• Jo-Lynne Sutherland

San Miguel de Allende

Local festivals, live music, artists, hiking, pickleball, sunshine - what's not to love. Baca lagi
  • Permulaan perjalanan
    1 Mac 2024

    Day 1 off to SMA

    1 Mac 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    I'm actually writing this after the fact - took tons of pics & notes, per usual, so should be fairly accurate . . ..

    It all started Thursday Feb 29, when I called up to Peter on the 2nd floor saying I was checking into our flights. He replied, "We have to chat." I said, "Fine just let me check in first. " He quickly came downstairs and said "I'm not going." YIKES I was dumbfounded.

    True, Feb 15 - 25 Daina & family had been here, little Reeve & Van were hacking & sneezing, and Peter had said he wasn't feeling 100% . But still . . . I was shocked to hear he wasn't coming. . . . I gave him a COVID test - wasn't that, so I tried to convince him to come and recoup there, but no luck. OK on to plan B. This would be the first time in 52 year I was off on a major trip on my own . . . ..

    Flight left at 8:00 am, and I was there in plenty of time. As we'd paid for 2 seats, I asked if I could take Peter’s aisle seat rather than my middle seat. The "unfriendly" AC agent said NO someone else was in that seat. I asked if he'd paid for it, and she said, NO, he'd been assigned it. This wasn't going to fly with me, so I asked to speak to the manager and finally they let me take the aisle seat. Weirdly, when I got on there was no one in the middle seat. Go figure . . .

    Flight was smooth, arrived in Mexico City at noon and I had to wait at Real Camino Hotel until 6:00pm to catch the ETN bus. The problem was that this bus took the super slow route so I didn't get in to the local bus station in SMA until after midnight. Needless to say, I was concerned about not finding a taxi, but fortunately, one was there so I got to my air BnB about 1:00am. Reading the code on the lock box, was the next challenge. The box was really high and the numbers were silver on a silver plate. With my phone flashlight I was finally able to lock in the right numbers.

    It was 3:00am before I settled in - had to do a major unclutter of tiny ornaments and carpets everywhere. Fortunately, Diago had changed his small double bed for 2 twin beds - actually at my request last year, which was really sweet of him - and the new beds were super comfortable.

    OK, let the solo trip begin . . ..
    Baca lagi

  • Day 2 Settling in

    2 Mac 2024, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Step one was purchasing some food. Wandered down to the tiny shop a few blocks away on Huertas & Diez de Solllano to pick up some basics. Staff there just speak Spanish so googled a bunch of key words before entering - and made myself understood.
    Such fun wandering through the neighbourhood again - Benito Juarez Park, where a wedding had just taken place, plus headed down to the Jardin - same same - packed with people & musicians.

    That night Joanne & Jim pickelball friends from TO invited Peter & me over for dinner, together with David, also a PB buddy, and his girl Italian girlfriend Sarah. Needless to say, I went alone - but had a great time. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pics.
    Baca lagi

  • Day 3 Festival of the Conquistadors

    3 Mac 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Unfortunately, I just missed the Festival of the Conquistadors in the Jardin, but there were still small celebrations in the various neighbourhoods - including in front of my place. The noise of the fire crackers was crazy - and the band at the end of the street was super loud.

    Later, needing to stock up on food, I caught a taxi to La Comer - huge, modern, with a great selection of Mexican & international. food. Had to wander down to the Ancha to get a taxi - and use my limited Spanish once again.

    Here, I noticed a Bank of Nova Scotia, so thought that would be a good place to take out the 12,000 pesos I still owed Diego. No luck - the kiosk wouldn’t take my HSBC card. Oh well . . . . will try HSBC near the Jardin.

    In the evening, I wandered down to the Jardin and tried to take out the 12,000 pesos, but it would only let me take out 2,000 - plus charged me for the transaction. Decided I’d come back tomorrow and talk to someone in person.
    While there, I checked out the action - musicians on every corner, a band on stage again, and lots of happy people dancing. Such fun.
    Baca lagi

  • Day 4 Hiking & Dancing

    4 Mac 2024, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Super busy, fun day today. Sue & Hank invited me to go hiking with them - hot but fun; and Joanne & Jim invited me to go Salsa dancing at Trina Cantina.

    Couldn’t believe the attire there - stilettos & long gowns. Didn’t quite fit in with my tevas & sun dress. Jim was kind enough to guide me through some basic steps. Must confess I was more in my element when, on occasion, they switched to the good old jive.

    Also paused a moment to think about what I’d really like to do while there. Decision - signed up for pickelball 3 times a week, Zumba twice a week, and Spanish lessons twice a week. Turns out the private teacher we had last year - David Hernandez - was still there. I was delighted.
    Baca lagi

  • Day 5 Pickelball & HSBC

    5 Mac 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Made it to the PB courts today. As luck would have it, there was a festival going on - lots of good pics.

    As for PB, it was super hot (28 - 30C) but good fun - lots of friendly good players. Seems many of the players have moved here permanently from other states, but there were also some locals, and some Canadians down for several months. There was 1 young Mexican artist who often showed up and was a delight to play with. Caught a taxi there, but took the local bus back - that was an experience. . . . .

    My saga with the banks continued. I went to HSBC to talk to someone - fortunately his English was quite good. Bottom line - if I wanted to take out more than 2,000 pesos ($150) at a time I had to call my bank. Fortunately, once I got through, after numerous questions, they increased the amount I could withdraw to $2,000 so all was fine. I then called Diego’s Dad and he came over to collect the 12,000 pesos I still owned. All was fine.

    That night Sue & Hank invite me over for dinner - so thoughtful ….
    Baca lagi

  • Day 6 HSBC troubles, fun with friends

    6 Mac 2024, Mexico ⋅ 🌩️ 28 °C

    Today didn’t start out well. I’d gone to Mercada Sano to check out and Zumba venue. While purchasing some food I noticed my debit card was missing. YIKES panic!!!

    I dashed home to look for it there - to no avail. I checked my account online and fortunately there were no unauthorized withdrawals. I quickly called HSBC. Fortunately, HSBC had been bought by RBC and my card would no longer be valid at the end of the month, so I cancelled it. Fortunately also, I had an RBC debit card that I could use if need be.

    I didn’t call Peter until I’d calmed down and “solved” it. Great lesson learned - normally Peter handles the finances, so this was something I needed to learn - albeit the hard way.

    That afternoon I had my first Spanish lesson with David. Seems he thought I’d made some progress during the year using Duolingo so wanted me to learn the past tense. YIKES I couldn’t even talk in the present tense. . . .

    The day ended extremely well. Barry & Sue invited me to their lovely home for drinks then to Tostevere - a popular tiny restaurant near them - for dinner. Delicious.
    Baca lagi

  • Day 7 PB & exploring SMA

    7 Julai 2024, Mexico ⋅ 🌩️ 29 °C

    I’d finally been given a number to call to get a taxi - Pick Me Up. It’s super efficient - works with What’s Ap - totally reliable. Makes getting to PB so much easier. Getting home I usually take the local bus - only 6 pesos compared to 90 by taxi, but when you have to sign up for certainly time at PB, taxi works best.

    Today was an explore SMA day - all my fav spots. Nothing special to report
    Baca lagi

  • Day 8 International Women’s Day

    8 Julai 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    March 8 is a special day here and around the world - International Women’s Day. I was glad I was there for it - they do it in style - hundreds of women, huge parade, speeches, soooo much emotion.

    This year was more emotional than last year. Once the parade finally stopped in front of the Parroquia, the speeches started.

    One by one young girls & women took the mic to tell their sad stories. There were so many tears. I was glad I couldn’t understand what they were saying - the emotion was so high. I listened for about an hour - and the line was still super long with those waiting to speak. . . .
    Baca lagi

    Tamat perjalanan
    22 Mac 2024