Naranjas y piñas

Sunday, 18 Dec.  We did indeed go to the park this slightly chilly evening.  We decided to look at the menu  at the newly remodeled El Kiosko restaurant in the middle of the park, order something warm to drink, and avail ourselves of an outside table where we could continue our people-watching.  Carmen wanted hot chocolate, but it was not on the menu, nor was hot atole.  Is this really Mexico?  Dan ordered a cappuccino with rompope (eggnog). We expected it to be hot.  It was but warm.  The prices here are very high, so we will likely not eat here often, though it is a lovely place.  We walked the park for awhile and sat in one of our favorite benches.  Yes, we do have preferred spots to sit in.  Enjoyed watching the families stroll around, kids playing with light up balls, and an occasional family dog pressed into service, pulling a child past on a skate board, and all the many things that happen in the park on family night.

Was getting dark and colder, but there was an announcement made that a pastorela (nativity play) would begin on a little stage at 8pm sharp, so we waited.  After two more announcements, the play started a half hour later.  With anticipation we tried to understand the story, seemingly placing the nativity story in rural Mexico.  Stage lighting was almost nonexistent and not aimed where the characters stood.  Mics were almost unusable, as the performers moved around in and out of range -- presumably only those in the first two rows of seats could have heard the dialog.  Yes, the acting was spirited, but wasn't enough to hold us there, standing in the back in the chilly night air.   Our high hopes for an engaging time, such as we experienced years ago in Zacatecas one Christmas, were dashed, and after ten minutes, we left. We did enjoy the evening outing however.  But, so very glad to get back inside.

Monday, 19 Dec.  Took bus to the Walmart area, halfway into Córdoba.  We hope that the seasonal shopping opportunities will make for a greater selection of things we might buy for gifts to take back home with us.  There is a large tent outside Walmart for Xmas toys only, disappointing filled with virtually the same things as ToyRUs would have in the US.  Only a fraction of the stock is even labeled bilingually.  We are not in a "tourist" area, so no matter where we shop we find little of "artesanal" or "cultural" interest, other than some fragile or heavy pottery items that we have no way of getting back NoB easily.  Once we accepted the idea that "cosas tipicas" are not necessarily what the gringo mentality pictures as coming from Old Mexico, but really are what is typical of modern times, shopping became easier.  We also bought ourselves a blowup mattress, so we can camp out in the new house on our next trip down here.  We had planned to go from there to a hardware a few blocks further east, but our arms were too full.  So we bussed home, stopped by the Banamex for more money, unloaded, and ate a wee bit.

Then walked back to the bus stop near the north end of the park in Fortín, and head back into Córdoba.  We actually got off the bus at Walmart stop again, since we wanted to walk a bit east and check out a restaurant we had both once seen and then misplaced.  Found the restaurant.  If weather is good, we might go there for paella Xmas day, a Sundays only menu choice.  On we walked to the Metalurve hardware store.  Here we purchased lengths of chain and padlocks for our new house that we don't yet own. We will not have time to change the locks after purchase, before we leave here for the US, so we'll just chain up the gates.  Both front and back yard are fenced with ornamental vertical bars, and both doors also are gated. Also bought some heavy rope to give safety when climbing around on house roof.   Dan made queries about rain flashing and pipe insulation, but again, no one seems to know anything about such things here.  Loaded down, but the bus stop was only a block from the hardware store.  Another exhausting day.  But fun was had!

Tuesday, 20 Dec.  Dan wanted to visit Frank at the new house first thing in the morning.  Quick breakfast and off we went the 12 blocks.  Got there shortly before he had to leave to get building permits. Two rooms are now enclosed with ceiling slabs, and the guys are working with the form boards creating the flight of stairs to the upper floor. On the way there we had passed a man on a street-corner with really ripe luscious looking pineapples.  Thought we would buy one on the way back. However, in passing, we remembered that we needed to go grocery shopping and could not take the pineapples into the store with us.  Did our grocery shopping.  We do enjoy this time.  Soooooooo many new delightful foods to try.  Dan shouldered the 20 pound bottle of water and Carmen carried the two heavy bags.  We rather outdid ourselves.  Not that we needed everything today.  We did however want to buy some things to take home to the US before the stock was depleted.  Once items run out, they often are not replaced right away.  Of course, the airport security may take these small jars of macha (chopped peppers & peanuts in oil) away from us.  After we got home, we started thinking about the pineapples we had seen.  Ones in store were greenish yet, and a higher price.  Yep, we put on another 12 blocks round trip, but we purchased two pineapples.  Cost $1.50 US each.  Oh how sweet-------  Called the notario and he said to call back the next day.

We ended the day all settled on the bed watching tv, when out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter, we hopped off the bed to see what was the matter.  It was David Arnold calling us on skype.  We had an enjoyable chat.

Wednesday, 21 Dec.  Carmen woke with the song "Oh what a Beautiful Morning" dancing thru her head.  Shortly thereafter her brother, Guy, skyped.  This indeed did make a beautiful day.  Dan called the  notario and he said that there will be no news til the state offices reopen Jan 2.  Bummer.  He hopes to get it pushed thru fast at that time. We'll see.  Spending lots of time reading today and eating fresh pineapple today. While sitting outside our front door in the sun reading, a large black bird with a long tail landed on the parking area aways off.  It had many delightful sounds.  Carmen started mimicking it, and darned if it didn't hop our way.  Also a butterfly landed on Carmen's chest and then shoulder for awhile.  Though the air looks good today, there must be sugarcane being burned because when we came inside, we discovered that our reader and laptop were spotted with some specks of ash.

Thursday, Dec 22  Pretty quiet day here.  We spent a few hours sitting and reading in the sun earlier.  Dan has been under the weather the past couple days.  He is standing in the sun in the doorway right now, mostly recuperated, and eating a polveron (orange sandy cookie).   A couple days ago we got into a discussion about why all the oranges here are green.  Dan spent some time on the internet trying to prove to Carmen that good oranges can be green, not necessarily how we find them in a NoB market.  Turns out the USDA standards require that fresh oranges marketed in the states be mostly or all orange, and several tricks (ethylene gas, cold storage, dyes) are used to turn the fruit that color.  Here where the fruit comes right from the tree and nights don't get very cold, the oranges...aren't.  Okay, so Carmen bought two green oranges for $.18 lb US, and guess what - Dan and computer are right!  They are sweet and really flavorful!

Walking back from the grocery store, Volcan Citaltépetl (Star Mountain. Pico de Orizaba) overlooking Fortín

Seems that we talk mostly about food, new house, and walking or bussing around - yep, that, so far, is our greatly enjoyed retirement life.  Along with the flowers and butterflies and the vistas of green hills as far as we can see.