More time spent in San Blas

First let me say it is so nice to have Willie up and running again.

Back to our shopping day, Sunday.  This is a really small store next to the Central Market. Two people can’t pass in the aisle. Dry goods, canned goods, lunch meat and cheese and a cold case for milk and other important drinks.

Then before heading home we HAD to stop at Juan Banana for banana bread. YUM! They make the best ever.

On home to put things away. Later that evening we went back into San Blas for dinner at a restaurant. The sun was just beginning to set.

Shirley and John inside the restaurant. The decoration in the restaurant is all shells.

The sunset turned out to be very pretty and of course couldn’t get a good shot of it.

Monday, waited most of day for the mechanic. Ended up putting the old shock back in. Couldn’t find the right size in the big city of Tepic. So we still have some noise but no danger of losing the wheel. The broken bolts have been replaced. Everything should be fine until we get home or maybe find the right size shock in Mazatlan. So no more rough off or on roading for a while.

The mechanic’s tool box has seen a lot of repairs. Gotta love the people of Mexico who do great jobs with few supplies.

And there is Willie all ready to take a ride. We now have a small clink instead of big CLANKS! Didn’t realize how bad the noise was until it isn’t making it.

Late afternoon we all went into San Blas to go to dinner. Went to Walla Walla.

Even managed to find a parking place right outside it. After having to take several detours because the two main intersections of town were blocked off. And most of the streets are one way going the way you don’t want to go. Ended going down one block the wrong way turning right onto the main street then backing up around the corner then parking across from the restaurant. Just got parked when two Transito Policia came by. Good timing. They probably wondered why we smiled and waved at them.

I like the floor in the restaurant.

And the décor. Lots of flags and colorful furniture. Food was very good. I had chicken with peach sauce, rice and green beans. Also ice tea – they brewed it and added ice.

Saw this older woman walking down the street with a bowl full of something on her head.

After dinner we waked a block down to the plaza to see what was going on. A couple of years ago the whole main street was remodeled. All the buildings were repaired and painted white. They all have the same style of signs. Actually looks kind of nice.

 Two different stores and something upstairs.

Why the intersection was closed. Getting ready for a BIG fireworks show.

They were building a big fireworks tower. It is built of red and blue squares one piled on top of the other.

The web looking things at the top and on the sides have the fireworks wired to them. Here they were getting ready to add another square. They have a forklift that they maneuver the tower on, it lifts the whole contraption high enough to put another square under it. And up and up it goes.

Squares waiting to be added – remember they are added to the bottom as the already there squares are lifted up. They are held together with pieces of rope.

Some of the fireworks.

The plaza and streets were full of vendors. At nine o’clock there was going to be the kick off to the Bird Festival. With bands and fireworks.

Bill and Melissa again.

Just a small fraction of the vendors in the plaza. The girls in the lower side of the pic are getting henna tattoos. Looked like fun.

The government building still decorated for Christmas. Things won’t come down until after the Festival.

This is the churro man. His grease is hot and waiting for someone to buy some nice crisp fried churros. He makes some of the best ones we’ve had.

More and more vendors were showing up as it got later into the evening. Mostly with food and or snacks of some type. See the girl with hers on her head.

Walking back to the car, more of the fireworks display still needing to be put up.

They continue adding squares to the bottom of the tower. Tall enough now it needs more support with the ropes.

And on home.

Got up about 5 minutes too late this morning to see the full sunrise, bet it was really pretty. Did catch a few shots of it.

No plans for today but we’ve got the car so will do something. Every day my knee feels and looks better. Almost all bruising gone and only a little swollen still.

The blog header I took last night from the plaza it is of the newer church across the street

We will be here until next Monday. Have to get our coffee we ordered on Sunday. Sure wish the government would open the new toll road up the mountain before then. 

Flea Market in Aticama and shopping in San Blas

Will try to get this posted but already having problems with the Internet. GRRR...Might have to go into town where I can get an Internet cell signal. Right now waiting for mechanic.

Had a busy day Sunday. Here is a little map of the area. We are at the red dot El Chaco RV – San Blas is a bigger town, Aticama a little town. The road between El Chaco and San Blas is under construction and a real mess.

Yesterday morning we went into Aticama to the Cultural Center to the tiangis [flea market.] The first stand we stopped at was the coffee stand. The vendor didn’t have the coffee we wanted but told us he would have it by next Sunday. We like his mocha flavored coffee. The man buys the beans from local growers then processes it and packages it. The picture is of dried mango – a friend of his has started up a small business drying mangos. We bought a package. They are good, not as sugary as what we are used to and a lot more chewy.

 There were a couple of Huicholi Indians with stands. Some of their beautiful beaded jewelry.

Another stand. The woman in the colorful outfit is selling embroidered clothing.

The traditional outfit of the Huicholi man. All hand embroidered. Long sleeve shirt and pants.

A child’s dress.

All we bought was the mango and ordered five bags of coffee for next week.

We dropped off the mango package at home then continued on to San Blas. In case you are wondering how we were getting around. John in his big blue truck was being our taxi.

Just a look at the torn up central plaza. The concrete seating areas are being torn down and replaced with new blocks.  All paving is also being replaced. Seems to be rather poor timing as the big Bird Festival that brings in people from all over the world is just beginning.

We were hoping our friend Melissa would be at the plaza. She was – getting ready for a big hug. She said she has been waiting for Guillermo – Bill. A few tears were shed and many hugs. The girl at the table is her daughter-in-law. 

Bill took her some of his stash of beads. The type she uses for all her beautiful work.

He also talked to her about changing the sizes of some of his hatbands. She was checking to make sure it could be done.

Her daughter-in-law was beading a pottery turtle. Each bead is put on – one by one. It is pressed into bees wax. This one takes a couple of days to finish.

A closer look at her work. The child is her son. The brown part is the bee’s wax. The trim around the outside is finished. Now she is working from the center out.

Serious conversation with Bill and Melissa.

Looking at the main intersection. The very old church and the newer church. The stage in front is for the festival. Something going on almost every night.

We went to a little supermarket a block away – found sugar, flour and regular bread. Walking back towards the main intersection we passed the cross country bus station. It is amazing to watch these huge buses drive up the narrow two way street to get in here.

Looking at the plaza again. Just a few of the vendors set up around it.

A group of musicians heading for the central market – where we were also headed.

Another view of the main intersection. No traffic on this part of it. Some of these vendors are usually where the stage is. All kinds of things for sale: produce, clothes, fish, kitchen stuff etc.

Inside the Central Market. Little restaurants in the center. Produce and meat around the edges.  

The biggest produce section. You pick up a blue plastic bowl to put your items in.

Across the aisle is a tiny store that sells: canned goods, paper goods, dry goods, soap and toilet paper among many other items. 

A look at some more vegetables. They sure smell good. 

Bill paying for our purchases. 

Leaving the market. The musicians are also done playing and leaving 

I'll finish writing about the rest of our day in town tomorrow. I've about lost patience with the Internet.