Tag Archives: Aguascalientes

Mar27

My New Daily Routine

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My New Daily Routine

Since I’ve been retired I haven’t really had much of a daily routine. Basically it’s been traveling around Mexico six months of the year and doing a lot of volunteering and socializing in Leavenworth the other six months, with an occasional side trip to Canada.

This winter I returned to Aguascalientes City with the intent to focus on my Spanish skills. I returned to the same neighborhood where I am the only gringa.

I used to savor my first cup of coffee at 8 am. I’d often go to my favorite gordita stand for breakfast. And then it was off to the shops to engage people in conversation. Now many shops look like this.

In the afternoon I’d go to the park to color. Sometimes I’d meet friends there.

I also used to attend church services on Thursday and Sunday. Saturday was my one teaching day.

And then COVID-19 entered our lives.

I now have breakfast in my hotel room. And some days I don’t even get dressed until around noon. I watch movies in Spanish to improve my comprehension but it doesn’t do much for conversation or pronunciation.

I still color every day but not in the park. The park is closed.

I go for shorter walks. I spend more time on the phone with friends. I do on-line church and I’m going to sign up for another course on Coursera.

That leaves me with lots of time for writing. I now do blog posts every second day. And I’m hoping my imaginary friends keep talking to me so that my work in progress does indeed continue to progress.

Phase 2 has begun in Ags. People around here seem to be taking COVID-19 very seriously and the streets are quieter than usual. No problem with social distancing.

Stay home and stay safe!

Mar25

Leap Year

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Leap Year

I decided to take a break from COVID-19 and publish this post I’ve had sitting in draft form for almost a month.

Thank you Facebook for reminding me where I’ve been on February 29th in the past decade.

Today I am in Aguascalientes. Four years ago I was in Mazatlan. Eight years ago I was in Guadalajara.

But the most memorable February 29th of my life was back in 1984, long before Facebook was established.

I was eight months pregnant with Kimmy. I awoke that morning in incredible pain. Somehow I managed to drive Kyle to nursery school and then myself to the hospital.

Upon my arrival, hospital staff were smiling and reassuring me that giving birth a month early was no problem. I kept telling them that this pain was different from labor pain, but they admitted me and hooked me up to all the monitors.

That’s when the smiles disappeared and were replaced with frowns. I was right. Not in labor. A specialist arrived immediately and diagnosed torn ligaments in the uterus. Yet another hospital stay and more bed rest.

I was worried about Kyle. This wouldn’t be the first time I wasn’t there to pick him up from nursery school due to a hospital stay. It hadn’t been the greatest pregnancy and Kyle was such a trooper.

One month later on March 29th I arrived at the hospital and this time I was in labor. I’m glad Kimmy was born then and not on February 29th. I can’t imagine celebrating a birthday on the exact date only once every four years.

Mar23

Not Just Another Day

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Not Just Another Day

Aguascalientes City has taken COVID-19 seriously. Bars and restaurants have been closed for a week now. Meetings and other events have been cancelled. Group gatherings are discouraged. Workers are out trying to sanitize public areas.

I have bid farewell to coloring in the park for a while. I will probably limit my time to just short walks instead.

A short distance from where I live is a long street saturated with bars and restaurants. This is what it looked like on Saturday night.

Compare this with the chaos at the airport in Puerto Vallarta. Just think of all the potential diseases that are on their way to Canada right now. I feel that my decision to remain here in Mexico is a good one.

There is no country and no medical system prepared for this pandemic. Friends up north have told me of family members who are struggling with COVID-19 right now. I hear about shortages of masks and gloves.

But mostly I hear about people who believe they are invincible. They continue to go out on non-essential errands and visit with friends. They hit the grocery stores and hoard more than just toilet paper. I urge them to stop being so selfish. They are potential carriers and may be unknowingly spreading this horrid disease. Not everyone infected exhibits symptoms.

My friends in Mexico tell me the beaches are still crowded. Semana Santa hasn’t even arrived yet. I am so thankful that I live inland far from the tourist areas.

Stay at home and stay safe!

Mar19

Today in Aguascalientes

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Today in Aguascalientes

It’s hot out there. The 90s have arrived. Days like this I miss the ocean in Mazatlan.

Thursday morning there is an outdoor market in my neighborhood.

Restaurants are closed. Take out and delivery only.

Bars are closed here although my friend told me they’re still open in Leavenworth, Washington. Go figure.

Schools are closed. I haven’t heard anything about the indoor malls yet.

A friend in Zacatecas told me this morning that she couldn’t find chicken or eggs. So far we have no shortages here in Ags.

Corner tiendas are open. Note in my pics that these are not completely enclosed. Lots of fresh air gets in and social distancing is easy as there are seldom more than 2 or 3 people in them at the same time.

My saving grace are my daily coloring sessions in the park. The flowers are beginning to bloom again.

I really miss all the time I used to spend walking in and out of shops and engaging in conversation. It was a great way to socialize as well as practice my Spanish. Now most of my socializing is over the internet or on the phone.

A silver lining to every cloud……more time for writing!

Mar17

I Live In Two Worlds

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I Live In Two Worlds

I awoke this morning to silence instead of the hum of a fan. There was no display on my microwave. The lights on the TV and modem were out. And I didn’t hear the noise my fridge usually makes.

A lukewarm Coke and a malvebon were my jolt of caffeine this morning.

I grabbed my laundry and headed to the lavenderia. Fatima greeted me in darkness. But I think positively and left my laundry in her capable hands. I may get it back today and I may not. Mexico is the land of mañana.

The bank where I use the ATM is about a mile away and thankfully it did have electricity. The bakery near the bank was open and so was the farmacia.

I returned home and headed for the park with my coloring supplies. Such a glorious day out there!

The next stop was the cocina for fresh salads for lunch.

This is my world in Mexico. We are all more consciencious about washing our hands and not touching our face. Schools are closing and public gatherings are cancelled.

Then there is the world on the internet filled with panic and fear. Yes this is a devastating pandemic. More and more people are diagnosed every day. There are deaths but we must keep in mind that not everyone will die. People are recovering.

I’m very concerned about my children in Canada. It’s really difficult being so far away from them right now.

I have friends up north with serious respiratory problems. I have friends crammed in to overcrowded airports which in my opinion is quite the breeding ground for more than just COVID-19.

Here are some pics of my neighborhood today. Shops are open as are stands on the street.

Stay safe everyone!

Mar15

I’m Staying

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I’m Staying

I have decided to stay here in Aguascalientes rather than return to Canada.

Because of my age and health issues I am in the high risk category.

If I didn’t get sick from COVID-19 from crowded airports and stuffy airplanes, I’d probably get pneumonia from arriving in Winnipeg in shorts and sandals. I haven’t experienced a Winnipeg winter in over ten years.

I opted to do on-line church only today as my city has banned public gatherings.

There is lots of toilet paper here.

I also have the blessing of being able to go outside to the park everyday.

Stay safe everyone and practice whatever preventative measures you are able to.

Mar10

Strange

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Strange

I apologize to my readers. I haven’t written a post in quite a while. I’ve played with some ideas but somehow just couldn’t follow through.

It’s been a strange few weeks. Coronavirus seems to have impacted the world in so many ways. My English conversation classes have turned into health lessons. How do we protect ourselves against this deadly enemy?

Interestingly enough, there is no shortage of toilet paper here. There are still lots of soaps and hand sanitizers on the shelves in stores. And I haven’t observed a sea of masks when I’m in public places. But I have observed other things.

There is a park near my house where I often go to color. In my search for shade I found myself at a table close to the bathrooms. I just had to snap this photo. Shelves full of snacks at the entrance. I watched the attendant hand people toilet paper at the same time as they purchased chips or candy. In my opinion food and bathrooms just don’t go together. What do you think?Yesterday was International Women’s Day. How do they celebrate it here? Women went on strike today and didn’t work. But not all women. I was at Liverpool, a pharmacy and Telcel and I did see some women, although not as many as usual.I had an interesting chat with my Uber driver today. Apparently I’ve lived in Aguascalientes longer than he has. He just moved here from Mexico City a month ago. Sure hope he didn’t bring the Coronavirus along with him.

Washington state is a hotbed of Coronavirus right now, Seattle in particular. I usually tease my friends and tell them to get rid of the snow before I return. Now I’m hoping they can get this virus under control before I come back next month.

Next to the Coronavirus, a hot topic of discussion with my friends is narcissism. That just might be my next blog post.

Feb13

Museo Nacional De Las Muertes

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Museo Nacional De Las Muertes

Last winter my time in Aguascalientes was filled with a flurry of visits to museums, art galleries and churches. This winter has been the opposite. I’ve been here for more than three months now and yesterday was the first time I ventured into a museum when I revisited the Museum of Death.

This museum is on three levels and features numerous fascinating displays as well as a spectacular collection of artifacts.

The descent to the lower level is on a steep, narrow and dark staircase. But it had its rewards.

I next explored the rooms on the main floor and upper levels. Unfortunately the lighting and the glare from the showcases made photography challenging. I still managed to get more than forty shots. I hope you enjoy the ones I’m sharing in this post.

Be sure to visit this museum if you find yourself in Aguascalientes City.

Jan29

Different But Interesting

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Different But Interesting

I walk a lot here in Aguascalientes. I go in and out of shops in Centro where I engage the locals in conversation to improve my Spanish speaking skills.

I also come across other nonverbal but interesting things in this quaint city.

Have a look at this poster I saw yesterday. Beer and yoga. Quite the combination. I can’t quite get my head around it but apparently many Mexicans can.

On my morning stroll through the Jardin San Marcos I encountered this colorful character. He was leading a walking tour in the area.

Preparing for the Ferria San Marcos is underway near the Expoplaza. The entire street is being redone as well as the path that goes by the park. I snagged this photo through a hole in the fence surrounding the construction site.

When you don’t have a yard for a birthday party the street will do nicely. Very different from the parties I made for my kids back in Canada. While bouncers were rare but parties in bowling alleys, roller rinks, mini golf centers and cinemas were common.

On my walk to the tienguis I passed by the junkyard. Look at all those plastic items on their way to be recycled.

Amidst the food vendors, used clothing, tools and miscellaneous hodge-podge I found this breath of fresh air at the tienguis.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian village and Las Flores is a quaint barrio. I am blessed to be able to enjoy both.

Jan25

Why?

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Why?

Three little letters but oh the conversations they initiate.

I was at the park yesterday coloring when a delightful child stopped by to talk to me. Oscar is in fifth grade primaria and had a day off school. He rode his bike to the park and it took him 20 minutes. He was quite envious when I told him I live a block away.

It was an interesting conversation. I spoke in Spanish and he spoke in English. We were both impressed that we could each speak and understand each other’s languages.

What had attracted him to come over and talk to me was that I was coloring. He told me that I was the only adult he had ever seen doing this. He called his sister over and she was in awe of my gel pens and markers.

And then came the why questions. Why do I color? Why did I come to Aguascalientes when my family is in Canada? Why do I only have two children? Why did I get a divorce? Why don’t I marry a Mexican and have more children?

The innocence of childhood. I smiled recalling myself at their age. I too was curious but probably not quite so bold in asking questions.

Oscar and his sister are only two of the people who constantly ask me these questions. Often it is adults who find it a novelty that I come to the park to color.

Just the other day a man asked me where I sell my art. When I told him I color to relax, he shook his head and told me it was a good career. He said I should give up teaching English and sell my art instead.

I must admit I spend considerably more time coloring than teaching English. And I enjoy them both.

Here is a sample of my artwork.