Tag Archives: Aguascalientes

Oct31

What A Week!

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What A Week!

Tonight can’t be Halloween already. Of course in Mexico the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos culminates with a parade tonight and partying in cemeteries over the weekend. Here in Aguascalientes there is quite the display in El Centro along with music, dancing and food.

But I’m passing on the parade this year. I will be watching the Blue Jays-Dodgers game. And yes, I watched all 18 innings Monday night. And I sincerely hope the Blue Jays take it on home turf. It’s been quite a series.

I’m settling in for the winter. I first discovered Aguascalientes in 2019. I arrived in January for three weeks after spending a couple of months in Culiacan and San Ciro de Acosta. I intended to stay for 3 weeks but stayed for 3 months. I returned that fall determined to visit the museums I had missed the previous winter. But Covid came along and I wound up staying until September of 2020 when I was able to get back to Washington. I returned to Aguascalientes in the fall of 2021 and it has become my winter home.

My Spanish has been getting a workout here in Las Flores. I’m not pantomiming as much when I shop at the tiendita or at the tianguis. And conversations with neighbors are going well although I still feel they speak way too quickly. I understand more when they speak slowly.

Yesterday I met some of my Mexican friends at Country Break for lunch. This is a quaint little restaurant that plays country music in English, although it is part of a Mexican chain. Great hamburgers and fries. A very popular place with Mexicans.

Speaking of food, Ricardo is cooking for me again and I am absolutely delighted. Tomorrow he is bringing me prime rib of beef Mexican style and 3 types of tamales. Earlier in the week I enjoyed chiles rellenos, enchiladas suizas and lasagna. Yes, he makes a wicked lasagna!

I got together with another friend and we had breakfast at La Palapa de Charly, another favorite restaurant. Delicious omelets are served with chilaquiles and beans. And the turtles still greet you at the entrance.

I belong to a book club in Cashmere and I’m keeping up by reading books on Libby now that I’m back in Mexico. The current book is Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. I’m almost finished it and will email my comments to Joanne to share at the meeting next week.

I’ve also watched 2 interesting movies in Spanish this week. I pass on the subtitles. It’s a great way to improve my Spanish. Friends have recommended that I watch soap operas, but I prefer movies. Occasionally I opt for The Simpsons or Dora The Explorer. But movies are more my thing.

And that’s what I’m going to do right now. I’m going to watch a movie while I eat my lunch.

Have a great weekend!

Oct24

Home Sweet Home

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Home Sweet Home

Three flights and a bus trip. Every year I say I’m getting too old for this. But I did it again. Of course it took it’s toll. The two hour time change was welcome when I arrived, but not so much the next morning. 12 hour naps are exhausting and are not my norm. But it’s Friday and I finally had the energy to hit the ATM. I usually enjoy the mile walk to the bank but today I appreciated the ride Raul gave me. By the way, the temperature is in the low 80s and that sun is hot!

When I arrived at the bus station in Aguascalientes Wednesday night, I had a delightful and unexpected visit with Charlotte. She and Humberto were taking a bus home to Puerto Vallarta. They’ll be back here in Aguascalientes in December so I’ll look forward to spending more time with them then.

Alaska. You are still my favorite airline. All flights went smoothly and my bag was one of the first off the carousel when I landed in Guadalajara. Thank you for delaying your tech outage by one day so that it didn’t affect my travel. And thank you Pangborn that all runway renovation was complete and I was able to fly out of Wenatchee. Much easier to deal with TSA at a small airport.

I went to my corner tiendita and picked up some much needed groceries and other supplies. And they provided me with assistance to get everything that short half a block to my home. Yep! I bought that much stuff! Other than a torta ahogada yesterday, I’ve been living off protein bars. But sleep was first on my agenda.

My newsfeed this morning was not a good one. Canada and the USA are becoming more than enemies. And that’s all I’ll say.

Yogurt and fruit have the appeal of a mouth-watering steak right now. Time to end this post.

Have a great weekend!

Oct19

Last Post From Washington in 2025

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Last Post From Washington in 2025

I love fall. It’s my favorite season. The trees are in all their glory. The snow glistens high up on the mountaintops. But it’s also bittersweet as my time here has once again come to an end for this year. Washington is such a beautiful state. Every time I return I am in awe of the beauty; the views that most Washingtonians take for granted.

The past few days have been a blur of goodbyes with friends as well as last lunches and dinners together. Thursday was my last Life Group for a while. Yesterday was one last movie at Gateway. And this morning was one last church service here in East Wenatchee.

This afternoon the sun is shining brightly outside although the temperature has dropped. I have a Lifetime movie on in the background while I pack. But at the moment I’m taking a break to write this post.

I received a message from my daughter in Canada. She is into Powerlifting and tomorrow she is off to Panama to compete in the Internationals. Very exciting! I hope to watch her online as I’ve done before. Maybe someday I’ll get to watch her in person.

I fly out of Pangborn on Tuesday. Three flights and a bus trip and I’ll be home in Aguascalientes.

But the packing cubes are calling. My next post will be from Mexico.

Saludos!

May15

I’m Back!

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I’m Back!

A bus trip and three flights and I’m back in Washington. Everything went off scheduled. I got my usual three questions at Immigration: Where are you going? What is the purpose of your trip? How long will you be in the USA? I downloaded the I94 onto my phone and I’m good for 180.

I left Aguascalientes last Thursday at 8 am and arrived in Wenatchee at 1:30 pm on Friday. Joanne picked me up and brought me home where I collapsed into bed. My suitcase stayed out in the garage until Saturday. Of course I didn’t start unpacking it until Tuesday. My closet and drawers have more than enough clothes, and my toiletries were all waiting for me in my bathroom.

Joyce and I went out for lunch on Saturday and on Sunday I went back to church. Monday was a killer. I left the house with Christina just after 8 am. I went into Cashmere to visit my tree and have coffee at Weeds. Then on to Leavenworth to Shears for a much needed haircut and highlights. Charleen and I went to the golf club for lunch after. Then back to Wenatchee to do some shopping. I love Bath and Body Works!

Tuesday I stayed home to unpack and do laundry. Wednesday I went to the Senior Center for lunch and then back to Cashmere to volunteer at an essentials bank with Joanne.

This morning I was at Soul Sisters at church. I’m at home now and have finally booted up my laptop for the first time since I’m back. But this will be a short post as I still have a lot of organizing to do in my room. I’m determined to at least return my suitcase to its place in the closet.

Mar12

A Semiannual Tradition

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A Semiannual Tradition

Most people have annual traditions. They’re usually associated with holidays, birthdays, vacations and the like. I’ve had a semiannual one now that began back in 2016. It’s called PROCRASTINATION.

Oxford defines procrastination as “the action of delaying or postponing something.” I like that one way better than Webster’s which is “moving or acting slowly so as to fall behind” and it implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. Cambridge is somewhere in the middle, “to keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.”

In my case, it definitely isn’t laziness or apathy. It’s not boring either. Unpleasant yes. Tedious and frustrating would be the words I’d use to describe this situation. What am I talking about? BOOKING FLIGHTS!

I remember the days when I used to enjoy traveling. I think those were also the days when I’d let a travel agent do all the legwork. Now it’s a matter of pulling up a number of screens on my computer showing available flights from various airlines. I’m beyond looking at prices. Now it’s convenience that matters to me, as well as layover times. As I get older and airports get bigger and bigger, I find that my days of running marathons to make connecting flights are over.

There is absolutely no convenient way to travel from Aguascalientes to Wenatchee. But Alaska Airlines will get me where I’m going although it involves a 12 hour layover at LAX. That actually may be a good thing this year as I’m Canadian and Trump has changed the rules. I’ll have lots of time to deal with Customs and Immigration.

Now back to my itinerary. A bus from Aguascalientes to Guadalajara, a flight from Guadalajara to Los Angeles, a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle, and a flight from Seattle to Wenatchee. The option exists to take the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle from Seattle to Wenatchee rather than flying, but it’s more convenient to wait only an extra half hour to take the flight rather than the shuttle. It’s also a very short flight, usually only about a half hour, as compared with a three hour drive.

I finally booked my flights yesterday. And I’m glad I won’t have to perform this arduous task again until it’s time to return to Mexico in the fall.

Mar5

Different Things

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Different Things

I slept in this morning. My first cup of coffee was at eleven. Breakfast was pasta alfredo at about 1 pm. It’s humpday and it’s one of those days.

Today I read a blog post written by a friend in Missouri. It began by mentioning memoirs, evolved into family life, and from there went on to a craft project. Despite the fact that the rain exacerbates her knee and back pain, she always plows her way through to finding something positive. You are an inspiration to all of us, Ty. Thank you.

Sea snakes are harassing beachgoers in Puerto Vallarta. These poisonous creatures are dangerous. It used to be just the tides we had to watch out for. And I guess we can throw the jellyfish in with that too. I detest snakes so won’t be going to Puerto Vallarta anytime soon.

Time to embarrass one of my kids. My daughter just competed in the CPU Nationals (Canadian Powerlifting) and qualified for Internationals. She is off to Panama in October to compete. It’s exciting that I get to watch her live online. It’s almost like being there.

I found a great dentist here in Aguascalientes. His office is only a five minute walk from my house. A visit to the dentist isn’t one of my favorite pastimes, but he was excellent and I actually felt quite relaxed. I’ve even forgiven him for the white diet he put me on after the whitening process.

I won’t comment on Trump’s speech last night. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I’m not interested in sparring with friends who are staunch Democrats and friends who are staunch Republicans. We’ll just have to wait and see how everything turns out.

I just signed up for a virtual program with NCW Libraries. This one is being presented as a part of Women’s History Month and deals with homelessness.

I’ve started to think about returning to Washington in May but, as usual, am procrastinating the arduous task of booking flights.

Have a great afternoon!

Feb11

Tanks?

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Tanks?

Every morning as I scroll through my news feeds it’s the same thing. Politics. Plane crashes. School shootings. I remember when I was a child in the fifties and my parents wouldn’t let me watch the newscasts back then. They were worried that those might give me bad dreams. I can only imagine the nightmares children have today if they watch the news on TV. There are some awfully graphic images about what’s happening around the world.

So I’ve decided to focus this post on tanks. Why tanks? I’m currently helping a thirteen-year-old Mexican boy with English. That’s a tricky age where he’d rather be doing any number of things than spending a couple of hours with me learning English. I’m trying to get him talking more. The vocabulary and some basic grammar are there. Occasionally we watch short videos and talk about them. I let him choose the topics. We’ve covered cars, airplanes, helicopters and tanks. Tanks? His choice. The military interests him.

I must admit that I learned a lot about tanks from that last video. It focused on comparing the Bulldog with the Spartan. Before I watched this video, to me a tank was a tank used by the military to fight wars. And war is a topic I’m not particularly fond of.

The Bulldog is an armored personnel carrier. It’s made of steel and weighs as much as three elephants. It can carry up to 12 people and reaches a maximum speed of 38 mph, that of a galloping horse. The engine is 240 hp. It has a hatch on top so that a person can look out over the terrain. It has tracks that enable it to travel through difficult places. And it is painted with the idea of camouflage in mind.

The Spartan is also an armored personnel carrier and holds up to 14 people. Although it is larger than a Bulldog, it is much lighter in weight as it is made of aluminum. It can travel at a higher speed of 60 mph and can navigate terrain more easily. It can climb steep hills. The Spartan has periscopes that enable a 360 degree view from inside.

When it came time to drawing a tank and labelling the parts, Emiliano added something that wasn’t in the video. Rocket launchers. And I wonder why those weren’t mentioned in the video. After all, tanks are synonymous with the military.

I thought I had visited all the museums in Aguascalientes but apparently I haven’t. Emiliano told me that there is a museum where I can see a tank up close. I have now put the Interactive Museum of Science and Technology on my list.

Emiliano is also a big fan of video games. They are his passion. His homework this week? Play Candy Crush in English instead of Spanish. Learn the names of the characters and their helpers in English. This should prove to be interesting……….

Jan28

A Typical Day

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A Typical Day

People often ask me to write a post about a typical day in Mexico. I cringe when I hear the word “typical.” To me it’s synonymous with the word “normal.” These are not common words in my vocabulary. But today is Tuesday, January 28th and this is what my day has been like so far.

I was up by eight, sipping coffee in bed and watching a movie on Lifetime. Of course the movie was in Spanish as I’m always determined to hone my Spanish skills. Even that early in the morning this movie was one of those horror-thrillers.

I had a lively conversation with my Uber driver about torta ahogadas. Right next door to where I live are some of the best tortas I’ve found here since I left Guadalajara. My driver is eager to try them after my recommendation.

First stop was the bank. The ATM worked perfectly! It even printed my receipt and didn’t attempt to eat my debit card. Yes, it’s going to be a good day.

I then enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Date Latte. Scrambled eggs, chilaquilles, and black beans. With all that protein I’m really ready for the day.

The next conversation with an Uber driver focused on the upcoming Ferria in Aguascalientes. This celebration runs for three weeks beginning in late April and stretches from Centro all the way out to the Isla (I was told approximately 10 kilometers) and attracts thousands of people from all over Mexico as well as other countries every year. And I live about two blocks away from music, carnival rides, vendors and food galore.

I’m back at home now sifting through email and what’s app messages. I’m also eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new friend Ricardo. One of my Mexican friends recommended him to me and I am eternally grateful. Ricardo cooks for me and delivers although he is about a twenty minute drive from me. Among the offerings this week are delicious roasted chicken and a pork dish with vegetables. He comes once a week and I fill my fridge with amazing and healthy food. He knows I try to avoid fried foods and is well aware of my allergy to fish and seafood.

I plan to work on my book for a while after I post this. I’m getting down to my final editing. I am enjoying writing fiction. There is no need for disclaimers and people recognizing themselves in case studies. I just get to make things up as I go along. It’s a nice change from the two self-help books I’ve published. Of course I haven’t left psychology behind. My protagonist is bipolar and struggles with drug addiction.

Later this afternoon I’m facilitating a conversation club with adults. There are so many people here who are eager to learn English. However work schedules and finances do not always permit attending a school or language institute. As a retired English teacher, I now volunteer my time helping these people.

That’s my day so far. No idea what happens later on. I may decide to start writing at midnight and write all night. Or I may not. For me, there is no such thing as a typical day.

Jan16

Plans For A Crazy Day

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Plans For A Crazy Day

Today is one of those crazy days. My mind keeps wandering as I’m trying to focus on my writing. I’m working on the Epilogue now. And things haven’t exactly turned out the way I’d anticipated when I’d first started writing this book. And that’s okay. Plans don’t always work out.

Plans. My thoughts drift to the sermon the pastor gave last Sunday. It was all about plans and God’s plans for us. And I sometimes wonder about that. Why did I wind up in Aguascalientes? No ocean here. I don’t hang out with gringos. The art galleries and museums are nothing compared with those in Guadalajara. And then there’s Washington state. I keep being drawn back there. The lure of the mountains and life in the USA.

Yes. Life in the USA. I grew up hearing about how we were so lucky to be living in Canada. Such a great country. The way things are going right now, I don’t think it’s such a great country. Despite the political divide, I prefer my life in the USA. The big drawback to me is that my kids still live in Canada and don’t want to visit me in Washington or Mexico.

Back to plans. My TV has been doing weird things like freezing and no volume and no nothing today. So there goes that plan of watching a movie in Spanish in an attempt to improve my skills in that language. But I have been doing some texting in Spanish today so that helps.

Speaking of today, I had planned on going to the tianguis on my street today. But it’s almost 2:30 and I’ve missed it once again. Oh well, there’s always next week. And I really should take some pics.

Pics. I’m slowly but surely organizing all the pics I scanned when I was in Winnipeg last summer. My son has promised to send me a link so that I can share a few thousand with him.

My son. The other night I missed a video call from my daughter in Kelowna as I was doing a course online at that time. When I called her back, to my surprise my son and his girlfriend were there visiting from Winnipeg. My kids don’t exactly keep me updated on their travels. But it was so great to do a video call and see them all together. Only wish I could’ve been there with them.

Of course that was another long ago plan that never happened. My kids and I all living in the same city and seeing each other all the time. That was the way I grew up. But someone up above had a different plan for me.

Back to my plan for today. Back to my Epilogue. And I’m listening to The Rolling Stones in the background.

What’s your plan for today? And how is it working out for you?

Nov15

Hola de Aguascalientes

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Hola de Aguascalientes

Three flights and a bus trip. Every time I vow that it’s too exhausting I somehow do it again. And a big thank you to Alaska Airlines for bumping me up to First Class on number three. You’re my favorite airline.

Day four and I’m finally unpacked. I did it gradually this year instead of in a one day marathon. I didn’t have the energy or the inclination to do it any faster. I was also alternating trips to the corner tienda to stock my fridge and pick up other miscellaneous items.

The tienguis on Thursday was larger than the one when I left last spring. I think everyone is gearing up for Christmas here just like they’re doing up north. Of course the temperature was 84 degrees instead of the 44 when I left Wenatchee. The dreary rain has been replaced by brilliant sunshine.

Two new items in my room this year. Raul built me a desk. It’s much more comfortable than sitting in bed with my laptop. He also bought me a new microwave. I’m busy reading the manual in an attempt to improve my Spanish. That is huge. Those of you who know me are aware that I never read manuals.

I also started doing Duolingo again. After several months away, I need all the practice I can get, especially when it comes to grammar.

I watched a movie in Spanish this morning. My goal is to watch at least three a week. I don’t watch TV in English while I’m here and I don’t use subtitles when I watch movies in Spanish.

The two hour time difference was most welcome as it gave me a chance to get some badly needed sleep when I arrived. Of course it also means that I have to remember who is on which time zone now when I call my friends. Sorry about those 5 am texts some of you received the other day. It will get better.

I haven’t activated my Mexican number yet as I’ve decided to keep my American one. It’s a pain every spring when I return to Washington and have to get a new number. And I will get that Mexican chip going soon. It just isn’t a priority. There are people to see and places to go and that come first.

On Monday we have a holiday here – Revolution Day. And it’s also Buen Fin, the Mexican equivalent of Black Friday. The fun goes all weekend.

Speaking of weekends, have a good one!