It’s not *quite* Mexico

Something funny happened on the way to Baja. The temperature rose. We’ve been avoiding the heat since we left the Chetumal (state of Mexico on the Yucatan penninsula) and made a 636km sprint from Villahermosa to Puebla. We enjoyed a very temperate summer (though, in Mexico, the hottest month is May, and we spent it in Quintana Roo (Yucatan penninsula)) in the highlands of central Mexico. We made a quick sprint through west Texas to the Ft. Davis mountainous region and another sprint to the high desert of New Mexico and Colorado. By the time we descended from the high desert of Nevada, it was late September and very temperate. By the time we left California it was getting cool and we had been wearing winter jackets. So, it was quite a surprise (though I’m not sure WHY) that we found heat in El Centro and San Felipe. We’re back to shorts, complaining about the humidity and appreciating the high clouds of the past couple days. Some people can complain about anything!

The kids were so excited to see Papa and Tata and no, I got not one picture of the reunion. They did take us out to dinner that night and while Jesse was brave enough to try something new (clam chowder) he was the only one who didn’t like it. Everyone LOVED it; they added green bell peppers which gave the chowder quite a different taste.

We’re slowly getting used to the Drunk Canadians (is that an oxymoron?) and realizing that we had a sweet deal traveling through mainland Mexico earlier this year; it was after the onslaught of snowbirds had left and we really had each and every trailer park and town to ourselves. I had forgotten that quiet nights of stargazing were a gift from the departed snowbirds. I had forgotten that the empty trailer parks were left by departed snowbirds. I had forgotten what a tourist town San Felipe really is. We had become accustomed to the sleepy Mexican villages and quiet solitary nights and coming back to Baja have to realize that while it is legally part of the Republic of Mexico, it really only shares a language and distant cousins. Baja is very much a different country all together, and after visiting mainland Mexico, it is helpful to remind yourself that you are not returning to Mexico, but instead visiting a new country, the Republic of Baja.

I found guayaba and mandarinas at the local grocery store and if there is nothing that takes my mind back to the tropics it is guayaba. They are SO pungent and I have yet to try one; the kids devoured them the minute they saw them. I’m waiting for mangoes. All the organic apples, pears and grapes I bought three days ago are gone. These kids more than eat their weight in fruit. I was pleasantly surprised to find guayaba at EIGHT pesos a kilo (about .40 a pound). I seem to remember that the going rate in mainland Mexico was twelve to fourteen a kilo and since these come from Guadalajara I don’t see how they’re making a profit here in the Republic of Baja.

After yesterday’s Yoga practice, I was about ready to quit the entire experiment. I started trying vinyasas yesterday and getting absolutely nowhere – and I mean absolutely positively unable to even try to start one, I found that David Swenson gives a wonderful option in his Practice Manual that allows you to begin getting the muscles you need to perhaps one day, if you’re very very lucky, and practice probably something like 20 years, actually perform a vinyasa. Well, I just spent about 10 minutes searching for something to link *vinyasa* to, but have come up empty. I’m sure, that if you’re interested and have the time, you’ll find something to explain it. This might be something; it is taking too long to download on Dad’s satellite link so I can’t view it.