I ended up going into Maz after all today, starved as I am for a little social stimulation. It didn’t matter how hot it was, the sun completely booted my batteries and I was happy to walk from the embarcadero to the Fisherman’s Monument. Of course, I stopped for a cold fresh pressed grapefruit juice on the way!

I failed at flagging the first bus that came by down Avenida del Mar, probably because the bus stop was just ahead and he didn’t want to stop twice (you can flag a bus down anywhere and they’ll stop if they can, not just at official bus stops). Thankfully, the second one came quickly and I rode it into the Golden Zone, getting off just past the Rafael Buelna roundabout. It was then just about a block to Taco Loco for tacos al pastor!

They were as good as last year, as were their various salsas. The server told me to try the one I call ‘pimento’ and I told him it’s my favourite… even if it burns off my taste buds! I like it on cucumbers. Their pico de gallo is perfect, there’s another spicy tomatoey sauce, and, of course, there’s avocado sauce, which is brilliant on radishes.

Not being in need of coffee yet, I didn’t hike down to Rico’s for beans (in fact, I would be more likely to ride the bus there and then walk back). I did grab an ice cream at Thrifty’s for the walk to Soriana’s. It wound up being much quicker than I had expected. Mega might be nearly right off the bus, but, truly, it’s not that much more trouble to walk a little further to Soriana.

There, I found most of the stuff I wanted for the house. I was hoping to find a cheap shelving unit for food, but didn’t and realised that a set of plastic drawers on wheels would actually serve me better, and be something I could use back at Haven.

I spent some time looking at tablecloths, wanting one for my six-foot table and one for the dining table as it is glass with a lot of edges where food gets stuck. I easily found one for the long table that I liked, even if it matches nothing else in the house, and made a compromise for the dining table that wound up working perfectly. The dining chair seats have a bit of red in their dark browness and the tablecloth is just dark brown, but they look decent together. Folded in half, the table cloth is just the right size for the odd shaped table.

I also needed something in which to put smaller utensils and realised while shopping for said something that the pink bucket I picked up at the Willow Bunch Thrift Store would be perfect for that! My dad’s cookie jar is still my larger utensil crock. 🙂

And here are my new kitchen curtains. I love the purple gingham and the sunflowers, even if the material is cheap and the edges are unfinished.

I came out of Soriana and a taxi driver promptly accosted me. I’ve never ridden in a taxi in Maz, just in the pulmonías and aurigas. I would have preferred a pulmonía but there were none in sight and the driver quoted me the same price, so I accepted his offer. He loaded the car for me and then took me on a dizzying ride through some familiar, and some completely unknown, parts of Maz. What fun! I told him that I liked having a different route than I was used to and he asked how I would have normally gone from Soriana (Ejercito Mexicano). He frowned and said, “Too much traffic!”

The package carrier guy at the embarcadero came right over and took all my bags and drawer unit. He was loaded down and gasped, “Boat?” in heavily accepted English. I said yes and he promptly ran down to square my things away while I bought my ticket. Let me tell you, I wouldn’t have trusted that process NOB!

On the other side, a teenage boy helped me get my things into the back of the pickup taxi that looks just like my Moya and refused a tip! The truck driver wasn’t too sure where I lived even though the instructions I gave him have been perfectly clear to other taxi drivers. He at least knew where my street was and then I told him, “a little further, on the right, with a truck like yours in the yard.” That last bit helped him more than the house description! He brought everything to my front door. Home!

Let me tell you, I wouldn’t schlep home on public transportation with that much stuff NOB. But a few pesos in Mexico buys a lot of help and it’s not unusual to see someone lugging home a ton of stuff on the lanchas, whether it be a ton of shopping, a fridge, or an ATV!

There was a casualty to my adventure… My butter got totally squished and quite melted! For some reason, I chose to buy two sticks and I was able to just barely salvage one, so it’s not a total loss. Good thing butter (and all dairy, actually) is so cheap in Mexico!

I actually didn’t come home with much in the way of groceries, but I should be able to get through most of the week. It’s not like Ley is that far away if I need anything I can’t find at the City Deli!

One sad note to close off with: Patty’s restaurant, which had the great burger and fries, is closed. 🙁 🙁 🙁 I’ll have to find another place open for lunch that isn’t a beach restaurant.