Sinaloa

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Scenes From An Isla Late Afternoon/Early Evening

Dale came by around 4:00. We both decided we did not want to experience the rodeo, but we still headed ‘downtown’ towards the grocery store to check out the crowd and some of the riders. She then took me to one of the docks where the pangas come and then she took me along the malecon, following the water front, to the other panga dock. It was starting to get dark, so she showed me the shortcut to the beach and we walked along it hoping to find an open bar, but everything shuts down at dusk! So I guess I will have to start stocking my own beer!

It was a nice walk, several hours long, and I was hungry when we got back to my place. I offered to make us some supper, but she wanted to go check on her dogs. I came in and made a proper pasta meal.

I didn’t think I got that much sun today, but I am cooked! I’ll definitely have to be more diligent with the sunscreen from now on. I also need to buy a beachy hat, not having remembered to bring the one I already own…

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Beach and Town Scenes

I’m back at work full-time tomorrow for at least the weekend (YAY), so I imagine my rate of posting is about to go down. In the meantime, enjoy some more pictures of Isla!

 

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Mexican Matches

Matches in Mexico are terrifying. People must have tiny fingers here.

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Lighting the stove was a leap of faith! 😀

Corn tortillas in MX are MUCH yummier than in Canada. For my first lunch here, I made a quesadilla in my cast iron frying pan. In other words, I’m eating like at home. 🙂 The Oaxaca cheese is VERY stringy and has a lower melting point than mozzarella or cheddar. Yum!

I do need to remember to go back and pick up some butter. The olive oil I brought down didn’t make the trip, turning rancid in the heat of the truck. Not a big deal. I didn’t expect everything to arrive here okay and I turned out to have very little loss.

I’m going to take a walk on the beach (yes, I’m bringing the camera) and will come back here for fourish as Dale and I are going to a rodeo or some such event tonight!

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Getting a Lay of the Land

Dale came over this morning as I was starting on the apartment pics post, so I closed up and followed her out to breakfast on the beach. The only option on the breakfast menu was eggs, so I ordered chicken tacos off the lunch menu! This was my first real breakfast in Mexico! 😀 Dale insisted on treating me and I provided the tip. We got out of there for something like 140 pesos total!

She then took me for a walk through the main part of the village. Yes, I will have pictures at some point. 🙂 My camera ran out of juice this morning, sorry!

We made our way to the grocery store, further away than I expected (it’s not far, the village is bigger than I expected). The store, called The City Deli, NOT the mercado, is small, but has the essentials except for meat (as far as I could tell) and is no worse than some of the small grocery stores I’ve shopped at in Canada. I asked for “las cosas para hacer el fuego” (the things to make fire) and was offered matches and a lighter. See, no language barrier! 😀

I got whatever looked good for food to get me through a few days (more details below the pic), as well as a broom for inside, and a pair of heavy duty flip flops for beach walking. I was disappointed by the avocados, though, and didn’t buy any.

Grand total for all this?

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Let’s add it all up, shall we?

flip flops (EXACTLY what I was hoping to find)
broom
matches
red onion
2 small tomatoes
2 small orangey things (clementines?)
1 banana
1 apple
1 block of Oaxaca cheese (apparently tastes like Monterrey Jack, but has the texture of mozzarella)
1 container of strawberry yogurt
1 package of corn tortillas
1 bottle of electrolyte juice Dale highly recommended (not my usual thing, but if I’m not going to have much appetite, a good thing to have on hand)
2 small packages of macaroni
1 package of crackers

Total amount paid: 218 pesos (18.26 CAD/16.11USD)! That includes the shoes and broom! There are no prices marked anywhere in the store and I won’t worry about prices from now on. I was sure I was going to have to ask Dale to spot me some money since I only brought 300 pesos with me. Hah! I think I might be able to afford living here as long as I don’t get into the habit of eating out a lot!

The village is small, with a paved main road and some services, including a police station and a basketball court for the kids. There are a lot of restaurants on the beach, too. Not much was open today in the village proper, but it’s a holiday so there might be more going on Monday. Really, this is way more than I’m used to at Haven and I doubt I’ll get bored, especially once the internet is reliable! Plus, Mazatlan is just minutes away on the ferry! It’s probably a 10-minute walk to the grocery store, so 15 minutes to the village ferry. This is another ferry that goes to a different part of the city. Dale is going to show me the ropes!

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Isla Apartment Pics!

Bilingual post for the sake of my family! 🙂 Article bilingue pour ma famille! 🙂

My street and the Entrance/Ma rue et l’entrée

Looking towards the ocean. Regardant vers la mer.

Looking towards the ocean. Regardant vers la mer.

My entrance. Mon entrée.

My entrance. Mon entrée.

The apartment building. Le bloc apartement.

The apartment building. Le bloc apartement.

The gate is not locked now, but will be when the other tenant moves in. I don't feel a need for that, but whatever. La clôture n'est pas barrée présentement, mais elle le sera pour l'autre locataire. Je n'en resens pas le besoin, mais en tout cas...

The gate is not locked now, but will be when the other tenant moves in. I don’t feel a need for that, but whatever. La clôture n’est pas barrée présentement, mais elle le sera pour l’autre locataire. Je n’en resens pas le besoin, mais en tout cas…

The Yard/La Cour

Front door to the neighbouring apartment (tiny studio). Entrée du l'apartement à côté (très petit studio).

Front door to the neighbouring apartment (tiny studio). Entrée du l’appartement à côté (très petit studio).

My entrance and parking spot. Mon entrée et espace de stationnement.

My entrance and parking spot. Mon entrée et espace de stationnement.

Palapa with hammock. Palapa avec hamac!

Palapa with hammock. Palapa avec hamac!

:) (See the clothesline? Voyez-vous la corde à linge?)

🙂 (See the clothesline? Voyez-vous la corde à linge?)

Washing machine. Laveuse.

Washing machine. Laveuse.

Little patio area with a table and chairs.. Aire de patio avec table et chaises.

Little patio area with a table and chairs. Aire de patio avec table et chaises.

Living Room and Kitchen/Salon et entrée

Entrance and living room area. Entrée et salon.

Entrance and living room area. Entrée et salon.

Looking to the kitchen. Not much storage, otherwise very nice with everything I need. Vers la cuisine. Il manque du rangement, mais c'est très bien et j'ai tout ce dont j'ai besoin.

Looking to the kitchen. Not much storage, otherwise very nice with everything I need. Vers la cuisine. Il manque du rangement, mais c’est très bien et j’ai tout ce dont j’ai besoin.

TV, DVD player, and stereo! Télé, lecteur DVD et stéréo!

TV, DVD player, and stereo! Télé, lecteur DVD et stéréo!

Looking to hallway. Vue vers le passage.

Looking to hallway. Vue vers le passage.


First Bedroom/Première chambre à coucher

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Bathroom (Looks More Green Than It Is!)/Salle de bain (elle n’est pas si verte!)

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Nice presentation on the towels! Belle présentation des serviettes!

Nice presentation on the towels! Belle présentation des serviettes!

HUGE shower. Douche TRÈS GRANDE!

HUGE shower. Douche TRÈS GRANDE!

Again, lacking storage. Encore, il manque du rangement.

Again, lacking storage. Encore, il manque du rangement.

Light switches are in weird places at random heights all over the apartment. Les commutateurs sont à des drôles d'endroits et différentes hauteurs dans tout l'appartement.

Light switches are in weird places at random heights all over the apartment. Les commutateurs sont à des drôles d’endroits et différentes hauteurs dans tout l’appartement.

Other Bedroom (Office)/Autre chambre (bureau)

I'll probably put the desk between the beds. Le bureau ira sûrement entre les deux lits.

I’ll probably put the desk between the beds. Le bureau ira sûrement entre les deux lits.

Same closet style. Même sorte de placard.

Same closet style. Même sorte de placard.

Both bedrooms and the living room have a fan like this. Really helps with the heat and humidity! Les deux chambres et le salon ont un ventilateur comme celui-ci. Ça aide vraiment avec la chaleur et l'humidité!

Both bedrooms and the living room have a fan like this. Really helps with the heat and humidity! Les deux chambres et le salon ont un ventilateur comme celui-ci. Ça aide vraiment avec la chaleur et l’humidité!

More Details/Autre détails

Drinking water: I have to put a five gallon bottle (provided) out on the curb with 12 pesos and it will be magically filled.

Eau potable: Je dois mettre une bouteille de cinq gallons (fournie avec l’appartement) dans l’entrée avec 12 pesos et elle sera magiquement remplie.

Garbage: I have to put my bags on out Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Do not leave it out because of dogs. (I feel right at home!)

Ordures: Je dois sortir mes sacs les mardis et jeudi matin. Ne pas laissez traîner à cause des chiens. (Comme chez moi!)

Cooking and Hot Water: With propane, just like an RV. The landlady’s husband will check on levels and have it filled with as much as I’m willing to pay for.

Cuisine et eau chaude: Avec propane, même chose qu’en VR. Le mari de la propio va vérifier les niveaux et fera le plein pour ce que je suis prête à payer.

Internet: I have been promised that an order for a DSL connection will be placed today (Friday) or Monday at the latest. In the meantime, it’s flaky cellular service or an internet café.

Internet: On m’a promis que la commande pour une connection par câble téléphonique ce fera aujourd’hui (vendredi) ou lundi au plus tard. Entre temps, c’est une connexion par cellulaire pas trop fiable ou un café internet.