Hospital a few blocks from the new house.
Pictures of the new house and neighborhood soon.

My arrival to have a look around the new neighborhood began on an auspicious note, with a background of sky behind it as I approached of towering cumulonimbus clouds, backlit by the setting sun and contrasting with the azure sky. They seemed filled with flames and embers as they appeared to be more illuminated from within than from behind.

The streets are lined with houses from less than modest (and a few unihabitable, which really means rubble here) to quite grand and immaculately maintained. There are a few Mayan-looing thatched roof bungalows. There are sidewalks most places, and everywhere are children playing happily, adults sitting in groups of chairs outside, and various stages of teens in various size groups engaged in their conversations and rituals.

ALmost all homes are open up for the fresh evening breezes, so as you walk the neighborhood you catch glimpses into all the homes. People at tables talking or eating, in hammocks, watching TV, listening to music, reading the newspaper...all is revealed in small snippets as you pass by.

There are a lot of dogs lying around or walking lazily. One forlorne guy was lying noe to nose with his girlfriend who was behind a gate and out of his reach otherwise.



Just around the corner and a block away from the house are several tiendas with all the daily necessities, and a sweet little cocina with a couple of oilcloth-covered tables and a counter with two stools. There is no sign with a name, but a menu with all the familiar regional items and prices...salbutos and panuches for 3.5 pesos (about 31 cents). Two of these tortilla/bean/turkey/pickled onion goodies are a meal. An intriguing "comida casera" (home cooked food) for 20 pesos or around $1.80 promises some great regional item appropriate for the day of the week. A nice pan fried breaded fish on Friday and potage stew on Thursday for example.

There is also a neat little video rental store with a surprisingly big collection of VHS (2 for 12 pesos/$1.10) and DVD (15 pesos/$1.35) that is open until 10pm.

I took the bus out there - about ten minutes ride through the evening air with the windows open and that great music the bus drivers play on their stereos, followed by a ten minute walk past the modern hospital and old historic colonial prison. As usual, a study in contrasts.

I walked all the way back to Centro - about a 30 minute hike through interesting and safe streets. Just outside the new neighborhood, there is a large beautiful park with a big working fountain in the center. I asked some padies what the name of the park was. "Parque de la paz", they told me.

Park of the peace. I like it.


The video shop on Calle 59 X 96

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Text © 2003-2004 Stanley J. Wolf