Conversations in Merida

New Year celebrations and MeridaFest (474th birthday of the city) are about to begin and everyone's talking about it.  Last year I did the whole New Year's Eve walkabout for the first time and it was great fun.  I won't do the whole thing again this year, but rather go to one or two things, sit down and really take it in, after which, I'll return to the cash and watch the fireworks from my rooftop patio at midnight.

Back to conversations...

                      

   

I had lunch at Cafe La Via Olimpo which was closed last year for some reason.  The food was ok, I had some cheese enchiladas in a red sauce, but it was more like just tomato sauce.  The order of guacamole was delicious and so was the freshly squeezed lemonade.  The waiter was so very nice.  Since I was seated on the sidewalk, I placed my bag around one foot on the ground, but he brought around the other chair for my bag and said, "You will feel much better senorita."  We exchanged a few pleasantries throughout my meal, but the cutest part was that he patted me on the back in a grandfatherly way each time he passed by.  

While I was eating, a young woman and her daughter stopped at my table and my first response was, gracias, so she'd go away, but she stopped me and said that she just wanted to wish me Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Of course, next she showed me some lovely bracelets that she and her daughter made and were for sale.  I declined, but by the time they had passed by again, I changed my mind and they were so happy.  The little girl was 10 and she was very proud of the fact that she was making the bracelets too.  I found out that she was a single mother and this was basically her only income.  It felt good to help a local mother trying to support her daughter.  

                        

   

So, I found out that grapefruit seed extract is anti microbial and of course non-toxic.  It has many uses, but one is that you can wash fruits and vegetables with it.  I found a health store like GNC and realized that I didn't know how to say grapefruit in Spanish.  The very kind lady promptly pulled up Google on her computer and let me type in what I wanted and voila, next thing I knew she scurried off to get it and my purchase was complete.  This stuff is amazing, diluted it will clean wounds and can be added to water to purify it.  

                         

As I was returning home, I found two young women who had forgotten their keys for the house, so I let them in.  They were from Romania, but currently live in Brussels, Belgium.  When they found out I'm from the US, they could not stop telling me how grateful they are that the Americans saved them from the Russians.  They spoke of how quickly we sent troops to protect them and they have a deep love for America.  It was really touching, because right now, I am feeling very disillusioned and try not to broadcast my nationality.  I only tell people when I am asked, but these young women restored some of my patriotism.  I think I'll end here today.