Thursday, February 17, 2011

Life Speeds By

As we are now settled in Mazatlan as our home, the blogs get further apart. We seem to have such a full calendar of activities that time seems to just pass quickly. It seems like we just arrived, but it was over four months ago. In only two and a half months we have to leave again for the north and then on to Spain and Ireland. Although I am looking forward to spending a month in each country, I am looking forward to our return to Mazatlan in mid-September.

We are becoming very fond of not only the Mexican people and culture, but also enjoy the quirkiness of the expatriate community. Our Mexican hosts have a wonderful, varied way of looking and the world. Sometimes they do things that are incomprehensible to we northerners who tend to think linear. The other day I was waiting for a bus when I saw a Taxi double parked in the right lane of traffic. The taxi looked empty. When I got closer I saw that the driver's seat was down and the driver was taking a nap. Cars in the lane just swerved to the left lane and passed. None of the passing drivers were particularly upset and obviously the taxi driver was not worried about someone crashing into him. This was not the first time I observed this happening. Also, almost daily I hear of a kindness that has been done to an expatriate or a tourist by a local citizen. One friend has Mexican neighbors that have befriended him and take him fishing with them although they speak little English and he is still learning Spanish. I have had Mexican neighbors stop on the street and give me rides as I wait for my bus. Sometimes I know they went out of their way to pick me up. Our landlord kindly lets us use his home in a small fishing village north of here to take a relaxing weekend out of the hustle and bustle of the city. He does not charge us for this. On a previous blog I related how our Mexican groundskeeper yanked the battery out of his truck and put it in a friend's car so he could start it and drive to Wal-Mart for a new battery. The reason I list these incidents, which are just the tip of the iceberg is that so many people take the "exception reporting" of the north of the border media as representative of what is happening in Mexico. Good news doesn't sell papers.

The expatriate community is also interesting. The bulk of the year round expatriate community is from the US with a strong representation of Canadians. Canadians outnumber people from the US in the snowbird category, people that spend two to six months in the winter. Canadians need to spend at least six months a year in Canada or their medical benefits are suspended. Canada takes good care of their population medically, so those benefits would be painful to lose. Where we live in an enclave of mostly snowbirds and as such are mostly normal middle and professional class Canadians and Americans. The area is secure, the landscaping and pool are well maintained. I enjoy living here due to feeling Janice and Ollie are secure at night and there are always helpful neighbors in case of emergency. Many of our Centro friends enjoy visiting us here, but would never live here. That said, the Centro Historico area is a more interesting place. The architecture is more traditional and many buildings are being refurbished in a manner that doesn't change their Mexican flavor. Also, this area is where the more diverse, interesting people live. As a result I jump on busses almost daily to activities in Centro. Working at the library is a special treat as I get to talk to such a varied group of people. There is everything from people living on next to nothing to millionaires. There are people all over the map politically and philosophically. This is especially attractive as you learn so much more when meeting people who have a different slant on life and political issues than you do. It helps keep from getting narrow minded in our old age. The dress is also varied. There are those that dress in country club chic to 60's tie-dye. The bulk just dresses casual with shorts, tee-shirts or other causal tops, sandals, etc. There are a lot of men with gray ponytails and not much on top. The variety of beards and hair styles cross all varieties. I have met people that are retired CEO's of major companies and people that have just worked marginally and are living marginally. From appearances, often you can't tell them apart. There are people that live in large and small boats in the Marina. Outside of the country club types, it is hard to tell one's economic status and most people just don't care. Centro suffers frequent water shortages and a variety of small inconveniences.

Janice also enjoys Centro and the activities with friends there. Tomorrow night we will go to El Shrimp Bucket" in Centro for a Mardi Gras Jazz concert and celebration with friends. A week after we will go for a night at the Opera at the Angela Peratla Theatre on the Plazuela Machado in Centro. Centro is where you go for culture. The expatriate community tries to give back to the community. We attended four benefits for different cause in four weekends. There are others we have had to pass up. While there are a few "Ugly Americans/Canadians" here the vast majority strive to fit in with and interact with our Mexican neighbors and accept their culture rather than trying to prove superiority.

So much for pontificating. I hope that our readers get a better feel for Mazatlan and will come to see for yourselves. Many that come return often. Next month I will describe our four day power loafing and fishing expedition to Barras de Piaxtla, a village of 450 people about 40 miles up the coast. Also I will bring you up to date on the new volunteer tour aid program those of us that live in Mazatlan have started to help give information to Cruise ship passengers and others staying here as tourists, about security and how to get around in Mazatlan. My brother Steve has already been on Olas Altas assisting visitors. Also, Carnival, Mazatlan's Mardi Gras is from March 1-8, so hopefully I will report on that.

Until our next time, Joel, Janice and Ollie say "La Vida is Buena"

1 comment:

  1. As ever, a "spot on" report of life in the paradise lane...okay, slow, too. A new online magazine that is all about reporting the postive you might want to check out is MazatlanLife.com. New on the block and chock full of "feel good" stories under the Chatter link, and a full calendar. You two have and are making the most of life here and that is how it should be.

    ReplyDelete