Blogger Blahs

Is there a "hit the wall" point with blogging? Does there come a time when you just can't think of a thing to say? Or at least anything that might be even remotely interesting to people? There was a time when I doubted it. I thought I would never run out of things to talk about.

I've noticed some of my favorite bloggers have been using the term blogger blahs lately. So I figure I can't be the only one experiencing this phenomenon of running out of material. But I wonder what is going on now that this bug seems to be spreading?

I have to say, this island is only 5 miles long by 1/2 mile wide. I am amazed that I have found so many things to talk about and show you over the past few years. There is, after all, limited resources and stories available to me. Unless I want to start publishing all the rumors one hears every day. And I am not about to start doing that. But there are always some things going on to mention. Like....

Today's daily ragsheet, Por Esto, is reporting that the local police stole personal items from Renee Waltheter's apartment while they had it cordoned off from the public. This is the poor woman who was brutally murdered here recently. If that is true, that they took her laptop, iPod and other personal items for their own use, then I'm not sure this is a place I really want to live. It is so despicable, so criminal, so I don't know what on their part. It offends me to no end to think that the very people who are supposed to be protecting us are robbing us. This is not the first time I have heard such an accusation. This is the first time I have seen it in print though.

The street light on our corner was turned off last May. I understand why and approve of the reason why. May to July is when the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, including on the beach right across the street from me. They hate lights so it is a good thing to turn off the street lights to encourage them to come ashore. However, egg laying season is waaaaaay over now. We went to public works to ask them to turn it back on now. They told us no. The Director of Egg Laying and Bullcrap, or some such title, has not given them permission to turn the lights back on. She says that it is still possible that turtles will come ashore and lay some eggs. I think somebody better send her back to turtle reproductive school for a refresher course. This particular corner is very busy and very dark. It is dangerous to have no light there. Especially since many kids pass through here on their way home from school. I guess better a dead kid than a rotten egg.

So I guess I'm only suffering from a gentle case of blogger blahs!

A Quick Break

We took a drive around the island the other day. It was hot, to say the least. Just past Garrafon el Castillo on the west side of the island, sits this little restaurant, punched into the hill. Look for the sign El Pueblito.




The were advertising a pretty good special so we decided to stop and get refreshed. Notice that the sign advertised guacamole as part of the special.




You enter this place by walking up some steps, with tables set out at various levels. The main area, however, is under a palapa. A hot, stuffy, no air moving at all palapa. The bar area is kind of cute though.



They've spared no expense with tropical decorations. Dolphins from hell.

They do have a cute beggar on staff though. She will actually jump onto your lap, unbidden.

There is also this historical marker. A very NOB type thing to have on display.

The view is nice from here though. This picture really doesn't do it justice.

Remember the guacamole? It never came. What we got instead was this pile of crap that the waiter told us was nachos. It looked like bean soup with some tortillas. Tasted like it too.

The beer was cold. The view was pleasant. The place was hot, stuffy and sticky. There were no fans, overhead under the palapa or otherwise. The wait staff was great. Friendly, efficient and attentive. But would I go stop there again? Probably not.

Where To Next?

B asked me an interesting question the other day. He wanted to know if there is anyplace else in Mexico that I would like to go spend a month. Mmmm.

We have been to all but 3 of the Mexican states; Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. All border states with the USA that I have no desire to visit. Many places we have been to already come to mind. Mazatlan, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, La Paz Puebla and Jalapa to name a few. But do I really want to spend a whole month there?

I'm torn between wanting to be near an ocean and the desert highlands. I love the high desert, but we need water. Or at least a pool! And some form of night life. Someplace to go, have a beer, meet new people, just hang out. Places to visit that are nearby and interesting.

Anybody have any ideas for me?

What?

"I've told you and told you! Don't forget your camera!"

It Really Works!

This thing hardly runs anymore. When they do turn it on, it mostly gets hit by the nearby ocean breeze and sprays everybody in the area. So well designed. At any rate, here it is working.

Let's Get Cooking!

I've noticed lately that there is a small trend amongst Bloggers to post recipes. Although I don't think I would read an exclusively food blog, I do like to see what people come up with once in awhile. My friend, Steve, posted one awhile back about Mango Soup. One of these days I swear I am going to try to make it. And even more recently, Billie, posted a ham bone soup recipe that I am definitely going to try. Just have to get space in the freezer for a ham bone!



So I thought I would share a delightful little quick and easy soup recipe with you. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures.







WEENIE WATER SOUP

----------------------------



This recipe came to me from Mrs. Walter Savadime. She says it is a hit with her children as well as the neighbor kids who line up at her door for a bowlful also. She always throws a couple a extra weenies in the pot knowing that she will be making this the next day.



Ingredients:



water (or stock or broth to you who prefer to call it something fancy) from last night's pot of weenies



2 weenies, chopped into dimes (if you prefer a fancier version with a French twist, and I don't mean the hairstyle Aunt Sharon wore in her coal black dyed hair, cut them on the diagonal instead of just straight down.



1 - 2 cans of Veg-All, depending upon how hearty you want it.



Putting It Together:



reheat the weenie water to just about boiling. That would be until you see those little bubbles gathering on the bottom of the pan.



add weenie dimes.



add Veg-All. Stir to mix it all up.



Bring to a boil and cook until weenies are done and kind of pop open like.



Serves 4-6.

Turning The Corner?

It has been hot here since May. Hotter than normal. Fans running 24/7 and it still doesn't cool things off. Sleeping has, at times, been pure torture. But I think the tide may be turning and rainy season is on the way.

I awoke early this morning, like 5:30 AM, with a jolt. I wasn't sure at first what had awakened me. I only knew that it scared me and my heart was beating faster than those hippies downtown could ever beat a drum. I immediately heard again what had awakened me. Thunder.

Big thunder. The kind that makes you want to cover your ears. The kind that you can feel. Lights were on and B was already racing around trying to get windows shut before the rain could get in too badly. I threw back the covers and hurriedly joined him.

It rained solid for 25 minutes with no let up. The kind of rain one only sees in the tropics. The kind that will hurt you with the fierceness of its' falling. When I checked the radar, I saw why we were getting rained on.




As light slowly dawned, I could see that the river that forms when the water races down the street was already doing its' job. And well. The water has no place to go when it reaches the bottom of the hill except across the beach and into the ocean. On its' way, it churns out a passage about 3 feet deep across the beach. It's always amazing to me that water can be so destructive. Although I really shouldn't be surprised.

So the rain has stopped now. The sun is trying its' best to poke through the lingering cloud cover. I sure hope that the tide has turned and the hot weather of summer is now behind us.

Time At The Beach

Since returning from Huatulco, we have been taking the same approach we used there for the beaches here. Moving around from one to the other. Rediscovering them, if you will. Yesterday was Sergio's Playa Sol's turn.

This is a beach that lies on the northwestern most corner of the island. It suffers greatly from changing currents and storms. One time you will go there and it has all been eroded. The next it will look like it did yesterday.

The beach is now incredibly huge. A vast stretch of white sand lapped gently by deliriously blue water.







I normally do not choose to go to this beach. For two reasons. First, it gets deep fast and there is a slight current that will pull at you as it rounds the corner of the island. Second, it is a tourist trap with all the chairs and umbrellas. Except, being the nice guy that Sergio is, he does not charge for the ones he provides....so long as you buy at least one beverage from him.

I saw yesterday that he has put up a new volleyball net. The last volleyball court is buried somewhere under all this sand.




He has a pier there also. Not many boats tie up to it but it is nice to walk out on and see the fishies. Some people even jump or dive from it! He has also opened his little swing bar on it. I wish I could have been in charge of the music blaring from it yesterday. First we had loud Reggaeton, then club music, then awful gangster rap stuff with the F word being shouted constantly from the speakers. When we left it was The Doors turn.




The view from my lounge chair.

I did spend quite a bit of time in the water. It was like being in a pool with a sandy bottom. So clear that you did not need a snorkel to see all the fish congregating around your feet, snatching at whatever little tidbits you stirred up in the sand.

Nevertheless, I did don my snorkel for a bit. I need to do that whenever I go in the water. Conditioning.

As you can see in the above picture, as well as this next one, clouds starting to roll in over Cancun. Which way would they travel?

I just had to take this picture, even though it is not the clearest I have ever taken. How many of you know that Isla has a logo? It is a seagull perched on a pole in the water. Here it is in real life.

Look how strangely the clouds blocked the sun. That line of demarcation is true. I did not retouch this photo (or any photo!) in any way.

Finally, the clouds proved to be too much for us and we decided to pack up and head out for other adventures. But not before Ashley and Luis took one more walk....and dive, off the pier!

Murder On The Homefront

Yesterday as we were driving home from downtown, we actually got honked over by the State Police who were on their way somewhere in a hurry. As we passed the bank of apartments just down the road from us, we saw tons of people gathered around a parked ambulance.

Rumors are still flying and details hard to get as I write this, but Isla had a murder yesterday. The last one I remember was about nine years ago and involved a Gringa woman and a drunk laborer.

From what I have heard so far, the woman murdered was an elderly French woman and she was murdered by a man described as an "acquaintance". Has the smell of something domestic, not something random. The police have him in custody.

I don't think there is anything to be concerned about. I really believe this was an act of domestic type violence.

I'll post more later today if more details become available.

UPDATE:

Por Esto, reported on the story this morning. Why the murder took place is still unclear, but the how is being reported on. The murdered woman was Canadian, 60 years old, had recently moved here permanently after having visited for years. She just obtained her FM3 two weeks ago. She had been stabbed "tens of times".

The man charged with the murder is a 24 year old who moved here from Monterrey. No idea how long he has lived here. He was employed as a boatman on North Beach. The murder was "witnessed" by three people. Police caught the guy trying to flee the scene. I think he will be spending a lot of time in jail.

Such Pretty Water

The following pictures were all taken from South Point. The southern most point on the island AND the eastern most point of Mexico. I never get tired of this color.

Getting Braver

I can hardly believe one of the things that happened to me while in Huatulco. Although I have not lost my fear of the great ocean filled with all kinds of things just waiting to get me, I am starting to enjoy being in it.

I spent several wonderful hours the other day snorkeling in the area between the NaBalam Hotel and the Avalon across the way. Granted not much to see for a seasoned snorkeling. But to me, it was paradise. I actually saw fishes! Not very pretty ones, but fishes all the same.

After one failed attempt, I screwed on my courage and actually passed under this very scary bridge to the other side! I was really, really proud of myself! The barnacle encrusted pillars are just plain creepy but, oh, the fish that live under there!




And we discovered a most marvelous thing, quite by accident. Along those white sandbags that have been placed in the water to help rebuild the beach are fish nurseries! Little itty bitty tiny perfectly formed fish. Like a whole school of Nemos but not as bright. It was the perfect snorkel spot for me!

So for now I am just getting accustomed to breathing underwater and not being able to see all around me at once. Baby steps, but steps.

I'll let you know if I get up the courage to tackle the open ocean in front of my house.

Pigs

I live just a few doors down from the rastro. Slaughterhouse for you English speakers. Although no longer an active place, they do occassionally bring pigs over to slaughter. The noise of the squealing pigs when they do this is one not to be missed! Actually, I could live the rest of my life without hearing it!

I have been on the car ferry many times when they have loaded truckloads of pigs to be brought over. It is an inhumane piece of business. The pigs are transported with no shade and crammed into the back of these trucks so they can hardly move. Who knows how far they have traveled like this before they reach the ferry. I suppose they figure they will be dead soon so why bother with making them comfortable.




Sometimes people come up to take a closer look. Sometimes to take a poke or jab at them, just to see the reaction. I wonder if there is even a word in Spanish for animal cruelty?




I feel sorry for them. I know they have no idea of where they are going, but they must be miserable and terrified anyway. I do enjoy my bacon and ham, but wish that it could come from a more humane source.




Special thanks to Dougie in CT for sending me these photos.

Zipolite Revisited

A few days before we were due to leave the Huatulco area, our realtor there told us about some property (lots) that he had for sale in Zipolite. We really like the laid back ambiance of that little village and decided to go have a look. Just to be nosey!

Unfortunately, there had been heavy rains in that area recently and we were not able to get down the dirt road leading to the lots. Wash outs bigger than my Pointer could handle. I suppose it was for the best though. It would have been mighty tempting!

We drove back down to the village and decided to have lunch before heading back to the condo. We chose a place that advertised wood fired pizza and walked into the grounds. Imagine our surprise when the manager came out to greet us and it was somebody we know! It was a guy who had lived on Isla for awhile, that we knew well enough to greet by name but would not really call a friend. He, like many before him, just disappeared from the radar one day. We wondered what had happened to him and know we knew!

Sitting on the terrace of the front restaurant, this was our view of the beach.

Back behind us, where we had entered, was this row of little rooms. Each had a "courtyard", complete with every man's favorite form of a lazy enjoyment! Remember, this place caters mostly to Europeans and backpacker types. They would love the being able to visit with your neighbor closeness of this.

Although advertised out front, pizza was not on the menu when we got there. It was an evening only offering. It would be cooked in this wood fired oven though. Very popular in Huatulco and environs.

They had a small but cutely laid out bar.

After lunch we decided to take a stroll on the beach. One last look at this marvelous area.

This is a very famous landmark in Zipolite. The rock with the hole in it. Original name, don't you think!

I hadn't noticed this the first time we were there. Instructions on the meaning of the warning flag colors.

Some of the resorts that line or are above the beach.

As we were leaving, I spotted this very unusual palm in the front garden. I think it has a pretty good defense system!

I did do a panoramic shot of the west end of the beach. Do you see that big cactus sticking out above the green? Just behind it is the lot we were trying to view. It has views back down the entire beach of Zipolite and then the Pacific coast the other way. Sure wish we had gotten a chance to see it and the views it offered.

So this post ends our trip to Huatulco. I would highly recommend this area to anybody to visit. There are plenty of beaches and outdoor activities to keep everyone satisfied. The area is seriously lacking in night life though. There are bars and nightclubs but they are either very expensive with a cover charge or so loud you don't want to go in. We did find a really nice one right downtown though. Red Pool Hookah Bar. It features specials every night, good music not played at a volume to kill your eardrums and......pool tables! Look it up if you are in the area.

I really hope that you have all enjoyed going along on my vacation as much as I have enjoyed taking you!

Bocana Revisted

On our way back to town, we had to pass the beach known as La Bocana. This is the beach we had such fond memories of from last January, but was totally changed this time around. We discovered later that besides the normal ebb and flow of the tide, Huatulco has two distinct tide seasons. High and low. Low occurs in the winter; high in the summer. We decided to pull in and have a quick look see.

I shouldn't have been, but I was surprised to see such high, forceful waves. Even more surprised to see the local kids and teenagers enjoying them so much. These waves were totally different from those at Barra.

I tried to capture on camera a combination of the pure joy these kids were having and the pure joy they were giving me just watching them. I don't think any further comment is necessary. I hope you feel some joy here too.