Work is funny sometimes. I can have days like yesterday that I think are going to be quick, but instead run super late, and days like today that I think are going to be very full, but instead finish early.

As I signed off at 2:30, I realised that I had just enough time to run up to Rico’s for coffee beans, have a late taco lunch, and be home before dark without having to rush.

By the time I got to the bus stop at the Fishermen’s Monument, it was already 3:20 since the lancha ride was a a slow one. Traffic on Avenida del mar was at a standstill and I debated whether to go ahead with my plan or not. But a bus pulled up quickly, so I decided to get on and see how bad the ride up to the Golden Zone would be.

To my surprise, traffic felt a lot smoother in a vehicle than it did staring at the long line up of cars. I had a window seat, air conditioning, and my phone, so the ride felt like it took no time at all. I got off in front of the Santander bank and walked the half block or so to Rico’s.

I was a little disappointed when I saw that the Veracruz dark roast dispenser was empty, but I asked for confirmation that they were out and they weren’t! Someone was sent to the store room for my beans. When she came back out and started pouring them into the dispenser, the most wonderful aroma filled the air. I don’t even need to drink coffee for it to make me happy. 🙂

Next stop was tacos. I always go to Ta’Loco and decided to try another place just to have a point of comparison. Well, it wasn’t a mistake per se since even mediocre tacos are good, but I won’t be doing that again. The menu in badly translated English should have been my first clue that walking out would be a good idea. The salsas were watery and the meat had almost no seasoning and was over cooked. I’m making it sound really dismal, but it wasn’t terrible, just bland, not something I ever thought I’d say about tacos. So Ta’Loco it will be from now on.

I then popped into Thrifty’s for an ice cream (choco brownie, please) and walked towards the Rafael Buelna roundabout debating how I was going to get home. It was only 4:28 by this point! I really didn’t need to go to Mega, after which I would have taken a pulmonía, so grabbing a bus that would get me close-ish to the embarcadero sounded like my best option. And as I made my decision, I spotted the tourist bus (Sábalo-Centro) a block away.

Instead of getting off at the Fishermen’s Monument, I decided to stay on a bit longer and get off at the corner of Aquiles Serdán and Zaragoza so I could walk up Zaragoza, something I don’t think I’ve done yet this winter. There’s nothing special there, but it would be a welcome change of scenery.

I did a double take as I watched the TV on the bus and realised that the show was taking place in Montreal after noticing “à louer” (for rent) signs starting with the 514 area code! I did some research and learned it was “Les gags,” a “Candid Camera”-style show for which I guess no translation is needed!

Here’s my route. The red marker is the embarcadero, the green one is the Fishermen’s monument, the green line is the bus route past the monument, and the blue lines are my walks in each direction.

I do save a little walking time with the Zaragoza route and could actually go that way to catch the bus at Benito Juárez, but all I’m saving are a few steps, not time to get up to the Golden Zone.

I passed the beach blanket vendor as I reached the end of Zaragoza, so we had a bit of a catch up during which I assured him that I wasn’t sick or dying, just not spending much time on the beach. Business has been so-so for him. It was neat running into someone I know while off my regular route.

The lancha ride home was much faster than the ride over and I got in as the sun was starting to set, reflecting brightly off the harbour, a beautiful end to the day.

It’s amazing how much ground I can cover in Maz in three hours using just my two legs and a couple of buses!