Monday Morning Errands

It is Monday so I guess it is the day for errands.  I know it is Monday as the school a couple of blocks away always has their "civic Monday" events over the loudspeaker bright and early.  They announce things, explain things to the children, play music and play games.  We can hear it all and it is a nice beginning to the morning listening to the childrens laughter.

I have been needing to get a haircut for the last 2 weeks or so and it finally got to a point where I could no longer stand it so made the effort this morning.  I walked down to our usual stylist but she was closed, I can never remember if she is open Mondays or not.  I caught a bus and headed to the Casa de la Cultura where I wanted to order a couple of canvases from the fellow who works there in the mornings and does this as a sideline.  I ordered 2 canvases from him, both 30 cm. x 38 cm. x 5 cm., lets see in inches they would be about 12 in. x 15 in. x 2 in., for a total cost of 120 pesos which is about $9.43 CAD., they will be ready for me on Wednesday.
I then wandered down the street and bought a liter of brush cleaner from a paint shop.  I headed over to a miscellaneous store looking for gold oil paint; but, no hay, don't have it.

I continued down the street until I found a stylist who wasn't too busy and for 50 pesos, about $3.93 CAD got my haircut, naturally I also give a tip.
That done, I was almost at the mercado, (downtown market), so decided to see what my favorite veggie lady had today as I was out of all the stand by veggies.
She still has sweet corn, yum.

This is what I bought from her:
 5 cobs of corn
 4 potatoes
 4 onions
7 carrots
 11 tomatoes
 a bunch of spinach.
 The ladies usually have things bagged up in clear plastic bags and each bag is 10 pesos; the spinach was 5 pesos for the bunch.  This makes it easier for everyone as the money works out evenly.
All this for a grand total of 55 pesos or about $4.32 CAD.

I gave the prices as I haven't done that for awhile and people are always curious as to how much things cost here.  The veggie prices vary depending on what is in season, at the moment Tomatoes are cheap.  Oranges are also in season now and the price is about 10 pesos for 3 kilos or about $ 0.79 (cents) for 6.6 pounds, which would be about $ 0.12 cents a pound.

Anyway that was my morning.

This evening I think we are going to the opening of a photo exhibit at the Casa de la Cultura.  It is called Alas, Aletas, y Alegrias which means Fins, Wings and Happiness (or Joy). It is photos taken on or around the Sea of Cortes where we live so should be interesting.  There will be drinks and snacks also I am sure, there usually is.

Just Another Day

Just another day in the neighbourhood here.
I had to go uptown to pick up the framed hummingbird picture and took in the cat Martin to be framed.  Yesterday the teacher had told me that students from the Casa de la Cultura get a discount on their framing there as they get lots of business from the students.  He couldn't remember if it was 10 or 15 % and it turned out to be 10 % which is not a great amount; but is fine when I wasn't expecting it.  The hummingbird frame is about 1 inch wide, cedar in a reddish brown colour and glass (anti reflectante) it was 210 pesos, ( around $17.54 CAD) and it looks nice.  The frame for the cat, who is huge, will be 408 pesos or about $34.07 CAD..
On the way to the bus to take the cat uptown I was asked by someone if I did fish pictures, last night someone asked me if I did people.  People are very interested in commenting on what they are seeing and is kind of interesting.
After picking up the picture and dropping the other one off, I headed down to the Post Office and mailed my granddaughters picture to her in Canada. I hope she likes it if/when it arrives there.  Canada Post is talking strike so who knows.
I then headed over to Calle 9 to Orti Mart, a large stationary store.  I was looking for some different pastels; but they didn't have anything different.  They did have some acid free pastel paper so got some of that.  We chatted about the lack of art supplies available in Guaymas; but they don't seem interested in supplying more and said that they don't have a catalog to order from.  The fellow serving me had to look at my picture and then took it over to the boss to show him.  We chatted about my classes and the boss asked me if I sold any paintings.  He then offered to buy the hummingbird from me, I took it home with me and it is hanging on my wall over the TV at the moment and that is where it will stay.  Interesting chat though.
Tired of shopping and walking I headed home to relax.  A pleasant morning uptown.

Running Errands

Yesterday I had some errands to do uptown that needed to be done before my afternoon trip uptown for my Spanish lesson..  I wanted to try to catch up with one of the ladies who used to have a small store that sold art supplies.  Quite often she can be found at the Casa de la Cultura as she is very involved with all the things that go on there.  Surprisingly she was there, busy working on a big Calaca for November.  Her store is no longer open; but I did get a few paints from her and some information with more to follow after the weekend, if I manage to catch up with her again.  Forgot to ask her for her telephone number, duh.
Then I went to a paint store, the pharmacy that sells natural medicines, etc. and CFE (the electric company).  These things done I went to a carpentry shop and also to Soriana grocery store before heading home for a couple of hours.

This is the local CFE office and the next picture is of one of the machines where it scans your bar code on the bill, takes the money, gives you change and prints you a receipt.  All without ever leaving your car.  There are 2 of these machines outside, each on its own drive through and more of them inside the office building.  The office closes to the public at 2 PM I believe.

This is a store where I buy things you don't buy in other stores, craft supplies, wool, ribbons, thread, paints, etc..  If you can't find something anywhere else La Reyna probably has it.  There are several of the type of Miscellaneous stores here; but I prefer this one.

This store carries a lot of plastic goods and has just lately expanded to carry some more decorative items.

This is the view we have when we walk down the hill from the bus stop home.