Tuesday

It was a successful mid-week trip to Home Depot and Costco in nearby (45 km away) Celaya, a malfunctioning heater replaced, and a birthday party attended.

Our friend's mother recently purchased a condominium home here in San Miguel and the blessing of the house is scheduled for this next Saturday.  Of course, that means a party, so off we went to Celaya to look for a BBQ grill (how can you have a party without food?).

We had made arrangements to visit our local hardware store on Monday, taking our friend along.  It really helps to have a Spanish-speaking person with you when dealing with esoteric situations.  Our second heater we purchased just a week ago had gone on the fritz and wouldn't stay lit.  Luckily the weather had warmed up a bit and we didn't really need the heater on the second floor.

However, Michael was glad of our friend's company and an exchange was easily arranged.  So we're ready - again - for cold weather.  Our former gas heater went over to our friend's house and has been working well there.  The lack of central heating has been something that we've had to become accustomed.   After the first winter here - when once we decided that it was going to be cold and damp and we needed a heater - there were none to be had and we had to make due with electric heaters -- very expensive to run.
These gas infrared heaters are so much simpler - and less expensive.

On Tuesday, after inspecting their inventory, a grill was selected and off we went to Costco for some light shopping.  I think we got out for under $3000 pesos, so it wasn't bad.  Our friend and his mother also picked up some needed household supplies.

Upon returning to SMA, we decided to visit the Tuesday Market for the meat to be BBQ-ed.  Now I know why we haven't gone to the tiangus since we first moved to San Miguel!  It's huge and there are a surfeit of people all going from one stall to the next.  Just short of pandemonium!  But our friend knew where to look for what he needed (and we got some meats, too).  The walk back to the car was shorter than the walk from the car to the vendor - luckily.

We were invited to a friend's birthday party nearby on Tuesday evening, so off we went.  The party was nice - we knew most of the people - and the celebrator had hired a caterer and musician.  Very pleasant, though I was pressed into service bar tending - and didn't really have all the things I needed.  Still, every one was happy, so it was all good.

A busy Tuesday; returning home, we fell into bed and slept the sleep of the dead.

Such is our life here in San Miguel!