Awakened by the rains

At 3:30 this morning we were awakend by the sounds of crackling thunder and flashing bolts of lightening. Lola (our 4 kg Mexican poodle) was less than pleased as the thunder rattled the windows. She found comfort by snuggling as close as possible to one of us. Even Jordan (our 45 kg black lab) was a little shaken by the sounds of mother nature. I guess they had forgotten what the rainy season can be like. I think it was the best (though not the longest) rain we have had since the season started last month. People were beginning to worry that this would be an unusually dry season which would mean that our beautiful Lake Chapala would suffer. But now our hopes are that this might be the start of bigger and better rains.

By 8:00, the rain had slowed to a heavy drizzle and I was able to take Jordan for his morning walk. He has had to learn that getting his feet wet is a reality to cope with during this time of year. While walking our regular route, the horses were trotting down the street as they were going from the field where they are kept at night down to the lake where they will be saddled and rented our for the weeked tourists to enjoy. What a site to see. Jordan just watches them pass by us. When Lola sees the horses, she wants to try to herd them.

Then Dave and I started our day. We walked to the market which is about 10 minutes from the house. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before getting vegetables and bread for tonight's supper and eggs for tomorrow morning's breakfast. (Here you buy eggs by the kilo.) After shopping, we walked down to the lake to see what was happening there. Tourists from Guadalajara escape the heat of the big city and spend the time at the lake to cool off. We have beautiful malecon (boardwalk) with play area for children and a wonderful park with swimming pool, football (soccer) fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and playground equipment for the children to enjoy. For just 5 pesos, you can enter the park and enjoy a relaxing time. All of this within walking distance to our house.

All along our morning walk, we were greeted by people sitting on their front stoops or walking along the avenida. Always with a smile and a friendly greeting to offer, we are reminded how simple life is here and why we decided to retire to a place so unlike what we left behind.