Semana No Santa

I am in for a very low-key weekend.  I am down to my last peso (and, incidentally, it is my lucky peso that I found on the ground when I got here, so I am not spending it), and I went to the bank yesterday to get money.  They were closed.  They are closed until Monday, which means that I have the opportunity to figure out how to live muyyyyy simply.  I mean, I have everything I need - two meals a day from my host family, clean water, books, music, the internet, legs to take me to the beach...I shall survive.  And maybe learn a thing or two in the process about the spiritual benefits of austerity.

In any case, I'll never go hungry - the abuelita of the family is this cute old lady who LOVES to talk about nothing, for example, the mango trees in our yard.  There are, apparently, ten different types of mangoes here in Puerto.  I happen to love talking to her and activity participate in chatting with her whenever I can.  As a result, I am the beneficiary of many fresh mango gifts, so that I may taste and experience the difference between the types of mangoes...I can have mangoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Perhaps I can even sell a few for a couple pesos.  The possibilities are endless.

Yesterday I talked to a couple of locals, who really do not appreciate the Mexican spring breakers.  They both commented that they don't know why this week is called Semana 'Santa', when this week is anything but saintly. Sol told me that when she went surfing yesterday morning at 8 AM, there were still tons of drunk Chilangos (as are called the vacationing people from Mexico City) milling about from the night before, and she said the playa smelled like cerveza.  

I, however, got to witness something very holy on my way to Spanish class yesterday.  In front of the half-finished cathedral I found a crowd of people watching a live-reenactment of Jesus being hung on the cross.  To be honest, the human Jesus freaked me out just a little.

This morning while I blog, Pachi (as they call Maria Paz) is sitting here playing games on my I-phone. She is obsessed with it, and as a result I am pretty sure I am her favorite student who has every stayed in her house (I'm not ashamed to use to technology to get into people's hearts).  The phone is essentially hers now, and I borrow it every once in a while.  Here are me and Pachi hanging out on Saturday morning in mi casa. 

Happy Easter, everyone!!! xo