Making New Friends-More Mexico

Yes I promised another story from my trip to Mexico so here are two stories.

One day I was walking about the neighborhood and strayed a bit far.  I came upon this business:

The sign was there but no-one was around that day (the picture was taken another day.)  I happened to know that Peluqueria means Barber Shop.  I have this interesting quirk that I like to get a haircut on a trip. The first time I did this was on my one first trip to Mexico in the late seventies.  So, I walked into the shop. What??? It is open but no-one is around! So I walked out and looked around.  A boy of about 10-12 came running up and asked something that I guessed was "Are you looking for the barber?"  So I said yes.  He ran back the way he came and returned with another boy that looked about 15-16 chasing him.  In my mind I said, "Oh the older brother speaks English."  Nope! No English.  He was the barber. Ha ha!  I pointed to one of the pictures on the wall. And tried to say "Like this but longer on top"  He looked confused and said "Just a minute" (in Spanish of course)
I waited and he ran into the house beside the shop.  He came back with his grandfather who DID speak English.  So I told him what I wanted and he translated.  Alex, the barber started cutting my hair and Grandfather (abuelo in Spanish) stayed and talked to me the entire time.  I found out that Alex is 20 and has been cutting hair since he was (gasp!) ten years old.  And Grandfather's name is Frank (Francisco.)
After the cut and as I was paying, I saw a musical instrument, a recorder, laying on a counter.  I asked if Alex played it.  Yes he does. So I pulled my penny whistle out of my backpack and played a few notes. Alex grinned widely. Ha ha....music makes a connection regardless of language.
Here is  a picture of Alex taken the same day as the above picture.

Alex - Alejandro

Another day, I decided to go to the main square in town which is a nice park with lots of benches.  I found an area where I didn't think I would be bothering anyone and sat down. I pulled out my pennywhistle and started playing.  There were two attractive young ladies taking pictures of each other.  Then I noticed them coming my way. They both pulled out iPhones and started taking pictures of me.  I smiled and finished my tune.  One of them spoke English and asked if they could take pictures of them with me.  I said "Yes, but you have to take some with my camera too" She smiled a happy smile and said Certainly.  After the pictures she introduced herself as Mariela and her friend Dasy (like Daisy but without an "i" and pronounced Dah-see ---that is an "ahhh" sound; not a long "a" )
She also asked about the penny whistle.  I explained it to her.  She said "I love everything about Ireland, but I have never been there"  I said "I haven't either."
Here are pictures of me with the two adorable young ladies.

Dasy

Mariela

Once again music helped me make new friends.  These two were from another state in Mexico and were sightseeing.  Who knew that I was one of the sights to see in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico ?

Beach Delay

Today's post will be delayed. I can't find the pictures for it.  Meanwhile, here is a gratuitous beach photo from Progreso, Mexico

See you later!

What I brought home from Mexico

Needless to say, I didn't go on a trip and return without something for sewing. Ha ha, that rarely happens.  I found the fabric stores and even an upholstery supply store.

I first went in a fabric store to get something to cover a window where a light was shining in my room at night. (They have added a curtain there now - because they are really customer centered) I found some black plastic that is used as a table cover and got a yard (less than a dollar-honest!)
But I also saw some material that I think will make great kitchen towels.

I will put some pretty thread on my serger and serge the ends. I got a meter of each (slightly more than a yard) So I should have several towels from it.

Another day, I wandered into a shop that had upholsteryfabrics (think vinyl) but behind the counter I saw huge rolls of zippers. So in my pathetically poor Spanish, I asked how much per meter and if the pulls came with it. (Yes I used the charade method to get the "pulls" across) Oooh...good price so I bought two meters and got some extra pulls.  I had no idea how to put the pulls on the zipper, but I found it on YouTube.  When I tried it back in the room, I realized that these will be fun.  So I priced zippers and pulls on Etsy and other online stores. Hmmmm...The next day I tried to find that store again. No luck!  But I found another store, and they had some. SCORE!  so I got some other colors and made myself happy.

That one that looks white is a light blue, or as the lady explained to me "cielo."
I also saw some buttons in that store and decided to get some fun looking ones and some "useful" ones.

Those pink hologram ones will probably go on some little girl things.
At yet another store I found some thread snips and a nice seam ripper. (really really cheap to buy but the work nicely.)

And what is that in the next case? Look at those little owl buttons! They are small and adorable.  I should have bought as many in pink also. Ooops.

Finally on another day (otra dia) I went find change for a "big" bill. (not that big but still hard to get changed)  I went in the fabric store and saw fabric...so I picked three and then asked if I bought did they have change. (score again!) So I got these:

That large white flower at the bottom is almost as big as my head! And can you go wrong with black and white?  The upper right one has that navy blue and green as a border print.  The red with flowers just looked like a fun fabric.
These fabrics came from this store:

So that is the fabric and notion shopping that I did on this trip.

This weekend I will have some more pictures from my trip -and another story of how my penny whistle played a part in meeting some other people on the trip.
Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Top of the World

I have been largely missing lately as you may have noticed.  A friend and I went on an adventure.  We went to a lovely place called Merida.  It is on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and is actually the capital of the state of Yucatan.  I had a great time letting go of stress and working on my Spanish (which is still very poor.)
 Almost every day I went to the market for fresh fruit and/or juice.  We ate at  several places. One of my favorite was a cocina economica, which is a place where you buy prepared food to take home.  This was only a couple of blocks away from the place we were staying. We stayed in a privately owned Studio apartment in a true Mexican neighborhood.  It just so happened that I took a couple of my pennywhistles along with me and played while sitting out on the 2nd floor terrace.  This led to an interesting experience.  You see, across the street was a house that was being rented by some musicians who had jobs playing with the Symphony in town.  One day, I was out on the street trying to figure out what a particular tree in a nearby yard was. (It was an African Tulip Tree) One of the ladies (young compared to me) came out and spoke.  She said "We have been wanting to meet you." That rather surprised me. They had heard me playing the pennywhistle.  Then came the real surprise. She said that they had really enjoyed hearing me play.  We chatted for a moment and decided I would come over one afternoon the next week and see her harp.  The day I went over, I also met one of the French Horn players named Meredith.  We had quite a nice chat.
Later I googled the Harpist's name and found out that she is an award winning harpist.  Yep, that put me on top of the world.
Another day, we went to some ruins South of the city. This was a great place because unlike some ruins you can climb up on things.

Here I am on top of the world again.  This structure was pretty high. (I am working on overcoming my fear of heights.)
Then I realized I had a problem- I have to get down from here. And those steps are STEEP!
Let me sit and think about this:

Okay, I confess.  I came down most of the way on my tush. When I got closer to the bottom I did step down the last 5-6 steps.
You will see more pics later.
Oh, here are photos of our appetizers and meal at the beach one day.

Let me tell you, that fish was fresh and delicious.