September 9, 2012
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Report # 919
So it’s Sunday evening and I’ve now been here in Lázaro Cárdenas for just over 10 days. I kept pretty busy over the last few days so the time went by really fast. The heat hasn’t felt so extreme lately as the days have mostly been cloudy. There have been a number of storms that usually happen at night time with tons of rain and lightning and thunder. I have learned the drainage system here really isn’t very good as always after a storm there are tons of huge puddles and rivers flowing down the streets.
So even though its super hot and humid here it’s very green as well because when it rains it really does pour. It definitely feels cooler when it’s raining but it’s still like 25 C (77 F) so certainly not quite cool enough. On Friday I took all of my clothes and took them to a laundry mat to get washed. I had to wait a number of hours so I went to see a movie called Sauve Patria. It was a Mexican movie and I really enjoyed it a lot. The Mexican movies are just so funny !
Afterwards I bought a few things from the grocery store and then took a taxi back to the house. Sometimes the taxi drivers will ask if I know Spanish and then I’ll talk to them and explain my story. I always enjoy talking with people here. Dora came over for a while on Friday evening and that was pretty much it for the week. On Saturday I woke up at 7:00 am because I had to meet a friend who was coming for the day to talk about some university things in Canada.
I went to the bus stop to meet her and after a while she came and told me she realized she had an aunt in town and that she would call me at one in the afternoon. I thought it was very odd how suddenly she told me that she had an aunt here and how she said nothing before. I was a little upset that I got up so early and arrived and walked through the pouring rain only to be told that. She never actually called at 1:00 pm either so I just gave up with that and went for a walk and picked up a raspado, which is like a snow cone.
I spent a few hours outside and I stopped at a taco place and talked to the guy there for a while as well before heading home. I talked to Dora in the evening and she told me that she’d be over this morning. My friend who was supposed to come sent me a text basically saying the day went by so fast and stuff but I didn’t say anything back as it was a whole waste of time. She called later today and we talked but I really don’t understand what she was saying as I couldn’t here anything on the phone, so it’s not important anymore, I’m not a fan of people who just waste other people’s time !
I had an amazing day with Dora today. Dora came over early in the morning and we stayed in the house and slept for a few hours before going out to eat at a Mexican restaurant. We then went to see Savages in the movie theatre. We ended up being a little late but it was ok as the theatre was 100 % empty. I think that was only the 2nd time in my life I’d been in a theatre completely empty. It was a very interesting movie, and definitely based on some real event but it was certainly gruesome.
Afterwards we went to have frappuichinos and then we headed back to the house for a while. Dora left just a while ago and seeing as I’ve been out all day that’s why I’m typing this up now. By watching the movie that we say today, a person will get a number of ideas of what the situation in Mexico is like with the drug traffickers, though I do believe movies and the media over exaggerate things a little bit. Last month I read an article in the August 7, 2012 edition of the Calgary Herald by columnist Barry Cooper which stated this about the province of British Columbia:
The province is no longer a productive resource centre, but a backwater playground. Vancouver is less a big Canadian City than a “world class” vacation village with lots of multimillion-dollar condos and absentee owners.Of course, they still mine stuff and cut a few trees there, but most people see themselves as soft consumers and rent collectors drinking lattes in the rain. Many believe in spirit bears and water sprites and require grief counselling when trees blow down in Stanley Park. They are what Nietzsche called “last men.”
Now of course that was funny to read and it makes some funny points that are somewhat valid, but it’s a gross over-estimation of how life really is here. So my question for today is:
What misconceptions do people have about the area that you live ? Do you find these misconceptions humourous or do they annoy you ?
Today I’ll leave you with some pictures from Big Hill Springs Provincial Park outside of Calgary. Take care and I’ll talk to you all on Wednesday, bye for now.
Comments (3)
I am glad Dora finally came over, and that you had a good time with her.
That’s good that you finally got to spend time with Dora.
I think people maybe take a few people and examples and think whole areas are like that. Like New Jersey- I grew up there, 2 blocks from the beach and I never knew people like MTv’s Jersey Shore bunch. I think of all the gardens and working farms and historic sites my dad dragged us to more than I think of “guidettes”. Now living in Florida, people think it’s all tourists, old people and leathery locals. They’re pretty right on.
it seems you have spent a lot of time at the movies. guess it is extremely hot and humid over there. sounds just like where i live. the combo of movie theatre and raspado would definitely do the trick.