1-14 entry

1-13 We are getting settled in and on our way to full slow. Hit the Mercado yesterday morning, and the Comercial in the evening. The house is becoming our little home away from home. It was 70 this morning at 6 AM, and a little overcast. It looks like the sun is starting to burn off the clouds.
Our friends Jim and Teri came by this morning. They were on their walk, and stopped in for coffee. We have known them for over ten years now. They are more friends that we have met here over the years. They are from the Santa Cruz California area. There was an e-mail from our friends Dan and Jeanne this morning. They will be here tomorrow afternoon from Wisconsin. It is -25 there this morning. They were our neighbors at the place we stayed at for the last two years. Our other neighbors from Montreal, Joe and Fanny can’t come this year due to some health problems. They have been coming here since 1969. I think this will be the first year they have missed. It won’t be the same without them. We will have to stay in touch via e-mail. Joe is a great story teller. Fanny has the stories numbered because she has heard them so many times. We will all miss Joe saying “what, are you crazy?”
I will sign off for now and let Judy make an entry.
Warren

It’s beginning to feel like home! And we are rested up and ready for some more activity. Since many of the friends are beginning to arrive, we’re going to have a gathering here soon. The house is really nice for that and I think we will use it a lot for getting friends together.
We were able to communicate finally with our man, Alfredo, a bit yesterday when his teenage son dropped by – Christian. What a nice young man, and he knows a little English. Alfredo is making a run to Mexico City for a few days but will return by the weekend. He’s a delightful man.
We’ve been trying to work a bit on our Spanish every day. I’ve been concentrating on my numbers so I don’t look like a deer in the headlights at the market after I ask “conto questa est?” (How much is it?) Hopefully soon I won’t have to make them write it down!!
We are in the swing of the local cuisine. We picked up some fresh yellowfin tuna at the Mercado yesterday, and just made some fresh tuna salad for lunch. The tomatoes and avocados are unbelievably wonderful, and so are the fresh bolios (French rolls) to use for sandwiches (tortas). We also found fresh, warm chicken tamales in the Mercado yesterday – 3 for 20 pesos (about $1.50). We brought them home for snacking!
We are continuing to stock up on basics so we will make fewer runs to town. But it’s so much fun to go to the Mercado! We also have a good supply of our favorite fresh Oaxaca cheese that we buy from the same man each year. Life is good.
Nothing much happening – just another day in paradise. We miss our family and friends at home!
- Judy