Well, it is that time of year again. The Nationals are, for the most part, on holidays for two weeks. At the very least, the kids are out of school for two weeks and the adults had THREE statutory holidays this week – Monday (which was Benito Juarez's birthday), Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Vallarta is overloaded with extra people and their extra vehicles, which means extra BIG headaches for anyone trying to get around town during the day. The buses aren't even running because traffic is so bad. The banks and most offices are closed for all three holidays (ie. three business days) this week. Oh and I almost forgot the flying termites are back! Currently, life in Vallarta is a nightmare!
But the sunset tonight was just beautiful … *sigh*
I'm at home tonight, hiding out. And I'm writing my blog using Word because I don't want to lose it all again. Sheesh! What a pain in the arse that was. The internet is still desperately slow tonight. It's taking me forever to answer emails and post on the Vallarta Scene board (http://www.vallartascene.com/forum/phpBB2/index.php). Other than my usual Monday night out with the girls (my friend Heather started this last month and so far it's been me, Heather, Sherry and Sally out for drinks, dinner with more drinks and then drinks after dinner), I've been here every night. Tuesday night I watched Sex and the City, last night I watched Spanglish and tonight I'm drinking una chela (beer) and talking to you.
Let me see – what's new? The store's been busy. We've had several ships in so far this week and even a tour bus stop by yesterday. That was kind of interesting. We decided to serve margaritas to these people so a lot of them came in, had a drink, used the bathroom and left. Somehow I don't think (1) we're the first stop on their tour or (2) they have a toilet on the bus. We are now just starting to receive all the stuff Mary Sue ordered in January while she was in New York so I'm very busy trying to get all that merchandise marked and down on to the floor for sale before the end of the holidays.
I went to Mezcales last weekend. My friend Caryl invited me out to a client's house with the rest of her office staff, along with their significant others. Caryl and her husband, Tom Carota, own Vallarta Sunset Properties, and we've been friends for over a year now, especially since Caryl and I learned we are both Librans. Anyway, Tom was in the States so I was Caryl's date. Her client, Fritz Schmitz (I kid you not!), owns a "fixer upper" is Mezcales about a five minute walk to the beach. The first thing he did when he bought the place was put in a HUGE swimming pool! It was a fun day, filled with too much sun, way too much food and very lively conversation. Fritz is Dutch and has an interesting "take" on just about every subject. The highlight of our visit was watching Fritz milk his goat, Rosa, while she ate leftover baked potatoes stuffed with goat cheese made from her own milk! Very surreal … LOL
My Spanish lessons are going well. I know how to say just about everything in the past tense which came in really handy last week when I left my sunglasses in the change room at Woolworth's. I was able to say "I forgot my sunglasses!" to the female employee AND the security guard who came running after me as I was leaving the store. I bought a beautiful Indian cotton full skirt for 50 pesos (about $5) and a couple of Indian cotton tops for the hot summer months. While we're on the subject of shopping at Woolworth's, I can't figure out why they won't let you try on any white bras there. How are you supposed to buy them if you can't try them on? I've learned to circumvent the system by trying on BLACK bras in the styles I actually want in white and then going back to pick up the white ones on my way to the cash.
Buying lingerie in a specialty store is even weirder. The merchandise is all on display behind glass with code numbers and sometimes the price. You have to go in and ask for the code number in order to see what you want. But there are no change rooms so you can't try anything on. The same thing applies to shoes. They are all on display in glass cases with code numbers and prices. You have to ask for the code number and then they will bring out the shoes, BUT only one pair at a time! You are allowed to try them on though. This probably explains why I have bought more shoes than lingerie since I've been here. Besides, the last bra and panty set I bought here went untested in the change room. Although it purported to be my size, when I got it home I was a little surprised at how my moderately sized Canadian breasts filled that pretty little Mexican bra! ;)
On that note, I think I will sign off and do some Spanish homework. The flying termites have disappeared so it is probably safe to turn on a few more lights. The full moon is due any night now. Govern yourself accordingly …
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