* A Home Depot Day

It was a 'Home Depot' day today.  YES, there is one close to SMA, about one hours drive.  We hired our driver Luis again and off we went at 8:00 am.  By 9:00 am, we were focused, driven and 'on'.  List in hand we trundled up and down the isles selecting all the essentials to set up a new home.  When you build or buy a home here it is 'bare'.  There are no cupboards, shelving or light fixtures.  I chose the light fixtures for the bathroom today, all three ceiling fans and track lighting for the kitchen.  Not as much choice as we would have in Canada or the US.  I will probably end up spray painting some of the fixtures with high heat spray paint.  The ceiling fans are simply white with no light.  I'm hoping they will disappear while keeping the air circulating.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I need air - the kind that moves.  I purchased hoses for the three hose outlets, a basic set of tools, pots for five bamboo plants Sylvia gave me when she divided hers.  There are hose holders, motion detector lights, a ladder, shower curtain and rings, drawers for storage, hose nozzles, a grab bar for the shower, shower holder for soap and shampoo, basic garden tools .. and so it went.  It took us two hours to accumulate the goods, and one hour to check out.  Staff decided with our three carts loaded to the hilt, we should check out at a special till where we would receive a "descuento" (discount).  On the way out, they check our carts, like they would do at Costco.  Here they are truly focused. They have very official looking uniforms.  This makes them feel powerful.  When I snapped a couple of shots, I was told "NO".  Every item has to be checked off.  They dug into bags and searched the bottom of our carts.  By the time we had the goods in the car, one hour had passed by.  We needed a healdo (ice cream).  Luis knew just the place and we rolled up to the back of an old pick up truck where two young men were selling home made ice cream.  Delicious.  Today I had chocolate.  Luis had some sort of 'cocktail', a little of this, and a little of that, piled high in a cup.  Sylvia and I chose cones.  By the time drove back to San Miguel and unloaded all my goods at de Luz, it was 2:30 pm.  It was a good day and we had fun.  I have some of the 'essentials' to begin a new life.

Sylvia delights in the gardening department.  The fig plant with the braided trunk which you see Luis wheeling around was $10.00.  It was the last one.  Sylvia saw it first!  Fair is fair.  Actually, it is absolutely gorgeous.

Sylvia and Luis at the counter arranging our discuento.

Three carts full

No photos Senora

Where's the rest going to fit?  We did get it all in.

"Remember today, for it is the beginning of always.  Today marks the start of a brave new future filled with all your dreams can hold.  Think truly to the future and make those dreams come true."  

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished.
That will be the beginning."
Louis L'Amour