Well it really is a different world down here in México, people.

First of all, it’s so darned quiet.  Normally there is a kind of happy noise that drifts in our home, which is almost completely open all the time.  The gas truck song.  Kids hollering to each other.  Car alarms.  Loud talking.  Laughing.  Music of every kind and decibel level.  It is just a wee too bit subdued for me.

People are more reserved.  Say hello less.  Look a little more wary.  And I wonder, am I, too?  I know I’m worried about the economy and the people here.  Cruise ships have cancelled…that’s about 3,000 people per ship and we usually have five or so a week.  No trinkets being bought, no taxi or pulmonia rides, no restaurant meals.  And since the usual tourists visiting aren’t here, either, Mazatlán is a ghost of it’s former self.  Paul went to the dentist in the Golden Zone today and it was very quiet there, too.  It just feels…subdued – and that’s just not México to me.

Our son and his family who live in México City are visiting family in Colima, so I don’t have to worry that our new granddaughter, Consuelo, would be in the thick of it.  They originally went for the weekend to attend a baptism and have extended their stay.  I’m happy Adam can do most of his work on the phone and computer.

So what do you do when all the fun stuff has been cancelled?  I’m taking the forced down time to read, cook, and get back to some knitting.  I made Verduras en Escabeche today, and am preparing Avocado Soup and Walnut and Chickpea Empanadas for guests tomorrow night. Oh, and I also have been working on my México links page that I created using NetVibes.  It’s a cool website that lets you collect RSS feeds on both public and private pages.  There’s a link to the public one on the top of the left column.  Take a look, it might be something you want to bookmark and use.  I guess I have to admit I have been watching Facebook and the news sites a bit more than usual, too.

One other thing we did is to change our phone and internet setup here at home.  We had 2 mb DSL and phone from Telmex ($999) and the digital cable package from MegaCable ($450.)  We changed to a MegaCable package that includes 4 mb internet, unlimited phone (Mexico, US & Canada) and Digital Cable for $999.  So we are saving quite a bit and have improved internet and enhanced phone in the bargain.  We’d put it off because stuff like that has been a pain in Spanish but no hay problema ahora!

I hope all of you are healthy and that you stay that way.  Later!