Some days just aren't easy...

Ok, time to be brutally honest. Not EVERYTHING can be perfect in paradise. Take this mosquito thing, for example. Sure, I get that it's considered "the rainy season" in Mexico, so you expect a few more bugs buzzing around. Plus, that tropical storm that passed through before we got here sure didn't help. I've been patient. But now they're getting on my nerves.

Don't get me wrong... there are no giant swarms of mosquitos. No, they're much too stealthy for that. I'm convinced that there are actually only 3 or 4 mosquitos that follow us around everywhere. And that's because as soon as you try to nab one of them, they vanish. Inexplicably. They only come out of hiding as soon as you give up looking for them. Mexican mosquitos are sneaky little chameleons, and they thrive on making me look like a fool, swatting and clapping at nothing but air.

Now that I've gotten that out in the open, I can post about yesterday. I needed to follow up on some emails and get some editing done, so Jenn decided to shop as the locals do by heading out to the open air markets in the morning. However, not many vendors were still open and the pickings were slim, so she bypassed the freshly plucked headless chickens, and ventured straight to... Walmart. No ordinary Walmart, the SUPER Walmart with the marble facade and the underground parking garage. In Mexico, they don't mess around.

Emma stayed home with me while the pool guys cleaned the pool and repaired the fountain for us. The sun was still shining by the time my editing was completed, so I headed up to the rooftop to have a look around and to snap a few pictures.

I wasn't really too concerned when Jenn & Lukas didn't return after a couple of hours; they were going grocery shopping after all and with our previous attempt at deciphering labels, I knew it could take awhile. It wasn't very far away. After the third hour, I reminded myself that Mérida is the safest city in all of the Yucatan (as I paced back and forth, checking the phone, my mind reeling with the possibilities). By that time, the sky had darkened to a dismal grey, then almost black as the clouds opened up and the rain began to pour down.

Finally, I spotted a shadow through the glass front door. It was Jenn and she was had fire in her eyes. It seems she had picked out a whole cart of groceries, gotten to check out, and had the bank decline the transaction because it was the first time she was using her debit card in Mexico. Even though there was plenty in the account and we had already informed the bank about our trip. We had used MY cards with no problemo, but now with her card for the same account, no can do.

She promptly got on our business line (our Mexican cell won't call the U.S.) and gave Bank of America an earful before heading all the way back to Walmart to get the groceries. By this time it was pouring, roads were flooding, and most of the items in her cart were gone. So, she went shopping for a second time.

By the time she returned, it was close to 4pm which left just a short while before we were expected for dinner at Cherie's house. So a quick shower and scramble and off we went...

Cherie's house is simply stunning. The original structure must be over a century old and it's been redesigned by her husband Greenwood, who's an artist. A beautiful open layout with a brand new addition and a huge backyard and sunken pool. The intricate pasta tile throughout most of the home is all original, but looks brand new. I've never seen anything quite like it back in the states.

Spending time with Cherie and Greenwood was an absolute pleasure. They are gracious hosts and seem to be very caring people. Greenwood spends time with kids weekly at a local orphanage, teaching them art. This evening, he took time to show Emma & Lukas their collection of Mayan artifacts, and they had a blast playing instruments, hugging pets, and creating their own art as well.

For such a difficult day, it certainly ended on a pleasant note. And you know, even though we spent the whole evening chatting outside on the patio, there wasn't a single pesky mosquito in sight.