One of the things that surprised me when I moved here was the very modern architecture where I am living and the high standard of living. I had only visited Tijuana before where I visited neighborhoods with Barbarita which were composed of houses created by old garage doors so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I can guarantee you that this wasn’t it. Of course, Juriquilla is a suburb of Queretaro and most of it is shiny and new. Parks and plazas are everywhere. This doesn’t mean that there are not places in the city where housing is not in dire straits but since I believe many people think that Mexico only consists of sub-standard housing I wanted you to see the other side. So here are some pictures of the area and a few houses in different parts of the state too. I will miss this place. I will miss my neighborhood strolls. It is almost time to leave and I will leave a piece of my heart here. Enjoy!
Other houses in other parts of the state of Queretaro
It’s been a busy 24 hours. Last night Barbarita took me to a birthday party and I can truly say that I had a blast and that the Mexican people know how to celebrate with a sense of love and appreciation that I have rarely witnessed. I was welcomed with open gracious arms and it is something I will not soon forget. A big thank you to Magda and her husband for showing me such a good time.
I am relieved to say that I went to the doctor today and will be having my colonoscopy next Monday. My health has been a concern since at the end of April when I received the results of my Cologuard test which said “higher than average chance of precancerous polyps or colon cancer. See a doctor.” Well, I had been trying to see a doctor in the USA and in Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan and Nevada I was told that scheduling for a colonoscopy was at least three months out and because I had no permanent address the chances of me getting one were slim to none. So today I went to a highly recommended specialist here in Mexico that Barbarita found. He charged me $50 for an office visit and scheduled the colonoscopy for a week later. The total cost for the procedure including anesthesia and IV will be $404. Needless, to say I am relieved. An even bigger plus is that the two hospitals I have visited here are super modern and beautiful. Here are a couple of pictures.
Today, prior to the appointment Barbarita took me grocery shopping. The markets here are beautiful, clean, and mostly much cheaper than in the States. A bought a fresh cantaloupe juice for $1 and a candy bar for less than a dollar. Fruits and veggies are plentiful and inexpensive. Plus they have plenty of gluten-free items for sale. See what you think for yourself:
I am so happy to be in Mexico at the present time. I feel safe and happy here. I cannot tell you how glad I am to be out of Orangeland for the time being. A big thanks to Barbarita and James for making sure I land on my feet, introducing me around, helping me with Spanish and letting me stay with them and house sit for them over the next several months. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
I leave you with a picture of the main house, my little private casita and the courtyard on this beautiful sunny day.
So I have arrived in Queretaro, Mexico, and thus far I am loving it. It is different than I imagined. First of all it is in the mountains which at this time of the year are lush and green. I am quite high in the mountains, which as it turns out, gave me a headache from the resulting altitude sickness from living up so high. But the beauty of the mountains is worth the price of a few Tylenol. There is also a Dennys, Costco, Walmart and HEB store here. While these businesses makes life easy it also makes me feel as if I am living back in the USA which is what I am trying to get away from. All I can say is thank goodness for the authentic Mexican taco stands with their slabs of fire grilled meat which is hand-sliced with a knife that is big enough that Crocodile Dundee would be proud to carry one. Best of all, I discovered a new favorite way to eat tacos…topped with fresh pineapple and melted cheese. YUMMMMM!
Thus far it has been raining constantly partly due to the rainy season and also the outer band of Hurricane Eric which came ashore. My little casita outside the main house is starting to leak a bit of water through the ceiling. I discovered this after crawling into a wet bed but it is really a minor inconvenience and not a major problem. I love the neighborhood that I am in and am enjoying the hospitality of Barbarita’s family before they leave for the United States.
Prior to arriving in Mexico, I had been listening to Lingopie and taking APP Spanish lessons. And while it has helped me to be able to pick out words here and there I find that I am frustrated with myself that learning a new language is not easier for me. I know that at 64 yo just remembering to tie your shoe laces is a challenge. Yet, trying to come up with words that you have looked at a zillion times to say at the appropriate time has proved to be amazingly difficult compared to said laces. Yesterday to my great embarrassment I accidentally asked a young woman “How many buttholes do you have instead of how old are you?” Anos vs Ano really can be a major fax pas if not used and pronounced correctly. At this point my Spanish is so bad that I am afraid of creating an international incident if I open my mouth. And while I am trying so hard to learn this beautiful language I find that my 64 yo brain just does not want to cooperate.
The other day I accompanied my host/friend Barbarita to the hospital. She is an incredible Palliative Care nurse who is working on her PhD. She also started a second hand store to provide scholarships for health care professionals wanting to learn about hospice. She is such an inspiration and I can hardly wait to start working in the store. Anyway, back to the hospital…it was amazing. Here are just a few pictures. It puts most United States hospitals to shame.
So there we go. My first 48 hours in Juriquilla. I am loving it, learning from it, and am excited to have this chance to spend time in a place for more than just the typical two week vacation. And maybe, with a little luck I will not make a complete fool out of myself and contribute to the “ignorant American” stereotype that one often finds when Americans travel. At the least, I promise I will try really hard not to cause any diplomatic issues between our two countries.
Gardy Loo Pismire 