Terry's Flip-Flop Shop

FINALLY GETTING OUR BEACH ON

We have swept, we have dusted, we have hosed down...and then we have done it all over again. The house is back to normal after the work. 
Carnaval has come and gone, although it was a non-event for us here in Merida since none of the parades came anywhere close to the house. Very disappointing but just the way it is...things change. But, we do hope they make some changes for next year.
Wednesday was the perfect day to go to the beach. We were ready to kick back, soak up some sun, drink some cervezas, and plan our next couple of weeks while lying in the sand.  And, Terry had promised to bring a used pair of Reef flip-flops to his favorite beach waiter. The Reefs are a hot item since they have the beer bottle openers on the bottom. Forget the unsanitary idea of a waiter opening your beer with the bottom of his shoe. Anyway, Terry washed them up before putting them back on his feet for the bus trip to Progreso. They looked brand new. He had the spare pair he was going to wear home in his backpack. 

Once we got to Progreso, we didn't even have our towels spread out yet when the waiter came over. The bar was just opening up and he didn't even have his uniform on yet. The "deal" struck was six beers in exchange for the sandals. Only problem was - we would have to wait until he had a few pesos in his pocket from his tips for the day, so he could bring us the beers. Lucky for us and for him, the cruise ship was in and the restaurants, bars, and beach vendors were all having a darn good day. There were a lot of cruisers hanging on the beach and they were in the mood to spend some money today. The first two beers were delivered by the waiter from the bar/restaurant where he works. The next three beers were in cans the waiter purchased from the Cerve Frio and surreptitiously brought to us when nobody from the restaurant was looking. The sixth beer - well, we left without it. It is our way of saying "Yes, we will be returning in the future." By the time we left the beach, word had spread and Terry will bring his next pair of used Reefs - yes, with the bottle opener on the bottom - to another waiter. The exchange is getting heftier - beer AND fish.

LOVE FRIGATE BIRDS

We also struck up a conversation with Dave, the Canadian who has a 16' Hobie and gives rides on it to tourists. He offered to let us take his Hobie out since we told him we used to have a similar 16' Hobie. He will be leaving for Canada for awhile and would like for somebody to continue taking it out while he is away. I'm thinking if we can't make it on Terry's Flip-Flop Shop we may have to give Hobie rides on the side....Terry's Flip-Flop Shop and Hobie Rides on the Side. It has a nice ring to it.

We stopped off at Los Henequenes and had a few cervezas and wonderful botanas. Gotta love the free and "que sorpresa" botanas while we watch all the cruisers leave the beach and the local people of Progreso stop working and start celebrating their fruitful day. 

All was well until we got off the bus and as we were walking back to the house Terry discovered he had given the waiter his best pair of Reefs and he was wearing the old pair. Guess he needs to visit Terry's Flip Flop Shop! 

RIGHT ON CALLE 62...TOOK THIS PICTURE BEC. WITH SO MUCH CONCRETO IT'S A RARE SIGHT TO SEE BOMBEROS PUTTING OUT FIRES...THEN REALIZED THEY WERE AFTER A BEEHIVE...YIKES!!!

Lilia And a Gas Man Named Bino

Our gas tanque finally emptied so yesterday morning I called for gas. We both still have flashbacks to all the gas tanque fiascoes of the past that's always good for some good laughs. Each time I call the gas place, it goes the same way, like this - I always get hung up on the first call I make. On the callback, I make my request for 20 litros of gas, get asked for our direcciones (address) and then they verify who I am. Only thing is they think I am Lilia Rivas Santana - the previous owner of the house. I have always tried to correct them in the past but now I just say "Me llamo Lilia Rivas Santana." It's easier that way. The same delivery guy comes each time as well. We chuckle because our gas man is named "Bino".

 Generally, the workers would work until around 3 or 4 in the afternoon each day, then call it quits. But on Saturday they continued working until after 5. They were so close to finishing and were determined to have the stairs complete for us to enjoy cervezas up on the mirador. Somewhere around 4, Carlos had asked for Terry's permission to go buy some beer. Was it ok if they drank while they worked? Terry gave him permission along with some beer pesos. 

As luck would have it, they couldn't quite get finished because of the heat. The fine layer of finishing concreto they put on the stairs cracks from the expansion/contraction when it is a certain temperature. Carlos and Jose were a little dejected when they left, but promised to show back up Monday morning to complete the job.

And all the work is done! 

Ready for Paint

Sure enough, they showed up earlier than usual and while it was cool they re-did the concreto. We are super happy with the final results. Both Carlos and Jose suggested other things they could build for us. I think they wanted to keep the job going. We made sure we had information to contact Carlos in the future. It was hard to say "Hasta Luego" when we knew it would be several months before seeing them again. They loaded up the VW Bug with all their tools, machete, buckets, and leftover wood/concrete blocks and drove off. The last thing I said to them was "Muchos besitos!". Jose was the wisest, gentlest, kindest and hardest-working albañil we could ever want to meet.  

Muchos besitos a Jose! 

Sunday, Terry put up the two remaining lights in the kitchen. We did our bici-ruta walk but cancelled out the benefits of walking when we couldn't resist the temptation of stopping in the main plaza for a bite to eat. We now have a favorite little Sunday outside eatery and we ended up getting escabeche, rellenos negros, and salbutes. All served on the freshest little corn tortillas ever. Terry likes the horchatas, but I haven't ever developed a taste for them. He drank a horchata while I stuck with jamaica juice. I took pics of iron fences for future reference. The iron fences rate up their next to the doors in terms of workmanship.

 
After a trip up the ladder to the very top of the top floor, Terry figured out the part he needed to buy to fix the float in the water tinanca. The float is the same thing that I remember having in our cow and horse water troughs when I was growing up. The part was brass so we thought it may be a pricey fix. A quick trip down the block and around the corner to Boxito proved otherwise. Although a brass part, it only cost 85 pesos. It only took Lorenzo about 30 seconds to look at the part, reach around behind him, and come up with the part. Our guess is that Lorenzo at Boxito gets lots of requests for this part. Another trip up the stairs, up the ladder, and the tinaca is fixed. No more turning the water off/on at the street for fear the tinaca will fill up and run over. 

Our evening routine is now to sit on the upstairs mirador, have sundowers, and watch two iquanas that always come out on the wall and strut their stuff. We are happy with our park-like views of the gardens directly across the street towards the front, and the quiet, serene views of trees, foliage and birds behind us. We are blessed! 

 

Four Doesn't Equal Two

Yesterday all three of the albañiles showed up and diligently worked on the stairs and flower box. While they were busy, Terry decided to go to the ATM and pick up a few groceries. I decided to head out in the opposite direction. I was on a mission to buy four new terracotta light covers so I could get rid of the four hot little spotlights in the kitchen. I had spotted the ones I wanted at one of the tiendas next to the Mercado Galvez when Terry and I had gone out walking in search of the Lady of Guadalupe tile mosaica.

Before we parted ways, I told Terry I was buying four of them and he agreed to buy the necessary lights and sockets.

I love the Mercado Galvez. I love it best when I am alone and can wander through it and stop when I want to. I like to go off in the middle of the stalls and just watch the vendors, look at their wares, and smell the smells. I've decided Mercado Galvez is a lot like liver. You either love it or hate it. On each of Kimberly's visits she and I have gone and she loved it. Kate, Kimberly and I went through it last year and we had a great time. Terry can only stand so much of it. After awhile he starts getting claustrophobic. When Lisa and Tisha were here visiting I took them. We were all tired and I got completely turned around and it wasn't fun at all. The mercado expedition ended when one of them asked how far it was to the nearest sidewalk cafe where we could sit and drink a few cold cervezas. I would bet neither of them care for liver either.

My favorite part of the mercado are the fruits and vegetables, but best of all the section where all the bulk spices are sold. I just can't get enough of the smell. And looking at those huge mounds of achiote paste makes me want to just jump into it and see just how red I would get. And just imagine the smell!

Well, after wandering around in the mercado and taking some pictures, which I can't ever resist doing, I walked to the tienda and struck up a good bargain by buying not one cover but four of them. I headed home with my backpack and arms full. But not so full that I didn't also stop along the way and buy a fresh pineapple.

It just so happened that Terry and I got home at about the same time. I showed him the four covers and he showed me the two light sockets.

When did four equal two? 

THE TWO THAT TERRY INSTALLED

He KNEW I was buying four covers. I mean, that's how many we have to replace. His response was that  he wasn't going to install all of them today. Why buy more supplies than he needed for the day? He didn't want to over exert himself by doing all four of them. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't buy one and go back lter in the day and buy the second one.
Here are some additional pictures taken along the way -

THOSE INFAMOUS, INTRIGUING DOORS

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND THOSE DOORS...ARE THERE WALLS WITH THE PLASTER FALLING OFF OR DOES THIS HOUSE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PASTA TILE FLOORS AND THE MOST GORGEOUS ARCHWAYS LEADING TO A PERFECTLY MANICURED COURTYARD? THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE NEVER GIVES IT AWAY. 

 

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