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ezpz

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Everything posted by ezpz

  1. I've had several calls from that jerk over the years. His come on is so stupid I can't believe anyone would fall for it. So, I just play along with him like... "Oh, hi Mike I was hoping you would call, I really want to give you some money, but you know I just don't understand these online ways of banking and I'm scared to carry much cash around with me so if you could meet me at the bank by the plaza in Ajijic, I can get the cash and we could walk over to the police station across the street where I would feel much safer giving you lots of money..." Click.
  2. For newbies: "Kwaytays" is the English phonetic pronunciation of "cohetes" which is Spanish for fireworks or firecrackers which we have been hearing a lot of lately in Ajijic during this time of the Fiesta de San Andres, Patron Saint of the village - except that all the festivities have been cancelled due to the pandemic, because the local fiestas draw large crowds and are the high point of the year for many people. I wrote this little story about 10 years ago and posted it here to rave reviews before I even cleaned it up. And no complaints. Jajaja. Enjoy! The Legend of the Kwaytays And How They Came To Be By (ezpz) Once upon a time there was a village on a beautiful lake in the mountains of a very faraway land that had almost perfect weather almost all the time. The people fished, grew crops, raised families, and were peaceful and happy and spent a lot of time thanking their gods for their good life. They had a very wise leader named Mixitupalot who had a strong talent for prophetic dreams. One night, Mixitupalot had a crystal clear vision of a group of light-skinned, strange invaders who would come to take over their land and change their lives forever. The second part of the vision revealed the peaceful Mixit people repelling these strangers, not with bloodshed, but sheer annoyance, by preventing the invaders from communing with their gods in their strange ways, hoping that they would finally just leave. It came to pass that in the very lifetime of Mixitupalot, invaders did arrive, and his prophecy was manifested in reality. Called an unprintable name by the Mixits, we will call them the Early Invaders, not to be confused with the Later Invaders who had not yet arrived to completely fulfill Mix’s prophecy. Mixitupalot told his people that they could repel these ugly strangers by making as much noise as possible. The villagers were inspired and energized by building much larger drums and other noisy instruments and having much longer and louder rituals, which had previously been used to repel evil spirits, and lions and tigers and bears as well, evidently a successful strategy. However, the Early Invaders did not quite respond as expected. They were fascinated by the use of all the drums, but desired to change it to a ritual that would better suit their own selfish goals. These conniving conquerors showed the Mixit people a powder of wondrous properties which could be made to explode in the sky with much noise and bright flashes of light, while propelling the peoples’ prayers to their gods. The Mixits were even more fascinated by this miraculous powder, and so its use began a strange hybrid of the customs of both groups of people resulting in a new form of worship that propelled the prayers of the people to their god, was mostly agreeable to both, and a lot of fun, to boot. The explosive powder was used in a form that came to be known as Kwaytays. The magical powder was also utilized in complex castillos constructed at fiesta sites and wired with all manner of thrilling, whirling, swirling, sparkly, spangly things which bore a most curious resemblance to the spiral galaxies of outer space, supposedly invisible to the pre-modern human eye. Centuries went by in the lovely fishing village with its many noisy and fun fiestas, until gradually, a new type of Invaders began to arrive. With the vision of Mixitupalot firmly entrenched in the DNA of his descendents and the lore handed down from the elders, the Mixits realized what was happening and what they had to do. The Later Invaders were not hostile or warlike, but rather, just very annoying in some of their customs, such as their elders parading around the pueblo flashing their flaccid flesh as if they were perpetual teenagers, a propensity to anger quickly and complain about small things, and a somewhat arrogant but befuddled pomposity. Therefore, annoyance seemed to be the best way to get rid of them. The second part of Mixitupalot’s vision became more clear as his descendants actually sometimes witnessed the strange worship of the Later Invaders, which curiously occurred not in public rituals, but inside their houses. These people had strange devices that allowed them to connect to their main god, Jaytec, and his daughter, Teleheroina, and her brother, the lesser, but still great god, Gugul. They devoutly spent hours a day worshiping this trinity, but perfect quiet and concentration were required – a somber discipline, indeed. The Descendants of Mixitupalot were inspired by the prophecy to make their own worship rituals even louder and more frequent, hoping that their exuberance would interfere with the connection of the Later Invaders to their own gods, and hopefully, they would Just Leave out of frustration. Neither group wanted all-out warfare, so a certain subtle friction ensued between the Mixits and the Later Invaders. The Descendents of Mixitupalot loved their traditions too much to change, and the Later Invaders loved the weather too much to leave. So, a certain uneasy truce evolved, and both groups lived happily ever after. Well, sort of. Epilogue: In modern times it came to pass that some of the Descendents of Mixitupalot traveled to the original country of the Later Invaders. Slightly familiar with their culture and ways, the Mixit people were then able to see the Invaders in the context of their own strange culture. Upon seeing the incomprehensibly drab and identical houses that the Invaders lived in, the Mixits wondered aloud, Why don’t these people paint their houses in pretty colors like orange and turquoise and pink and purple, like back home? Upon seeing the fussy and hyperactive Invader children, the Mixits wondered why they forced their poor children to worship those indoor gods all day, and not let them out to run around and play and have fun like normal children. Upon experiencing the insanely hectic pace of life there, especially around centers of business at Christmas, a holy time around the world, the Mixits wondered why these people didn’t just slow down and enjoy life and the company of one another. The Descendents of Mixitupalot also wondered why the Invaders couldn’t manage to sing and play some cheerful music and dance – just once in a while? Why couldn’t they laugh heartily without watching Teleheroina? With all their apparent riches, these people never really seemed very happy. But most of all, The Descendents of Mixitupalot wondered why these Later Invader people simply didn’t celebrate more often. In their cheerless, puritanical, workaholic culture, these dour people only had one or two days a year where they used anything resembling Kwaytays to bring joy to the people. What kind of people would want to live like that? © (ezpz) Dec. 12, 2010
  3. I can't find any good info about viewing the Leonids here at this latitude, the pictures are all for northern latitudes. It's easy to find Orion in the night sky here- almost straight overhead by around 4 a.m. Where are the Leonids/Leo constellation in relation to Orion? Muchismas gracias.
  4. On the topic of these complex dental procedures, I would like to ask what people are doing about laughing gas or a substitute. I have a number of old crowns done in the US where I had laughing gas (nitrous oxide) to make the experience more bearable. Finally I needed a new crown and Dra. Candy said you can't get N.O. in Mexico unless you hire an extra anesthesiologist to come in and monitor the dose. So I had a crown done without it and I was nearly freaking out the whole time. The shots worked but just barely. I am highly sensitive. After the work was done I was fine. What do the rest of you do for pain killing with the above procedures?
  5. Paying by the job can be iffy. My maid has had a habit of working very fast, doing sometimes sloppy work, and leaving early. I had to be very clear with her that I expected her to work for the full 2 hours that she told me it would take to do my cleaning. Paying by the job invites cutting corners. I prefer by the hour and I tell her if she gets 'through" faster, she can find more to do. I've had to point out a lot of things that were not getting cleaned right. Fortunately I speak enough Spanish to have this conversation.
  6. Imagine the traffic when everything opens up again and all the snowbirds show up.
  7. I just bought a car last year after living here for 12 years without a car - just walking, riding the bus, and an occasional ride. I'm in culture shock at driving again but especially in Mexico!! These new highway "upgrades" are a disaster, the work could have been organized much better. It seems like the carretera was redone with the priority of putting in bike lanes. Generally a good idea, but with space limitations here it has become much less safe for cars. The intersection IFO walmart is now treacherous! I got caught in the left turn lane to go up the libramiento and noticed that the corners are now so sharp that vehicles coming down must almost stop to make the turn safely. Nobody is used to this! It's crazy with huge trucks coming down the road. One was headed right towards me! Scary! I hear from a local business owner that there have been a lot of wrecks recently there. Cuidado!!!
  8. How much is required to pay them for 2 or more months away from work due to illness or surgery? Gracias!
  9. Because of CV, the traditional fiestas have been closed because they attract large crowds. So some people are posting fotos/videos from past years just for old times sake. There is no fun in the world like a Mexican Fiesta! Here is the Desfile de los Rebozos - Rebozo Fashion Show, featuring women of all ages and kids from the village modeling traditional Mexican attire accented by your best fashion accessory - the Rebozo, or shawl, which can be worn so many ways. The Globo Regatta featuring hot air balloons made out of flammable paper mache! Only in Mexico!
  10. Newsflash: I moved to two different neighborhoods in Ajijic 8-11 years ago that were quiet and THEN the noise started. I am not living out of suitcases here, I have every thing I own in my home and moving is not an option until I decide to go to assisted living, which is a few years off. Plus, I have a great deal on a house that I like very much. People often make very presumptious statements on this board. We are not all newcomers. I also think that that the vast majority of the gringos here have never experienced the amount and the intensity of the decible levels near the local bars because they are surrounded mostly by Mexican residents. The reason some of you think it's always the "same people complaining" is that we are the ones that live very near the bars, or uphill from them! There was a meeting in Chapala a while back of over 25 people who had serious complaints on the west end. It's only fair to mention that I have 20 years of full time professional performing experience utilizing amplified sound and I can tell you that almost no one around here knows how to use it or do a competent sound check. It often sounds like little kids are playing with the sound equipment. There is also the issue of the Mexican architecture - open air and built with concrete and bricks, which makes for a huge echo effect, making the noise even louder and it travels farther. I also speak Spanish and have organized with my neighbors, all Mexicans, to make some judiciously timed complaints which really worked. In the past, the bar owners have been very rude and dismissing to neighbors, so it has been necessary to go to the law which is not always dependable either. You have to wear them out with complaints before they act. Complaining is how you get things done around here! But now we have a much tighter Jalisco sound law which came about due to literally thousands of noise complaints from people in GDL. If you want to see how Mexicans feel about neighborhood noise go the FB page of cruzadacontraelruido - the crusade against the noise. Having said all that, I did talk to one of the bar/restaurant owners and he turned out to be quite a nice guy and heard me out and was very polite and responsive. Due to CV precautions the bar/restaurants are not staying open so late, but that could change. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. After putting up with 8 Noise Years of bar and gym noise from 3 different locations, I am now severely allergic to it.
  11. Now that the bars are opening up more and later - I live in earshot of 3 bars that feature live music, which, here, is dependably too loud and very aggravating to the neighbors, what with the open air architecture constructed of very echo-y concrete or bricks. These groups are often so loud they sound like they are in your own house, obliterating every bit of free choice that you have regarding what you like to do in your own house. The trouble with term limits is that every 3 years the administration changes in Chapala, for better or worse. Most of the staff also changes, but they do not have land phones in their offices, you have to find out these people's cel phone #s every new term. That would be for the head of the Ecology dept., and the jefe de licensias, the licensing boss, who oversees business permits. Bar/restaurant complaints go to them, you call the PD in Chapala for all other noise complaints. Muchas gracias for any good information.
  12. Another great electronics repair shop is Teleservicio Hernandez run by Adan Hernandez 333 391 2925. They are located on the Carretera near the corner of Juarez on the north side. You can see the big TV in their front display. He fixed the cassette function on my used Bang Olufsen stereo - an old but high end brand which I found here. Also fixed up my old VCR and remote. I still like my old electronics with lots of my old, favorite cassettes and VCRs, not going to give them up just go go digital. I have something else to play MP3 plus my computer for song videos.
  13. My telmex internet has also been in and out. Why does this keep happening?? All the heavy rains? Or what???
  14. Good news. I am spending my Stimulus $$ on the Mexican people who don't have enough to eat. And virtually no social services to help them as up north.
  15. Great News! I just received a letter from the US Treasury, with the Sharpie Signature - you know the one... It says I will be getting a check/debit card - not specifying which. Has anyone received either of these yet? If so, how do you deal with the debit card? I could deposit a check in my local peso account. Can you use the debit card locally? I live here full time, not going up north. I paid $4 in taxes last year so I guess they couldn't use the bank info on my tax return to just wire it to me. Gracias for any meaningful and helpful information.
  16. Here is the article about the protest in Chiapas. I agree 100% with Mudgirl above. Conspiracy "theories" (LIES!) have been on a sharp uptick in recent years and some juicy ones since CV came about. A significant minority of people in the US believe that all "mainstream" news is fake, so they curiously believe any wacko notion that comes up, mostly in social media where there is absolutely no quality control of information in postings. Bill Gates is a new target and there are different and completely unsupported stories going around about him. It's telling that these stories have somehow been translated into Spanish and are finding their way into indigenous communities most likely from social media, now that everyone has a "smart" phone. Propaganda and conspiracy theories are another big reason why so many people do not follow the mandated precautions. They think it's all "fake" - they are "tired" of CV, bla bla bla. All to the detriment of the public well being, which is NOT the major concern of the governments, either. God(dess) help us all. So much willful ignorance out there. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/a-chiapas-protest-blames-bill-gates-for-the-coronavirus/
  17. Bottom line: CV is on the rise in this area, as most of Mexico and over half of up north and much or the world. People are slacking off with the precautions when they see things start opening up. Some hospitals are now where Italy and NYC were 3 months ago! People could have learned from those other mistakes! Conspiracy theories confuse many folks, some of whom now won't cooperate with contact tracers because they think they are some kind of government plot to follow them or some weird thing. We need to keep wearing the masks and staying home as much as possible until this is really really over, not in someone's fantasy version of it.
  18. So many things have changed since then. I am pasting in an article I wrote about my very first trip here which had been published in a now defunct local Newsletter. I neglected to mention in this article how much I loved discovering the Ajijic Plaza in the evening when there were virtually no gringos there. Staying in a B&B, I had to go out to dinner every night and usually ended up there for a nice ice cream bar for dessert as I sat watching and absorbing everything. Before the Malecon was built in 2008-09 due to flooding caused by very high lake levels, the Plaza used to be the living room of the pueblo. Everyone of all ages would come out in the evenings to socialize while the little ones ran around happily playing, the teens and pre-teens walked around the plaza in a big circle, circulating and maybe flirting with one another. The parents and grandparents contentedly sat on the benches chatting and keeping a loose eye on everything. The whole vibe was so harmonious and cheerful, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven, which was a big factor in why I decided to move here. Please note I was unable to correct the bolding in a couple of paragraphs. Here is the article: MY TRIP TO A-SMALL-TOWN-IN-MEXICO-WHICH-SHALL-REMAIN-UN-NAMED-BECAUSE-THE-REAL-ESTATE-IS-ALREADY-OUT-OF-SIGHT There are no “sights” to see here; no touristy attractions, just a few quaint little villages on a lake, which one can slowly and quietly savor with all one’s senses. As I tried to write emails to friends from local internet cafes, though, I realized that what I was experiencing on my vacation in this colorful, warm, and laid back town was too much to describe in cliché postcard language. I was in a different world completely, in spite of the presence of an expat community, and I want to savor that memory, as well as convey it to others. The mountains of Mexico are home to numerous villages, towns and cities dating from the Spanish colonial era 400-500 years ago or longer. Since the Spanish didn’t completely obliterate the native cultures the way the English did in North America, there is a much stronger presence of these cultures, obvious in the colorful houses and crafts, music, numerous fiestas, other various local customs, in addition to the intangible vibes of the ancients. My accommodations were in a lovely B&B, the likes of which I could never afford in the states. At low season, the place was nearly empty most of the time. Even the American owners were away on their own vacation, so I had a chance to meet and get to know the hospitable gardener and his wife, the cook (for breakfast only), who were managing in the owners’ absence, giving me a good chance to work on my Spanish. There was about an acre of land with lovely fountains, a swimming pool, lawn and patio, which I often had to myself. The décor included many fascinating Mexican art objects and each room had a unique and colorful décor in the Mexican style. No TVs! Bueno!! Music was playing all the time in the main part of the house, as seems to be common in Mexico. Surprisingly, the 25-CD changer had such selections as Edith Piaf, Sarah Vaughn, and other big band artists, apparently the taste of the owners. I could have enjoyed doing nothing but hanging around this lovely abode, but I did want to get out and explore the town, and had to get to a local gym to practice for an upcoming audition on my way back to San Francisco. It turned out the gym was part of an old elegant hotel about a mile on the other side of town, a pleasant walk. One day, I decided to take the small local bus on the cobblestone streets, and experienced such a rocking and shaking - like a small earthquake - that I could barely stand up long enough to reach my seat. I have since gravitated to balancing myself and "surfing" the bus like I used to do on the "M" Streetcar in San Francisco. My mission each night was to search for a restaurant for dinner. Ambling slowly on the cobblestones and uneven and sometimes high sidewalks, I drank in all the sights and sounds that I could, while carefully watching my step. In the languid afternoons, I enjoyed the delicious Michoacan frozen fruit bars while sitting in the Plaza, watching life unfold in front of me, meeting people, unwinding completely. Ironically, some of the residents that I met were not retired, but had galleries or websites which occupied their time. Still, they found the time to visit with me, and I appreciate their hospitality. The Sights. The vivid colors everywhere jump out and truly wake up your mind and spirit, as well as your eyes. Houses are frequently painted in multi-colored schemes, sometimes with native style accents, or murals. From the streets you see long, high walls with gates, some of wrought iron that enabled you to peek into a courtyard, or solid huge doors, which hide everything. In addition to wrought-ironwork, another local specialty is colorful, custom tile work, used mostly in bathrooms and kitchens, floors, and occasional wall or door accents. The artistic touch is everywhere. Colorful tropical vegetation tumbles over many walls, adding even more hues and textures, a delight to behold. Every so often one sees a colorful and quaint shrine built to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico - my favorite Mary, with her gorgeous, expansive aura. There are a good number of outdoor murals to be seen around town, on both public buildings and private homes. Many are mystical, some display historical aspects of the town or of Mexico in general, and some are just colorful folk art designs. Walking by one mural of a gigantic iguana, located on the wall of a bar, I made up my first Spanglish word – Iguanamente. To understand, you’d need to know your polite basics – (“nice to meet you”) “mucho gusto”, (“likewise”) “igualmente”. Some folks thought it was funny, but I’m still trying to figure out the meaning. Like and iguana? One truly unexpected sighting one afternoon, was that of a large circus parade slowly coming down the 2-land carretera, or highway which links several local towns (like pre-freeway USA). I had just purchased another disposable camera and was walking around, exploring, when I heard a siren. Seeing a large vehicle with flashing lights approaching slowly in the traffic, I assumed it was a fire truck. As it went by, I saw that it along with other trucks behind it, were towing large cages of wild animals – first zebras, then various wildcats and even a giraffe. The circus was being announced over a large audio system in the first vehicle. I don’t particularly care for wild animals in cages and circuses, but I must admit, I was so stunned by this incongruous sight, that I couldn’t manage to reach into my bag and unwrap the camera and take pictures. I just stood there dumbfounded and stared. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the poverty that I saw – crumbling old stone and brick houses that were never painted, and a certain amount of litter strewn about in some areas. The town is a hodge-podge of nice homes interspersed with poor ones, or vice versa. There is no zoning as we know it. However, there was always a feeling of simple dignity even in the poor areas. I never felt threatened, as I would in a poor neighborhood in the states. The Sounds. Between the busy winter and medium busy summer gringo seasons, the village was probably at its quietest. Very little car traffic, as most Mexicans do not own cars. Upon arriving around 6PM on a hot day, I needed to stretch my legs and find someplace to eat. Having memorized the basic layout of the town from seeing maps on the internet, I set out. As the evening light slowly dimmed, people were at home, the typical cheerful up-tempo Mexican music was coming out of many different homes, happy kids were playing on the streets. The balmy climate has inspired a very indoor-outdoor lifestyle with many open-air rooms, so you can hear what is going on in many houses as you walk by. I decided I would smile and say “hola” to everyone I saw, and usually got a friendly and warm response from people of all ages. A soft breeze gently came up, and I eventually arrived at a restaurant which catered mostly to gringos. (Strangely enough, it was actually difficult to find Mexican food in the evenings, since that is family/home time to most Mexicans, who generally don’t go out to dine at night.) The restaurant was pleasant enough, open air, with a small stage for live music. An American solo-singer-guitarist played American MOR hits, which put me into a little shock, after the lovely cultural immersion I had just experienced. Another single woman came in looking for someone she was supposed to meet, who didn’t show. So, I invited her over and we started talking (over the loud gringo music, which was gradually getting on my nerves. Not what I came to Mexico for!) But, I saw how easy it was to meet people there. Later, I walked back to the B&B around the block, around dark. With no media to distract me, and having had a very long day travelling, I lay down in the grass and looked up at the stars. At this point I simply tuned into the soft, gentle, and most agreeable cacophony – exotic songbirds in the trees, church bells a few blocks away, cicadas which sounded like they must be a foot long (they’re not), the stereo gurgle of two fountains on either side of me, a gentle breeze in the trees, the clip-clop of horses sauntering by, music wafting over from different houses, a mother and child speaking to each other in sweet tones, the very occasional car going by. I was in pure bliss. A little later, all the dogs in town would routinely start barking, at what, I don’t know. Maybe it was their social hour. During the day, a common sound was that of the recorded voice of a man who sells fill-ups for the propane gas tanks that everyone has – no city gas lines there. He would slowly drive around the town with his loudspeaker, saying ga-a-a-as, ga-a-a-a-s. I would also hear various political advertising done in the same way, a car driving around with a recording going over a loudspeaker. At least I hope it was a recording, otherwise the speaker would get quite hoarse calling out all day! Many fiestas in Mexico start off at 5am with firecrackers and church bells waking people up for Mass, before they celebrate with parades, processions, food and live music and dancing for the rest of the day. I only heard firecrackers only once while there, coming from the neighboring village, so it wasn’t too loud. Knowing that the boom-boom was celebratory in nature, it didn’t cause the usual alarm one would feel in the states. Many roosters live here and there in the town, and you’ll hear them early on, also. I walked by a loud party one Sunday afternoon, which I could only hear over the walls, but not see. Big loud parties in Mexico are usually family affairs, with all the generations together laughing, enjoying music, dancing and dining. Again, no cause for alarm, as it would be in the US. The weather. Far from being bland, the lovely and temperate weather had a dynamic of its own. When I arrived in late May, the hottest time of the year, the temperature was around 85F, but dry, with nice breezes in the evening. Many shops and restaurants have a completely open wall to the street, so that being inside the building is still like being in a sidewalk café (hence the expression Hole in the Wall). The distinction between outdoor and indoor is most pleasantly blurred. The rainy season usually starts in mid-June, and I happened to experience a passionate and sudden windstorm one night, which lasted exactly two hours. It was almost dark and the power went out, and the handsome son of the gardener, who was acting as night watchman, brought me a couple of candles. Nothing else happened – we just chatted in our broken Spanish and English, and enjoyed the fury of the storm, which ended as suddenly as it started, and then, all was perfectly quiet. A couple of showers came up, as usual, in the evening or at night, which leaves the days mostly sunny. How convenient! One night I was in a charming little restaurant, with open eaves, located behind a small boutique. A sudden heavy rainstorm came up around the time I finished eating, and I was unable to leave. The senorita who had been my waitress insisted that I stay until the rain died down. Since the owner was a gringo (whose wife was from Oaxaca), there was American R&B playing. I ordered a hot chocolate, sang along with Ray Charles' Raelettes, and managed to ask the two senoritas (in Spanish!) if they would like to learn how to dance to this music. So, I showed them. We danced around together in the shop, and had a wonderful time. They were just darling, so kind and friendly. Eventually, the rain died down enough so I could walk home, the dusty cobblestone streets now washed clean and the air fresh and moist. The people. As in small towns everywhere, people are friendlier than in big cities. I said “hola” to most everyone going by, and usually got the same back. Various gringos would stop and chat. The pace of life there is so easygoing, that people normally do that, instead of rushing off in their busy, busy lives. I met an excellent photographer who has been in town for 20 years, had a gallery, and was very blended into the community. I met a naturopathic doctor and his wife who were managing a nearby B&B. We spoke of health matters and the state of things in the states, agreeing on much. I made several other acquaintances whom I would love to see again when I move down there. It was always a little adventure to relate to people in a new and foreign language, a humbling experience, but one that always gave me a little rush. I found that my zany side seemed to be well received there. Laughter seems to come easily to Mexicans. One remarkable woman I met was Conchita, who sat out on the beach every day, weaving and selling beautiful blankets and rugs. Every day, she would have to tear down her display and haul her stuff – somewhere – wherever she stayed. Obviously poor and shabby, she was walking up the sloping street from the beach one evening, pulling a huge load of her stuff in old plastic garbage bags on some sort of furniture dolly. I couldn’t believe she was doing this alone, so I got behind her and helped push. Finally, we got to her destination, where she paused and we tried to talk. Two young local men came along and joined us. One of them knew a little English, and I asked him why no one helped her. They chatted in Spanish, and he told me he couldn’t understand her very well because of her accent. She told him of her tragic story, how she had no children (anymore?) and her son had been killed in a car accident. The thing that amazed me was that she could still laugh and smile, and that she conveyed a true sense of inner peace. I told the young man to tell her I thought she was a saint. My photographer friend knew her and filled me in on her story. She was from Oaxaca, and had been driven off her ancestral land, and sat on the street corner and cried every day for six months after her son was killed. She showed up in a postcard that I bought, her picture was in a local magazine in an article by a therapist, and a painting of her was in a book given to me by my photographer friend, just before meeting her. Sometimes it feels like a real blessing to meet someone - like her. Later that evening, while walking around, the two young men passed me on the other side of the street, saying “hola” like friends. I kept having these delightful chance encounters there – one of the big reasons why I want to return. On the slightly scrubby lakeshore one Sunday, I saw kids playing in the water and mama rocking her husband in a hammock, smiling sweetly at him…such a peaceful scene. The children. Mexicans have a very strong love of family, and it shows in the happy and exuberant children I would see playing in the streets in the evening. Many of them looked almost too thin, but their energy at play seemed to indicate that they were indeed healthy. I saw a number of young girls who looked like budding high-fashion models, with their slender, elongated limbs and high cheekbones. Kids would be playing soccer on the cobblestones with great gusto, girls as well as boys, but not the two together. Since the cobblestone streets were being repaired, there were piles of dirt here and there around town. I came across a group of young girls playing Queen of the Mountain, running up and down the pile of dirt with delightful and giddy, giggly abandon. I saw young teenage mamas nursing their babies. I saw teenagers out with their grandmas. Two young girls were expertly riding horses on the beach with their father. The day after the big windstorm, there was debris to be cleaned up. In the street, I saw a young girl with her little brother who was proudly pushing a full size wheelbarrow, probably on their way to help clean up. Kids do work there, especially when poor. But the little boy had a great big smile on his face. Hey, it’s fun to help the grownups do something useful! Had I had my camera handy, I’m sure the kids would have been mystified as to why I would photograph such a simple, but delightful moment. The Upshot. My retirement can’t come a day too soon! I find myself yearning to be in the land of the real Counter Culture to the U.S. It’s only recently dawned on me what a strong link there was between Mexican culture and the 60’s psychedelic scene in San Francisco where I came of age. Various hipsters were hanging out in Mexico and bringing back elements of the culture – the colorful beads, the embroidered clothes, the relaxed attitude, enjoyment of music, dance, festivities, as well as some mind-expanding native plants. Now I realize why people started painting the SF Victorian houses in bright multi-colors. Obviously, someone had been to Mexico, and wanted to put a little color into our neutral-toned cityscape. What a concept! Things don’t have to be drab! Colors live! Iguanamente!!
  19. You are right. Staying at home most of the day, I am constantly reading international news online. Real news, not fake conspiracy theories. I can't supply links because I read up to 100 items every day. I read one written by a medical professional that some people who do survive CV do come out with lasting and very serious side effects such as lung and heart damage and inability to wake up after the required medical sedation when you are on a ventilator, which is very traumatic to the body. Other medical professionals have detailed how horrible some of these cases are even if the people live. People in ICUs with CV often die alone, the bodies pile up, the morgues fill up, and mass graves have to be dug and used. Many never see their loved ones again once they enter the ICU. This could happen anywhere the CV rates surge. CV is NOT the flu, it is much more deadly, all propaganda firmly set aside. There are more young people catching it now because they are the ones going out and socializing without protection the most. It's like unsafe sex, you really take your chances. They might not die as fast but they also may come out with lasting problems. One strong factor in young people getting CV is obesity. There are also cases of children getting it with lasting problems, and a set of triplets was just born with all of them testing positive for CV. They were tested before they even had a chance to nurse, so they did not get it from mother's milk. About the crowded hospitals, I read first hand accounts from Italy, including videos, written/made by local Italians who were fluent in English. I paid attention because I had been contemplating a trip to Italy and was very alarmed how fast it got so bad there. One woman detailed everything she saw and experienced with her own family members and neighbors, which was ghastly. One man walked through a hospital waiting room taking live videos showing the area so crowded that incoming patients were actually lying on the floor with nothing, waiting to be seen. Both said the bottom line is that it is much worse than you think. Take very good care, stay healthy! Edited by moderator to remove politics.
  20. I strongly sense that those who favor The Economy over Saving Lives simply are not well informed of the realities of the situation. It's so easy to imagine "it can't happen here, or to me." Yes, people are suffering economically, but they will be suffering much more with death spreading all around them as will happen without the precautions. In the first world countries, the government helps the people, least of all in the US. Low government as we have here in MX is a sign of a 3rd world country without a decent standard of living for everyone. We gringos are the rich ones here and we are obligated to help financially, but more on that in another thread. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-brazil-killing-young-developing-world/2020/05/22/f76d83e8-99e9-11ea-ad79-eef7cd734641_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most CV deaths keep going up in MX; Jalisco still on the low side, roughly equal to Yucatan and only slightly more than Guanajuato or Oaxaca - states with far smaller populations. We are doing well here because of the strict precautions of Alfaro who has stated he is following the guidance of the U de G. Good for him and us. This is no time to slack off. I hope Moy keeps the safety blockades up. Everyone I have talked to around here supports them. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-deaths-hit-new-daily-record-of-479/ The issue is not staying in or going out. It is what has to be done to keep the hospitals able to function. Remember, if they are packed with CV patients, a tragedy in itself, they can't care for "normal" medical emergencies. Hospitals are on the brink of collapse in Acapulco: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/acapulco-hospitals-on-point-of-collapse-mayor/ Here is how local people in Yucatan are handling the crisis: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/in-200-communities-no-one-comes-or-goes/ San Miguel is also planning to put up blockades to outsiders as they begin to reopen some businesses with strict limitations and for locals only. The Cancun area as well as Los Cabos have postponed their openings indefinitely until strict certification of sanitation can be accomplished to benefit both the workers and the travelers who will be quite concerned about travel safety.
  21. It's OK to go outside to walk around in the streets - you just can't hang around and congregate with people. You have to keep your distance if you stop to talk to someone. Obviously, people would tend to congregate at the Malecon or other parks. I take the scenic routes when I go out for errands.
  22. I was there Monday and asked the security guard outside why it was closed. He said it was because of CV. Hmm... I paid my previous bill there only 2-3 weeks ago. He also said many Telmex offices are closed (??) but that you could pay at Oxxo. So I went over there and it is certainly no safer for the customer - people standing too close together, employee's mask slipping off her face... The Telmex office hasn't been crowded for years, there is plenty of space inside so WTF? I wonder if someone there tested positive for CV and maybe they had to do a very thorough cleaning. Who knows? Sounds fishy to me.
  23. Please note that Jalisco has roughly the same amount of deaths as Yucatan, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca, states I dearly love and would like to revisit. That is in spite of the fact that Jalisco has a far greater population, with 2 major metropolises than any of these states with much lower populations. Quintana Roo - Cancun - has more than double the number of deaths of Jalisco with 1 large metro area, but with lots of foreign tourists. Again, I say kudos to Alfaro and Moy Anaya for keeping us relatively safe here at lakeside. Which is not to recommend getting complacent. https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-case-numbers-continue-rising/
  24. I don't have any inside info but I suspect the parks and other public outdoor spaces such as malecons will be closed for a while simply because that is where crowds of people collect, and that is what still has to be avoided. However, you can still take walks around town or whatever, you don't need to be indoors all day. Just keep your mask on and don't congregate or get closer than 6' to anyone. Better to be 6' apart than 6' under!
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