who love to go around collecting candy, etc. We had 60-75 at least--a lot more than we used to get in Bedford. Luckily, we had been warned by Rosendo, our gardener, in the afternoon and had stocked up on candy. Even then we got cleaned out.
The work on the gazebo has started as of Friday. Jose was absolutely meticulous in measuring out where to put the six anchors for the posts. One of his workers then cut out the concrete and stone for 8” square holes and other workers chopped them out and dug down for about 30 inches. The gazebo is certainly going to be well anchored. They had to stop before noon today because Jose was not able to get the iron rebars that he needed; they should do the concrete tomorrow as they brought the cement and sand today. We have asked Jose to do a couple of other small jobs while his men are here. One is to put screen doors on the spare bedroom. It has patio doors, but no screen doors. We are also getting him to fix a small leak that we had in the master bathroom.
All the Halifax people arrived on Saturday, although Jack and Kate had their luggage go astray. But there we all were (8 members of the Brunch Club) at Open Circle and then we all went to the Neuvo Pasada Hotel for brunch. At Open Circle, first timers are asked to introduce themselves; there were loud cheers as the 4 women from Halifax introduced themselves. The moderator happened to be a Canadian and she commented that the Maritimes was certainly being well represented. The weather, which had been overcast for at least 3 days last week, has turned absolutely perfect since their arrival. The ladies seem well pleased with their house for the month; however, they commented on the fact that the roosters seemed to be crowing at all hours, day and night. Barb saw Kate & Jack’s condo townhouse (I haven’t seen it yet) and says that it really terrific; it is very new, with marble floors, brand new appliances and a gorgeous view of the lake.
The work on the gazebo has started as of Friday. Jose was absolutely meticulous in measuring out where to put the six anchors for the posts. One of his workers then cut out the concrete and stone for 8” square holes and other workers chopped them out and dug down for about 30 inches. The gazebo is certainly going to be well anchored. They had to stop before noon today because Jose was not able to get the iron rebars that he needed; they should do the concrete tomorrow as they brought the cement and sand today. We have asked Jose to do a couple of other small jobs while his men are here. One is to put screen doors on the spare bedroom. It has patio doors, but no screen doors. We are also getting him to fix a small leak that we had in the master bathroom.
All the Halifax people arrived on Saturday, although Jack and Kate had their luggage go astray. But there we all were (8 members of the Brunch Club) at Open Circle and then we all went to the Neuvo Pasada Hotel for brunch. At Open Circle, first timers are asked to introduce themselves; there were loud cheers as the 4 women from Halifax introduced themselves. The moderator happened to be a Canadian and she commented that the Maritimes was certainly being well represented. The weather, which had been overcast for at least 3 days last week, has turned absolutely perfect since their arrival. The ladies seem well pleased with their house for the month; however, they commented on the fact that the roosters seemed to be crowing at all hours, day and night. Barb saw Kate & Jack’s condo townhouse (I haven’t seen it yet) and says that it really terrific; it is very new, with marble floors, brand new appliances and a gorgeous view of the lake.
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