Cardenas

[Bullfrog]

We just met with them and went to the notary, I kept saying I wanted 1,000 meters. As well as Gloria speaks English there is still at times a communication problem as well as a cultural difference. They were saying "A little at a time" but didn't understand what I was saying. The 625 meters is stand alone, she does not own the bordering properties. She own 2,000 meters on the same road, all sugar cane so it is flat farmland. I was trying to convey what sense does it make to buy the 625 meters and then buy more down the road? What would we do with the smaller piece? Once we build the house, there will not be enough yard.

Unless they would sell us this land in good faith, then take it back and apply that money against 1,000 meters. I finally got this understood, so tomorrow we will tour the other land as well. I'd rather spend more and get what we both want as I intend to live the rest of my life out and die here in the mountains.

 

[j.w]

Oh boy hope you get it all straightened out so you can get what you need and want. Would be hard when you can't speak the same language. I would be lost w/ my 3rd grade Spanish lessons. Praying it all works out

 

[Amy]

Wow! You always throw a ton of info out before I get back here! Tell Gloria, Happy Birthday and sorry about her arm!

I am excited about the continued tour and love the new pictures! Is that mountain near you?

As for a pump, if you have a fast running river, couldn't you divert a section into a pond and back to the river? No pump needed, constant water changes.

 

[Bullfrog]

Wow! You always throw a ton of info out before I get back here! Tell Gloria, Happy Birthday and sorry about her arm!

I am excited about the continued tour and love the new pictures! Is that mountain near you?

As for a pump, if you have a fast running river, couldn't you divert a section into a pond and back to the river? No pump needed, constant water changes.

It's a pretty good drop down to the river, the glacier has been carving that river valley for a million years. As good as the flow is, I doubt it would flow all the way up here. I could actually install a water wheel that would turn a small generator and run a small 12 volt pump or install a solar panel as well. Solar is big here.

Mount Orizaba is visible from our hotel window, that's where I took the picture from. Actually it's visible from the Gulf of Mexico.

The people here are poor, but they are opportunists. We thought that Dante was making a commission on the land, but he talked us out of looking at the larger parcels because we are on a corner and that gives us two entrances. He also knows Rosa who owns the bordering banana farms, so we will close the deal today and pay for the rocks to start being delivered as it takes time to gather them. They need to be flat on one side.

Also, the septic tank goes under the house here to conserve room. That never occurred to me even though I see the homes of the poor in the village. They can't afford much land so this is how they do it. The tank is made of stones that allow the liquid to leech out into the soil with a small pipe for air to creep in to feed the bugs that aid decomposition.

He assures us it will last the two of us 20 years or more. If I live 20 more years, I'll probably be pooping in a diaper anyway, but that is unlikely considering the life I have lived.

 

[Bullfrog]

Sunday I asked Gloria if she wanted tamales for breakfast again. She did and I wondered if the same lady would be on the same corner, she was. As well as nuns selling them in front of the church and many others everywhere. They work hard preparing these at night and it is a staple of the diet here, piping hot and good, three for less than two dollars and they are big.

Gloria likes hers in a piece of fresh baked bread. Veracruz is famous for it's bread.

When you order drink, they pour the rum in the glass in front of you so you don't get "short shotted".

And yes JW, it rains every day. But yesterday was an exception, a loud siren went off letting everyone know the drainage system was being overwhelmed.

A woman in traditional dress selling in the restaurant, everything from bootleg dvd's to shoe shines, honey and lottery tickets are sold by people walikng by, the restaurants don't care.

 

[Bullfrog]

 

[j.w]

What a life you get to live! It sounds like a movie to me or a documentary on the life and times of "The Wild and Exciting Life of Mr Bullfrog"

Reminds me that we NEED a vacation too!

 

[Bullfrog]

What a life you get to live! It sounds like a movie to me or a documentary on the life and times of "The Wild and Exciting Life of Mr Bullfrog"

Reminds me that we NEED a vacation too!

You and the hubby come on down, we will show you the real Mexico. Once the home is built, you will be welcome there, but the Hotel Palacio where we are staying is a nice, but old hotel in the center of town at $35.00 a night it can't be beat. Fine food everywhere. Just choose your room wisely on the other side of Rock City. That disco is still pounding out the sounds at 03:00 AM.

 

[j.w]

Thanks Bullfrog we might see you there sometime if we ever get our butts in gear. We did nothing but work on this place all Summer. Did not even do any camping at all! Boy what a deal on the hotel prices there!

 

[Bullfrog]

You bet, the food is cheap and good too. Don't work your life away my friend, come south for a week. We sure won't need a water change in the pond with all of this rain, just an overflow into the bog.

 

[j.w]

Sure sounds nice there well all but maybe the rain. We get enough of that here but there it prolly clears up once it gets a good bit of rain for the day. How long does it stay dry vs wet for the day? It's pouring here right now.

 

[Bullfrog]

It may rain one or two hours a day. Sometime all once, sometimes divided, then the sun shines.

 

[j.w]

That sounds good. Here it rains and never gives up all Fall and Winter!

 

[Bullfrog]

Well we are in Mexico City. Driving here is not for the timid. Imagine 50 Houstons all crammed together on steroids. Five lanes of traffic crammed into four with no lines on the road. 18 wheelers taking a right hand turn in front of you from the far left lane. People running stop signs and cutting each other off. But the hotel is one of the branch that Gloria's son runs as a general manager, it is very nice and inside of a large mall. This evening she will see a specialist to see if she requires surgery or not.

 

[j.w]

Darn that traffic sounds worse than L.A's! Hope you guys survive it and hope Gloria does not need surgery.

Gloria