I got up early today and typed like mad with the hope that by 2:00ish, I would be ahead enough in my current project to do one last jaunt to the Golden Zone to get coffee. I had such a debate with myself over the last few days over whether I needed to do that since I had plenty of coffee left to get me to the States. But then I remembered that I still haven’t found a grocery store coffee in the States that I like. Might as well treat myself to one last pound of the Veracruz!

Big ship in port today!

By 2:30, I was ready to go. I made my way to the corner of Gutiérrez Najera and Juan Carrasco, certain that I could catch there the bus that goes to Soriana, Mega, and on into the Golden Zone. It’s cheaper and closer than the bus that I take on del Mar.

So gorgeous!

This truck is obviously loved.

But after waiting a half hour and cycling through all the buses, I never once saw the one I needed. Granted, I wasn’t 100% sure what I was looking for, but I knew Mega would be written on it. So I’m a little flummoxed as to where to catch it. Next year, I’ll have to ride it in the opposite direction and find out. But now that I think of it, I didn’t even see it once while in the Golden Zone, so I’m thinking that perhaps it doesn’t run on Sundays.

Giving up on that bus, I walked the last few blocks to del Mar and caught the bus there, riding it up to the taco place I discovered last time I was in the Golden Zone. I didn’t get chips this time and I think I’ve finally figured out why I get them sometimes: they come when I order a limonada. This has happened at a couple of establishments, so I’m thinking it’s a customary thing for restaurants in the area. I really did not need chips and the giant plate of cucumbers provided a suitably crispy and bland surface on which to deposit heaps of salsa! I also got radishes this time and do NOT suggest having this spicy vegetable with a spicy salsa, but rather with the avocado salsa. Your tastebuds will thank me. 🙂

Since I didn’t have chips, I headed across the street and got an ice cream, going for cookies ‘n cream, and boy does Thrifty’s know how to make that flavour! Since a sugar cone was the same price as a bowl or regular cone, I indulged. 🙂

Next stop was the bank. I went by a bunch to hit the Santander just before Rico’s… but the ATM was down. So I would have to double back. Dang!

I got my coffee and didn’t even try to speak Spanish with them today. They were out of 1lb bags, so I they packaged my coffee into two 1/2lb bags and were rather apologetic about that. I’m happy because that means half the batch will stay fresher.

While waiting for the coffee to be ground, I read an article in El Debate, a newspaper, that many, many, many little grocers in the area are being shut down because they are cash only businesses and do not keep the proper records for tax purposes. I I wonder if that will affect businesses here on Isla. I only know two where I can get a receipt, and the City Deli is not one of them.

Coming out of Rico’s, a bus was just within sight, but I had to let it go since I needed the bank. I walked back down to the Banamex, the first in a series of banks in a row, since it has a low withdrawal rate (lower than Santander), I’ve never had problems with it, and I wasn’t hurting for small bills. Also, if this one gave me any trouble, I could just try the next bank and so on until I found one that worked!

The withdrawal was fine and I hope it will be my last one, but it was a very conservative amount, so we’ll see. I just don’t want  to do my last fill up of gas in San Carlos and find myself with more than 700 or 800 pesos in cash. I’d like to keep about 500 pesos for the fall for the trip from the border to San Carlos, but no more. I’m on a tight budget to get home and I need my money in USD right now, not pesos. I know I have plenty to get me to San Carlos and pay for the hotel. Once there, I’ll see if I have enough left for the last tank of fuel and tolls and if not, I’ll get another small withdrawal to cover that.

I didn’t have to wait long for the bus after and decided to ride it to the corner of Aquiles Serdan and Zaragoza, rather than get off at the Fishermen’s Monument since it would save me a few blocks.

I saved myself quite a few steps tonight!

This being late Sunday afternoon, Zaragoza was eerily silent and I didn’t dawdle to get to the embarcadero!

What I discovered today is that pointless bus waiting not withstanding, I can get to the Golden Zone and back with lunch and lots of walking in about 2.5 hours!