Whales

Whales

We aren't leading too hectic a lifestyle here, just lazing around and playing with the cats. We head to town every 3 days or so to pick up some groceries and look around, other than that we hang around the house. The cats are getting used to us, 3 out of the 4 routinely come to be petted and brushed, the fourth lets me pet and brush him and enjoys it ; but he doesn't initiate it.

The other morning we saw the fins of 3 whales go swimming by, I was too slow to get a photo. Then later on in the morning Roy found a tiny tan colored snake right beside the house. I wasn't too thrilled about that; he picked it up on a shovel and moved it away from the house.

The almost full moon shining on the water is a lovely sight and we are enjoying the ocean views.

Apparently, there is a storm that they are predicting could hit Acapulco and it could become a hurricane, so we are keeping an eye on the forecast for that. I imagine that it will either blow itself out or head out to sea long before it gets to us.

Wildlife Here

Wildlife Here

Naturally as we are out in the country there is more wildlife here than what we are used to in town.

So far, some of the things that we have seen are: a coyote, a rabbit, lizardy type creatures, a mom and dad quail and their little ones, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, doves, and many other birds that I cannot identify. Out in the water we see fish jumping and also the "bat rays" as our homeowner called them. They jump out of the water several feet and then smack the water as they land. At times there are constant smack, smack sounds. They are interesting to watch and our homeowner told us that sometimes they are so loud at night that they keep them awake. Also, of course there are the usual cows and goats.

We went into town yesterday and had lunch and then picked up a few more groceries.

The beasts are all fine and getting friendlier, two of the four are now spending time in our laps getting their petting quotas fulfilled.

Los Barriles

Los Barriles

After arriving at our temporary home just out of Los Barriles we spent the next 4 days touring the town with our homeowners and getting the usual instructions.
Roy took a walk up an arroyo one afternoon and came across a couple of old buildings. As you can see from the photos the construction is a little different from up north.




On Tuesday we all drove to the airport at San Jose and our homeowners left for their holiday. We drove back to Los Barriles, had some lunch and picked up our groceries.
One of the cats brought a "friend" home for lunch yesterday. Unfortunately for the "friend", he was the lunch! Venezia, the cat, tried to take her catch into the house; but we managed to thwart that plan in a hurry. She laid it down outside and it promptly tried to run away, it had just been playing dead. She quickly captured it again and this play went on for awhile before she finally dispatched it. She ate a bit of it and then left it, so we got rid of the rest of it. Later on that evening after eating her kibbles, she came back out to look for it. We laughed at her when she couldn't find it and went looking around for it. I guess we had disposed of her "dessert" for the evening.

This is the view we have from the patio.

Trip To La Paz

Trip To La Paz

We left Guaymas on the bus to Los Mochis at 8:30 AM on the 17th of May, after Ciro very nicely offered us a ride to the bus depot. Bus ticket 160 pesos each (about $16.00). We had a fairly long stop over in Obregon as the bus driver dropped us at the depot and then went and picked up a part that he needed for a problem on the bus. This errand completed we continued on our way to Mochis. After we arrived there, we collected our luggage and asked for directions to the bus going to the ferry at Topolobampo. The first person we asked pointed us in a direction and told us 3 blocks, we completed the 3 blocks and asked someone else. The second person told us it was another 3 blocks, so we continued on. At the end of the 2nd 3 blocks we asked another person and we were again told it was 3 blocks. We laughed and continued walking and did eventually find the bus. We waited for about 15 minutes and the bus took off heading for the ferry. Bus ticket, 20 pesos each (about $2.00). We arrived at the ferry terminal around 5 PM and purchased our tickets. Ferry tickets 680 pesos each (about $68.00).

We then had about 6 hrs. to wait as the ferry was scheduled to board at 9 PM and leave at 11 PM. We had a bite to eat and sat around talking. A little girl about 2 or 3 yrs. old adopted Roy and we spent lots of time playing with her. If Roy managed to walk away from her without being noticed she would stand calling him in spanish, of course, but what she was saying was, "come grandpa, come". We got lots of amused glances over this.

The ferry boarded late and shortly after boarding we were called to dinner. The dinner is included in the price of your ticket and there was a choice between 3 entrees. The meal was good. The ferry finally departed at 12 AM and we were on our way. We wandered the boat and sat around trying to catch some zzzzzz's.

We arrived at the ferry terminal around 6:30 AM and disembarked shortly thereafter. After collecting our bags and standing in line to have them checked we again started bus hunting. We found a bus going into La Paz, 20 pesos each (about $2.00) and headed into town.

We asked for directions to the hotel where we were meeting our housesit family and started off. Naturally it was further than we were told; but we found it without any problems. We had a couple of cups of coffee and wandered around the malecon looking around until our homeowners arrived.

We then went for lunch, did a couple of errands and left La Paz heading for Los Barriles.

After driving for about 1 1/2 hrs. we arrived at their home and are nicely settled in. We have met the animals and are getting to know them.

This afternoon we went shore fishing for awhile; but didn't catch anything but the rocks. I lost my hooks and Roy got a big tangle in his line so it wasn't a very sucessful fishing trip.

Baja Bound

Baja Bound

We will be leaving in about 1/2 hr. for Baja. We are taking a bus south to Los Mochis and then going to catch the ferry at Topolobampo. We will then catch the overnight ferry over to La Paz where our housesit family will pick us up and then we will drive to their home near Las Barriles.

I will continue to post from over there and hopefully have lots of pictures.

Til later.

Mothers Day and Baja

Mothers Day and Baja

Thursday was Mothers Day in Mexico; although we waited and celebrated it on Sunday, old habits die hard. I spent most of the morning calling and talking to people. Calling landlines in Canada is easy from the computer and very cheap. The voice quality is very good and as my mother put it, it sounds like you are right here. It was nice to catch up on all the family news, I don't phone as often as I should and my excuse is, that with not having an actual telephone I just don't think of it, and I don't.

We later went out for dinner at La Barca and as usual it was very good. We both had the enchilada plate, and this time they were chicken. Sometimes they are beef, you never know and we never ask as it doesn't really matter to us. The usual refried beans and some salad rounded out the plate, with of course the usual coke to drink. The bill came to 100 pesos for our dinner, (about $10.00). After we finished eating we stopped at a store so that I could pick up a couple of things that I was needing yet for our trip to Baja.

We have been busy getting all our ducks in a row for Baja. We have all the bills paid up until the end of July and pretty much everything is ready. I did the laundry this morning and then packed my clothes, which wasn't a big deal as we are not taking much. The house that we are going to be housesitting at for the next 2 months is right on the beach of the Sea of Cortez, so we expect to be spending the majority of our time in shorts and bathing suits. We are taking all of our snorkeling stuff, so by the time you pack 2 pr. of fins, etc. you don't have much room to pack many clothes unless we want to drag a truck behind us.

We will be leaving Thursday morning on a bus south to Los Mochis and then will take the overnight ferry from Topolobampo over to La Paz where our housesit couple will pick us up Friday morning. We will then drive to their home in Las Barriles an hour or two south of La Paz. I doubt that we will get much sleep Thursday night, so I am sure that we will be tired the next day.

I intend to continue blogging and posting photos while we are gone, if the computer connections function. They have been having trouble the last while, both with their computer and their connection; but hopefully have it fixed now. If not there are internet cafes in the town, which is only 6 miles away. So for the next 2 months we will be the new parents of 4 cats, which will be nice, as I still miss my pets that had to be left in Canada.

Fly, Fly Away

Fly, Fly Away

Yesterday when I looked at the hummingbirds nest, it was empty. We were gone all day on Tuesday so hadn't checked on it. When we saw Ciro later, we asked him if he knew anything about the missing baby. He got a big grin on his face and said that, yes he knew. I guess he had checked it out about 7 AM on Tuesday morning and the second baby was teetering on the edge of the nest. He went and called Irene and they stood and watched as he teetered on the edge and then after testing his wings, finally flew off. He said that the baby landed on a close tree and did a few short, test flights before winging away into the big world. So, in spite of or perhaps because of, a little human intervention he is on his own in the world now. We wish him luck. We have enjoyed watching him and his sibling hatch, grow and leave and hope they will survive. According to what I read online many of the babies do not make it through their first year. Here's hoping that "ours" beat the odds.

2 Years Of Blogging

2 Years Of Blogging

It doesn't seem that long ago; but yesterday was my second blogging anniversary. Two years of putting my thoughts down on virtual paper. I started out on Windows Live Spaces; but quickly got frustrated with it and switched to blogger. Altogether I have made 346 posts.

When I started blogging in May of 2005, we were planning our October trip to Mexico, supposedly only to escape the Alberta winter. Well, as you know, things changed and we have been down here ever since, (other than 3 mths. back in Canada to get rid of everything). Amazing how much ones life can change in 2 short years.

At the moment we are getting ready to head to Las Barriles, Baja Sur to do a housesit for 2 mths.. We leave a week from today and will head down to Los Mochis/Topolobampo by bus and then over to La Paz by ferry. Should be an interesting trip. We will then spend the next 2 mths. looking after some kitties and a home on the beach, on the Sea of Cortez. We will be looking across the Sea of Cortez from the other side for awhile. It should be a quiet time as the home is 6 miles out of town. We are looking forward to it.

1 Gone, 1 To Go

1 Gone, 1 To Go

When I looked at the hummingbirds nest later on yesterday, the one that had been standing on the edge of the nest was gone. The other one is still there, he is smaller and is not as robust looking as the other one. The runt of the family I guess.
This evening we looked out and Irene had the baby in her hand, trying to get him to eat out of the feeder, it wasn't working. She seems to think that the mom has quit feeding this one, since the other one left the nest. I went in the house and got a small dish and she tried to feed him from that. I noticed that he kept putting his head in the air and realised that he is used to being fed by his mother in this position. Irene then gave me the bird and she put a drop of sugar water on her finger in the air above him and he would sip from it. He ate quite a bit like this before she took him away. I think she put him back in the nest; but I am not sure after having all the human scent on him whether the mom will feed him or not if, she had been. Irene may have gotten herself a full time job.

On The Edge

On The Edge

When I looked at the hummingbirds nest this morning one of the babies was standing on the edge. He looked like he was thinking of leaving; but was not quite sure of how to go about it. He was very curious, turning his head this way and that way to get a good look at me. He showed no signs of fear, just curiosity. They are still quite a bit smaller than the adults; but it appears they won't be in the nest for too much longer.

Some Medical Costs

Some Medical Costs

One question we get asked quite often is about medical costs. How much is it, how is the care, etc.. The charges that we have incurred so far have been quite reasonable.

I haven't been feeling well the last couple of weeks and had been diagnosed as having a kidney infection.

I thought I would list some of the medical costs that I have had the last 2 weeks. The doctor I go to has his own small hospital and speaks very good english, so he may be more expensive than other doctors that I could go to. The nurses, receptionists, etc. do not speak any english. It is very convenient though, to go to him, as he has all the facilities/equipment at his disposal. He does not keep files though, so any info. that is garnered is up to you to keep track of (blood test reports, x-rays, etc.). The onus is on you, the patient to keep your own records. There are also medicos that you can go to at certain farmacias (drugstores), for 20 pesos or about $2.00. I have used these medicos sometimes just to get my blood pressure checked; and they are fine for minor things.

Here is a run down of the costs:

Dr. examination: 200 pesos-about $20.00

Antibiotics, 2 other medications: 361 pesos-about $36.10

Blood, urine, etc. tests: 350 pesos-about $35.00

Dr. examination, Ultrasound, antibiotic injection: 700 pesos- about $70.00

Injectable antibiotic (2 doses) and 1 other medication: 534 pesos- about $53.40

Charge to give injection (nurse told me that the charge was to cover the cost of the needle): 30 pesos- about $3.00

Injectable antibiotic (1) and oral antibiotic: 374 pesos- about $37.40

Urine test: 50 pesos- about $5.00

Total costs for Drs. visits, ultrasound, tests, 4 injections, medications: 2659 pesos-about $265.90

I have one more appointment with the Dr. on Monday to compare the tests and make sure that the infection is cleared up.

In Alberta all I would have had to pay for out of all these costs would have been the medications; but I am quite sure that they would have exceeded the total cost of everything I paid for. I shudder to think of what all of this would have cost in the USA. On the other hand I don't believe that the care would have been the same, it is very doubtful that an ultrasound would have been done in either Canada or the USA and I am sure that the Dr. exam. would have been a 5 minute in and out visit, not the comprehensive check up that I got here. The doctor here takes his time and thoroughly goes through the possibilites before coming to a judgement. All in all, it was a good experience- if being sick can ever be called a good experience.

Update On The Hummingbirds

Update On The Hummingbirds

The hummingbird babies are still in the nest; although I don't think they will be for much longer, they are fast outgrowing their space there. Here is a photo that I took of them today. As usual, you will get a better view of them if you click on the photo to enlarge it.