Always the restless one, I've actually been out just wandering around (up to two hours, each of the past few mornings, although not necessarily covering much distance) seeing the sights while Charlie has relaxed in the courtyard frontage of our rooms. I must look like the typical geeky tourist because I'm just in awe at the historical buildings and the goings on in the streets. The markets are fascinating places too.
Although I’ve still seen lots of them, there’s not nearly as many foreigners and tourists here as the Mayan Riviera . . . for obvious reasons . . . there are no beaches! And it is not as easy to find English speaking locals here but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to help us out. Between their few words of English, our few words of Spanish and a whole lot of sign language we’re getting what information or directions we need. We’ve been constantly amazed at the friendly and helpful way we’ve been treated both here and in the Cancun/Tulum areas we were in last week. Perhaps too friendly?? . . .
. . . As I said. . . with map and camera in hand . . . I’ve been out each day, walking about on my own. The other morning I stopped on one corner, re-checked my pocket map to get my bearings when a nice looking gentleman nodded and smiled as he passed by me. He carried on a few steps and turned back my way. “buenas dias” he says with a friendly smile . . . I was standing in front of a street food stand which he points to and says “tortilla” followed by a whole lot of other Spanish that I didn’t understand. He realizes I don’t understand and speaks some more gibberish . . . I finally understand he is asking if I’m from ‘Europe’ . . . “no”, I say . . . “Canada”. to which he reaches out to shake my hand and exclaims “aah, Canada, muy grande, y hermoso!” (very big and beautiful). Now he’s walking along beside me and I feel an obligation to keep trying to communicate, as he seems interested in doing so. I tell him that I’m heading to find the market and he begins to give me directions, part of which I can understand, and he continues to walk with me as he points ahead and gets out, in a bit of broken English, that it is near . . . just two blocks and then a right turn. I’m really having the feeling that he was not headed this way in the first place as he continues to smile, walk along and talk. Now I know for sure . . . as we turn the corner he is saying “something, something, tarde” and I realize he’s just asked me to meet him tonight! I say “no, no mi esposa está en la casa”. “oh” he says, with a slight chagrin. A few steps more and he suddenly says “work . . I . . go”. We say our good byes and he turns back the other way. As I carry on with a smile and a chuckle, thinking ‘Charlie is never going to believe this!’ I also realize that what I just said was ‘my WIFE is at the house’. Wonder what he was thinking?*/? LOL
Although I’ve still seen lots of them, there’s not nearly as many foreigners and tourists here as the Mayan Riviera . . . for obvious reasons . . . there are no beaches! And it is not as easy to find English speaking locals here but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to help us out. Between their few words of English, our few words of Spanish and a whole lot of sign language we’re getting what information or directions we need. We’ve been constantly amazed at the friendly and helpful way we’ve been treated both here and in the Cancun/Tulum areas we were in last week. Perhaps too friendly?? . . .
. . . As I said. . . with map and camera in hand . . . I’ve been out each day, walking about on my own. The other morning I stopped on one corner, re-checked my pocket map to get my bearings when a nice looking gentleman nodded and smiled as he passed by me. He carried on a few steps and turned back my way. “buenas dias” he says with a friendly smile . . . I was standing in front of a street food stand which he points to and says “tortilla” followed by a whole lot of other Spanish that I didn’t understand. He realizes I don’t understand and speaks some more gibberish . . . I finally understand he is asking if I’m from ‘Europe’ . . . “no”, I say . . . “Canada”. to which he reaches out to shake my hand and exclaims “aah, Canada, muy grande, y hermoso!” (very big and beautiful). Now he’s walking along beside me and I feel an obligation to keep trying to communicate, as he seems interested in doing so. I tell him that I’m heading to find the market and he begins to give me directions, part of which I can understand, and he continues to walk with me as he points ahead and gets out, in a bit of broken English, that it is near . . . just two blocks and then a right turn. I’m really having the feeling that he was not headed this way in the first place as he continues to smile, walk along and talk. Now I know for sure . . . as we turn the corner he is saying “something, something, tarde” and I realize he’s just asked me to meet him tonight! I say “no, no mi esposa está en la casa”. “oh” he says, with a slight chagrin. A few steps more and he suddenly says “work . . I . . go”. We say our good byes and he turns back the other way. As I carry on with a smile and a chuckle, thinking ‘Charlie is never going to believe this!’ I also realize that what I just said was ‘my WIFE is at the house’. Wonder what he was thinking?*/? LOL
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