I had my list prepard from last year, so shopping was a breeze. I love exploring all the new items and trying to translate into English. It might not look like much for $526.57 (pesos). 21 items in total. Try getting that on your back, ride a bus, and then hike a 1/2 mile to your condo!

Jalapeño pan (bread) for about $2 USD. Excellent. Truly a great find.

Greetings from 210 Laurel, Terralta II, Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico (that's a mouthful)

Today, Day 2, was the customary Mega shopping trip. (Mega is the large grocery store a short bus ride south)

After my morning siesta, I headed out for my weekly grocery store adventure. And they really are great adventures. This was no exception. It began with a 6 pesos (45 cents) bus ride on a custom but ancient painted school bus. 20 minutes later I was deposited in front of the Mega store. I immediately noticed a new "Costco" style store had been added to the area. Sweet.

Many of you now know that I am a 'extreme coupon shopper' and it almost pained me to enter the store essentilly naked. (figuratively speaking of course. please don't picture that) But I felt I found some nice bargains with relativity coming from Festival and Pik n Save. For example, if you're still reading this exciting blog: lechuga for $5.90 pesos (42cents), cebolla for $10.90 pesos/kg (35 cents/pound), or jitomates for $15.90 pesos/kg (52 cents/pound) Can you guess what's on the menu?

But the best deal besides the incredible looking Jalapeño Bread metioned above, was that at least 6 wines were priced below 70 pesos ($5 usd) with one coming in at 28.80 pesos ($2 usd) That's a sweet deal. More on that wine after I sample it.

So what was I planning: makings for 4 or 5 days of sandwiches with Jamon Corona y queso esmeralda y pan, 1/2 kilo of molida de sirloin for some killer burgers con queso azul, spaghetti barilla rigati with the fresh veggies and tomatoe sauce. Can't wait. Pair that with the 2 buck wine and you have.......something to write about tomorrow.

Trivia question: what do you call that squiggly line above the "n" in Jalapeño? No you can't look it up. (yet)

Bon Appetite!

Juan Marcos