I had a decent first night back on Isla. I woke up on and off because I was having trouble been too hot or too cold and, once, my sleep mask slipped off and the streetlight shining in my face was too much to sleep through. The mask will definitely not be enough and better curtains are in order!

I finally got up around 6:30 or so. After coffee, I hooked up the washer and ran an empty load through it because it was very dirty. While that was going on, I washed all my kitchen stuff. The water guy (not my usual one) finally came by so I was able to go out in search of food. It was only about 8:30 and already HOT out. Like last year, I’ve come at the start of a hot spell. That’s better than the years that I’d arrive somewhere at the same time as a cold snap…

I only got a few things at the City Deli because I decided that I am going out to Mega or Soriana later today. One top priority was a pair of flip flops like I bought my first day here last year. They are super high quality and have arch support. Last year’s pair lasted me through most of my summer and I missed them my last month there! The cashier was very happy to see me and, long queue of impatient people behind me be damned, he was going to catch up on what was new with me!

Then, I headed next door to the freshly repainted tortillería to get a stack worth $5, all warm and lovely. I won’t miss making my own this winter!

Halfway home, I FINALLY ran into the paperboy! I tried all of last winter to catch him and never once did. A copy of El Debate was $12.

A block from home, I caught the veggie man! He greeted me with a hug and cheek kisses and we quickly caught up. I bought $44 worth of stuff, including a couple of potatoes, a carrot, an onion, tomatoes, limes, an orange, and a grapefruit. When I asked for the green beans, he rolled his eyes comically and said that, yeah, my getting green beans and broccoli was a huge surprise! Hee!

I came in and made a simple quesadilla/sincronizada with fresh tomatoes, bacon, and Oaxaca cheese, then had my breakfast while reading the paper. Tourism in Maz was very good over the long weekend!

Now, I’m waiting for my load of laundry to be done so I can hang it and head into town. I really thought I was going to want a home day today, but my summer at Haven was so sedate that I just want to be out in the world again! I’ll probably walk to the Fisherman’s Monument and take the bus up to the Golden Zone for tacos, then walk to Soriana or Mega and get a pulmonía back to the embarcadero and a pulmonía on this side, too.

I thought being back would be a bit of a culture shock, with my having forgotten the smells, sights, and sounds of Isla, but nope. It’s like I never left even though there are plenty of clues that nearly six months have passed. I wonder what Maz will be like. The paper said that a lot of stuff in Centró is closed because of roadworks and that tourists were frustrated over the weekend. Not sure I’m headed that way anyway today.