Fin de semana

Saturday afternoon, we met the realtor, Alonso, in front of the house we wanted to see, on Calle 11 Sur, close to where Avenida 7 ends.  Over the phone he had said it was a big house.  This proved to be correct (about 3200sf), and not really with a room layout easily adapted to living on one floor, with only a tiny half bath on the ground floor.  Three bedrooms, two full baths and a sitting area upstairs, and a covered porch running the entire width of the house overlooking the street over the front patio.  There was a large backyard with knee high growth, with the back wall of the property right up to the street behind.  A large tree here was covered in ripening mandarins, and a huge colony of purple & white orchids were blooming in the tree branch crotches.

The home cost more than we expected, though it has good possibilities if one were willing to put some more money into it to open up a few walls and expand the downstairs bath into a service area, to add a shower space.  Was only 11 years old, so we were told.  Seemed like  it was closer to 40, which is the age of many of homes in the residential area near the hotel.  We were told that places here age fast because of the heat and humidity.  Fresh paint on the walls and a new coat of  roof waterproofing makes them look like new again.

Alonso then offered to show us some other places he has listed.  Two houses were northeast of old Fortín, at few miles from downtown.  Brand new in the GeoVillas gated community, actually where he and his family live.  Again, not suited for living on the ground floor, seemingly designed for younger families, not for us as we get older.  And, so far we do not feel good about a place a distance from downtown conveniences, as a car or bus ride would be needed do get to anything but what might be stocked at one nearby convenience store.  Then he showed us a small single-story house a couple blocks south of the Walmart in Nuevo Córdoba.  For guest living space, adding a second floor is possible.  Many homes grow up over the years in this way, as funds become available and a family grows.  Relatively easy to do so with a flat concrete roof to start up from.  It is in a nice basic residential area, which we will explore someday when we come in for shopping.  We have not seen the interior yet, as it is currently occupied.

Had Alonso drop us off at the Super Ahorros (Super Savings) market here in town, at about 3pm.  We wandered thru the store purchasing "necessary" items like chocolate, and also fresh vegetables, and a lightbulb.  Had to do a sniff test of each brand powdered cocoa to be sure it was the tradicional style, with cinnamon. Difficult to do when each bag is sealed tight. The manager of this store either sits up front at a small table where purchased food can be eaten, or wanders around.  I dare say he knows us, and is always polite and helpful.  We probably give him his chuckle of the day.  Here the bakeries bring out the fresh baked goods about this time, not in the morning.  So--Carmen was in seventh heaven.  Dan dutifully tagged along, suggesting "not that,"   trying to keep the selection down to what would be prudent for only a day or two.  These bakery items don't have preservatives in them, so there's little sense in stocking up with too much at a time.  There simply is nothing more enjoyable for Carmen than a bakery to wander thru.  Dan's preference would be a hardware store.

After arriving home, we instantly washed our hands and selected a bakery treat.  A cream filled donut and a thin biscotti type thing (a bizcocho). You can probably guess who ate which.  We have waiting a wedge of firm bread pudding, and a plain sugared raised donut.  Our big meal of the day consisted of boiled fresh yam (camote), boneless pork chop with sliced fresh garlic fried together, and chayote, which once boiled about ten  minutes longer than the yam got tender and tastes like summer squash.  Raw, it tastes rather like
broccoli, but nuttier, and probably would be good sliced, parboiled and fried.  Think we need to look up how best to cook it.  Dessert?  A piece of the local Mexican chocolate bar we purchased today.  Very grainy, thick, and with cinnamon.  So delicious. Finished the day off with reading.

Sunday morn woke to temp in 60s.  Was in 70s with the bluest of blue skies by the time we left our place.  We splurged and walked a block or so for desayuno (breakfast).  Really clean pleasant restaurant.  We both had fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, the freshest bolillo roll, scrambled eggs with chorizo for Carmen and tocino (ham) for Dan, plus a side of refried black beans.  Then walked the next half block to the Parque Central.  A pleasant, green, town center here.  It covers two blocks. Facing the southern block of the park is the parish church (parroquia) which was just emptying out from morning service, and the city hall is in the center of the northern block of the park.

All surrounded with stores and restaurants, with an ice cream or paleta store on every other corner it seems.  We spent a couple hours here, sitting in the park and wandering the paths, snapping a bunch of photos.  Saw a woodpecker high on one of the palms.  We saw an elderly couple smiling happily, sitting on a park bench, as they licked at their ice cream cones at 11am. While walking home, we passed by our place to get a more accurate view of a house we are interested in which is privately for sale.  Single story.  Tomorrow we will spend some time with another realtor, a young lady who should have more listings to our liking.

 

Mapa Turistica

Palácio Municipal

   

Today Carmen sauteed some leftover cooked chayote with fresh garlic, topped with a feta-like fresh Mexican cheese.  Deliciosa.  Later today we will go back to the park and see if the early evening brings out local families for a walk, couples hand-in-hand, enjoying the end of the weekend, as we have previously experienced in other small towns here.  We felt some soulful peace at this park today.  Time to read--Carmen had a butterfly come and light briefly beside her.  Retirement is tough.


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