A Weekend in Mexico City

A Smorgasbord of Robinson Adventures             January/February/March 2016

This adventure began on January 20, 2016 when Jim flew to Manaus, Brazil to meet his brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Sue, to go on an agricultural tour in Brazil. They toured many different and extremely large agricultural complexes as well as a day trip on the Amazon and a day at Iguazu Falls.

After Bill and Sue headed back home, Jim remained in Brazil and travelled to various places including Rio de Janeiro, Brazilia, Curitiba and Manaus. He managed to meet the former mayor of Curitiba who provided a scarce ticket to a soccer game one night; he attended the opening ceremonies of Carnivale in Rio; he met up with a former student in Brazilia and was taken on a private tour of the President’s Palace; he travelled on a one day train trip, described as one of the most scenic in the world; and he took a short cruise on the mighty Amazon. What an adventure!!

I remained in Canada because I did not feel ready to begin a new adventure, having just arrived home on December 10 from our last one. I had a greater need to spend time in our home and with our grandchildren. I enjoyed my time at home and our closets have all reaped the benefit of my attention. So have our grandchildren … and our children too.

On February 9, I set out for a solo driving trip to Florida. The goal is to meet Jim in Orlando on February 15. In the intervening 6 days, I need to drive to Florida and visit several people along the way.

It was snowing when I left home. The roads were wet but very driveable. I stopped at Tim Horton’s for a coffee (of course) and set out down the highway. My first destination was Sarnia, Ontario where I took my Aunt Grace (aged 90) out for breakfast. She is the last remaining relative from that generation and it is always fun to spend time with her. She is so in tune with the world and has a great sense of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed our meeting.

The snow continued and intensified as I crossed the Bluewater Bridge into the USA. It was not even possible to see beautiful Lake Huron from the top of the bridge. But the roads continued to be wet and not slippery even if the visibility was a bit diminished at times. In a few miles, I changed directions and headed inland from the water toward Ann Arbor, Michigan. Happily, as expected, the weather was caused by lake-effect snow and conditions improved considerably after that. I stopped in Ann Arbor to have lunch with good friends, Mike and Dana Kremm. I had to remain conscious of the time since our conversations cover many topics and can go on for hours. I finally said farewell with just enough daylight left to reach Dayton, Ohio that night.

The following day was a long drive, indeed. I left Dayton about 6:30 am and pulled into Acworth, Georgia late in the afternoon. It had been dark and snowy when I left in the morning and the snow flurries and showers followed me intermittently throughout the day, across the flat land of Ohio, through the Kentucky hills, and into the mountains in Tennessee. Finally, at the Georgia border, the sun made an appearance! But the cold air continued and there was even snow on the ground in northern Georgia. Who would ever have predicted that?

A quiet evening and a good night’s sleep re-energized me for Thursday’s drive. And, happily, the sun shone and there was pure blue sky all day long. Georgia is a very long state so it takes several hours to travel through it. Other than the congestion in Atlanta, it was a smooth drive on dry roads with reasonable traffic. I am always amazed at the number of transport trucks that are carrying goods from one place to another.  A fundamental component of our lifestyle and economy. And that is fine as long as the trucks remain in their own lanes!

In the south of Georgia, I stopped at a pecan plantation. When my mom and dad were travelling to Florida regularly, they always stopped at a plantation so my mom could bring back bags of pecans for my sister and I. I always appreciated that and now will carry on the tradition for my own children. Of course, I also bought some pecans for our house as well as a few other tasty pecan products as snacks and gifts along the way.

Early in the afternoon, I crossed the Florida border. There is a lovely visitor centre just past the border that is a great place to take a break. The palm trees sway in the breeze; the temperature feels warmer just because you are in Florida; friendly people welcome you to the state; and they provide free glasses of Florida orange juice. What a treat that is!!

The destination for today was Wildwoods, just two hours south of the border and a bit north of Orlando. I arrived in the late afternoon, settled into my room and actually went out for dinner. I chose an Italian restaurant with table service (I am sick of fast food) and enjoyed a glass of Merlot with my meal. Ahhhhh, I am in Florida!!! Yes!!!!!

Friday, February 12, my destination was Jupiter, Florida. Situated on the Atlantic coast along the inland waterway, Jupiter is just slightly north of Fort Lauderdale. My hosts for the next two days were Suzy and Paul Snow, both of whom I had met when I was regularly playing bridge via the internet. At the time, Suzy lived in London, England and Paul lived in Curacao. They met online; they met in person; they married and now they live in Florida. Although I do not play bridge online any longer, I have maintained contact with Suz and Paul and enjoy visiting whenever I am in Florida. (They claim it is too cold for them to come to Canada!)

While in Jupiter, Suz and I visited a small and rustic wildlife sanctuary which houses many birds and animals that are native to Florida. It was fun to see panthers and Florida black bears along with many bird species. We had lunch at one of the many marinas and basked in the warm sun at the water’s edge. My tuna was delicious and the setting was perfect. The rest of the afternoon was spent in their large backyard, enjoying the warmth of the air under a clear blue sky. That evening, we went to another seafood restaurant where I splurged and had crab legs and a lobster tail. Although Suz and Paul felt it was a bit cool, to me it was a perfect summer evening … in February.

Sunday morning (Happy Valentine’s Day), I said my farewell and headed inland toward Okechobee Lake, the tenth largest freshwater lake (by area) in the USA. The lake is very close to a perfect circle but is extremely difficult to see from any highway. It is surrounded by a 3 – 4 metre dike to prevent lake water from surging out of its beds during hurricanes or other large storms. There is a walking/biking trail atop the dike.

The area around the lake is very fertile agricultural land. As I drove along, I was able to see many, many square miles of sugar cane at various stages of development. Where the cane was fully mature, there was a substantial harvesting process underway. Up to ten harvesters could be seen at work in the largest fields and a cavalcade of trucks paraded up and down the roadways, in one direction filled with cane and then coming the other direction, empty, ready for another load. I saw at least five sugar cane processing plants, all billowing steam as the cane was reduced from its plant form into sugar or other products. Smoke rose from fields where the stalks were being burned and the land was being prepared for another crop of cane.

As well as sugar cane, this area is filled with orange groves. It must be close to harvest time for them as well because the branches were heavy laden with bright orange fruit.

I passed through several small towns on this drive, all of them suffering from poverty. Abandoned homes, bankrupt businesses, old rusted and broken down vehicles, and a general sense of malaise. It was  quite a contrast to the prosperous tourist areas along the coastal regions.

Soon enough, my journey across the open countryside came to an end as the agricultural land gave way to commercial development and housing. Of course, closer to the Gulf of Mexico, the tourist industry and all its amenities were very prominent. And so was the traffic. My leisurely drive quickly came to an end.

I settled into my hotel room and spent the afternoon getting organized for the next portion of our Florida adventure. I have to say, this was the most disappointing room of all that I have stayed in. Jim and I generally choose less expensive hotels, preferring to spend less money each night so we can stay on the road a little longer. The hotel I was in for this night truly made me rethink our travel philosophy. Nonetheless, I survived the ordeal, possible because I knew that Jim will arrive from Brazil tomorrow and we will begin travelling together. I am ready for some company!!!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Happy Family Day in Canada and Happy President’s Day in the USA

This should have been Happy Friends Day for me. I left my hotel fairly early in the morning to travel to Cape Coral (slightly south) and visit another friend who I met sixteen years ago playing bridge online. Loretta and I quickly became close friends and compatible bridge partners across the airwaves between Australia and Florida. After many years limited to online contact, we were finally able to meet in person, first in Florida and then again in Ontario. We have maintained a warm friendship over all this time and today I was going to see her new home in Cape Coral and to have lunch with her there. What fun!!

I arrived at Loretta’s home and, from the moment the door was opened to the minute that I drove away, the air was filled with stories and laughter. Loretta’s new home is beautiful and backs directly onto a canal that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. She has moved to Cape Coral to be close to her daughters. We shared tales about our children and grandchildren, about activities and travel, about food and entertaining, about health and wellness (it seems to be a common topic among those of us who are creeping up in age), about life’s achievements and goals. In and amongst all of this, Loretta prepared and served a beautiful and delicious lunch. Our time together was too short and soon it was time for me to take my leave. We are already planning our next get-together the next time I am in Florida.

From Cape Coral, I drove north to Lakeland, the winter home of my parents for 17 years. I chose an inland route that avoided the interstate highways. It was a very pleasant drive with interesting countryside, small towns and little traffic. Another part of Florida that I have not seen before.

Once in Lakeland, I located the designated Panera Bread restaurant where I was meeting another long time friend. I had reconnected with Doreen Chester via Facebook and although we live within a 2 hour drive of each other in Ontario, it was in Florida where we managed to arrange a face-to-face. It was great fun to see her again. I had worked with Doreen for many years but have only seen her a handful of times since retirement. Doreen has not lost her zest for life and her wonderful sense of humour and the laugh that accompanies it. It was terrific to share a meal with her over more stories about our children, our life of retirement, our travels and our community activities. Through our conversation, we began to realize why it is so difficult for us to get together on a regular basis. Neither one of us ever stays home for long!

Again, the hours passed too quickly and it was time to head off again, this time to a hotel in Orlando. But now darkness had fallen and it had started to rain. The I-4 interstate is always busy since it goes right by Disney so the drive was actually the most challenging one since I left the snow in Sarnia a week earlier. Then, to make matters works, when I finally got to the exit to my hotel and it was closed due to construction! Give me a break!! I took the next exit, intending to turn around but there was no re-entry onto the highway. And …. It was a toll road that required exact change which I did not have!! So I simply drive through the toll booth without stopping.

When I finally determined how to find the hotel from my current location (thank you, GPS), I once again was directed onto a “correct change only” toll road. Oops …. I blasted through a second toll booth and proceeded along the highway until I reached my exit. Happily it was not under construction and, better yet, I could see the hotel from the highway. Needless to say, I was very relieved to reach the hotel and get settled into my room. And that was the end of my independent travel adventure, one that I enjoyed thoroughly and would undertake again any time.

Within a couple of hours, Jim arrived from his adventure in Brazil and we quickly turned our attention to the next phase of this travel experience … our tour of Florida and Alabama.

More about that in the next chapter of this blog!

Tuesday, February 16 – Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Jim and I are travelling together again and it feels so right. Our first destination is the winter home of friends, Rick and Trish Chambers, who are located in a town called Indialantic in the metropolitan area of Melbourne on the east coast of Florida. These friends are the first of four sets of friends who have invited us to visit with them for a few days each. Each of these friends have rented very different and unique accommodations so we feel that we are going to be able to experience a broad range of what is available in the Florida rental market during the winter months. If we ever decide that we want to join the Canadian snow birds, this survey tour will come in very handy. Thanks, in advance, to all who are willing to share their homes with us.

Rick and Trish have rented a townhouse on a residential street in Indialantic. It is a two story structure with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a well equipped kitchen. There is also a lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean from the living room which is on the top floor. It is only a short walk to the beach.

While we were with Rick and Trish, we had a great opportunity to explore the surrounding metropolitan area. There are several old towns that have been gobbled up by business and highways that traverse the area. Rick and Trish have done a great job of searching out some of the more interesting areas to visit. We had a terrific visit to the Brevard Wildlife Sanctuary where we saw several bird species, turtles, and a few alligators. Pelicans and herons were among the largest birds and coots and plovers were among the smallest. But, by far, the prettiest was the roseate spoonbill that reminded all of us of a pale pink flamingo.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Sea Turtle Preservation Area where staff and volunteers work tirelessly to protect loggerhead sea turtles when they come up on the beach to lay their eggs. Much physical adaptation has occurred throughout the landscape to help ensure the safety of the turtles -  fencing, low watt lights, beach cleanup, road signs to name a few. One of the most interesting things about these turtles is that they lay their eggs deep in a nest and then cover the nest. Next they move to a new area and create a second nest to detract predators from the first one.

We spent some time in Cocoa Beach where the original JonJon Surf Shop is located and in Old Cocoa Beach, a charming town of older buildings and interesting shops, kind of an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of tourist Florida.

We had lunch at three different seafood restaurants, two of them overlooking the water. Once again, it was fun to watch the birds swoop and sail as they searched for their food in the water. Our favourite restaurant by far was the Seafood Atlantic, a seafood wholesaler with a small outdoor restaurant on the side. The seafood was fresh and the food was beautifully prepared. Seats on the outside deck allowed viewing of the many, many pelicans ready to eat whatever was within their grasp. Happily we had a table umbrella over our heads so did not have to worry about a pelican attack!  A bonus of this location was that the Disney cruise ship was in port and clearly visible from where we were sitting.

All too soon it was time to leave Rick and Trish and turn our car to the west. We travelled across central Florida, again visiting parts of the state that had previously remained unexplored. It was surprising in parts to see the level of poverty that existed in small communities. Other areas were completely covered in orange groves with fruit that appeared quite ripe. There was also a large measure of market gardening as well as strawberries being grown. Also a surprise, we passed by several large and quite unattractive potash mine, a huge industry to be sure but one that leaves its broad scars on the landscape.

Quite suddenly the road changed in character and dimensions. A two lane road transformed into a four lane divided highway and roadside businesses and housing increasing quickly in density. We could tell our cross-state journey was soon to end as we entered a busy and noisy metropolitan area. Bradenton was not far off and with that, we would arrive at the winter accommodation of another friend, Gail Birmingham.

Gail has spent the last three winters in Florida in a beautiful community along the coastline of water that separates Bradenton from Sarasota. From Gail’s front windows one can watch the changing tide, jumping fish, swooping birds and pleasurecraft of all sizes. Lush palms shade the community and well manicured gardens and ponds create a cool, fresh environment around all the homes. Gail lives in the upper level of a two story condo building. It is a spacious home with two large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large livingroom/diningroom and a well equipped modern kitchen. Two screened in porches complete the floor plan, one looking out over the sea and the other looking out over lawns, gardens, pond and trees. Use of a pool is included with this condo, although we have not yet had time to use it.

Not only have we had some lovely time with Gail, but today we also were able to have lunch with Lesley and Stuart Prange, also friends from home. Lesley and Stuart have also spent three winters in Bradenton but they travel with their home wrapped around them. They own a large, spacious and very comfortable RV which they drive to each chosen destination. For the last two years, they have settled in the same mobile home park and have enjoyed getting to know others who also have been there for many years. This park also offers recreational facilities and programs, many led by the residents themselves. It was a very clean and friendly park. We could understand fully why Lesley and Stuart enjoy it so much.

Well, today was a day of some excitement. Our plan was to spend the day with Gail and drive to Plant City to have lunch with a group of friends from Kitchener-Waterloo who are also in Florida. And, in due course, that plan did proceed. But there was a small delay to begin our day.

As we made our way down the steps to the parking lot, Vince, a neighbor said, “Someone has hit your car.” A bit stunned, we made our way to the car and, sure enough, someone had backed into our car, damaging the front bumper. Happily the car was/is still driveable and the driver of the vehicle that hit us had left her details and insurance info on a note under the windshield wiper. Even better, there was neighbor Vince with a buffer and a willingness to repair the damage to our car. He has worked on cars over many years and owns several that shine brightly in the parking spaces in front of his condo. Vince told us what we would need from an auto repair shop to enable him to do the job. So, we proceeded to Napa, spoke with a very knowledgeable woman and got a tube of filler that was tinted the bright red colour of our car. From there, we proceeded to Plant City. It’s a good thing we had planned to leave early because, with all the unanticipated delays, we arrived right at the appointed hour to meet our friends.

Lunch was a very upbeat occasion. Inge and Lew Ford and Faye and Bill Lootsma joined Gail, Jim and I for lunch at the Outback Steakhouse. We are all on holiday in Florida in various communities in different kinds of accommodation and for different lengths of time. But this was an opportunity for all of us to get together to tell stories, discuss politics (the American election process is very interesting) and to share laughter. And, we all had pretty good food as well. It was fun to see friends who share breakfast every week at home and have lunch in a totally different setting and circumstance. Conversation filled the air and we lingered at the table long after the food was gone.

When we left the restaurant, we all headed off in various directions. Jim and I took Gail to Parkesdale Strawberry Farm. It is not possible to be in Plant City and not go to Parkesdale. Parkesdale is a very colourful farm market, offering many varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables, many of them in season already this year. Tasting samples of some were readily available. The tomatoes were brilliant red and vine-ripened. The oranges had just arrived from the orchards and were being washed and sorted by size in an old mechanical machine that has been used for at least 35 years. It has been there ever since I began to visit this area regularly in 1985.

But Parkesdale’s main claim to fame is their strawberries. They were ripe and abundant to purchase for use at home or to purchase to be consumed on site  … or both! Options for berries included milkshakes, just berries with or without sugar, berries with whipped topping, berries with ice cream or, the piece de resistance – strawberry shortcake. All three of us opted for strawberry shortcake (Jim even had ice cream with his) and we made our way to one of the many, many picnic tables filled with other people indulging in that same thing. There is nothing like strawberry shortcake with berries from the filed at Parkesdale! We also bought some berries for home and headed off in the car once more.

We spent our last day in Bradenton relaxing at ‘home’, doing laundry, writing a postcard to our grandkids, having a drink at a neighbour’s home, and going out for a wonderful dinner in a restaurant right on the water’s edge (Pier 22). While we were out (we went in Gail’s car), Vince fixed our car and we packed our bags and loaded the trunk for an early departure tomorrow morning.

On Wednesday, weather permitting, it is our plan to drive north to the Panhandle of Florida and then west to the eastern edge of Alabama. We will be spending the next 6 nights in Alabama with friends. We are so fortunate to have such welcoming friends in our lives.

News and thoughts from Alabama in the next chapter of this blog.

Wednesday, February 24 – Wednesday, March 2

On to Alabama

Wednesday morning dawned dark and gloomy, an auspicious beginning to a day with a lengthy drive in it. We had breakfast, packed the last of our belongings and said farewell to Gail. By the time we got into the car, the rain had begun and a tornado watch was in effect. For the first couple of hours, torrential rain poured down. The windshield wipers barely kept the windows clear enough to see and the water on the road created a wall of water each time a car passed by.

When we finally got past Tampa, we needed to take a break and pulled off into the nearest McDonald’s. It was a welcome relief from the hazardous conditions on the road. We ordered coffee and a snack and sat down at a table. And, presto! By the time we had finished our coffee, the sky was clear blue and the sun was shining brightly. The transformation of the weather was amazing and we got back into the car, looking forward to the rest of this driving day rather than dreading it.

Interstate highways all look the same after a while. Wide multiple lane corridors with enormous medians, cut through agricultural land, forests, rocks and swampland. We passed by rural homesteads, national parks, industrial and business sites, inviting rest areas and occasional cityscapes. Interchanges are well marked and advertised, inviting us to visit many fast food establishments, regular restaurants, hotels, gas stations and points of interest. As time passed, the miles clicked by and we gradually made our way from Bradenton to Pensacola. Florida is a very large state!

I75 going north was quite busy, trucks and cars all travelling to some destination. It is amazing to me how many vehicles are on the road all heading off with a purpose in mind. We are a society that is dependent on wheeled vehicles to keep us going and that does not seem to change, whether gas prices are up or down.

Speaking of gas prices, of course we needed to fill our own tank on occasion and the thing that astounded us was the variation in price in different places. For American gallons, we paid as low as $1.57 per gallon and as high as $2.09 per gallon. All within about 200 miles … How is that possible for gas that was potentially delivered by the same tanker truck? Jim is a diligent recorder of price and volume and distance so we know for a fact that we did not travel any further on the expensive gas than we did on the lower priced gas. Hmmm …

When we reached the junction of I10, we turned west. This road was somewhat quieter in terms of traffic and very well treed. We were cutting across the Florida Panhandle at this point and it is quite forested when not close to the Gulf shoreline. It was a pleasant road to travel on and that bright blue sky stayed with us. We stopped at Tallahassee for a lunch break and I even managed to get a manicure at a pleasant little shop in small plaza just off the interstate. That was a very nice way to relax after several hours of driving.

When we got back into the car, we only had about 3 hours of driving ahead of us. Our destination today was Pensacola, Florida where we would spend a night before heading out to Jeanne and Frank Lauta’s beach cottage. Mexican food and some mindless television topped off the day.

Thursday morning, we crossed the state line between Florida and Alabama and met Jeanne and Frank at a restaurant in Orange Beach. They had invited us to attend a New York Snowbirds Association luncheon. Who knew such organizations even existed? About 70 people attended the luncheon which featured some very nice food choices, about 50 door prizes (we won one and so did Jeanne and Frank) and a guest speaker. We were fortunate to be sitting directly opposite the guest speaker during lunch and had an opportunity for a great conversation with her.

Kim Dahlgren was the manager of a small local zoo. She had many interesting stories about the animals in the zoo, but even more interesting stories about preparation for emergencies, interactions with television networks and fundraising to meet the financial costs of being a nonprofit organization. A serious tornado had touched down in the immediate area two days earlier. A zoo has to be ready to evacuate all its animals in the event of severe weather or flooding. It was fascinating to listen to how one goes about moving and entire zoo population quickly and securely. On one occasion she recounted, a large alligator had been left behind and escaped from its compound during a hurricane. The zoo structure had been destroyed during that storm and the entire zoo was relocated to a new permanent location. All except the alligator which roamed freely for quite a long time before being recaptured. After that experience, the zoo was featured on a television series called The Little Zoo that Could. Kim was at the luncheon to speak about the zoo and express thanks to the New York SnowBirds who had raised $15,000 through various events and activities and donated the money to the zoo. Not bad for a seasonal crowd!!

After lunch, we made our way out the long beach road (17 miles from Orange Beach) to the quaint cottage that had been Frank and Jeanne’s home for the last 4 weeks. It was located in a small group of cottages built directly on the beach. Built high on stilts, it is protected from the Gulf water that occasionally rushes high onto the beach during stormy weather. The stilts are designed to allow a bit of flex in the structure in windy conditions such as severe thunderstorms or hurricanes. It did take some adjustment for us to get used to the quavering of the cottage each time someone went up or down the stairs to the ground below. I can only imagine what it must have been like during the tornado/storm two nights earlier.

The weather was a bit cool although the sun was bright during our days at the cottage.  The wind persuaded us that beach walking was not on the agenda. It was interesting to watch the changing patterns of the waves and the ebb and flow of the tide in the gulf. Looking out over such a vast body of water, one realizes how much water is on the surface of our planet and how much it impacts our lives.

Wildlife was abundant, mostly in bird form. They clearly followed schools of fish and dove through the wave to capture their meals. One day we were fortunate enough to see dolphins as they passed through the area. Their fins and movements are so distinctive. They are truly beautiful animals.

Jim and Frank visited several historic sites in the area (Pensacola Naval Museum and Fort Morgan) as well as the nearby zoo. Jeanne and I browsed in some shops, went out for breakfast one day and lunch the next day. On Saturday, we attended a very disappointing craft fair. Perhaps that was a good thing given the exchange rate on the Canadian dollar.

The night before we left, we had dinner at Tacky Jacks. Tacky Jacks features traditional southern dishes in a somewhat tacky atmosphere. There is no recycling of any account in Florida or Alabama so using disposable dishes and cutlery only serves to add to the garbage accumulated. Nonetheless we enjoyed our meal. I had tacky shrimp which included large peeled shrimp in a spicy broth served with a large chunk of French bread for dipping. The shrimp and sauce were both delicious and very filling. Jim had smaller shrimp served on cheesy grits which he also enjoyed. We all had large margaritas to accompany our meal. What a great way to complete our visit with Frank and Jeanne.

On Sunday morning, we packed up once again and headed a bit east to Orange Beach where we were going to visit Liz and Ken Bell. Once again a totally different type of accommodation awaited us, this time a beautiful three bedroom condo with windows on two sides affording glorious water views from its 10^th floor perch. The sun shone brightly over the Gulf and we were once again mesmerized by the sight and sound of the water.

We spent to afternoon poolside in the sun, reading, napping and chatting. Sheltered from the wind, the deck of the pool was a very pleasant place to while away some time. Afterwards, we donned our bathing suits (first time since we left home) and went to the indoor pool area where we enjoyed a pleasant soak in the large hot tub. Only Ken was brave enough to venture into the much cooler water in the swimming pool. Maybe tomorrow, I will do the same.

Dinner, Fox News (or was it CNN) to catch up on the presidential primary story followed by some Oscar viewing and bridge playing filled the evening. Once again, we are blessed to have many wonderful friends who are very generous to us.

On Monday, Leap Year Day, we headed west from Orange Beach to Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope is a cute little community filled with interesting shops, a choice of local restaurants and some beautiful southern homes. It is on the shore of Mobile Bay and affords a scenic drive both in and out of town. We spent some time browsing the shops (no purchases due to the exchange rate on the dollar); we enjoyed a delicious lunch in a small Lebanese café; and we meandered some of the streets and the waterfront area.

The drive to Fairhope passed through a great deal of agricultural land. Something we noticed all along the way was how flat the land is. Not a hill to be seen for miles in each direction. The primary crop in this area seemed to be sod. Huge tracts of land were covered with grass. Large irrigation systems were at the ready to water the grass as the need arose. Large harvesting equipment was busily lifting grass from the fields.

We passed through some small communities along the way. A clear difference in lifestyle and monetary means was evident. Many of the homes and trailer parks were very run down with many abandoned buildings. Not far along the same road, we would encounter a cluster of brand new homes with many features and amenities. The contrast was striking.

On our way home, we stopped at a dockside restaurant to take advantage of happy hour. We each enjoyed a beverage and shared an appetizer as we gazed at the extraordinary boats that were moored there. We imagined what life on board would be like and who would actually be able to afford such elaborate yachts. We were pretty sure that we did not fall into that income category.

A simple but tasty dinner of chicken and salads was followed by some television viewing. Since we are all interested in politics and political systems, it was a sure bet that we would be watching news networks with commentary. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Super Tuesday, a significant day in the selection process for presidential candidates. Of course, we have opinions about who would make the most suitable candidate but, equally, we are learning about how the electoral system in the USA actually works. It is far more complex, expensive and time-consuming than our Canadian system. Being in the USA during this election season had broadened our awareness and understanding of how the candidates for the office of president are selected.

Tuesday morning dawned bright and beautiful. As record numbers of voters lined up at the polls, Jim and I and Liz and Ken had a relaxing day at the condo. Laundry was the first order of business to get us ready to move on to the next leg of this journey. Sitting on the 10^th floor balcony was the second order of business … with coffee, books and good friends engaged in lively conversation. The day was warm and the sun was bright. The water glistened as the tide moved in and the beach welcomed many walkers, sun bathers and fishermen. The water is still quite chilly so no one but the very young ventured in.

We resisted the temptation to turn on CNN or FOX News too early in the day, preferring to read, nap and chat. Later in the afternoon we went to a movie, Eddie the Eagle. It was a very charming and funny movie. We highly recommend it to anyone (no skin but some innuendo and quite a bit of alcohol). For anyone old enough to recall the 1988 Calgary Olympics, the story of Eddie was played out on the ski jump slopes there. There are some great shots of Calgary and the Olympic Park on screen.

Following the movie, we went out for dinner at a dockside restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the fact that we were sitting outside in the evening in very pleasant weather. It was lovely.

Home to CNN …. Super Tuesday and the Trump Machine in action. Depending on your point of view, it was either exhilarating or downright frightening. Either way, we learned a lot about American politics and the path to becoming president. We are also very happy to call Canada home.

Wednesday morning featured a well executed exit early in the day. We were sad to leave Liz and Ken as we had been sad to leave our other hosts of the last two weeks. But it was time to move on to the next chapter of this adventure. New Orleans, here we come …. Not to revel on Bourbon Street but to repack our bags to travel to Mexico City followed by Panama four days later. We fly tomorrow morning.

And that will be another tale or two to tell ….

Thursday, March 3 – Sunday, March 6, 2016

A Weekend in Mexico City

We left our car at the Courtyard Marriott near the airport in New Orleans where they agreed to allow us to park it until we arrive back on March 21. We had repacked everything so that we were only carrying those items that we would need in Mexico City and in Panama. Everything else (winter clothes, boots, long sleeved shirts, socks) was packed away in the trunk and carefully covered with the interior cover in the car. Happily, we were also able to park our car in the parking lot right at the front door of the hotel. We feel confident that all will be well.

We took the hotel shuttle to the airport to begin the next chapter of our journey. First, we boarded a flight to Dallas/Fort Worth. Yes, we are going to Mexico City but, by choosing this route, we are able to amass more air miles which will help us with air travel for a subsequent trip. Jim is masterful in this endeavour. After a short layover in Dallas, we boarded our flight to Mexico City and arrived without incident mid afternoon. In fact, both of us managed to get some sleep on each flight which is always a good thing.

We organized a taxi to our hotel and ventured out into the sights, sounds and congestion of Mexico City. The airport is on the north side of the city and our hotel is in the south. No freeways here. Just regular city streets absolutely clogged with traffic. And this was not rush hour by any means.

We did enjoy the brightly coloured buildings, the roadside vendors, the myriad of sculptures along the medians of the streets and the many trees that were fully in spring bloom. Sadly, we do not know the names of most of them but let it be said that Mexico City is vibrant with purple, yellow, red, white and pink blossoms at this season.

It took almost an hour to reach our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised to find the hotel modern, attractive and very clean. The desk staff were extremely helpful and spoke some English. We are in Mexico City to attend the baptism of twin grandsons of our friends, David and Elizabeth Morley, and we are joining a group of about 18 people who have travelled from Canada and the US for this event. Most of us are staying in the same hotel.

Soon after arriving, Jim and I went to the café beside the hotel for a drink. As we finished our lemonade and orchata (a rice milk drink), we spied others in our party arriving. A plan for dinner emerged and we returned to our room to settle in. We are here for 4 nights so we took the time to make ourselves comfortable.

Our room looks out over one the major streets in Mexico City, Insurgentes Street. And we have floor to ceiling windows in our room. It is a busy street at all times of the day and night, giving a bird’s eye view of transportation systems, emergency vehicles, revellers, restaurant goers, taxis, and work-a-day Mexicans going to and from the office.

We were joined for dinner by Shelby and Lynne Grubbs from Atlanta, Georgia and we enjoyed our conversation and a light meal of soup and fruit salad. Early to bed to be ready for Friday, a full day of exploring Mexico City.

Alas, our plans were scuttled. After a light breakfast in the hotel, it became very clear that I was not well. I have been to Mexico City on two previous occasions and each time, I have suffered from altitude sickness. Third time lucky was not to be … I spent the day in our room. We had flown from sea level in New Orleans to 7350 feet. Altitude sickness begins to affect those who are susceptible at about 7000 feet. Symptoms include shortness of breath, indigestion, tummy upset and fatigue. No details necessary except to say I had most of those symptoms. Most people recover and adapt to the altitude in about 4 days and then they are fine. Unfortunately, we are only going to be here for 4 days. I slept most of Friday away and did not leave the room again.

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful, blue skies, full sun and an expected high of 24C (75F). Perfect weather for a baptism and an outdoor party to follow. I girded my loins and off we went with others in our party to the church.

The church (Parroquia de la Purisima ConcepcionTlacopac) is in a beautiful square filled with mature trees and surrounded by an elegant white wrought iron fence. Church bells are positioned high above the front entrance and the entire church is painted white. Inside the church are colorful banners, catholic icons, beautiful flowers and blue painted walls. It was beautiful.

The service was scheduled to begin at 10 am but all the guests were invited to arrive at 9:30, thus ensuring that the chronically late Mexicans would make it on time. When we arrived at 9:30 another service was underway in the church, a first communion for a young member of another family. We learned that there are special services scheduled each hour on a Saturday and that there would be another baptism service at 11 am.

By 10 am, the worshippers at the previous service had vacated the church, white roses had been placed on the back of each pew and the attendees for Mateo and Samuel's baptism were seated and ready.

The first part of the service occurred outside the door of the sanctuary with prayers that would remove all sins from the babies. This was necessary before the boys were able to enter the sanctuary and be welcomed into the faith. From that point forth, a very touching baptismal service took place. Although the language of communication was Spanish, it was clear to all that the priest was warm, loving, engaging and, at times, even funny. There was music and responsive lessons at various points but the highlight was when Samuel and Mateo were presented by their parents, Kari and Alex, to be baptized. Special touches, crosses, water, candles and words made it a very emotional yet happy occasion. Love has a universal way of touching the heart, no matter what the language.

Following the service, we were all invited to the home of Nacho and Margarita Alvarado-Cancino. We had the good fortune to travel with two teachers from the international school where Alex (father of the babies) teaches. It was a great opportunity to learn something about the school and about living in Mexico City as a foreign national. A lively conversation filled our time in the car and we did not even notice the traffic congestion – almost.

We had attended the baptism of big sister, Maria-Pia, a couple of years ago so we knew what this celebration would be like. Nonetheless, we were still in awe of the preparation and detail that had been attended to for the party. First of all, there were people at the front of the house to valet park the cars as parking is a challenge in Mexico City. A brass band welcomed us into the beautiful home of Margarita and Nacho. Just inside the entrance is an incredible large space filled with an indoor garden with ceilings about 7 metres high. A new fountain from Belgium has recently been installed in honour of the births of Samuel and Mateo. A large photograph of the boys occupied a place of honour on the wall at the top of the stairs.

We descended the staircase and made our way out into the back garden. Tables for 12 had been set up all around the yard under white canopies to protect us from the bright sunlight. The guest list numbered around 150 people. The brass band soon moved to the patio and played music as we gathered and enjoyed our fruit salad and fresh pastries.

When the brass band finished playing, a marimba band was at the ready to share their music. They played as we enjoyed wonderful Mexican foods from the two buffet tables. On occasion, various guests joined this band to sing familiar songs or to dance along with them. A very merry atmosphere filled the garden!

To complete the meal, a beautiful baptism cake was cut and served.  As well there was a goodie bar where guests could help themselves to sweet or savoury treats, the variety of which knew no bounds. Particularly delicious were the chili peanuts, well laced with tiny morsels of red chillies. It was a challenge to sort them out from the peanuts but when you made a mistake, you were certainly aware of it! Hot!!

At the same time that the cake was served, a third band joined the party, somewhat more of a minstrel band that travelled among the tables and played dance music. Several people, including grandparents David and Elizabeth, danced to the music. David and Elizabeth were lovingly holding Mateo, sound asleep, while they danced. These were moments to treasure.

Late in the afternoon, members of our party gathered to return to our hotel and we had yet another new and positive experience in Mexico. We travelled by Uber. Shelby had the Uber app on his phone and called them. We received a confirmation of the name of the driver who was coming, where he was along the route, how long it would take to arrive, the make and model of his car, the destination to which he would take us, and the price. The taxi fare was paid by credit card so no cash transaction was required in the car. The Uber car arrived, the driver checked to ensure the destination was accurate, and he took us directly to our hotel. There is also a method to alert a friend of your route and timing if there was a concern about safety. The Uber ride was dramatically less expensive than a regular taxi and the car was quite new and very clean. We learned a lot about Uber in this experience and used it again at a later point in our meanderings.

We chose not to eat dinner as we were still quite full from the party. A quiet night in our room watching CNN, the only English language station, brought our day to a pleasant end.

Sunday morning found us on our way to another baptism event, this one a beautiful brunch organized by the Canadian grandparents, David and Elizabeth, for all the people who had travelled from afar for this event. There were people from Atlanta, New York, London (England), and Canada assembled at the table, all good friends or relatives of the Morleys. Of course, Alex and Kari and their three children were present providing us with one last interaction with the youngest members of our party. Brunch was relaxing and delicious. Conversation was lively and cameras were at the ready. And then it was time to say farewell.

Some of our party were touring within Mexico City during the afternoon. Some were heading to the airport to begin their journey home. And Jim and I came back to our hotel as, once again, I was overcome by the feeling of illness. Jim did go out and explore the area near our hotel and travel on the public bus service here. I stayed in and rested and worked on this blog.

A light dinner with a small group completed our day and now we are packing and preparing for our flight to Panama at 6 am tomorrow. Yikes … did I say 6 am? Yes, indeed! And a circuitous route at that – first to Miami and then on to Panama City. It will take longer to get to Miami than to fly from Miami to Panama. Go figure!! Airmiles!!!

More news about Panama will come to you from sea level, which I hope will positively impact my health. Time will tell. Until then ...