Today is the first day of the rest of our vacation! -- Mom is feeling well and we decided on a trip to the Market de Artesanias. The guidebooks say that you have to dig through a mountain of products to find things that aren't too tacky -- but are just tacky enough.
We called for a taxi to pick us up at the end of the alley and within minutes were greeted by a young taxi driver with full tattoo sleeves-- happy to take us to the market. He took us a few feet down the hill from hell and took a sharp turn left onto a road even steeper incline and worse cobblestones -- only to have to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting a truck full of bags of quick cement -- yikes! Did he back up the few feet on this crazy one-way street - heck no -- he asks the truck to back up (Ok -- guys -- this road is maybe 1 1/2 cars wide with sidewalks that are about 1' wide) -- the truck backs up at an angle and our driver keeps going forward (seriously???) -- after many attempts -- he rushes forward rolling up onto the sidewalk and forcing a woman to jump out of the day (Wow -- if looks could kill!)
About 20 feet further down (let's call it close-call-alley) -- There's a suburban (Ok -- really folks? you've seen the pictures? who would own a suburban in San Miguel?) parked loading luggage -- he moves out of the way so we can proceed down the hill. - We drive ALL over the place -- our destination? -- I kid you not -- the same market I've been going to at the bottom of the hill from Hell -- who knew that if you just kept walking through the market that you would get to the artesian market?
We pay him and flee the cab -- grateful to escape unscathed.
The artesian market was only just opening -- but we found some good bargains -- Mom got to pick up a few things for friends and we were all ready for a break at the end of the market.
We took a cab to El Jardin -- enjoyed a drink (still no Dr. Pepper for Loraine -- so sad) and snack and wandered around the plaza until lunch. We went back to the Posada de San Francisco (Change is bad) -- and had a lovely lunch.
After lunch we showed Mom the convent and she was ready to return home. Cab Cab -- where's a cab.I hail a cab.......Crap -- You again!!!! -- it's out friend with the tatoo sleeves -- I give him the instructions and put M & D into the cab. When I returned home I heard reports of him climbing curbs,careening around corners -- when they arrived at Calle Chepito -- he actually flipped a U turn on that narrow street -- Mom says she had her eyes squeezed shut and Dad reports nail marks on his hands from Mom grabbing his hand so hard.
Dad paid him his 30 pesos (gouger! -- should have been 25) -- Dad said that the cabbie kept examining the coins - and wouldn't have been surprised if he bit into one to see if was real!)Meanwhile -- down the hill -- I had shopping to complete -- we're out of beans (que horror!) -- and I stopped into a store to pick some up -- and what did I find -- No WAY! Dr Pepper in the can!!! -- Who knew it was Mother's day in March! -- I picked up the fruit and veggies we needed and a bunch of tulips (the freshest flowers you've ever seen!) and took a cab (Sorry folks -- I'm done climbing that hill!)
We had a light rain and some strong winds tonight -- so we planned a night in. (no photos today -- too busy praying!)
Other than the brushes with death - this has been the most relaxing vacation I've ever had.
No comments:
Post a Comment