Life in La Paz as Fall Begins
09.13.2018 - 09.25.2018
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It's been awhile since an update I realize. We've been busy settling in and truthfully I'm trying to make the switch from travel blogger to resident correspondent! The truth is I'd make a lousy photo journalist. I notice all the weird and beautiful things around us but I NEVER remember to take a picture. I'm trying to get better at it so I can record these things for us to remember and to share with you. But there's a balance between living like a local and snapping pictures constantly like a tourist!
THE RAINY SEASON
Anyway, as fall begins everywhere else, we are settled into the "rainy season" here. We had a big storm come through, I guess technically a tropical depression, last week and another one seems to be threatening but everyone says this will be the last. Apparently by October it's pretty well over. These rains are intense. They remind us of the rain in Bocas del Toro, Panama. It lasted about 36 hours and the streets and arroyos run like rivers. There are no storm drains here so the roads are the only conduits. Our Spanish-language school was canceled because the teachers couldn't get to school. So we had a "rain day".
What it has meant is a greening up of the desert, much more humidity, and a few more bugs. It is still in the 90's every day and with the humidity it is really unbearable during the afternoon. It hits its peak about 5:00 when it is just unbelievable. Even for us heat lovers, it's too much. For the first time in my life, I'm actually waiting for it to get a bit cooler. It's made Sunday Funday a challenge because we had found two great bars to watch football right along the Malecon but they are both outdoors.
After almost expiring in the heat on Sunday, we had to find an alternative for Monday night. Mind you it starts at 6:00 p.m. here so it's still light and very hot. And thank goodness for the hotel bar! There is a very fancy hotel about four blocks from us so, being us, we went in and asked if they have a t.v., check, A/C, check, so off we went. Turns out it was like any hotel bar anywhere. Good, friendly service, bar nuts but also olives, a few tourists - though Mexican, and a few locals. This being Mexico, we killed the sound so the locals could sing a few ballads to the bar.
AUTHENTICITY
And that leads me to this thought. I think one aspect of La Paz that we are totally enamored with is the authenticity of this place as a Mexican city. Sure there are a few expats and a few tourists, but not many. That may change this winter but for now it's blissfully free of Americans (no offense ha!). There are a few American chains out in the main shopping mall area but not anywhere else. The people speak Spanish and with few exceptions, expect you to try to as well. It can be a cacophony of unfamiliar sights and sounds at times but that's what we wanted - to live in another country.
One of the cool things in this regard are the local festivals and events. September 16th was Mexican Independence Day and there was a big party complete with fireworks, a parade, and fly overs. With the exception of the parade, we saw it all from our our balcony!
It was really cool how everyone decorated for it. Even our local grocery store, the Arambura, dressed up their bull! Yes they have a bull on their roof.
Last weekend there was a concert sponsored by a Baja motorcycle club. It was down on the Malecon and we just stumbled onto it.
FURRY FRIENDS
There are definitely days I miss Cadeau, though I know she is better off where she is than suffering here in the heat with us. But I have been blessed with the company of two furry friends at our apartment. They come each night to say hi - well it might be because I feed them chicken and beef - but nevertheless less they bring me joy. There is "Dado del Pie" (toe-biter). So named because she can't resist a quick bite on the toe before she hurries away. She's aloof and has a hard time warming up and coming over but she's a beautiful cat.
Notice the defensive toe curl here!
Then there's Pequiño Hombre (little man). He's a little guy, friendly and warm and fearless, and I think maybe Dado del Pie's son because even though she's bigger she defers to him and let's him have more food.
Well that's it for now. Have to hit the beach! It's our day off from language school.
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Posted by mrb430 07:56 Archived in Mexico Tagged la_paz_bcs Comments (0)