The following is from a Mexican newspaper

Coronavirus: Mexico clarifies policy, to vaccinate all foreign nationals

• FOREIGNERS: Mexican health officials clarified Tuesday that foreign nationals present in Mexico will have access to the coronavirus vaccine, after reports on social media of some vaccination sites in Mexico City denying service to persons based on nationality.

• CONFUSION: “We want to be very clear: the national vaccination plan includes vaccinating everyone who is in Mexican territory, regardless of their nationality”, Ruy López Ridaura, head of Mexico’s national center for disease control, adding that there was some initial confusion.

• NUMBERS: Mexican officials reported 40,684 vaccine doses applied on Tuesday, bringing the total number of doses administered in Mexico to 1 million 801,156. The total number of doses that Mexico has received is 5,039,625. Mexican statistics do not provide a breakdown by nationality.

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So Rosalie and I discussed it and thought about it and we decided to get the ‘The Jab.’

We had heard all sorts of stories from people about what time of day they went for the shortest wait. Times ranged from one and a half to seven hours. We first thought it would be best to go in the morning. After a while, I realized that to do that would mean standing in the morning sun so we went in the afternoon. The line up on that side of the street at that time of the day was nicely in the shade.

I also wanted to wait a little longer and perhaps go the following week. I thought that many folks would want to get it as soon as possible and the initial rush would be greater. But to wait too long runs the risk of them running out. I needn’t have worried though as we just found out that millions of doses are available across the country

The line for registration took about one and a half hours. It wasn’t too bad as the staff had placed chairs all along the sidewalk.

We got to the registration table and presented our temporal cards. There were four young ladies taking the registrations and everything was done by hand. Those poor ladies must have had writers cramp by the end of the day because they had to deal with hundreds of people. There was not a computer in sight.

The next line looked as though there were only about sixty people in it so we should be out of here soon. However around the corner were at least fifty more. Again we were in the shade.

The line progressed in fits and starts as they were taking blocks of about forty people at a time. The hold up was because after the vaccination folks had to wait a while to see if there were any ill effects.

We had been given a sheet of paper with our information and a number on it. Mine was 550 and Rosalie’s was 551. While in the line a couple came along and stood near to us. after a while one of the administrators came out and told the couple to go further back back in the line as their numbers were 575 and 576.

About 10 minutes later they came forward again but this time all the Mexicans around us started giving them a hard time. A young lady was there with her grandfather, who was just behind us, and joined in as she didn’t want him to lose his place. And so, they had to retreat again. In the end, it didn’t matter as they ended up in our group anyway.

Once inside we sat down and were immediately given our shots. Then we’re told to go and sit outside under a huge tent to wait for any allergic reactions and to wait while they did more paperwork for our followup shot.

Back at the car, I noted that we had been away exactly 3 hours and forty-five minutes; about average from what we’ve heard.

All in all, it wasn’t too bad of an experience. They used the AstraZeneca vaccine so we won’t be speaking Russian after all.

Because we are lying low, trying to stay out of trouble, I have little to write about. However, here we go.

I read today that Canada is struggling with how to proceed with the vaccine rollout. They need to take the Mexican approach. Their plan is: “Here’s the vaccine all those over 60 come and get it.” It seems to work well except Canadians won’t want to line up for up to six hours as the Mexicans do. Also, as there is only one clinic giving the vaccine in Cihuatlán, many have to go by bus to get there.

A lot of Norteños have been given the shot here. At first we weren’t so sure as we didn’t want to deprive a Mexican of their vaccine. However, we spoke with many of our Mexican friends, who all tell us to get it. Firstly, they say, many Mexicans don’t want it, and secondly, the more people who get it the less chance of Covid spreading.

There is also the question of the abuse we might get from self-righteous, judgemental folks in Canada. So, we will see.

We check the mangos every week or so to see how they are coming along. They, as wells as the jackfruit, are getting bigger so soon we will have a feast; that is if Omar doesn’t get there first. We have one, almost ready, papaya, so I’m keeping an eye on that.

In a previous post I said that jackfruit and breadfruit are the same thing. I was wrong. (Again.) They are similar but not the same.

It must be that time of year because it seems that every time we go to the beach for a margarita we see whales in the distance. I took a photo and showed it to Rosalie before realizing it was a rock with a wave crashing over it. There really are whales though. It’s good to see that the Mexicans get as excited as we do about it.

The locals here must be scratching their heads. I reactivated Spotify and they are hearing AC/DC one minute and the 1812 overture followed by popular opera the next. If nothing else, we are eclectic in our music. Now I have to find popular Mexican music.

In the morning, there is usually a thump as a coconut falls to the ground. This is a regular occurrence that left us wondering why. Lately, the reason has become obvious. There are three squirrels who play in the parrota tree every day. Early in the morning, one jumps from the tree, gallops across our roof, and disappears up a nearby palm tree. Shortly after, thump! Mystery solved. Perhaps they like coco locos too.

On a lighter note; we have been doing the intermittent fasting diet for six weeks. I have lost six pounds and Rosalie has lost four. I modified my times, so now I fast from 7:30 pm until 10:30 am. I’m now in line with Rosalie. Outside of those times we can eat and drink whatever we want. Easiest diet I’ve ever tried.

I’ve said before that I like driving here. I’ve made a few mistakes but always managed to avoid a multi-car pile-up. They can swear at me all they want as I only understand a few Spanish swear words anyway.

Most of the traffic laws here are only a suggestion Like: double yellow lines, stop signs, speed signs, no left turn signs etc. Especially at traffic lights, no traffic laws seem to apply to motor bikes.

We have had a few near misses but nothing serious. I put this video together from a few of our experiences. Could have edited in about an hour’s worth more. I left in some of the audio as we sound funny when we have been out for the evening. You know: tequila.

For the past few nights there has been a mosquito in our bedroom. Rosalie doesn’t mind as it only seems to bother me.

I have a plug-in devise by my night table that is supposed to deter bugs but this one obviously has decided to ignore it. So, I got up in the middle of the night grabbed a can of Raid and gave the room a bit of a squirt. I think it did more damage to me than the mosquito. I went back to bed and about an hour later was awoken once again by it’s buzzing.

Usually I would cover myself with the blanket and hope that Rosalie didn’t let one fly. The problem with this is that it’s too warm to stay covered for long. I’m sure the mosquito knows this because as soon as I stick my head out it’s there again. I thought perhaps I should let it bite me and get it over with but I’d like to think I’m made of sterner stuff so decide to fight back.

The following night I got a mozzie coil and left it close to the bed deciding to light it if necessary. I replenished my plug-in device and gave the room another squirt with Raid just to make sure. When I had finished coughing, I jumped into bed to enjoy a mozzie free night. Nope! I woke up again to that annoying little buzz.

I hopped out of bed and lit the coil. Better to cough my way through the night than to give in to a pesky bug. Sure enough, about an hour later it was back mozzie coil or not. I got back to sleep for a while and woke early to the usual buzz. I got out of bed and made some tea just as Rosalie got up. She said that the mozzie had buzzed her a bit so I’m hoping I may get out of this situation yet.

To think, I gave up a perfectly good annoying rooster for a pesky mozzie. The funny thing is, It hasn’t managed to bite me yet.

I don’t go on Facebook very often but when I do make a post I expect a reaction.

I made what I thought of as a witty, scathing attack on those who criticize us for being here in Mexico during the covid crisis, instead of bowing to our government’s overreaction to the spring break issue. I thought at least I would get one negative response. I was sorely disappointed. Nada, nothing, not even a “f**k you” from the idiots who think we should come back to Canada and all its chaos.

Perhaps I didn’t get a reaction because for once I was right….yea, that’ll be the day. A more likely reason is that it wasn’t as impactful as I imagined it was.

Some Facebook people make overly silly comments trying to impose their wills on those of us who won’t be imposed upon. Their opinion is correct in their tiny minds and we who have a different opinion are totally wrong. I notice that those of us who are here, don’t make stupid comments on why, those who stayed in Canada, should be here. We are in this beautiful place where the chance of us getting the covid is less likely because we live outdoors, have fresh air and lots of sunshine.

I’m a bit of an introvert so I don’t use Facebook too much but when I do it’s because Rosalie read some stupid comment and I feel a need to reply to it. Last season here, I had a great running battle with a US cousin who was a trumper. We had a great back and forth and I enjoyed sparing with her. Unfortunately, I have since found out that sadly she passed away, so I’m now looking for a new adversary.

There is a guy who comes to Mexico who decided not to come this year and because of that everybody else should have stayed at home. His name is Tequila Paul. I immediately have a problem with that name as our beloved Tequila Fred was the guy who actually supplied our tequila for 500 pesos for a gallon and only he should have that honorific.

I haven’t encountered this Paul upstart of Facebook yet, but when I do I hope to give him a good verbal thrashing. Or, maybe not, as I’m not that eloquent.

I think Facebook is a great way for us to kick someone in the nuts without us actually doing it. (The thought makes me shudder.) We all have to get our frustration out somehow. With the Covid adding pressure to our already fragile psyches, Facebook may be a way to do it. So, perhaps it’s not the evil app that I first thought it was.

It’s been a nightmare trying to write this blog. The WiFi is so bad it takes ages to upload the pictures. Anyway, here it is.

One day last week, Mike and Pat contacted us to see if we would like to go for happy hour at Coco Beach. This is just the other side of Barra but also on the other side of the lagoon so it’s a bit of a drive to get there.

We went to their house and they took us in their car. The road in is a bit rough as it was washed out in last summer’s floods and still needs a lot of work. In some parts, it was down to one lane. Fortunately, the road isn’t heavily used so we made good time. This is also the only road into The Grand Bay Hotel.

It’s a beautiful beach, about twenty-eight miles long, stretches all the way to Manzanillo, and is mostly deserted. There are a few hotels and a couple of great restaurants, but other than that, nothing.

Mike and Pat had friends at one of the restaurants, La Serena Gordita, so we stopped there and ordered drinks. After a while, a young guy got out his guitar and started singing. It was a great relaxing afternoon.

A few days later, Brent and Hauna invited us to go to Tenacatita with them. Another great adventure. When we arrived they drove way along the beach and we had snacks in a rough little shelter someone had built a while back. Again, almost deserted beaches.

After the snack, we drove back the way we had come until Brent took a tiny side road and after about fifteen minutes we arrived at a ramshackle little restaurant at the end of the road. The place was called “Restaurante La Mosca” or “The Fly” in English. The food as is usual, in some of these little places was great.

We started on a new selective starvation diet recommended to us by Ronda. Oh, wait, Rosalie says it’s called intermittent fasting. I, beg to differ.

The idea is to fast (or starve) for a period during the day and then eat and drink whatever you like the rest of the time. My times for fasting are from 10 pm until noon the next day. I make it from 10 pm so that I can have that one last glass of wine before bed. So far it’s been mostly easy and we do appear to have lost a bit of weight. Try it, you might like it. It’s the easiest diet I’ve ever tried.

I have been attracting mosquitos quite a bit and have a few bites. Rosalie was reading that the inside of a banana skin helps with the itch so I decided to try it. Rosalie with great glee ate a banana and pounced on me before I could get away and slathered me with banana skin. “There,” she said, ” now you smell like a monkey.” It’s lucky there are none in our area or else they would be hauling me off home to Mum. It worked though, and I had a good night’s sleep itch-free.