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A Diós Cha Cha

6 Aug

The TORTAS are off on another adventure with a quick trip to the U.S. and then four weeks in Central Mexico. We were only gone three days when I received a message from our neighbor that Cha Cha, my new little dog got out of the yard and was hit by a car and killed.

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Before she came to us after being spayed. Looking sad and skinny.

We’re not sure how she got out. I’ve been feeling sad and even now it’s hard to write about it. I only had her a month, but time really doesn’t matter. I took a risk and opened my heart. How often do we really get to do that in our lives?

 

Adiós Cha Cha. Vaya con Diós. Go with God.

DOS TORTAS

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A Much Needed Vacation

23 Jul

Travel in Mexico in the 70’s took little planning (In The Beginning). There was no Airbnb. You showed at the station and took the next bus to wherever you were heading. Schedules were flexible which means nothing left on time.

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And there were trains! They were cheap with little difference in cost between second class (bench seats) and first (individual recliners, that rarely worked).

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The train from Puebla to Oaxaca circa 1973.

The train stopped frequently along its route allowing vendors to board selling fruit, avocados, tacos and lots of mysterious looking snacks that I was afraid to try. Today there are almost no trains running. It’s a shame really although there is talk of high speed rail between Mexico City and Guadalajara.

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The switchbacks were scarey at times. 😱

There were also many cheap hotels and each trip further enhanced my love affair with Mexico. We are off soon for our much needed vacation. I will introduce Lisa to my old stomping grounds in central Mexico, including Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla and Cholula. I have dragged out some old photos that I hope to recreate. Vamos a ver (we’ll see). Wish us buen viaje!

DOS TORTAS

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Watch Your Feet But Occasionally Remember To Look Up

16 Jul

Anyone who spends time in Mexico knows that you HAVE to watch your footing. Uneven urban sidewalks can mean a skinned knee or a broken bone if one gets distracted for a minute. I’ve seen openings in the sidewalk that could swallow a child, never to be seen again. In the jungle a tree root, stump or half-buried rock can take you down.

There are also the delights of looking down. There is a nance tree along my morning walk with the dogs. Tiny yellow fruit litter the ground and are quite tasty. They’re like a soft apple, not particularly sweet with a large seed. Not much to it really but worth trying if you see them in the market.

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I’ve been reading about the importance of biodiversity in our gut. These little fruits are seasonal and local. Children sell bags of them along the highway.

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The occasional snake or tarantula can also be observed if one keeps their eyes peeled during a morning walk.

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Neighbor kids found this beauty caught in our fence last year.

Of course life can not be lived only watching your feet. It’s important to look up at the beautiful sky or miss the rainbow, tucan or storm clouds. Here in Bacalar, we are never at a loss for a beautiful sky. Even during a restless night last night, the half moon glistened across the Laguna at 2 am.

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So find your balance, whatever it looks like, even if it changes every day.

DOS TORTAS

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A Quiet Sunday In Paradise

9 Jul

The front gate is almost complete. It’s not only beautiful but it adds another level of security, dogs in, unwanted people out.

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Pouring a foundation. Materials delivered.

We’ve been reminiscing of our early visits to this property four years ago. The non-descriptive turn off the highway gave us access to our lake-front lot. One day, out of curiosity, we drove past Teresa’s, our neighbor to our north and the trail ended in the jungle 100 yards away. We had to turn around. It was quite primitive and isolated, just the way we liked it.

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The stonework is a lovely detail.

Today, that primitive trail is a well travelled lane where we walk the dogs and guests and workers arrive to visit the houses popping up along the Laguna. We brought in electricity from the highway and sold it to our neighbors. And the games began.

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The blue wall is a great contrast to Alice’s orange house that sits behind it. 

Development is always a double edged sword. We want services such as trash pick-up and pharmacies that carry more than hair dye and nail polish. For this we need to grow the population. Hotels and tourism is booming. Everyone loves Bacalar.

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The ironwork and lights have been installed. We must clean up and do some landscaping to finish.

Which of course leads to an increase in crime. Our friend’s rental property was broken into this week while guests slept. All their electronics were stolen. Crimes of opportunity are on the rise in Bacalar as they were in Austin when we lived there. I guess we thought we could outrun it.

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Luna loves the new gate. Eventually it will open by remote control.

Our solution is to make it harder on the thieves and not to be afraid. We have house sitters for our extended times away. The dogs, as annoying as they are, do their part in alarming us of unusual activity. It’s only stuff. There is little violent crime. Living in paradise comes with a price we’re willing to pay.  DOS TORTAS

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Not Another Mexican Dog Story

2 Jul

Life in Mexico is never dull. Some days I wish it were. Oh, and did I tell you we now have THREE dogs? It’s probably due to those Rocks in My Head.

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Who could resist this face?

Two weeks ago in A Mexican Dog Story, I talked of Cielo, our doberman and how he was recently diagnosed with tumors. After his second trip to the vet for chemotherapy, he was so traumatized that he quit eating. He even walked away from his favorite food,  pollo asado, barbecue chicken, that I thought would surely entice him. A week passed and he was positively skeletal and I was planning to ask Dr. Joel to put him down. Cielo could be found curled up in various corners of the yard and I thought for sure he was a goner.

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Here’s where the rocks in my head come in. Someone posted a picture of a disabled street dog in need of a home. He had rescued Mapacha, aka Raccoon and gotten her spayed. She needed a forever home since he already had four dogs.

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Meet Chacha. She prefers the breezes on the roof and nimbly slips through the gate. I think she has hypnotic powers.

Thinking that we were going to loose Cielo, I brought Chacha home for a trial run. Yeah right. She has bonded to me, loving to sit in my lap for endless snuggles. Luna is not sure about the whole thing but seems accepting. The amazing thing is that Cielo began eating as soon as Chacha showed up. He is now putting away bowl after bowl of food and clearly not going away anytime soon. How did this happen?!

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Chacha the roof dog.

So we now have three dogs. Be prepared. Living in Mexico does crazy things to you. At least it did to us DOS TORTAS

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Rocks In My Head

25 Jun

Writing a blog about life in Mexico seemed like a good idea when I started in 2012. As we near the end of our fourth year of living in Bacalar, I did not expect my time to be filled with dealing with my aging body. Two weeks ago was the first time I missed an entry due to illness. Having always been healthy, and I admit, judgmental of others’ aches and pains, I feel the need to tell the truth about what’s been going on. I’m a mess.

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Sunrise from my hammock.

I thank God for the healthcare system here in southern Mexico and the excellent doctors. My motto has always been that a doctor’s is a second opinion since mine is the first. Lately I’ve needed second, third and fourth opinions.

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Isn’t he a cutie? Our internist Oscar Rosaldo.

Back in February I had a sudden and severe headache that took me out. After a day in bed, it resolved itself and I went on my way. Several months later, as we were leaving for Texas, it hit again. Time for that second opinion.

My doctor Oscar sent me for a CT scan which he reviewed with a worried face. There were white spots on my brain that he said were calcium deposits and sent me to an arterial doctor. The arterial doctor did a sonogram of my carotid artery and declared it normal and sent me to a neurologist.

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Painting to stay awake.

The neurologist sent me for an EEG which was a most interesting experience. I had to stay awake all night before the 8:30 am test. It’s been many years since I stayed awake all night and I had concerns if I could do it. It turned out not to be terribly difficult after all.

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The test involved wires attached all over my head which read brain activity during waking, sleeping, lights flashing and numerous other instructions. It turns out that I actually do have rocks in my head and it’s thought that they’ve been there a long time and are not responsible for my headaches. Sigh.

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So I came away with a prescription for migraine medication, having eliminated a tumor and seizures as the cause of my headaches. That’s the way it is with headaches, process of elimination. Since then I’ve had a virus with fever followed by strep throat. I am now on antibiotics and coming out of it. At least I have a comfy hammock to recover in. Gratitude abounds. DOS TORTAS.

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A Mexican Dog Story

18 Jun

Monday we took Cielo, our outside dog to the vet. Cielo adopted us about two years ago, moving into our construction site and living in our house before we did. We tried our darndest to get rid of him but he persisted and we relented.

He is a doberman with cropped tail and natural ears.  He is a free spirit and even though the yard is fenced, he finds a way out and comes and goes as he pleases. Truthfully there’s been times we’ve been afraid of him. He’s gotten aggressive when we’ve tried to examine his foot that was causing him pain. We give him a wide birth. Mostly he’s a big goof and loves his head scratched more than he likes to eat.

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Lisa getting to know Cielo.

Two years ago when we decided he could stay, we took him on his only car ride, to be sterilized. I think he’s never forgiven us. Lately we have noticed a discharge from his penis tinged with blood and have been wanting to get him checked out. He also needs his vaccinations. It’s been low on my priority list and I’ve been hoping it would just fix itself. Well, it didn’t.

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Floppy ears.

So I made an appointment and Monday was the day. He took one look at something strange in my hand, the leash, and took off running. With the help of our neighbor, we cornered him. I thought a treat would help, but he was having none of it. We managed to get him in the truck and off we went to see Veterinario Joel.

Dr. Joel had a muzzle which I suggested we use. Thank God. Cielo was not a happy camper. The diagnosis was tumors. Don’t ask me where they were located. The bloody glove had been inserted somewhere I didn’t want to see. So he’s now on chemo therapy, one treatment a week for four weeks. Monday’s bill was $33us. Each additional week is $22. The vet and I both scratched our heads at the origin of said tumors since they are sexually transmitted and Cielo has had no interest in that department for two years. Some things I just don’t have the Spanish for and frankly don’t need to comprehend.

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Cielo means sky. My original painting.

I know we are bad pet parents for not taking care of this sooner. I saw Cielo after we returned and he came up to me with his little helicopter tail going. So I guess he forgives me. At least until tomorrow when we get to do it all over again. Treatment number two here we come.  DOS TORTAS

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It’s All About Relationships

11 Jun

Making the decision to move to Mexico required many considerations. One of them was Lisa’s mom, Alice. Lisa left her California home at nineteen and only returned for the occasional family visit. Alice made a few forays to Texas but their relationship was not close. What to do?

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Lisa and Alice. They’re relationship has blossomed.

Alice was feeling increasingly isolated and her capacity for self care seemed to be diminishing. We felt like she would have a more vibrant and varied life with us and decided to invite her to live in Bacalar. After a rocky adjustment, life has settled into a new normal. I decided to ask her a few questions about her decision to move with us. It was a fun chance to connect and get to know her a little better.

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Alice’s 300 sq foot house on our property.

What made you decide to move to Mexico? – First and foremost to be near my daughter. I never really liked Bakersfield and I was ready for a change. My siblings all have their families and I was ready to do something different.

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A secure front door, media room and tiny kitchen.

How has Mexico surprised you? – I had visions of donkeys and huts. People are poor but they work hard. I am always amazed how kind they are. I like that people are not stressed. It’s such a peaceful environment.

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A porch makes the house feel spacious and comfortable.

What do you like here? – I love my house. I also get to see things I’ve never seen before like pyramids, villages, churches and markets. I would like to do more traveling.

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One of the few tubs in Bacalar, a colorful bathroom and cozy bedroom. A design all her own.

What do you miss? – I really miss driving. (we both laughed, as her driving was a problem in CA) I miss going out at night. Sometimes Bacalar is a little too sleepy for me. Truthfully I don’t miss much. I’m really happy here.

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Saving a visitor stuck in the fence and corralled by the dogs.

We talked awhile and agreed that it’s hard to connect with other foreigners here. People live their busy lives in Mexico much like the US. The responsibility is ours to reach out. It’s not easy but very worth it.

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No Blog Today

4 Jun

Unfortunately I’m under the weather. Dos Tortas will be back next week.

This Is Your Assignment

21 May

As I sat and pondered a topic for this week’s blog, I was approached on Facebook by Camille E. Torok de Flores for inclusion in a series she is putting together on Blogs About Mexico Worth Reading. I expressed interest so she sent me a list of questions to complete. While I have blogged in the past on most of these topics, I realize that four years into our life in Mexico perhaps it’s time to revisit the answers.

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Why do you blog? What is the purpose of your site? For whom do you write? In the beginning of the whole move to Mexico process, the blog was a response to the questions asked by family, friends and strangers, why and aren’t you afraid?

Then there was the retiring, planning, packing and never ending garage sales. My brain was spinning and the blog was an opportunity to process and share.

When we arrived in Bacalar, everything was new and exciting. We were adjusting to a new life and every aspect was intriguing. There were endless blog topics just walking around town.

The next few years were occupied with jumping through hoops to begin construction of our home, the construction itself and its completion. Mixed in were our various travels both within Mexico and to the States.

Where do we go from here? It’s a good question. September 2017 begins our fifth year in Bacalar. I do not know my readers well. I would love to hear from you what you get out of the blog?

Where can you be found? (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc)
I am on Instagram at dos_tortas Pinterest at Bacalar, Mexico and on Facebook at The Adventures of Dos Tortas.

What is your favorite blog post? Why? No favorite stands out for me, although my readers clearly have a favorite, First of All Have Fun (February 2017).

What has been the most difficult for you to blog about? Why? My most difficult blogs have been the ones that I share the pain of having left our family or the death of friends. Being vulnerable is required to live an honest life. But it’s hard.

What advice do you have for those planning to move to or travel in Mexico? I can see that it’s going to take more time than I have today to answer these questions. It’s time for a personal reassessment so look for future blogs to cover these topics.

What has been the best experience you’ve had in Mexico? What did you learn from it? To be continued.
What has been the worst experience you’ve had in Mexico? What did you learn from it?

DOS TORTAS

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