The Bodega Aurrera chain is owned by Walmart, and any of the ones we’ve been in have Walmart style prices and selection. But the one in Puerto seems too small and not well designed. It was only built last year, and I would have thought they would have put it on the outskirts with a decent parking lot and larger facilities, but this one is downtown and very cramped.
Still, we got some decent deals, including a bottle of “Imported from Canada” whiskey for 99 pesos ($8.25). This same bottle would cost at least $30.00 in Canada. One of the many things about Canada that drives me crazy.
Then Ruth and I took Nataly, Danna and the groceries back home in a taxi while Mary went and did some other shopping on her own. The 7 km (4.5 miles) taxi ride cost 50 pesos ($4.16) and I gave the driver a 10 peso tip for helping with the groceries.
We have been eating lunch and dinner with our Mexican friends. It is true that beans and corn tortillas are staples of the rural Mexican diet. Every meal includes those items. And spicey! We drink lots of water!
At the grocery cash we were able to refill the credit on our internet account. We pay 500 pesos ($42.00) for 30 days of internet access through the cellular network. Our time was up four days ago, yet our internet continued to work. No idea why, but Mary says it’s a bonus through the carrier TelCel, for paying our bills on time! As an added bonus, when I got back and logged on, the system said something like “We have received your 500 pesos, and as a promotion, we are giving you a further 400 pesos credit on your account”. I like TelCel! The Canadian cellular carriers (among the most expensive in the world) could learn a thing or two!
Mary’s brother in law Raphael (23) is building a small restaurant here at the house. He’s on a month holiday from his job as a chef at a hotel in town. So there’s been a bit of construction beside us, but nothing that’s bothered us. Tomorrow, they are pouring the concrete for the floor. He is doing the majority of the work all by himself, but apparently some helpers are coming tomorrow. Want to open your own small restaurant? No permits, no taxes, no red tape…you just do it.
Here's a variety of photos from the day...
Pretty flowers on a tree
Plantains grow across the street
Whiskey, Nataly, Mary, Ruth, and Kevin out for a walk
Building a restaurant
Raphael, getting the floor ready for concrete
That's going to be a great little restaurant! Hope that goes well for him. Great entrepenurial spirit there!
ReplyDeleteHow are your ants? I had a nighmare about that the other night, oh well, would still take the weather over this snow we are getting anyday!
Cheers!!!
Looks like you had a fun day, I guess the liqour prices in Canada are higher than the States, I buy a bottle of annisette for my coffee now and then it goes for 10 dollars a bottle here, it was eleven in PA. I believe the taxes make the difference, as PA and NY have some of the highest taxes in the USA. Have a great day. be safe out there. Sam & Donna...
ReplyDeletehi guys, i'm glad to hear about your telcel account. i put 200 pesos on my phone yesterday and received 200 extra credit. but, it has limitations. you may want to check your account to see what the restrictions are on extra time. enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm? I'm not so sure I'd be the first in line to eat at a restaurant with no permits as that probably means no inspections either!
ReplyDeleteWBY...yep, still getting some ants, but not as bad as before. They seem to like getting into Whiskey's food.
ReplyDeleteSam and Donna...Yes, liquor and beer prices are MUCH higher in Canada than the U.S. It is mostly high taxes, and in Ontario we also have highly paid unionized people to hand us our liquor and beer when we shop.
Chris...I still can't get into the site to check our account. Maybe we can try and fix that in Monterrey on our way out of Mexico.
Rick...I may be wrong but I highly doubt that there are restaurant inspections anywhere in Mexico!
I am really enjoying your Mexican journey!
ReplyDelete