Flash...hot off the press....well actually

Before it even hits the press, since the press in this instant is not reliable for a variety of reasons. Our friends and neighbors in Patzcuaro are reporting more sickness then is being reported in the media. There have been multiple instances of friends and relatives being admitted to hospitals in Morelia and the IMSS clinic in Patzcuaro.
So why is this being treated in this way, to limit panic or what?
Several Spanish TV Networks now are reporting that the Mexican Government knew about it as early as the first of the month but either did not do anything or tried to control the information about it.
To avert panic? Who knows.
To not limit Semana Santa festivities? Or not to stop tourists for spring break?
Anyway this is more serious than it appears to be , based on the media disinformation.
Best to be safe and handle things on your own, since that is really the smart option to rely on your own information and self reliance. Hopefully you have enough vittles to last for a week or two, or you should anyway.
In the meantime be vigilant!

Sadly our first case

I was just informed that we have had one person die in Patzcuaro.

This was the first confirmed death in the area. Sadly the young man was only 24 year of age and you would think that he would have a strong immune system, but one never knows when it becomes your time.

Schools in Patzcuaro and the rest of the country are closed until further notice.
All public function are likewise suspended.

People and automobile traffic is way down in the normal parts of town.

The US government is considering advising residents not to travel into Mexico.

We will wait and see, meanwhile loading up on vitamin C......

Eat your Dirt!

I have mentioned before the need to have your own immune system operational and in top condition. There is a new flu which has claimed the lives of at least 20 people in Mexico City and has affected over 1000 people, there so far.

The news says to refrain from shaking hands, kissing and to be sure to wash your hands........To prevent spreading it and catching it, but I seriously doubt that will help much.

That is going to be tough in Mexico..... but lives depend on it!

It is a new strain that has it's root to pig, birds and humans....
Great, just great!
If this is hitting Mexico, I can image how dangerous it could be up in the US. Since for years mothers have been protecting their children not to play outside, not to put things in their mouths on and on and on. Not building up the old immune system......

When we were growing up, mud pies and sipping and sharing soda pop and sugar water in wax bottles was normal.

It still is in Mexico, I have always thought that Mexicans down here are a pretty hearty bunch, seems that this bug is strong enough to succeed.

Enter vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid.
If you are serious of keeping your immune system in top operational shape you should take a few minutes and read some information which is readily available on the Internet.

In a few words if you don't want to do that,

Vitamin C tables are almost useless, you need massive doses and the body doesn't metabolize the pills fast enough and thorough enough. You should use Ascorbic Acid Powder, it will mix with juice or water and actually works.
I started by first taking 1000mg, (one level teaspoon) at least daily, better yet figure out what your max is.
You do that by starting with 1000mg, then increasing the dose, until you start production of gas then go back to the level before.
When you are sick or need help you actually can take a lot more before the gas kicks in.
Better yet go visit a health food store or a homeopathic pharmacy and spend a little time talking to the experts.......it may just make you healthier and wiser.
I need all the help I can get........

At least until the crisis is over.

Payback Mexican style

If you have been reading my blogs you may remember that we have had some issues with tree bandits.
They come under cover of darkness around midnight and you hear the distant whirr of chainsaws. Usually around the full moon....

Sometimes not so distant ..........

We have had many trees off our property cut, our fences destroyed and generally there is little you can do about it.

If you call the police, they will come a few days later when they get around to it.

Well, a few weeks ago there were several landowners in the area that got tired of it and actually caught a few of these lumbercrooks and turned them over to the police.

And yes, nothing happened, it is assumed that they were either friends of the law or paid their fines real quick and were issued a get out of jail card.

Well, things change.

Seems that frustrated about do nothing policies, someone took the situation into their own control.
Several men where missing for a few days, and the found.
Dead.
Now I am not going to judge anyone and certainly it is a pretty price to pay, however I can certainly understand the frustrations which led up to this happening.

You can read the article in our local Michoacan paper.
http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemorelia/notas/n1127929.htm

There is something to be said for justice that you can have control over........the present attitude of the locals and people that live amongst the trees and and actually care about their natural resources, and their basic justice, is extremely positive.

Maybe the cuttings will stop, hopefully they will, for all concerned!

All over, all gone, time to go back

One of the most popular and busy seasons where Mexicans take off from points afar is of course the Christmas holidays, second is Semana Santa.

Mazatlan swells to double lines, traffic is unbearable, the wait or que (for the Canadians) is tripled at the fast food joints.

Families from Mexico City and even Monterrey flock to meet family and friends at a beach resort.

They bring the family.

They bring the kids.

They bring stuff strapped on the top of their cars and trucks.

They even tow a small trailer on some of their vehicles.

They bring plastic toys and items....lots of plastic toys, more plastic glasses for drinks, lots of plastic plates that double as Frisbees on the beach.

They leave empty coke bottles on the beach. Next to the empty beer bottles......ey!

They leave lots of empty Bimbo bags on the beach. Many more plastic items then palm fronds......

Why are they so nonchalant about leaving garbage on the beach? By their parking space, and on the road?

You would think that they would teach their kids.........yep they do........how to be litterers.....

Maybe next year we will not be around on Semana Santa......find another place to meet the family......


There is something nice about empty beaches...........empty of people and trash...

Let us be healthy!

I was reading in USA Today that Americans are going back or at least attempting to "grow their own". I thought that they have been growing their own for a long time but not so..... It seems that the present economic condition has forced families to grow their own vegetables and even get chickens and pigs onto their land.

We figured that out long time ago, not because it was less expensive that paying $2 bucks for a head of romaine lettuce, but it was a hell of a lot healthier! Plus when you look at a head of Romaine lettuce, you wonder exactly how fresh it is.

Next time you pick up a head take a look at the color of the base of the head. The whiter it is , the fresher it is! The ones that I find at our WalMart in Morelia are pretty sad.....the ones at Soriana in Patzcuaro are even more pathetic. There the leaves couldn't be resuscitated with a cold bath if your life depended on it!

I gotta have my Ceasar Salad with anchovies at least 3 or 4 times a month, it's like a narcotic....

I finished reading a book last month, seems the only time I can read is when we are away from the house, but as I was sitting overlooking the beautiful Pacific on our porch in our temporary digs in Mazatlan, I finished the book "Fast Food Nation".

I recommend you read it, it has changed or rather reinforced my opinion of what I shove down my gullet.


Growing your own food has lots of benefits. It's cheap, it's available without walking for miles to the market or driving there and it tastes so much better when you can pick and eat it yourself!

Lettuce have been my favorite, then beans and of course the tomato.
The article goes on to say that some people have a knack for growing others not....
I have over the years moved from the not to, to the yes side. It took some commitment and perseverance but it is not hard.

For pennies you can buy various seeds and have an endless supply of young greens for salads to the point where I trade my surplus with neighbors for other items.

Try it , you will like it!

All you need are some containers, I have multiple ones, you can grow in flower pots, but my favorites is a 6 ft long box filled with sand and dirt, add some compost now and then and with 3 boxes I have lettuces and arugula all year round.

I have one head of Romaine that comes from a wandering seed from an adjacent box, which will be ready in about 2 weeks. ( Pictured Above)
While the lettuce is coming up and gets to be about 3 or 4 inches high you can pick the leaves for delicious salads.
Save the planet, grow your own!

And I thought Pirates where at Disneyland.....

Headlines in the news today, that some pirates have been holding a captain of a ship hostage, for the last couple of days....
Seems there is a pirate problem in and around the coast of Somalia.
The US Navy was started years ago to fight piracy.....the booty kind not the VHS or CD kind that they sell for 100 pesos each in the mercado.
Interesting to hear that the captain who was being held hostage, ditched the boat by diving out and tried to swim to the Navy boat, but was intercepted by the pirates and is still being held.
Seems the US Navy was there observing all this.....
The French, yep the French got their people out of another situation, but one hostage was killed. Surprising since all you hear is the French are inactive........not in this case the US Navy was........what a change of events......
You would think that someone would be able to blow the boat out of the water, but that would show the pirates that someone means business........
Just a thought..

Semana Santa

Well we going to experience Semana Santa coming up. In Mexico it is one of the important holidays probably 2nd after Christmas. It's a time were very little work gets done, and a lot of noise and traffic is generated by students out of school and working people not working.

Some people actually go to church on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Following the Sunday, you can figure that half the work force will have a difficult time showing up in the few days past the Sunday. Lot of Mexicans go on vacation since not much gets done anyway so why not just write the whole week off?

The lodging business is always happy for the week since many visitors descend on both beaches and homes of family and relatives from lots of far away places.

Lots of traditional things infest the week, one of which is the habit of tossing eggs filled with hard to clean up confetti. These little confetti bombs are called Cascarones. The tradition is to take these filled eggs and find a subject and surprise them by bashing the egg on the head of the victim. Nothing better than having your hair filled with tiny bits of paper for the rest of the day!

When done outside, (most of the time) they usually stay on the little pits of the pavement or road crevices until the first major rain of the season, then they float up and continue to make nice messes on their way out to where every the go. I wonder how that tradition started, probably by some broom manufacturer or a way to get rid of some paper , who knows?

Some communities will have a Passion Play. That's where various participating members of groups either carry the cross, or recreate the last supper, or walk in large procession through the streets of their town.

These tradition are nice to see especially in the main Cathedrals of the towns, where beautifully decorated altars bring together the devotion of the Catholics of Mexico. Patzcuaro is one of the towns that offers spectacular displays of this tradition. In addition Mexico City,Sam Luis Potosi and Aguascalientes are know for their displays also.

Condo or no Condo

We like Mazatlan, because it is kinda easy to get to, not as easy as Zihuatanejo, but for family and friends from the states they sometimes fly down and it's easy connections.

You don't have to schlep through DF, or take a red eye from Miami.

The other thing is that it is somewhat civilized. Whats my definition of civilization?
Ok, WalMart, Home Depot, Fabricas De Francia, Soriana, Starbucks...............

No I don't go there everyday, but when I need something and don't want to drive around town for endless hours only to find out that the small store only has one of something I need two of, I succumb to the big box store............Sorry!

Anyway,
Now that the US economy is in a meltdown similar to placing a cube of butter into a microwave oven and hitting the 5 minute setting, I was looking at Real Estate.......

I sometimes look at Real Estate just to reaffirm how fortuante I was in getting soom years ago...
.
Heaven knows, I wouldn't be able to afford it now.............

Unless it is a beachfront condo in a Mazatlan complex.
I know, the old adage, of If it Flys, Floats or XXXX's .......then Rent It!

And yes I know that it will probably take 343 years to make sense to own a condo, but I have been scanning the ads anyway.

I've be hoping for an ad that says that for $20 thousand you can have a 20 thousand square foot elegant home on the beach.

Not yet, and probably not in my lifetime.
We pay 60 bucks a night in our run down hotelito, on the beach, protected from the vendors and hordes ( except Sundays) and at that rate it would take only 1250 days of paying rent to justify, even close the purchase of a condo.

Since we only stay maybe 30 to 45 days a year at the place that's 27 years of rent......That's not even considering monthly dues etc.

I think I can stay in the presidential suite for a real long time in order to make financial sense.

Now I need to figure out a way of really justifying it.

None come to mind......way too practical,
Sorry friends and family, you will just have to get your rooms somewhere else.

Sounded so good, though...............

I wonder if other people are happy with their investments?
Maybe someone will convince me.................. maybe not.
Or maybe just go to Zihuatanejo from now on.