Hola! Feliz Navidad! I Can See Clearly Now

Monday, Dec. 17^th I got up at 6:45 and was out the door at 7:15 for my walk. Bill was up just as I was leaving so I got a good morning kiss. Today, I wasn’t alone on the walk route. It was like 2 ships passing in the morning as we greeted each other and commented on our cold fingers. I still don't know her name. The temperature was only 51F/10C but I soon warmed up with my fast pace. When I returned, I made my tea and Bill and I sat catching up on friends.

It was beautiful even before the sun popped

Kind of says it all
Our trails are very happy

I poached a couple of eggs on toast for our breakfast at 8 and we were washed and ready to head out the door at 9. This is our day to go to Los Algodones, Mexico. Rob drove and we were all anxious for our first time over the border. We parked in the lot for $6 and walked across to calls of ‘need a dentist? Get your eyeglasses’, it was pretty quiet first thing. Mostly we heard ‘good morning and Buenos dias’.

I put my chicken soup into containers this morning
I'll taste it tomorrow

Crossing into Mexico, it wasn't too busy at 9:15 am

The main agenda for this morning was to take Rob and Pat to our dentist, Dr. Eva Urena. Hers is the prettiest building in the whole area in our opinion and of course, we think she is the best. How would we know? She’s the only one we’ve visited but I can say that she is the best we’ve seen. 😊 We didn’t have to wait long and Rob was invited into Eva’s office to have a look. Within minutes, he made his decision on a filling.

Dr. Eva's office area

Bill and I waited outside at first for Rob and Pat

I love the building where she and other dental offices are housed

Pat and I kept saying “where else can you walk in to a dental office with no appointment and get immediate attention?” Two X-rays and a filling later = $70. Crazy! From there we visited Vision Optical for me, this time. I got my eye exam (normally $20) free with the purchase of new glasses. I had taken along multiple frames from previous glasses I’d boughten over the years and decided to order 2 sets of progressive lenses put into two of the frames.

To kill time waiting, we got directions to where these folks moved from
the corner of the first year we visited
We'll be back, we all have a plan to put the painters
at Spray Paint Art to work
Thanks for the picture, Junior!

I donated 3 pair of glasses that were single vision, ones that were too small for the progressive lenses to be fitted into. Bill also donated a pair of nice sunglasses that just didn’t work well for him. They had many frames to choose from starting at $35 up to $300 but it didn’t make sense to spend more than was necessary. We paid for my essentially 2 new pair of eyeglasses……..are you ready? $160. Again, I say, Crazy.

We found the open cantina for lunch
Love the thatched roof

There was a 2 ½ hour wait period while they assembled my glasses. Same day or you could come back tomorrow. Pat and I looked at each other “where else?” We walked around and got offered many many things that ‘you don’t need’, made some decisions for our return in February. Yes, we’ll be back for our teeth cleaning and I have a broken molar that needs to be looked at. Rob also has more work to be done so it works out well for all of us to make a return trip.

Bill got an offer he couldn't refuse when Emilio, on a street corner, offered him a $4 hair cut. He'd said a couple of days ago about wanting one before Christmas so agreed. We followed our guide to the hair salon. Rob decided to get his trimmed and then I decided to deal with my length too. Mine was $6 and she took the time to blow dry and style for nothing extra. We all looked so spiffy when we left.

Oh yah! These were huge and delicious

It was noon hour so we walked to the open-air cantina and found a table for lunch. We all knew we wanted one of their frozen margaritas so no hesitation there. Choosing a food item off the menu was a little more challenging. There is no fish and chips to order here. You soon learn that Mexican food in Mexico is not like Mexican food in Canada.

Plenty of food came with my beef quesadilla

I love quesadillas back home so I took a chance and ordered one with beef and Bill ordered Fried Tacos. Our plates were so full of food but until you taste things, you’re never sure if there is a ‘bite’ in the quacomole or the salsa. The quesadilla was different but good. The beans, rice and quacomole on the side was good but I had to pass on the salsa and tomato/pepper salad.  It was enough to fill us up and our plates weren’t empty when we left.

Bill got a free 1-minute massage - and no pressure to purchase anything

Vendors are constantly parading around and between the tables trying to sell their wares. You just have to go with it all and have fun. You are in Mexico after all and they are just trying to make a living. We had a lot of hilarious moments, Bill got a 1-minute free massage and Pat modelled a necklace for me with as she had the appropriate neckline to show it off.

Pat modelled 'my' necklace and haggled this guys price
down at the same time
Looks like more than modelling going on here
She had fun and we all enjoyed the fits and giggles

As it turned out, when we realized our cash was dwindling, Pat bought it for me. It’s quite lovely and incredible how the price went from $75 to $10 with a bit of finagling (and giggling) on her part. Los Algodones never lets us down and with our friends along, we sure laughed a lot………again. 

this is a beautiful sterling silver necklace

We wandered back to Vision Optical and picked up my glasses. Perfect! I was very very happy with being able to wear these frames again.

Lots of choices but I'm happy to be able to use my own frames
the optician said my frames were an excellent choice and looked great too!

Maura and Bill
She was here last year and is quite a sweet young thing

My new do and one pair of glasses

Second pair of glasses with a different shape

 Our last stop was the Purple Pharmacy and I walked up and ordered 50 tablets of my shingles medicine. I’d just finished my $130 prescription of 30 yesterday. Today, this would get me through the next couple of months, easily, and I’d go back in February to restock before we head for home. The price for 50 in a higher dosage was $8. Bill has a tendency to get cold sores and paid $20 for a 2-gram tube of Abreva in Ontario. Today he bought 2 – 5-gram tubes at $1.50 each. Crazy! Rob and Pat visited the liquor section before we left with our purple bags.

And Bill with his new hair cut

It was 2:15 when we walked back to the border and were greeted by security asking for our passports. Once produced we walked straight into the booth. I showed my pills to the officer and she held me up but only to casually talk about shingles. Bill was concerned, wondering why I was being held up. She was the friendliest one I’ve met so far and she wished me Merry Christmas as I walked out.

On the left, is the cold sore cream and it might just
work for my shingles as well
The tablets on the right replace the home brand at $4.33/pill
for only .16/pill and 150 mg increase in dosage

When we arrived home, we were all tired and guess who was ready for his supper after going out for a piddle. He was a good boy, probably sleeping on the bed for the whole 5 hours. Bill and I both had headaches but I foolishly thought it would pass and sat outside in the sun with my book. I only have a few chapters before finishing the book. Bill dozed inside and eventually I retreated inside to the bedroom and did the same.

We didn’t feel like much supper tonight and after I got up, I took a couple of Advil. At 6, I warmed up my squash soup and Bill had a grilled cheese sandwich. Rob invited him up to Texas Hold’Em but he declined just not feeling into it tonight again. I’m sure one night he’ll get up there! After dishes, we lazed for the evening. I did eventually finish The Whole Truth before going to bed. We watched the 2^nd last Voice episode tonight and chose our winners.

One day I am going to catch the sunset
I promise!

I hope you had a great day. We sure did! We wished a lot of people Merry Christmas today in Spanish. We practiced. :) I wanted to thank you for visiting my blog today. Your comments are always wonderful to read.