Kathy Parsons Online Spanish for Cruisers

For anyone who is interested in learning Spanish or expanding what you already know, Kathy Parsons is giving an online Spanish for Cruisers class September 26-October 17 through Seven Seas U. She gave this class in June-July and the feedback she received prompted her to do it again.

Kathy  wrote the book Spanish for Cruisers. If you haven't seen it, it is a Spanish-English phrase book designed for cruisers - covering all the vocabulary we cruisers use - from boat repairs and parts to food to clearing in and out, to emergencies to chatting up the locals. Jim and I bought it and have used it religiously. 

 If you are interested in checking out Kathy's class, go to: www.sevenseasu.com (they host the webinars), or to Women and Cruising (Kathy has an announcement on the blog).

Here are direct links:
http://www.womenandcruising.com/blog/2011/09/learn-spanish-forcruiser-online-with-kathy-parsons/

or

http://www.sevenseasu.com/7seasu/current/spanish-for-cruisers-language-skills-for-boaters.html?Itemid=0

You Can't Get It Any Fresher

Vegetarians Beware!

Many cruisers prefer to buy their meat frozen in Mexico. The best meat at the best prices, however, we have found at the butchers. Fresh! Above, our butcher slices an order of arrachara for us. He'll marinate it in garlic salt and fresh orange juice. It's tender beef and can be used in tacos, stir fry and stroganoff. The cost? $4 per lb. We also got beef tenderloin. Cost? $6 per lb.

Walking down the stalls of beef shanks, pigs heads and quartered cows is an adventure for any Westerner who is used to the tidy, clean, over-sanitized, shrink wrapped packages in the groceries back home where the butchers are hidden in the back and dressed like doctors - masks and all. I have come to adore the trip to the bacon man and the steak boys in Mazatlan. I don't even blink anymore when I pass a head displayed on a counter top. Maybe I've just learned how to overlook it. Not Carolyne. All of the photos on this page are hers. Again, these photos are not for pansies.

Morning in Mazatlan

Finally got the gumption to head downtown for the morning and early afternoon. Mazatlan is so full of life from every angle. Vibrant colors and music everywhere. Here's a snippet of the day.

Getting "licuados" - an icy fruit drink

Soup Girl

"Nanchis" - a fruit none of us like. Beautiful to look at; taste like dirty socks.

20 peso soup ($1.50US).  Serve with a plate of rice and homemade corn tortillas.
"They know how to make chicken soup in Mexico , Mom. They leave the skin on." Words from an 11 year old with no hips.

Fruit stands - everywhere.

Classic Mexican shade.

The people

I know - it's a pigeon. And thank you - the light is on the wrong side of the bird. But, Husband, it is still a cool pic.

Shopping at the Mercado is so much more fun than the grocery stores.

Resisting the Urge to Talk About Food

"Why is it that every blog post you do is about food?" Jim asks me.

"It's not all about food," I insist.

"Pretty much. Don't you have anything else to talk about other than recipes?"

Pause.

"No, I do not."

How in the world can I be in paradise and not have anything else to talk about other than food? It's because for me, people make the world go round. People. And let's just say that my social life isn't very... social. 

I have managed to get my lazy rear in gear and go to yoga 6 days a week. It beats taking a walk in the morning, which turns into a mad run for it as the famished hoard of Dengue carrying mosquitoes begin a feeding frenzy. I am not exaggerating . The rest of the day, however, most of us here in the marinas remain in the bowels of our boats trying to stay cool.

The kids are another story. And thank goodness for that! 

Roadkill Flat but Tasty Chicken

I can say it. I was pissed. The Chicken Man ran out of chicken last weekend.

I'll start from the beginning.

I have cut out breads and pastas and sugar from my diet in an attempt to feel less lethargic. I used to have so much energy. Where did it all go? I had my thyroid tested last month - it's fine. I suspect that the intense heat of August in Mazatlan has something to do with it, but this has actually been going on since January. I just don't feel tip top. So, off I go to yoga 6 days a weeks and a huge adjustment in my diet is just what I need to feel perky and bouncy, I think.

And I actually do feel a little better - until I cook dinner for the family. Cooking for my family is usually enjoyable - until I can't eat it. But mind of matter - I have the weekend to look forward to.

Every Saturday and Sunday are the days that we can buy the roadkill flat but tasty chicken. The Chicken Man sets up his chicken stand early in the morning. His customers line up around noon. He will sell every single one of his broke-back grilled chickens. And tomorrow, the same. Do you know how I know?? That's right - there were only a few skinny wings left when I arrived last weekend. There was a table full of customers licking their greasy fingers and sucking meatless bones - showing off, no doubt. It was all I could do not to weep in public. I stormed back to the car and resisted the urge to blame my husband.

So, watching the clock closely this Saturday Jim and I sped to the little sidewalk grill where I was finally able to buy my grilled chicken. I don't know what it is about this style of Mexican chicken that has my taste buds wrapped around it's little wishbone, but it is darn good! Juicy, smoky, not too greasy - served with a side of rice, chopped lettuce and homemade corn tortillas - it is divine.

Jim and I first discovered the Mexican roadkill flat and tasty chicken in 2006 when we did a road trip down this side of Mexico. Anytime we saw prostrate poultry out-stretched on indirect heat sources, we'd skid to the side of the road and make a run for it before the other tourists got wind of the savory flavors.

We loved this chicken so much that we made it at home when we returned. Now that our grill on the boat is out of commission, I am happy to go to visit the Chicken Man every Saturday and Sunday. They've gone up to 75 pesos an order, but a whole uncooked chicken in the grocery costs 80 pesos or so. And, I don't have to cook.

Here's a link to a recipe for roadkill flat but tasty chicken.

A Fun Article I Wrote

Kathy Parsons contacted me and asked me to write an article for her website: Women & Cruising. The site is dedicated cruising women (of course) and has a lot of resources for first time cruisers in particular, but offers tips, webinars, seminars, and entertaining articles for neophytes and veteran sailors both. Kathy is well known in the cruising community for her books: Spanish for Cruisers and French for Cruisers. Yes, we own the Spanish for Cruisers and have used it repeatedly to help find boat parts in Mexico.


Here's my latest article: FEAR IN THE WAY

Day Trip into the Jungle

Yes - I finally have something to write about other than food, the humidity and the heat. Hallelujah!

Since Jim and the kids have returned from Arizona, we have been doing boat projects fairly steadily. Our plan, though loosely woven, is to head south at the end of October. By south, I mean Central America. The list is endless, it seems. Every time we mark a project 'completed', we add another three items to the list. Because we have so many things to do, Jim bought a car in the states and drove it down so we can more easily acquire equipment and manage our time more efficiently. And with a car -  Day Trips!

Carolyne enjoying the peace and quiet 

Church in Concordia built in 1700's

We took a day trip to Concordia and then Copala, the first being only 45 minutes from Mazatlan and the second being only 1 1 /2 hours. We were a bit reluctant because we have friends who went in May and the report was fair at best. But, we just had to get off the boat. Now that we have wheels, it seems a shame not to take advantage of some inland travel. Having a dog and cat on board really pares down our options and the length of time we can be away. Anyone who plans to bring a pet along cruising should really consider this disadvantage. Bailey is so old and lame now that she needs to be carried up and down the cockpit several times a day. This makes it hard to have someone care for her while we are away.

Jungle people (Tim is at the age where he doesn't like his photo taken)

Cobblestone streets

Concordia, (the town only 45 minutes from Mazatlan), is an extension of the big tourist city. Though the streets are quaint, the plaza and church a reminder of 18th century Mexico, and numerous pottery and furniture artisans are lined up along the highway in clusters - this town was a bit of a disappointment. Of course, it's not tourist season and many of the stores were closed (not that we're interested in buying anything other than food or boat parts right now), but the experience was not even marginally exciting. The American looking coffee shop was closed. Perhaps without my morning java I was a bit less exuberant and my outlook on life in general suffered.

What was very exciting was the flora and fauna. The result of all the rain we've had lately has the countryside looking like a giant terrerium. It is something out of a movie. Jim made several stops along the way so to take photos. Managing decent photos out the buggy splattered windshield was futile (with rain comes critters). The mountains, hills, valleys, dales, glens and roadsides are - very green.

We ambled up the road to Copala, a small skeleton of one of the first mining towns in Mexico. And -  yet another colonial church. This town was charming. Darling little colonial homes nestled themselves along cobblestone streets. It was picturesque and quiet. I was going to take pictures of the church inside, but a woman there tried to take my church donation from me as I was putting it in the donation box. Ticked me off so I left. (I really should have had my morning coffee!) Folks in this town were a little more pushy about selling their wares. As much as I understand why, it turns me off to go somewhere and be bothered or pestered by peddlers selling knick knacks and Chinese made plastic doodles.

Church in Copala built in 1748

Concordia is known for their handmade furniture. I think this one is a prop.

We stopped at  a mango stand along the way. For 25 pesos, you can buy yourself 12 or so large juicy mangos. We stopped so that I could take photos of the make shift stands and wooden crates of yellow, red and green mangos. I was so enthralled with the fruit and the sweet vendor that I forgot to take a photo. (Coffee!)

For anyone afraid of driving on roads in Mexico, be afraid - be very afraid. No, I'm not speaking of banditos. I'm talking about the asses on the road.

This is a familiar scene. Free range cattle are interested in eating  along the roadside.

These little burros are mildly annoyed that we interrupted their snack

Livestock is everywhere. They run wild and free and are sometimes seen turned insideout along the highways or smeared across the yellow dividing line. Our rule is that we don't drive at night in Mexico because they enjoy the warmth of the asphalt as the temps drop in the evening.