October 24 Saturday

I was awakened by the sound of a sick cow. It was not an actual sick cow but standing out from the barking dogs and the crowing roosters and the other sounds of the city sirens and traffic’s hum was this moan of a horn that kept getting closer and closer until I was fully awake and then it started to fade in the distance. I learned later that it was the propane truck alerting all in the early Saturday morning that if they needed their propane tanks filled that was the time to get out to the street to flag down the truck. Nate has a tank up on the roof and the vender has to come into the inner courtyard, scale a ladder to the roof with a piece of line in his hand that can be lowered to a companion by the truck in the street. The hose is attached to the line and the hose is then hoisted to the rooftop to complete the filling operation. Awake now for the day, I took time to read awhile in bed and then slipped downstairs to call Ann on the internet phone.

Soon I heard Abby in the kitchen and Nate came down and we had a leisurely breakfast of granola, toast and local honey. By the time we had eaten and cleaned up and gotten ready to start the day’s activities it was afternoon. Nate was trying to get some computer issues settled and we talked while that was happening. Our goal for the day was to locate a park with some hiking trails near the end of one of the city bus routes. Nate assured me that we might get lost but that was OK by me. Abby made some sandwiches and put them in the freezer while she continued to do some laundry but soon we had packed a light lunch in my small backpack and with each of us carrying a water bottle set out.

The busses never cease to fascinate me. Detours for construction or any number of other reasons are common. When some of these busses need to turn from one narrow city street to another it appears inevitable that the corner of one of the buildings will contact a side view mirror but it never happens. Watching the drivers maneuver through the obstacles of pedestrians and other vehicles while they count their change and fill their coin dispensers is fun for me to watch. Topes (speed bumps) some 18 inches high and more than two feet across are also objects never to be overlooked. Just when you see one coming you think the driver has overlooked the brakes are applied to just the right degree for the bus to ply the obstacle without sending the riders to the roof. A little bounce into the air for the riders is however perfectly OK.

We disembarked at the end of the line and got a nod in the direction of a narrow street. We headed down it but it soon ended with no park in sight. Asking directions again we were told to go back to the first right. That was a steep gravel road the led down past various sizes of homes and wound farther and farther into the valley. The sun was hot and I put on my safari hat and hoped we would not have to retrace our steps up the steep incline. Further inquiry indicated that we were on the right road but probably had ridden the wrong bus to the end of its line. Soon the dirt road became paved and the houses became obviously much more expensive. Soon we spotted a beautiful park on the corner and after washing up chose a table in the shade to eat our sandwiches. After exploring the park we headed off in a different direction to reconnect to the bus route. As we passed a small store (miscellany) I suggested we stop for a Magnum bar similar to a Dove bar on a stick and one of my favorite treats in Mexico. As walked along the tree shaded sidewalk on our trek to the bus line we enjoyed a cool and tasty ice cream desert.

Another interesting bus ride ensued and we were soon climbing the hill back to the house. I suggested to Abby that we go out for tacos that evening. When she asked Nate about the idea the broad smile on his face indicated an unqualified yes. About 7 o’clock we decided to drive to one of their favorite tacorias so we climbed into the car and pulled through the electronically operated gate and headed down the hill. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal which we washed down with a Sangria soda visited the Wal-Mart type store in the same plaza before heading home. Back at the house Abby wanted to look at more of my pictures of Africa, Montana, Ann’s visit to NJ and our trip to Michigan. We did that, turned back the clocks for the Mexican version of fall back and turned in for the night.

Sunday October 25

I awoke from a deep sleep to the sound of my phone alarm. It was 7:30 and breakfast was scheduled for 8:00 AM. I did not want to get up but I needed to be all packed and ready by nine so I struggled to get awake. For some reason I checked my watch and found it was only 6:30. My phone knew I was in Mexico but had not fallen back. I lay awake and then read my Bible for awhile and got up and started laying out my clothes and packing. Then I checked email and about 8:00 I wandered downstairs. Abby was reading and we chatted for a few minutes and when I asked about breakfast she said she was going to make omelets about 8:00. I mentioned that it was 8:15 and she thought the living room clock which Nate and I had set back was still on the old time. About that time Nate appeared and we all had granola and fresh baked muffins with honey.

We got down to the bus stop at the bottom of the hill just in time to catch the bus we needed. It wove through the city in a familiar pattern and suddenly I realized we were heading up to the area where Dave had given the FES kids a lesson in rock faceting. It turns out that he lives about a block from the church. I was greeted by a couple of young ladies offering a squirt of hand sanitizer which I graciously accepted. The church a Spanish language church and as a visitor I was greeted warmly. At one point in the service Nate stood up and motioned for me to do likewise and he introduced me. I smiled and nodded and did not try any Spanish. The first songs were old hymns translated into Spanish. The words were projected on a wall and I could understand most of the words and of course knew the tunes. Abby played the piano for this part of the service. Later a praise band of four or five young men gathered along the left side of the sanctuary and began to lead in worship songs most of which I do not believe were translated. The chorus of my favorite there was “Amor sin condicion” (love without condition or unconditional love). It was all about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

After service we went into the fellowship hall where as a guest I was handed a plate with a rectangular wrap tied with a bow like a Christmas present. Inside was a meat and vegetable mix in a mole sauce. Others were charged a small fee for food and drink. I was also given a glass of coke. Abby chose a wrap that was inside a corn husk and Nate had one similar to mine. After a time of fellowship we headed back to the bus stop. Paul, my friend who helps post my blog and his wife Claudia had invited me to their Anglican Church service and then offered me a ride home. I chose the service in Spanish but accepted the ride home. We met them coming out of their church and all decided to get together for lunch. After the lunch at the church I did not eat all of mine and brought the rest home for lunch on Monday. I enjoyed the ride home with Paul and Claudia. I had met them last year and had dinner in their home. Paul had some questions about the blog which he said both of them enjoy.

Upon arriving home I caught up on blog and email and of course took some time to call Montana for the first time that day.