My search at the Sunday market for some movies proved successful as I found a 3 x 1 deal that included ‘The Tourist’ with Depp and Jolie. ‘The Black Swan’ and ‘Love & Other Possibilities’ (both starring Natalie Portman) were included in the veinte y cinco price tag. ($2.00) Just hope it’s in English. I also scored a righteous piece of carrot cake at my favorite dessert place. Tonight’s Menu: Dessert & a Movie.
Returned for yet another siesta and shower before hiking down to my office. The welcoming smiles and greetings from Sharon, Gil, Silvia, and Homer continue to draw me back to The Shamrock.

After completing my homework, I headed over to Tapas del Mundo to leave a deposit with Jorge for our cooking class on Feb 8th and was pleasantly surprised with the music emanating from the new ‘wine’ bar in town, The Luna Lounge. As I passed by I recognized the singers….The Mango Trio, now called the Mango Duo, two of my favorite musicians. (Alfredo & Zoe) How cool is this! It turns out that Hugh, the owner, has booked them on Sundays from 7pm to ? Of course I had to stay for one of their sets. Smiling I made the hike home.
Buenos Noches!

Spent the evening in Sayulita at Pete y Sharon’s spare room/office. I was glad to be able to listen to last week’s sermon from Good Shepherd this morning. Thank-you Pastor N. for the message. I was also invited to Gail’s famous Sunday morning sour-dough pancakes, and I wasn’t about to miss them. Always excellent. Ruth, Gail, Pete, Joe, and I partook. Thank-you Gail. (Gail is our friend from Alaska, that still drives her Class C motor-home to Sayulita, by herself. An amazing woman.) The photo is of some her many plants and flowers that decorate her ‘mobile’ home.
Returned to mi casa about 11am…..siesta time, then market. Adios!
Determined to check out the market for DVDs and the Pasteles for Zanahoria (carrot cake).
Success! Siesta time.

For those that don't read my blog.....write your own stories with these three.

Sayulita!
After Panino’s, homework, laundry, dishes, and shower…..I hopped on a bus to Sayulita to gather with friends to watch the sunset. Ricardo, Leslie, Gary, Nancy, Steve, Pedro, Sharon, and I met at Rick y Leslie’s place about 5:30pm for what turned out to be a fun 6 plus hour sunset happy hour. Good food, quality tequila, and great friends….always make for a good time, and last night was no exception.
Ricardo had a 5-year-old tequila that had to be sampled….so we did. Anejo means aged at least 1-year. This was classified as:
Tequila Extra Añejo (ultra aged)
A new classification added in the summer of 2006, labeling any Tequila aged more than 3 years, an "Extra Añejo". Following the same rule as an "Añejo", the distillers must age the spirit in barrels or containers with a maximum capacity of 600 liters. With this extended amount of aging, the Tequila becomes much darker, more of a Mahogany color, and is so rich that it becomes difficult to distinguish it from other quality aged spirits. After the aging process, the alcohol content must be diluted by adding distilled water. These Extra Añejo’s are extremely smooth and complex.
And the appetizers were fantastic. It was sort of a going-away party for Steve, who is leaving Mexico, this week, for Panama. We all wish him the best and will miss him.
The photos tell the story better than words….so I shall let them speak!
Buenos Noches!

Friday, 4:00 pm, headed out to Joe Crows to say hi to Courtney and Ty. Sarah the cute Canadian blonde from the Twisted Rose was also there. After some blog entries and a cerveza, headed to The Shamrock.
Following my mandatory Wall Street Basic homework, Mike and Sherry, two of my favorites, walked in. Had a great conversation with both of them, exchanged our emails and talked about a possible rental in Terralta II for next year. Note: this is the really cool Michigan couple that own and live in Terralta I, that I met last year. (wanted to say that in case they read this. Lol)
Walked over to Tapas del Mundo and spoke to Jorge, the chef about a cooking class the week of Feb 6th. He said that if we had 4 or more people he could schedule one. Right now, there are 3 of us. He asked for a 200 peso deposit per person, of which I didn’t have. Ok, tmi! (to much info) So on Tuesday, Feb 6th we are supposed to arrive at 10:30am for the class. He will add other persona to the list. Max of 10. Met Nancy, his wife (I believe), and she was very nice. A pencil, but very nice. (humor intended)
Back to the casa for pan con carne. (meatloaf sandwich) And some new vinos. Since a meatloaf sandwich doesn’t have a culinary ring, let me explain dinner…..Manchego queso, fresh horseradish smuggled in from WI, Dijon mustard, lettuce, catsup, open faced on a slice of toasted whole wheat French bread….Sweet! now we’re talking!
Speaking of sweet, I thought I would try another dessert from MEGA….a pastel 3 leches con chocolate…..just ok, with vino rojo, but not great. I shall stick with the small place in Bucerias for this part of the menu. I was trying to be frugal. The white was ok, the red, sucked.
Another episode of House and lights out. Let the big toe recuperate. (no, don’t picture that!)

Buenos Noches! ......wait.....the two other photos were taken Sat morning on my walk to the office. aka Panino's

Buenos Dias mi Amgios!
Amazing medicina por juanete! My toe feels 87% better. And that was after just one pill. Thank-you Gaby and the pharmacy that prescribed it without me even being there. Oh, the cost was $37 pesos or about $3.10. No insurance to bill…..interesting concept. I learned that full health insurance in Mexico would cost about $600 USD for the year for gringos. Not a bad option if the health insurance in the US continues to go in the wrong direction.
Walked to Panino’s for my bi-daily internet session which includes new blog entries, devotions, banking, and emails and of course a bottomless cup of coffee. Exchanged one of my books for a ‘fresh’ one .( #4 if you’re keeping track) Decided to make a culinary run afterwards. (i.e. groceries)
The MEGA (the big grocery store just south of Bucerias) trip was accomplished in 2 hours flat. Remember that includes the ½ mile walk to the bus, the 20 minute bus trip each way, the money exchange, shopping with limited Spanish, and hauling 30 pounds of food back. With a semi-bad toe. Not bad.
What’s on the menu for the next few days? The 1-kg Mexican meatloaf is prepared and now cooking….oh, while I was gone, magically a new propane bottle showed up, was connected, and the pilot light was re-lit on the water heater. Pretty cool. Thanks, Gaby!
The challenge today was to find the ingredients for a honey mustard vinaigrette. Good thing there’s only 3 ingredients. Also to pick out 2 new wines that I have not tried and that don’t bust my budget. Do you now understand why my backpack was 30 pounds?
The surprise today was that a kilo (2.2 pounds) of pecans cost 263 pesos or over $22 USD. Ouch! No, didn’t get them but will ask arriving guests to smuggle some into the country. That’s a hint.

Buenos Dias!
 

Thursday, 7:30 pm Stopped at Gaby’s place to see if she had retrieved the ‘juanete medicina’. Assistant answered door…..no Gaby….and could not understand the explanation. Back to mi casa for dinner.
7:30 pm and started the blanco arrozo, or white rice. This was the last serving of my Diablo camarones con jalepeno. Poured a glass of my premature Sangria and turned on some music. Christmas piano….sweet. Water boiling…..brb…Crap….gas ran out….no stove functions…no hot water for a shower….Welcome to Mexico….headed to Gaby’s place.
Nobody home, left a note in German (jk)…..dinner halted, until a new LP tank can be found and installed…sorry guests, your dinner is postponed until tomorrow night….no hot water for a shower….hummmm….what shall I do? Do as the locals do….don’t worry about it?
I shall calm down and pour another glass of wine.
Will watch another episode of House, Season 6. Oh, wait, the remote still doesn’t work. Used the computer.
8:40 pm…..Ring, ring….the door bell is ringing, I must answer…brb…
It was Gaby and she apologized for the lack of gas/LP and promised that a new bottle would be delivered tomorrow…She also had purchased the medicine, from Puerto Vallarta, that I needed for my girlfriend….jaunete….(bonion). Mucho gracias was the best I could do. I do appreciate effort, really, I do.
Talk about trust….Gaby gave me the medicine for my bunion which was….Naproxeno Sodico-Paracetomol. As a responsible patient, of sorts, I followed the intructivo to the word….No debe administer mas de 2 tabletas cada 6 a 8 horas. There was another paragraph before and after that, in Spanish. The pills were huge and barely fit in the blender, but I was finally able to reduce them to a size that my throat and I would agree. May the healing begin, I prayed. Then all of sudden, my toe fell off. My motto: No pain, no pain.
To be continued.
Buenos Noches. Good night!

Yes, that is one of my pub towels! And that is not a notebook, the beer is grande Negro Modelo.

I put my nap on hold so that I could finish the book, ‘The Key to Midnight’. I must admit, it was pretty good. Suspense the entire novel with little hint of any predicable conclusion. A must read for many. No summary, no clues to entice new readers, just a thumbs up on a purely entertainment level. Now to finish book #3 in the trilogy and make some plans for future enjoyment via literature.

12:54 pm Siesta time!

3:00 pm I was suddenly overcome by a strong urge to sweep the floor in the upstairs master suite this afternoon. Perhaps a new strain of the domestic Mexican bug? Upon further contemplation, it was the thin slivers of glass from a broken light bulb that had eluded me being behind 24 fresh rolls of toilet paper. (do not imagine that sentence without the word ‘fresh’) Without a maid, this week, it was probably time for a little cleaning. (emphasis on the word, little)
4:00 pm I wish I had packed some grande band-aids to protect my juanete. I shall check my lists. Eye glass repair kit, check. Sewing kit with 18 needles and heavy white thread, check. First-Aid kit with it’s own list….hey, wait, I did pack them. Brilliant!
Time to check on the ATM machine and talk to Courtney y Ty.

5:00 pm…..ATM didn’t work at YoYoMo’s so I sauntered down to Avenido Pacifco and found one….problem was that it spit out USD…..crap….needed pesos. Go with the flow, which means, get a less than normal exchange rate. Throw a few dollars in the trash. That’s ok. Everybody just loves to throw away a portion of their pension. (sarcasm severely intended)
Headed over to The Shamrock for some mental relief.

Took some photos of the gorgeous sunset.
Buenos Noches!
 

Thursday morning and the walk to Panino’s was muy painful. Hey, John! Maybe you should go to a doctor and tell them that you have inflammation of the synovial bursa of the great toe, usually resulting in enlargement of the joint and lateral displacement of the toe.
Ok, now maybe you should say it in Spanish! Oh, now it gets a bit more difficult, doesn’t it? So what’s the Spanish word for ‘bunion’? Homework. It sounds like onion which is cebolla in Spanish. Not good enough. So I learn that the word is ‘juanete’ which sounds like a girlfriend’s name. Let the rumors fly!
Ok, the brilliant rocket scientist hobbles off to the local Farmacia armed with one or two words of Spanish…..and after proudly asking the assistant behind the counter for some medicina de juanete……I was barraged by a series of questions in Spanish..yikes….no comprende! I had to humbly leave sin medicina.
Just before I arrived at mi casa, I spotted Gaby and a high efficient light bulb went on……just politely ask Gaby, who I knew was going to Puerto Vallarta today, to pick up some medicine. Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of this a week ago? (rhetorical, don’t answer it) She also asked me several questions in broken English, but one I could understand…..’are you allergic to any medicine?’ Oh, that is what the senorita was asking at la farmacia? So the good news is that I just might have some medicine to relieve the inflammation on my synovial bursa. (you can thank me later…. no gross photo of my foot today.) How about a sunset?
Congratulations, you have endured yet another blog entry, and this one was about bunions. Does it get any better? (I hope so.) Stay tuned for further developments.

Buenos Tardes mi Amgios!

 

Wednesday Afternoon & Night…..

Noon: Met Pete & Sharon at LaPachanga to finally try their ‘homemade’ sausage. (see photo) Coming from Wisconsin, the bar is set quite high when it comes to sausages, i.e. the home of Johnsonville bratwursts. And I myself have dabbled into the world of making my own, so I have in my humble opinion some credentials when it comes to judging them. Ok, I’ve eaten my share as my waistline will prove.
Not fantastic, but not bad, for the sausage. The bun was good, but fell apart towards the end. The wait was a little long, but also not bad, for Mexico. Our server was friendly, polite and efficient. As reported in an earlier blog, their prices are reasonable with cervezas going for 15 pesos…9am to Midnight. On a scale of 1-10, I will give the meal a 7, since there are no 10’s, yet.

2:37 pm Returned from the new Wall Mart and wasn’t all that impressed. Not sure what my expectations were given the company, but they weren’t met. Bagged the wine needed to make Sangria and toilet paper, and some potential appetizers for later in the week. After an 8 pesos bus trip, I was back at mi casa.
Stopped at Gaby’s and gave her the remainder of the rent. Also requested a 9 volt battery and a new LP tank for hot showers and cooking. Normal stuff, eh? I returned the semi-useless USB modem that never worked in my dining room. (a bit frustrated) On the bright side, she gave me a 250 g bag of Caffiana which she had purchased during her travels to/from San Sebastion the past 3 days.
Posted my blog, late…..I hobbled down to The Shamrock, as usual, for trip #3 of the day, and Michigan Mike was sitting there. Silvia, (see photo) a cute young server, was working and kept us pleasantly distracted.
I joined Mike for several cervezas and conversation before being interrupted by a French Canadian from Montreal. (although he was trying to be socially friendly) Side note: Have you ever introduced yourself as a German American from Wisconsin? Or a Norwegian American from Seattle? Will the French Canadians just get over it…..you’re Canadian. Of course that might bring up the question why some call themselves African American. But I shall not broach that subject here.
8:14pm The trip back was very slow….the foot is not listening to the brain. It hurts.
It will be a night of reading…relaxing….Ibuprofen.
9:41 pm…..bedtime.
Buenos Noches mi Amigos.

Food for Thought: Version II
Yet another beautiful sunset over Banderas Bay! (from last night) I’m about to make my 2nd trip of the day into Bucerias to meet Pete and Sharon at LaPachanga and then head south, by bus, to the neuvo Wall Mart. (Yes, it’s those simply things in life that give us pleasure)

Today will be a 3 tripper…..Panino’s for coffee and internet, this 2nd one, and my evening hike for internet and cervezas. All part of my exercise routine. I am happy to say that I have lost at least 5 pounds and without a scale, you can’t prove me wrong. Ok, the tale of the belt and the movement of the occupied hole, gives me hope that my program is working.

But I shall change the subject……planning. We all make plans, some more than others. The anal ones have detailed 2 page checklists that give them confidence that they haven’t forgotten anything. (but still I do)

One needs to make plans to travel, like to Mexico. While one begins their college studies, he/she plans for a career or business. As you go through your career, you plan for retirement. Planning, it’s part of what we do. But what are you doing for life after death? Triggered by the events of the last two weeks. What sort of planning are you doing now for that? Food for Thought! This is the title of my paper this year. So this blog will show a few clips. Enjoy.

11:20am Time to start my hike.
Buenos Dias mi amigos!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011 or

in Spanish, Miercoles, Enero Veinti-seis, Dos Mil y Once

As yesterday’s blog hinted and the graphic photos show, a tragedy occurred on Monday night in Bucerias. I learned later, that three people, not two, perished in this so called accident. I have spoken to 5 different people concerning what happened and have heard 5 different stories. One blamed the fireworks which are an integral part of Revolution Days, a Mexican 9-day holiday which was just ending.
A second story puts the cause on the power lines that carnival families depend on as they drape their frayed cords over them to tap into their source of energy for some lights.
A third story blames the gas grills that are used for cooking the street foods and a possible leak around the open flames.
The fourth one claims that arson was involved and somewhat ties into the 5th story.
The fifth one faults the ‘mafia’ or drug cartel having put pressure on this particular vendor for ‘protection’ money or quota as they call it.
Regardless and tragically, 3 lives were lost. If the last two are the reason, then one might begin to wonder several things, one of which ‘Is Mexico safe?”…….which will be a portion of my next few blogs.
Buenos Dias

Two weeks in paradise and I’m still white. Perhaps I need a bit more time on the beach with a bucket of Corona’s and a book. Speaking of books, and reading, that’s another hobby that I indulge myself while in Mexico. I have strategically placed a book in each bathroom. (you’re still reading!)
I have already finished a completely mindless read called…….I’m not even going to give the title, but you’ve heard the term, “it’s a chick flick”. Well, this one is a chick book. The story of 3 women, who……not even worth sharing that much. However, it had a few funny lines that made me smile. i.e. “No one liked adding a single person to the mix - I was like a neutron threatening to rage out of control without a balancing proton to keep me in check.” And “Talking to her was like holding a conversation with a Pop Tart – there just wasn’t a lot of substance.”
Book #2 is a suspense novel called ‘The Key To Midnight’ by Dean Koontz. And book #3 is ‘Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing’ by Robert Kiyosaki. I am 200 plus pages deep into both of them. More on these two after I finish and outline them. (or run out of toilet paper)
Earlier I wrote about a new restaurant in town called La Pachanga. I noted that it was closed on Monday. I was so looking forward to trying their homemade sausages that I had starved myself until 11am. Not today, Tuesday! Strike two……it was closed but for a totally different reason. An accident and/or a crime scene. Not at the restaurant, but the entire block in front of YoYo Mo’s, Joe Crows, and La Pachanga. The carnival has been in town, and many of the streets are filled with a variety of booths selling everything from kitchen gadgets, wooden chickens, music, clothing, to food. It appears that the entire block of carnival booths was destroyed by fire last night. Not sure if anybody was hurt.
I was going to take some photos but the armed police officers, crime scene tape, and verbal warnings gave me a hint that I shouldn’t. (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out)
I shall do some more investigating this afternoon with hopes of embellishing this blog entry. AKA…..stop at happy hour and ask some questions. Somebody has to do it!

Update: Sadly two persons were killed in the fire last night in Bucerias. More news as I gather it.

That’s all for today mi amigos.
Buenos Tardes!

La Pachanga
Today’s restaurant. This is a new place for Bucerias and is located on Avendia Mexico, across the street from The Twisted Rose and a few doors down from Joe Crows. Note: as I discovered yesterday, Monday, they are closed. (note to self)

I have included a link and review from The Best of Bucerias. A few excerpts follow:

“ La Pachanga eatery carries an air of nonchalance, where one can sit their afternoon away on the open aired covered patio. Listen to music as well as chatting with friends till the wee hours of the night.
The food here is every hot dog lover’s dream to indulge in the variety of gourmet sausage dogs, and burgers all prepared fresh on site.
Begin with one of the polish sausages, add the fresh bun with some fries and you’re off!
The food here is value-for-money, the menu items are taste-tested and the location will prove to be a people watcher’s heaven. Then when you’re done you have the option to pick-up a few burgers & sausages for your next back-yard BBQ on your way out.”

http://www.bestofbucerias.com/product_la_pachanga_260

How to build the ultimate Gourmet Sausage Dog (in Mexico) (All made fresh on site):
$60 pesos!
1. Choose your sausage: Original, Italian, Polish, or Hot Italian
2. Choose up to 4 toppings: Chili, Salsa, BBQ Sauce, Onions, Pickles, Cheese: Cheddar, American, Nacho or Cream Cheese, Horseradish, Bacon, Sauerkraut, Tomatoes, Grilled Onions, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Banana Peppers, or Jalapenos.
3. Choice to include: Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, or Mayonnaise
4. Choose: French Fries or Potato Salad.

“A quality hot dog’s distinct “taste” is the most enjoyable sensation when you take a bite. We achieve the best “snap” by using top quality, all-natural casings.”

What I haven’t mentioned, yet, is that beers are 15 pesos all day and 20 peso national drinks. (hint: margaritas are a national drink) Remember, 12 pesos/dollar. They also have liters of cerveza for 30 pesos. (That’s 33 ounces for about $2.50) And they will broadcast your favorite football team….Go Packers!
So for about a 120 pesos or $10, you get a large custom sausage sandwich (larger than natural casing wieners that we get at home), a side of fries or potato salad, a liter of Corona or a couple margaritas, and that includes the tip. Cheap? I think not, Frugal is the word.


Buenos Tardes mi Amigos!

A couple random photos of Bucerias. I tried the street hamburgers today, 2 x 35 pesos. Not a lot of substance as the burger was about as thin as the cheese, but if you're cheap, I mean frugal, then it will fill you. No, I wasn't able to eat both. Took them home.

Part 3 of 4 on Customs & Immigration…..Welcome to Mexico!
Congratulations, you made it. On the outside chance that I got lost, my bus broke down, or I simply forgot, don’t panic.

You may have noticed a few ATM machines, go ahead and get some pesos. You will need them to buy me a cerveza. (beer) Remember the exchange rate is about 12:1 That means if you select 1000 pesos, you are only getting about $85. The fee for ATMs is about $3.50 whether you get 1000, 2000, or 3000 pesos. Do the math, get enough pesos for the week. (hint: 3000 pesos) Don’t worry about getting too much, I will buy back whatever you don’t use. If you don’t like ATMs, then use the Money Exchange booths. Your choice.
If you’re still wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, black socks, work boots, and a winter jacket, STRIP. You’re going to overheat in 10 minutes, if you haven’t already. Duck into a bathroom (Hombre Banos for guys), and put on something really comfortable, we’re going to do some walking before you get to mi casa.
Now the adventure begins. You are in Mexico with Juan Marcos. Be afraid! We’re going to have some fun. More than likely you will have had a long day. Don’t worry, I will get you back to my condo, where you can unwind, take a shower, or a siesta, or have a shot of tequila. (or all three) I don’t plan anything strenuous on the first day. Heck, I don’t plan anything strenuous any day!
Welcome to Mexico!!!!

Sunset: Sayulita Style
There is nothing quite like basking in the Sayulita sunset rays sipping some tequila con mi hermano, Pedro. (with my brother, Pete & Sister-in law, Sharon) That is exactly what I did last night as we let the huge Packer win over Da Bears soak in! Oh how sweet it is.
The day began with a 12 peso bus ride to Sayulita from Bucerias. Perhaps the best $1.00 a person could spend…..a Mexican bus trip. Nobody died on this particular trip, so not much to write about.
After the obligatory Pedro Bloody Mexicans, a bloody Mary with tequila vs. vodka, Sharon, Pete, and I headed over to Sayulita’s YoYo Mo’s, as opposed to the Bucerias’s YoYo Mo’s. (yes, same owner) Less than an hour to game time and good seats were still available so we planted ourselves under a huge palapa next to some Wisconsin friends, Suzanna y Juan.
What a game! The short version is that 4 hours and 500 pesos later, that was the total bill for three of us including a generous tip, the Packers rose to the occasion, are the NFC Champions, and are heading to Superbowl #45 on Feb 6th. GO PACKERS!
The longer version includes the two Bears fans, one of which knocked out Pete’s front tooth. (really, it happened…..how’s that for a teaser?)
Enjoy the Sayulita sunset photos.
Buenos Noches!

A continuation of yesterday’s blog. (as if you didn’t have enough)

4:20 pm Joe Crows for a cold one and post this incredible entry. Lol

5:00 pm Heading to The Shamrock for a couple coronas and one to go….so I can once again gaze on the work of The Artist.

6:30 pm Headed to beach for sunset and a sip of tequila before heading ‘home’. To explain that a bit more, I enjoy sipping tequila, good tequila. Maybe 2 ounces, and too have it linger. No shots, no binge drinking, just a nice slow paced sip of the nectar of the agave. Sweet. That’s what I enjoy. If and when you join me, the first order of business is to search and purchase a proper sipping instrument for tequila. The market in Bucerias has a plethora of styles, sizes and prices. (I hate the overuse of that word, so there is a bit sarcasm hidden in that last sentence.) You can find your own unique glass down here for about 50 pesos. With my bargaining skills, I can get that up to 70 pesos.

7:45 pm Just finished my dinner and I must admit, I loved it. Not bragging, I am very critical about my culinary skills, but this was good. I shall call it…..Diablo Camarones……or devil shrimp…..why? Was it that hot? No….Was it that spicy….No….just because it sounds cool, in a culinary way. I used two large jalapenos in the sauce and after de-seeding and roasting, they were excellent for flavor, but added little heat. Love when that happens. I for-went, or is for-go, the bread with olive oil, the soup, and the salad….just wanted the singular taste of the dish. Let the Chopped Challenge begin!

8:00 pm Downloaded some sunset photos…..OMG…..again, some amazing pics from a $150 camera. Not the operator….I need to get my roommate David down here to capture this pulchritude. (Latin for beauty). He’s good! I shall share a few of them, even though they don’t really do the sunset proper, they are the best I can offer my readers. How do you say….”You really need to be here!” Not teasing, just inviting. Mexico on a Budget will address the cost of joining me…in a later blog entry.
Now for some relaxation, a glass of vino blanco, and a movie. And it’s only 8:16 pm. I suspect that old age is moving in quickly. No comments, please.

9 pm…I want to thank my friends Courtney and Ty for the wonderful dvd they loaned me. Three movies, one of which I watched last night. I am not a movie critic, by no means, but the movie last night, on a scale of 1-10 with a 10 being excellent, gets a 1.5 at best.
It was in a foreign language and demanded attention to the sub-titles. It involved a robbery of an armored car and included two gay violent twins. It did not get better. . It made Broke-back Mountain seem like an early Disney film. The violence and …..not even worth writing….I shall hope the second movie is better.
The movie tonight, the 2nd in the series, rates…. worse. I thought the movie last night with sub-titles was a challenge to watch, I was wrong. This one is mostly in French, with some short outbreaks of English, no sub-titles, and gay. I fear that if I talk in my sleep tonight, it will be in French and that will greatly scare the albino gecko that has visited me twice this trip. So far I have not bought any car insurance.
I am listening to the movie while I write this entry and have not missed anything. (in English)
If I had a remote that worked, I would abuse it. Lol. The yippy dog who was so offensive last night is approaching music to my ears. The 1am rodeo music seems so distant at this moment. Perhaps I shall set my alarm.
I was never so glad to see the credits appear, even in French.
On a good note….The food tonight was good, and the company ok.
Pray for me!
On a side note, thanks to the many friends and family that emailed me about wanting continuous access to this blog. I shall add both of you to my exclusive list. (humor intended)
For others, if you have a good medical plan that includes psychiatric care, please continue to enjoy this blog.
Buenos Noches mi amigos!

Saturday, Jan 22, 2011
Sabado, Enero Veinti-dos, 2011

So what does Juan Marcos do all day? (I’ve been asked)
Although this may not be the most interesting entry, I thought I would make a simple chronological log of today’s activities to answer this question and perhaps yours. (hey, don’t yawn, yet)

8:00 am Meditations

8:40 am Walk to town. With the sore toe, this now takes about 20 minutes vs. 10.

9:00- 10:00 am Panino’s for coffee and internet. Read, reply, and compose new emails. Finish blog entry and publish, download stock market data from Friday’s close. Engage in Yahoo IM with anybody on line. (Ross yesterday, Cathy today) (25 pesos) Download a devotion for later.

10:15 am The Fish Market (Pescado) to buy ½ kilo of camarones/shrimp. (50 pesos). Tonight’s meal starts with my Juan Marcos Marinara Jitomates y Jalapeno salsa and camarones is the featured ‘meat’. The shrimp in Mexico are wonderful, fresh, and very local. One must incorporate them into their menus while living here.

10:30 am Pateleria por Tres Leche con Capacino (30 pesos) This was my 2nd trip to this lovely bakery. In preparation for my upcoming dinner challenges, I am trying several places and kinds of desserts. They are affordable and a lot easier than trying to make them myself. (hey, I wrote the rules for the challenge)

10:45 am Take Bus, since foot is hurting, spend 5 pesos for the 8 block trip to entrance to Terralta II (my condo)

11:00 – 11:59 am Blog composition at Condo, download any photos, crop and resize them. Check over list, cross off any completed items, and add new ones for this afternoon or tomorrow.

12:00 Noon – 12:30pm. Start my marinara sauce for tonight’s dinner. Prepare jitomates with olive oil and secret seasonings. Fire up oven to 200 degrees C. (metric in Mexico) 1 kilo of jitomates (9 large Romas) = 11.44 pesos or 95 cents. 3 large Jalapenos = 1.31 pesos or 11 cents. 1 large onion/cebolla = 2.93 pesos or 25 cents. Cheap? No, Frugal. (photo of prep)

12:30 -1:30pm First siesta while the rooms are filled with the savory smells of roasted tomatoes and jalapenos.

1:30- 2:30 pm Finish marinara and clean Shrimp/Camarones for tonight’s dinner. Make sure I have sufficient wine. I am a bit spoiled with the shrimp in WI as they are often cleaned, peeled, and deveined. Not here. It’s a bit time consuming but worth it. I recommend a sharp paring knife and bandaids. It takes longer than you think to clean 48 shrimp. (yes I counted. With dessert and either a salad or soup, this should be plenty for 4 persons)

2:30 pm Check on laundry, take off line, fold. (cross of checklist) It is a luxury item to have a washer and solar dryer in your backyard. Thanks Cathy for the suggestion.

3:00 – 3:30 2nd well deserved siesta. (don’t groan)

3:30 – 4:00 pm Shower & Shave. My day planner says I get a new razor today. (one every 12 days) How exciting! I warned you about how interesting this might become!

4 pm Walk to town.

4:20 pm Joe Crows for a cold one and post this incredible entry. Lol

5:00 pm Heading to The Shamrock

6:00 pm Head to beach for sunset and a sip of tequila before heading ‘home’.

Buenos Noches!

‘Mexico on a Budget’

Forgot to mention that I had some fish tacos the other night at a street stand, across from the church. Fantastic. 15 pesos. Camaron. Two of them were a meal for me. Which leads me to finances here in Mexico……Oh, Look! A chicken. Contrary to some people’s opinion, I am not living a champagne life here in Mexico. Those that know me well, might tag me with the adjective….frugal. Not cheap. Ok, some say cheap, but there is a big difference.
Cheap means that you drive all around town spending a dollar to save 10 cents. Frugal means that you know what’s on sale and where, and you plan your trip accordingly, spending and extra 10 cents to save a dollar or $10.
In Mexico, I don’t spend 6 pesos for the bus each way to save 5 pesos on a liter of milk, but I do know the costs of most items that I use to cook at mi casa, and I plan accordingly. That’s frugal. Without a rental car, you can only carry so much in your backpack and if it comes down to milk or wine….got the picture?
I limit my ‘fancy’ restaurants to maybe, just maybe once every 2-3 weeks. (and it depends if guests are in town) Fancy is defined as costing over 240 pesos/person. ($20) I have a budget while in Mexico and for the anal people out there, I track all my costs on a spreadsheet, including bus fares and tips.
When I decide to stretch my culinary skills, I try to shop smart and cook for 4-5 people so I know how to budget for friends and family. And yes I hate to waste any leftovers, so I will eat the dish for 3-4 consecutive nights. Although I would slightly modify it each time.
More on ‘Mexico on a Budget’ in future writings.
Buenos Dias mi amigos. 

Panino’s this morning for my internet messages and una café con leche. Picked up a double sized olive ciabatta for breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Their bread and pastries are fantastic. You need to go early because they do sell out, almost daily. (even though I found some 50% items this morning, 8 pesos for the ciabatta bread)
Gaby stopped by and showed me how to operate the washing machine. Just hit these two buttons. I felt like a 3rd grader in a Quantum Physics class. But I learn fast. Since the new dryer is already broken, i.e. the clothesline broke since the construction guys next door removed the hooks, I wasn’t sure how to install the new dryer.
Off to Mega for some culinary ideas! Looking for pan molido, jitomates, cebolla, y jalepenos.
2 hours later I return. I was in no hurry. Washing machine has finished, now to try out that new solar dryer. New solar dryer installed. (Clothesline was fixed.)
Now to watch the shirts dry. I can’t believe you’re reading this. Siesta time!

Buenos Tardes, mi Amigos. 

Injury update!
Somehow, and it’s still a mystery, I have injured my big left toe and the two trips to town every day are much slower and painful. (thankfully no photos) I am at the clinic while I wait. Aka… The Shamrock. Pain pills are 10 pesos with a lime, after 5pm. Mexico has a great health care program! 10 peso co-pay during happy hour. But back to my toe……..how can you hurt your toe while sleeping? Whether it’s during the day or night? Pack some ibuprofen if you come down.

New dryer update!
This year my condo has supplied a washer. Yeah! In previous years I had to drop my laundry off where they washed, dried, and folded my clothes. Hey, wait, that was pretty easy….now I have to do all that. Regardless, the place does not have a dryer so I went in search of one, yesterday. See photo. For about $4.00 I found a luxury model. I tried it out this morning and although it’s a bit slow, it works. We’re talking clean underwear from now on. Perhaps I should have brought 2 pair.

For those that have followed the Travels of Juan Marcos, I have some bad news. Due to a breach in trust, I have decided to shut down my blog site and make it restricted. If you are reading this and still want to continue with my electronic travel journal, email me. Cheers.
This will become effective the moment you can’t view it.
Juan Marcos 

Gil El Artista!

That’s some bad hat, Harry!
Is it irony that House, Season 6 is being played and that Disk 4 has a show about an avid blogger? Perhaps some therapy is needed for both conditions!
Every day is a new adventure down here in Bucerias. And tonight was no exception. After my dual greetings with Ty & Courtney at Joe Crows, I headed to The Shamrock. Flashback to last Saturday…the Green Bay game…..Dawn and Sigred (yes, a different name) were having a drink. (photo) An hour of conversation made for an interesting evening of conversation. The added bonus was from tres amigas from England. Thank-you ladies. Now for my hike home…..
A dinner of tasty leftovers, a sweet sample of tres leches con fruta and another session of House. Which leads me to a technical challenge…..is it me or does anybody else hate to have an electronic device defeat you? (don’t yawn) I have been battling the remote to my DVR for 9 days, and so far it’s winning and I’m whining. Multiple battery swaps have proved useless with several points being tallied by the remote. “Juan, just use the controls on the machine!” Brilliant, but also useless if you’re watching a tv series and need to select a particular show because you’ve watched the previous 2 out of 5. In comes the exclusive need for today’s new remote. Since it has flatly refused to function, I have to watch each disk from the beginning, again.
Ok, I’m smarter than a 5th grader, or remote. I figured out that if I didn’t turn off the DVR, and only the TV, I could resume the disk from where I left off. Brilliant. Except the TV and DVR are coupled so that when I turned off the TV, a few seconds later, the DVR shuts down. BAM, back to the beginning of disk 4 of House which I have almost memorized.
Ok, I run an extension cord to the DVR so that it doesn’t shut down when I turn off the TV. Score another for the remote….it shuts down. Finally I learn that the HDMI cable is a communication link telling the DVR to shut down when the TV is turned off, so I unplug it and BAM, it works. Juan Marcos wins. So I thought.
Except that last night, during the 1:00 am rodeo noise extravaganza, yes! you read that right, the power went out in Bucerias. BAM, the DVR reset and I’m back to season 6 of House, disk 4, show #1. And how do you reset the clock on a microwave in Spanish? Relax?
I now must watch 4-5 hours of House every time I ……you get the picture. Soon to be on Craig’s list…Season 6 of House, complete with a Midwest slang narration. (and a free remote) These 20 shows were supposed to last me 10 weeks.
Buenos Noches! 

This photo has too many captions to just list one. Can you help me? Good a good one?

Food for Thought!
Last week I worked on my marinara sauce and came up with a Juan Marcos milanesa pollo dish. So chicken was the focus…..oh, Look! A Chicken! (an Ashleyism)
This week the primary ingredient was carne molida, or ground beef, and I made my marinara con Italiano albondigas or meatballs served with spaghetti rigati one evening, and blanco arroz or white rice the next. Of course some vino tinto or blanco on the side.
Next week, camarones, or shrimp, will be the focus.
On a great suggestion, I located a great place, on the lateral, for deserts and I picked up a slice of tres leches con fruta today for 30 pesos. I was drooling over some of their other specialties. It was far better than Mega’s Tres Leches.
On a different note, my struggles with acquiring the internet in my condo continue. As I reported yesterday or two days ago, Gaby had picked up a USB Modem for my computer. Gil, at The Shamrock, helped me install it and it worked…..slow, but it worked. When I returned to my condo, it didn’t work. The next day after trying the modem (with computer) in several different locations, I finally got it to ‘work’. That is if you call a 2kb download speed, working. It took 6 minutes to load Yahoo.com A one page pdf was going to take 32 minutes. Sorry, that’s not working. I now know that a subsnail-paced internet connection is worse than no connection. Lesson learned.
I hiked to Panino’s this morning, and wrote to the owner and Gaby to see if we can try a plan B, or C, or D. I shall see. I am confident that within 10 weeks, I will have this issue resolved. Lol….which is all one can do. I will be knocking at the neighbors’ doors tomorrow, as I see that one of them has a very strong but encrypted signal. (did you see the light go on?)
So Juan, what’s the big deal about having internet? Aren’t you supposed to relax in Mexico? To answer this, I earn a portion of my living by trading in the stock market. The internet is a major tool needed to accomplish this. If you were a taxi driver and I took away your car, could you make a living? If you were a carpenter and I took away your tools, could you make a living? If you're a cheesehead and they took away your bratwurst, could you survive? I think not. Or at the minimum, it would be quite a challenge. However, I will make do with the limited internet access.
Time for a siesta!
Buenos Tardes!

 

Joe Crows is today’s restaurant. Located on Avenida Mexico directly across the street from YoYo Mo’s, the sports bar. Only 10 steps away unless the carnival is in town, then you almost have to go around the block. Last year it was the location of Bucerias Gardens for those with longer memories than mine.
Courtney and Ty, shown here, are the primary tenders of the bar as they have been serving every time I stop by. (I just haven’t met any of the other bartenders or food servers besides Anna.)
Happy hours are from 3-7 pm every day and a fast wi-fi connection is readily available. 15 pesos cervezas, of which the Coronas are muy frio. House drinks are 35 pesos. They currently have a limited menu of only 10 items, but rumor has it that the Burrito Gigante Estilo California (70 pesos) and hamburguesa Rellena con queso azul (75 pesos) or blue cheese stuffed hamburger are to die for. Since I haven’t actually tried them, yet, I can’t write about it, but I will in the near future.
The beautiful wood bar is huge and judging by some of the photos on their web site, it’s also used as a stage during karaoke nights when the tequila is flowing heavily. Live music is their forte and on almost every night you will find performances. Check their website for more details.
While the bar is under cover, most of the seating is in a tropical setting with a large tree or two right in the middle. This is a fun non-sports place to hang-out and Courtney and Ty are sure to encourage you.
Go to www. JoeCrows.com for more info.
(I will add more to this blog entry once I try a few more cervezas)
Buenos Dias! 

Martes, Enero dieci-ocho, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Good news, bad news. Yesterday afternoon, Gaby came through with the USB modem, and Gil helped me install it and verify it was working, not very fast, but working. Great! So I make the hike home, not a lot of options there, and start my carne molida recipe and confidently fire up my new link to civilization…..not! I even tried standing my head which was very painful. Nothing. Pour a glass of wine, finish the dinner preps, and plug in House, Season 6. New plan….Back to The Shamrock to talk to Gil……about 5pm.
Oh, look! A Chicken! Speaking of continuing a tour of mi casa…..today’s three-some are of the 3 bedrooms. Not very glamorous, but comfortable. Sure I wish they all had 1000 TC Egyptian Cotton Sheets……I would be surprised if they had 50 thread count. And the pillows really stretch the definition and are far from a sweet Temporpedic cloud. However, the ceiling fans work very nice for the mandatory siestas.
I also wish that the window covering would be a bit more room darkening so I could sleep in past 7am, but hey, it’s Mexico. Towels, extra sheets, and some hangers are provided. (10 each) So to those of you that are joining me this year, that was a heads-up…..not a 5-star hotel, but ok and affordable. Let’s talk about food. (next time)
Buenos Dias