Finally feeling better

I think I was in a bad mood when I complained about language fatigue the other day. Today's the first full day in over a week by stomach hasn't been killing me, and I slept through the entire night last night.

I'm trying to register my cell phone; you have to by the 10th with the government or it gets shut off, I assume to fight stolen cell phones or whatever. However, the registration process doesn't seem to be working for me. Guess I'll have to go to the cell phone store and have them do it for me.

I bought heartworm medicine for Leo today for roughly 12-13 dollars. It is a lot cheaper than in the states and instead of giving it to him every month, this dose lasts for six. He still needs to see a vet less than 30 days prior to reentering the states to prove he's well, but if it was like when he entered, they won't even ask about him much less ask to see papers.

Language Fatigue

One of the frustrating things about being here is not being able to get your point across or understand someone else when they are trying to make a point because the language barrier makes it difficult to express ideas or feelings. I'm starting to to tire of conversations where I feel lost or stupid. Some conversations are with people who are easily understood but more often than not that's not the case. People have been understanding and patient, and I've learned a lot of Spanish being here, but it's starting to wear me down to the point that I'd rather just talk in English.

Bound to happen

I've had this stomach thing off and on all week and last night I was so nauseous I didn't fall asleep til dawn. Luckily I've yet to throw up. It's not as much fun being here when I'm sick.

Chapala

I went with Juan Carlos and his two friends Memo and Julio to Lake Chapala yesterday. We intially went to a waterpark, which was like hoosier Six Flags on steroids, so we went to a nice hotel instead and pretended to be guests to use the pool. The waiter didn't mind, since he was promised an extra tip, but after a few hours the security guy didn't want to play our game anymore and we had to leave. Still, we got to spend most of the afternoon there. Then we ate dinner and called it a day and drove back to Guadalajara.

View of the hotel.


View of the pool, which overlooks the lake.


This is Valeria, Celida's granddaughter. She's four going on 15, and hammed it up when I said I'd take her picture.

La Nacional

I like going to this bar. I went three times last week. I like sitting outside, being able to hold a conversation, the music and I know some of the people that tend bar there. It doesn't hurt that it's pretty affordable too.

Juan Carlos and I went to La Moresca on Saturday, which reminded me of a non-sushi version of Drunken Fish in the Central West End. Because this is Semana Santa, the week before Easter, it wasn't as busy or there wasn't as much traffic as usual. This is when a lot of Mexicans go on vacation.

Speaking of vacation, last week I put down a deposit for an apartment three blocks from the beach in Puerto Vallarta. I am going to live there in May and half of June, before I start my Mexican road trip. I'm really excited. Until then, I'm going to continue to enjoy Guadalajara, which isn't hard to do.

Colomos

Yesterday after eating at Pollo Chicken again, I went to Bosque Colomos (Colomos Forest) in wealthy suburban Guadalajara. It was much wilder than I expected, considering it is in the middle of suburbia. It cost less than a dollar to park and enter.

View of the park.


It borders a major thoroughfare...


Yet this is what it looks like just feet from that fence.


It is prime real estate around the park, so houses (big houses) are literally feet from the fence.

More of the park.


A garden ("Mexican Garden" is the name) in the park.


More of the park.


Close to the entrance.


You could rent horses for about $4.50 for an hour.


Look at this residential tower next to the park! It looks like it is from outer space.

Leo

Leo (spelled lío) is "mess" in Spanish, and that's exactly what Leo was yesterday. He was standing too close to the barbecue and his fur on his neck got singed. That's what you get when you're too eager to catch some scraps.

Celida, with whom I am staying, celebrated her birthday yesterday and her family and friends came over. There was a barbecue which luckily Leo survived.