Back in Mexico- Part 2

Back in Mexico- Part 2

The next day we left the hotel in Guaymas and went back to the campground in San Carlos where we spent 5 days last fall. We spent the next few days relaxing at the pool there, catching up with the gossip of the last 3 months, and renewing our acquaintances with people in our Guaymas neighborhood. We were welcomed back with big smiles, handshakes and hugs by everyone. We also did some shopping- first purchase- a coffee pot.

We moved into the ground floor apt. on the 4 th and have been shopping and getting things set up since then. We decided to buy our frig. now, we will take it upstairs with us. We managed to purchase it and get it delivered on the same day. We got our things out of storage at the landlords and got it all washed up and put away. We have also been shopping for food, other necessities and have purchased a recliner and 1 computer monitor.

We paid the first months rent the day before we moved in and told the landlord that we were on our way to the bank and would return shortly with the security deposit. They looked at each other and then said "no security deposit, you are family now." That made us feel really good!!!

We are watching our upstairs apt. being worked on, they had a hard time finding someone to do the work as there is a lot of building going on in the tourist town of San Carlos and also in the more affluent area of Miramar. They found a fellow through some friends of theirs in Obregon, a city south of us about 125 kms.. He is originally from El Salvadore and has been in Mexico for around 18 years. He is a friendly, hard working fellow who works a long, hard,10-12 hour day, in the high heat. He is living in the upstairs apt.- no bed-and eats with the landlords family. We had him come for supper one night and have coffee with him in the mornings. He takes 5 minutes breaks and works harder than anyone I have ever seen.

Irene asked us to go upstairs with her to discuss which wall we wanted the kitchen sink to go onto and where we wanted the stove to go, so they can put the gas line in. Luis (the worker), almost has the closet built in the bedroom- amazing what they do with concrete here. We also discussed the type of air conditioning we will put in, we decided to get a mini-split rather than the wall type, as it is more energy efficient. When they are ready for it, Ciro will go with us to buy it as he can get it cheaper, and also will help us make sure we get an appropriate size for our apt.. The stairs are supposed to get put in next week which will be nice, as I hate climbing ladders! We will have a great view of the city from upstairs. We can see the harbor cranes; but some trees block some of the view of the sea.

Back in Mexico-Part 1

Back In Mexico- Part 1

We left Elk Point on the 27th of June, around 3 PM. After meeting the auctioneer and his wife at the bank, then having a coke and a visit with them we were underway. We started on our way south down highway 36. We crossed the border into the US (Coutts) at 11 PM with no problems and spent the night at Shelby, Montana. 714 kms.

The next day we passed by Great Falls, Helena and Butte, Montana. We spent 1 1/2 hours getting a repair on the car and continued on to Dillon and the Idaho border. We travelled through some nice country; although the snow on the mountains was not a nice sight. Spent the night in Dubois, Idaho. 652 kms.

The next day we passed Idaho Falls, Salt Lake City, Provo, Green River, Utah. We saw some beautiful scenery through the Price Canyon between Provo and Price, Utah. 711 Kms.

The next day we saw some lovely country by Moab, Utah in the Arches National Park. South of Show Low, Arizona is also nice country with forest and mountains. We passed through Chinle, Chambers, Holbrook, Snowflake, Show Low and Globe continuing on to Mammoth, Arizona where we spent the night. In the mountains between Globe and Mammoth we had a massive rainstorm, I don't think that I've ever seen it rain so hard in all of my life. We relaxed for the evening by the pool at the motel. Room: $40.00. 897 Kms.

We left Mammoth the next morning, continued past Tucson to the Mexican border at Nogales. Crossed the border with the green light and continued onto Km. 21, where we got our tourist visas, no car permit necessary as it is a free zone now (for the vehicles) to just south of Empalme, which is about 10 kms. south of Guaymas. After another green light we were on our way to Guaymas, arriving around suppertime. We had supper at a retaurant in San Carlos, which is owned by some people from Tennessee, whom we met last winter. We got a motel room and then went to visit our landlords.

The upstairs apartment was not ready for us yet and the downstairs one where we lived in the winter was dirty, as there had been some waterline breaks. They said they would have it ready for us by the 4th to live in while we wait for the upstairs to be finished.

We arrived in Guaymas July 1st (Canada Day), we had been gone exactly 3 months and it felt good to be back in our new home.