Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Another Norte Day

 Okay, not to complain, but enough is enough!  Norte go away!  Tuesday was another no beach day, but we still managed to wedge in a full day of fun.  Here are some Tuesday highlights!

 
How cold is it, you ask?  Pitbulls in La Gloria are wearing t-shirts!

 

We walked all the way into town for lunch today.  Somewhere out there, we passed Bronco's infamous piano bar.  I had to snap a photo!
 

Not sure what Craig's trying to tell us, but maybe they were out of tequila?


Bug vs. trike.


We decided to try Cafe Hidalgo for lunch.  Oh my!  The baguette and crepes were wonderful!


Ham and cheese crepe!


While waiting for a cab in La Gloria to take us to the big show, a man on a horse flew by!



I'll do an entire post on the Tuesday dwarf bullfight, but here's a little teaser.  Let's just say it was quite the experience.  All that beer and no banos!  Only in Mexico!


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

What to Do on a Norte Day?

What do you do on a Norte day when the cool wind and waves are a bit much for lounging at the beach?  Our day turned into one long progressive meal. 


After cabbing into town, we headed to the market for some Huevos Mexicana.


The market's very close to some good sea glass hunting, so our next stop was down below the malecon.


Strolling back through town, I noticed Mogogua and decided a Carmel Frappe sounded wonderful.


 It's situated on a great corner for people-watching!


 After some window shopping, we ran into friends at Qubano and decided to stay for the Cobb Salad.


YUM!  As always, Vivian's food was outstanding!


After stopping at the Navy Store, we decided all that food called for some exercise.  Walking out Medina towards the colonias, we noticed some boats were beginning to get swamped.  The wind and waves were pretty rough yesterday!



Later, we watched the sunset from the rooftop.



Back in the room, we got a little surprise at our bedroom window.  Hello Kitty!


The wind's died down considerably today, but it still doesn't look like a beach day.  After a stroll and lunch in town, we plan on meeting friends at the Plaza del Toros (south of Villa la Bella on the Caribe side road) to see those bullfighters of small stature!  Can't wait!




Monday, November 28, 2011

Scenes from El Centro


 I've heard this is one of the oldest buildings on the island, but the paint is always fresh!


Kitty has a wonderful lounge chair.  I bet she's not paying 100 pesos!

  
Aloha!  Prisma has a fleet of cute new carts.


Dr. Simi doing meet and greet at Senor Frog's?


Great slogan!  Where can I find the license plate?

 



That's amore!
 

 My favorite gate on the island.


I found a new door.




We'd love to try Pita Amore, but can't figure out the hours!



Anything blue is my fave!


Where is Felix now?


Favorite mural!



 

It's beginning to look a lot like Feliz Navidad!



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Postcards from the Colonias

 I have to admit, living in the colonias this trip has been a big learning curve.  We've stayed away from El Centro many times, but usually on the water skirting the edge. This trip, we're right smack dab in the middle.

For example, last night I laid in bed listening to a street of barking dogs, music and a loudspeaker from a beach club out on the bayside, a motorcycle racing up and down the street, clapping and cheering from a sports stadium south of here in La Gloria, music from the church down the street, neighborhood kids playing, a loudspeaker mounted on a golfcart announcing an upcoming event, someone practicing a trumpet, and the call of the cheese from Senor Queso Oaxaca.  We'd seen him earlier in the day in El Centro with his cheese atop his head.

It truly is a cacophony that begins early in the morning with roosters and bicycle horns and intensifies throughout the day until it peaks around  9:00 or 10:00 p.m.  Saturday's the noisiest night of the week.  Literally, loud music (of the Mexican polka style variety) just ended an hour ago as the sun came up.  The music stopped when the roosters started crowing.

My favorite time of day is morning.  It begins with rooster crows, chicken clucks, and bird calls.  After that, the bicycle horns begin.  I wonder if those guys ever get carpal tunnel from honking those horns?  Later, two women pull a trike cart through the neighborhood loaded with plants and a selection of vegetables.  Last week as Craig and I passed them, a woman's voice suggested Senor, you need honey.  So in addition to onions, corn, and various plants, they must sell honey!  Later in the day, a woman rides down the street insistently yelling ta-ma-les! Ta-ma-les!  Throughout the day, golfcarts with loudspeakers patrol the streets promoting upcoming events on the island.  Craig wondered the other day if the recording could be repeating Attention!  Evacuate the island immediately.  He's such a kidder.  I assured him the doomsday news probably won't arrive by gocart or golfcart.

Our location is growing on us.  The past few nights I've left the earplugs out.  It's all fading into background noise.

We're also enjoying the scenes from our daily morning walks.  Yesterday, we finally located the island's singular horse -- at least it's the first one I've seen!  I spotted someone riding it in June, and now I know where it lives.


A pretty pink house with utility pails full of plants.


A horse grazing on a vacant lot in La Gloria!  Seriously, you just never know WHAT you're going to see!  We turned a corner yesterday morning and there it was!



 This well-kept home has beautiful roses to coordinate with the blue paint.


 A block away behind a garden gate, we have the ugly ducks.  (At least I think they're ducks!)


This rooster was lurking in the same pen as the ducks!  We hear him and now we know where he lives!


Love the frilly patterned curtains that let in the breeze and keep out the sun.


Directions to the licuado/juice store.


Fishing floats adorn this casa.




The neighborhood plant and vegetable cart.

Altar a few blocks away.

Last night returning from dinner in El Centro, we rode in the same cab we'd used earlier in the day.  I call him the geriatric taxi driver because he drives very slowly and lurches and swerves a lot as he hunches over the wheel.  I fear his children could be taking the cab keys away from him soon.  We tell him Lool Beh and he says -- Casa Blanca.  Then I laugh nervously fearing that he'll actually drop us off at the real Casa Blanca.  I can't decide if he's making a little joke, or just referring to the fact that Lool Beh is white.  Or maybe he thinks I look like a stripper?  (Joke!)




Saturday, November 26, 2011

Los Enanitos Toreros

Friday morning on the way to our secret sea glass hunting beach, we came across a work in progress.  We think it's a bullring for an event this next week.


We suspect that because we've been seeing these posters all over town!   It translates to dwarf bullfighters of  Mexico (not exactly P.C. terminology N.O.B.).  Comic bullfighting with matadors of very short stature?  




I'm not sure if I'd want to try and stomach a traditional bullfight, but this appears to be more of a comedy act.  We'll have to investigate a little further!  Let's face it.  This is something we'd never see at home!  It might be a very unusual cultural experience if it isn't too gory!


Not to change the subject, but the pickin's were good this morning!


While we like to think of this as our secret location, we actually had visitors the other morning.  Fortunately, we'd already cleaned the beach!  : )



Friday, November 25, 2011

More Scenes from Thanksgiving Day

Thursday morning while I waited for Craig to get back from his dive, I snapped a few photos of the boats on Medina. 





After sharing a panini at Barlito, we headed to Playa Norte.  I absolutely had to try out my new beach chair purchased at Costco in Cancun on Wednesday.  It's so comfortable!  We parked our gear under the palms in the usual spot at the west end of Maria del Mar.






The water still feels so warm for late November.  Clear, calm, and beautiful!





That new Playa Norte webcam caught Craig in the act!  Nothing like puppy kisses!
 
I think I already said this and I don't want to rub it in, but what a fantastic way to spend Thanksgiving Day!   If the moon and stars all align correctly this time next year, I think we'll be back again for a do over!

No Black Friday madness for us!  After a long morning walk to our seaglass beach and back, we'll head into town for an early lunch and afternoon on Playa Norte.   Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.