A Day in the Life

A big part of this second week of my trip to Mexico is the idea of "just being" in Mexico. I am much less a tourist this week than I was last. To that end, today was about what life might be like if I lived here.

The crowd at the Organic Market

The day began with a trip to the organic market, a very popular weekly event among the expats here. They line up to get the very best in fresh food. There is also ample opportunity to sample various products, so I tasted my way through the place while Catherine and her friend, Avril, shopped for produce and bread.

On the way home, Catherine dropped me off in town and I window shopped along the main tourist street, Colon, for a short while, before returning to Estrellita's. I had bought an elixir at the Market to share with one of the other guests here. It is an herbal tea jammed packed with nutrients. Supposedly, it is good for what ails you, so Marion and I will be having a shot of the stuff twice a day from now on.

Lunch at Gossips

At lunch time, I again strolled through town to meet Catherine and John at Gossips, a popular spot along the Carretera (the main road through town). I really enjoyed my Gumbo soup and salad. Then I headed to my hair appointment with Paty, whom Catherine had recommended. The wash, cut and styling cost me $130 pesos, or about $12 Canadian. It is shocking how inexpensive things are here!

Paty's

Back at the B&B, I whiled away the rest of the afternoon sitting on the patio outside my room, and reading while cuddling with Molly, the owner's Bichon Frise. Briefly, I checked out the Lake Chapala Society next door, where a group was enjoying a yoga class.

Yoga in the park

Since I was off to dinner and the theatre in the evening, I got dressed up a little before heading back to the Carretera to be picked up by Dave, Susan, Catherine and John. For our evening meal, they had chosen La Taverna de Quatro Mori, an Italian place that Bob and I had visited three years ago. I enjoyed a delicious lemon salmon dish, and, as usual, a margarita.

Dinner group - same as Sunday

John outside La Taverna

We capped off the day with a play at a venue called Sol Y Luna (Sun and Moon). I had been there in 2010, to hear a classical guitar concert. This time, we watched a production of The Fantastiks. It was pretty entertaining, although the Mexicans in the cast often had trouble enunciating the words clearly. Fortunately for me, I am quite familiar with the play, having seen it recently in Toronto. And the most memorable song from the play, "Try to Remember" is one of my all-time favourites.

John, Susan and Catherine at Sol Y Luna

As you can see, the day was in some ways very much like a retiree's day in Toronto, with shopping, haircuts and yoga classes, but all of it is done at minimal cost and in glorious weather. What a life!