November 5 - Market Day

This morning Ken, Lorrie and I set off for the market at 8 a.m. to find the Lavanderia (laundromat) to get their laundry done by Ana who turns it into a clean plastic wrapped folded bundled for about 80 pesos.   Then on into the market where we first buy shrimp at one shop and then fish from a young man called Hector.  Hector talked about the different fish available and sold us some mahi mahi and swordfish.

Hector cleaning Mahi Mahi

Another young man was scraping the flesh off the skeletons to make ceviche a pickled fish.

Ken whisked our purchase back to a cooler full of icepacks while Lorrie and I headed into the market stalls.  Lots of veggies, fruit, juice, tacos, DVD's, clothes, etc.  I bought sesame seed almonds, limes, rum, margarita mix, and freshly made corn tortillas.

Bought the coconut macaroons on the left



buying coconut milk



Vendors laugh and joke with each other

I find the market a relaxing place.   A step back from a supermarket where small pieces of fish or meat on white styrofoam are sealed off from us in plastic.  The vegetables have dirt on them, handpicked from a field or a garden, and are far from perfect.  They are natural.  I know there are good reasons for our health regs but Mexico is beginning to grow on me.

Kirk and I went for a ride south on Highway 200 to Lo De Marco.  There are some RV parks there that we are going to explore, along with the neighbours.  The speed limits are extremely conservative, 40, 50, and 60 Km, even on what appears to be open two lane highway.  Gringos are advised to adhere to the limits, in order to avoid conversations with the policia.  The rub arises when no one else on the highway is anywhere near the limits.  Large trucks, beater cars, entire families on 125 motorcycles, everyone is going about as fast as they can and still make the next curve.  Primero class busses are especially large, fast, and predatory in traffic; very professionally driven, but they will pass you, RFN.  This all takes place on a narrow, two lane highway, no shoulders, sometimes in a tunnel, as the large trees on the sides of the road have a canopy which merges over the highway.  

The air was different today.  Since we got here, the Frigates have been soaring, but snivelling along in minor ridge-lift or small thermals.  Today, however, they were way, way up.  You would see one, watch him for a minute, and as your eye adjusts to the distance, you see another, higher still.  This continues until you become aware that the sky is full of Frigates, most of them at an altitude beyond vision.