More Golden Years: 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Last trip to Centro for a while.

This is usually a quiet time of year for us. So many, many tourists in town both from inland Mexico and the cruise boats. Traffic is way busier than usual. So for a week or so we tend to hang around home or if we go out we go early in the morning. At least until January 6th when every one heads home.

Our garden is doing well so far this year. The poinsettias are really doing good. Some dew on the petals of this one early this morning.

Bill moved the three planters off the patio to the other side of the driveway. They weren't getting enough sun. Now they are very happy and flowering and getting new leaves,.

For Bill and Marilyn remember the little twig Rafa planted - it is finally growing and flowering. Poor little thing it needs more then "just show it the water." Guess all the summer rain helped it.

Work is progressing quickly on these buildings. Still don't know if they are hotels, apartments or condos. I like the orange safety fencing on the third floor. But the workers are always running around the ledge above it that is half the width without any safety net.

Just looking up at the pretty sky. Very blue with puffy clouds.

The city continues to put up these halo lights. They are up and lit as far north as Torres. All the way from the Malecon through town over the bridges up to here.

OMG! The office is getting a new paint job. Too bad it isn't ... a little less dull. Maybe it will get a clear coat?...

This picture doesn't show it but there are 17 of us here for the rest of the winter and four who have been here a month but are about ready to leave for further south. So much better than last year. Also several over nighters coming through.

Well we did go across town one morning. A big traffic jam both ways at these wonderful tope crosswalks.

Then some sudden construction work at Playa Norte.

So where were we going. Why to La Antigua of course. We got there about 15 to 9:00 Got our regular table in the patio. By 15 after nine the place was almost full. Bill's crepe - ham, eggs and gouda cheese. He has them add the whipped cream - says it tastes good.

My usual crepe - bananas, cream cheese, caramel and walnuts with whipped cream. YUM.

Still working on this house. Looks like the outside is finished and now working on inside.

The street at end of Plazuela Machado. A box truck backing up and a street cleaner guiding him. We stopped and the car behind us immediately started blowing his horn...what we should run over the lady.

In front of the central market. Three guys pushing a food cart up the street then around the corner. On the right a police truck with a couple of heavily armed policemen in the bed. I like the quick delivery people on their motorcycles with their delivery boxes. Although they drive like kamikazes. Don't know why we don't use them in the states, sure would save on gas.

Finally around the corner. This street is kind of closed off for all the vendors to set up daily.

Kind of a pretty sunset that night.

Taken from drone 400 feet up.

Turn sound on if you want to hear music too. This drone has a zoom camera.

Another drone video. Same sunset, different time. To view full screen click here. No sound on this one.

Last of the sunset

Weather is still pretty nice. In low 80's and humidity down to tolerable. The sunrise the next morning was worth getting up early for.

The beginning of another day in paradise.

Thursday, December 30, 2021

A typical day in Centro

The other day we went into Centro in the afternoon with the thought of going to a restaurant for lunch. Well we didn't do lunch but did do some walking around. Another deer doodle in the parking lot right by the Plazuela Machado. First time I noticed this one.

Heading up towards the eye doctors office to pick up Bill's new glasses. Lots of interesting detail under the ledge of this building.

Bill checking in with the watchmaker about his watch. The part finally arrived but it is not the right one so the watch maker is going to MAKE the part. It is a teeny tiny coil spring that is necessary for the watch to run. The saga continues. Keep tuned!

Just some buildings and a big door. Four different homes/businesses. Can tell where each one ends by the change of colors. Walking towards Olas Altas on Constitucion.

Stopped in one of the fascinating art galleries/bazar along the way. I like the tiles on the floor. Interesting stuff in here too.

The tiles are amazing, but too much sun and shadow to get a really good look. Side table is neat to look at too.

To get to the back part of the store/art gallery you have to walk over a small pond by stepping on several stones.

Not my cup of tea, but imagine some one likes this type of art.

Looking towards the back private part of the building. The plants/trees are all alive and growing.

Looks like those might be original hand fashioned beams. Little pretty glass do dads hanging from ceiling.

Huge plant. See the head. Other odd things hiding in it too.

Well it is different. Again not my type of art but very fun to check out.

I did like these hats though. So did Bill.

A nice bench to rest on in the shade.

I doubt that this niche was originally for the electric meter. Seems like there should be something religious in it. Those are drain pipes above it.

This is the sign on the outer wall of the area where we park. The whole interior is empty parking lot. Too bad. Bet the original building was amazing in the 1830's.

Just liked the look of the blue wall, iron bracket, light, tree and sky. We ended up going home without eating as restaurant we wanted to go to didn't open until much later than we thought it did. Oh well, another time or day.

There were two cruise ships and a whole lot of tourists from inland in town. Vendors set up in the streets all over Centro.

And tourists tour vans and pulmonias. Either waiting to pick up their wandering passengers or trying to convince tourists to take a ride with them.

She is always out when ships and tourists in town. Looks like she is having lunch right then.

In front of one of the big stores in Centro. People lining up to get their flu shots.

The Central Market looks like it is having a good day.

A look from the Malecon - someone parasailing.

One of Bill's drones up at night. It is a black drone with led lights on the propellers. Looks like an UFO. Not a good picture - will try for a good one another night.

Just a few of the things that keep us busy during the days before and just after Christmas. Will try to catch up in the next few days. Also have some neat drone video of a sunset to work on.