Real life intrudes.

The ordinary days of being in one spot traveling. Laundry, dish washing. Scored some really good stuff today, that is.....toothpaste for sensitive teeth..uh..must be gettin' old. Finally today found the lavanderia where they wash and dry and fold your laundry by the pound. Paid about 65 Q for 13 lbs last time but lost the whereabouts of the tienh and used the machine in my casa and line hung the clothing. Lotta work.

Had a good stay en la playa with my daughther but the heat almost got me. I may have whimpered. In Antigua it's chilly at night, warm in the mid morning to the mid afternoon.

Had a great albeit expensive breakfast this Sunday morning with soft chairs in the garden, well dressed waiters, linen table cloth and servietes, nice china, etc. 12 bucks. ACTUAL hashbrowns. Monster fruit plate, bacons. The bacon here is quite good. I noticed it the first time outta the chute for b'fast. Not as "cured" as in the states. Mebbe more au naturel.

Big festival activity in the centro of La Antigua, oddly, little kids of both genders with painted on bigotes, moustaches. Go figure. National moustache day? An eight year old hardworking kid accosted me for a shoe shine today. Having dust from the beach all over my shoes, I was fair desperate for that shine. Five Q is a fair price. Little kid said 2 Q, I said 3Q and he took my negotiation. Got a good shine and told the kid since my shoes are SO big, 14 6E, that I felt I had to pay 3.50 Q. It was as good a job as any and aside from being snot nosed, literally, he was a nice kid.

Saw a painting yesterday that was "just right" but a bit big in a tienda run by two little old ladies but couldn't make up my mind so passed. Uh, I hope it's still there Monday and I can find them 'cuz I looked everywhere today and saw the same old stuff or stuff very professional and very high priced. If I can find and buy it, dickering well...uh, I'll one day post a pic. Brilliant reds and a scene of Lake Atitlan. Time, as always, will tell.

My stepson and gal are coming in tomorrow morning and will catch a shuttle to here. Then they and my daughter, who just showed up from the beach, will take a chicken bus down to the beach for the week. Or so I hear. My spouse and stepdaughter will be here next Saturday and we'll all be here until the 30th.

BIG fireworks, the BOOM kind, going off at ALL hours of day or night for a week. All day, all night, and interspersed with small fire cracker's staccato bursts.

Since my daughter is heading back without me to the beach, I'll either not be posting or find an internet cafe. Buena Suerte!!