Bits & Pieces - And Updates

It's been a strange few weeks...to the point that my poor body wonders where the heck it is sometimes.

We had intended to be back in Colorado for Thanksgiving. Just a few days before we were to leave, the truck went dead. The Brick barely got it started enough to limp to the auto repair place. The guy was a gem-- realized we needed to leave, didn't make up any extra work -- and charged us for just what he did. (This doesn't happen much anymore.) Two batteries needed replacing: $450 or so.

So we spent Thanksgiving with The Mama, packed up everything again and tried to leave. We got no further than the freeway when -- the truck's brakes went out. By the time we limped back to The Mama's, unhooked the trailer, then limped to the auto place, brake fluid was running down the left front tire. 

That time: $550 or so. So we spent more than a thousand bucks. On the other hand, thanks to the wonderful folks at Alpine Auto Care, we left the next afternoon, and made it back to Colorado safely, with no further problems. I would much rather have dealt with these issues while staying at The Mama's, instead of out in the boonies somewhere.

P.S. Alpine Auto Care, you are AMAZING. Thank you so much.

    P.P.S. If you need work done in the Sparta/Grand Rapids, Michigan area, we highly recommend this place. 

We were in Colorado only a few days before needing to leave for a scheduled vacation to Puerto Vallarta. (The Brick had given me this package as a birthday present, and we'd scheduled plane tickets months before, when things were looking up some.) Our bodies only started to adjust to altitude in Colorado -- a three or so day process. Then ZOOM...we were headed somewhere else. We've been to Vallarta before. The strange thing: in spite of the fast-approaching holidays, and the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe Festival to PV, there are hardly any tourists here! Some Mexicans, yes...but the Americans are few and far between. Covid-19 really has them scared. 

What's odd about this is that Mexican authorities are being much more on the spot about it than we've seen in the States. They've kept the restaurants open -- but forced most to close at 6 p.m. to minimize crowds. The open-air plazas, normally filled with vendors and food courts, are roped off. (The markets, however, are still open.) Also, we can't go in a grocery store without having someone take our temperatures. And masks are, of course, required everywhere. 

And the Festival was cancelled. The same one we'd come specifically to see. That was extra-disappointing. 

We're fairly certain that PV businesses count on this time to make money that keeps them going the rest of the year. How are they going to accomplish that, when so few tourists are in town? The answer is not a pretty one. We already know that Colorado businesses will be going under next year for the same reason. 

We've not seen the worst yet, financially speaking, of this pandemic. 

It's ok for us. We have a regular income from my work, Brickworks and the Brick's pension, as well as Social Security. We don't have debts or large financial commitments. But I worry about our children, our cousins and other family members. Most are okay, so far. But what will happen in the new year? 

Just have to wait and see. 

Meanwhile, we've been careful about spending a lot of money here, alternating cheaper meals with more expensive ones, and watching our expenditures on souvenirs, with just a few, mostly for the kids. Those will probably go into Christmas stockings...which are also being stinted somewhat this year. Who knows -- that money may be needed for other purposes in 2021. (The one exception I can see: we're being more generous with tipping than usual. But it seems the right thing to do.) 

     We've been careful, wearing masks, staying at a reasonable distance from others, washing our hands regularly, etc etc. We'll be fine. This vacation has been fine. 

But it's going to be tough on Mexicans in this area -- and on people, in general, unless life goes somewhat back to normal soon.

Which it won't.

Meanwhile, life goes on, even in a resort town. Small luxuries are evident: a number of homes are lavish with lights, and the cake bakery under our room has been busy as all getout. (Yes, our room at Casa Pavlova is above a panderia that specializes in European-style cakes.) People are still going out to eat, even if it's at a streetside taqueria, rather than a sitdown restaurant. (Our favorite, so far, has been Taqueria Lupita. Yes, she and her husband are there, frying up meat in a cloud of aromatic smoke. Delicious.)

So hard times come. They've come before. You tighten your belt, and hold on, hoping that life will get better. Often it does.

I hope it will, for these people in Vallarta. They're warm, friendly -- and work very hard.