The angels on our shoulder

Wednesday, January 7, 2009


We both stayed up pretty late, each on our own computer. Me,updating the blog pictures and Ramiro doing some research on the web, as well as reading the blog.
He pointed out that by clicking on the photos they can be enlarged. I did not know that.

It is a lot cooler here and I turn on the furnace before we hit the shower.

As Ramiro slowly drives over the cobble road that leads us out of the village. I walk ahead scouting out the road and getting my daily walk.
There are vehicles on both sides of the street. As a snake he works de RV and car through the tiny street. At the end another vehicle pulls in and the driver disappears in the coffee shop. I go inside and ask if anyone knows who the driver of that Telemex truck is. They all look at me like they are saying: What’s that Gringa doing here. But one man raises his hand and walks up to me. I explain that we are driving a large Motorhome and are having trouble getting out onto the highway. Would he mind moving his vehicle? “Por Supuesto Señora” he says smiling and he moves his vehicle.
Gee, everyone is so friendly and I am so proud of myself that I actually did this all in Spanish. As long as they use simple words, I can understand them. I always ask people with whom I have a longer conversation, to talk to me as if they talk to a child. And I do not mean using words like Choo, choo and Dada or night, night.

After the first (pricey) toll booth on the Autopista we drive by the Laguna Atolmilco, with behind it on both side the Sierra Tapalpa.
Most of the Laguna is dry now. On a hot sunny day you can see a mirage, but as you get closer there is no water at all, just silt. During strong winds, you will see nasty sand storms.


This road is very familiar. Last year we drove it by bus and again, coming back by van.
We feel soo much more relaxed on the four lane. No traffic pushing behind us and no cars coming straight ahead of you as they pass the slower vehicles.

Nno, not me”. He says. It comes from the bathroom. I fill the tank with a few shots of Sanideodorizer and open the window. We don’t want the folks in Cofradia to think that the Honey truck is arriving.

The scenery is spectacular here. It’s much dryer, so less green.

Finally we have an opportunity to pull over for a bathroom break and to get a snack.
There’s a small truck parked beside us on the left. A larger truck pulls up ahead of us. The small truck then backs up and moves in closer to the large truck backwards. The drivers each start to undo their tarps.
I am ready to leave, but Ramiro wants to wait. “I want to see this drug deal taking place”. He says. The drivers each climb into their cargo area and with great anticipation we wait to see what comes out of the truck.
The driver from the small truck bends down to pick up something and throws it to the other guy. What is it??????? Radishes!!!!!! Nice drug deal Ramiro!!!

We enter Colima, one of the smallest states of Mexico. After our second and final Toll booth I start following the direction Ted sent me. Soon we see the Volcano. We’re almost there.
For ten minutes we drive on a very narrow, winding road, which is only used for the Sugar cane trucks and cows. On the side are tall bushes, trees or sugar cane and no shoulder. You can’t see a thing ahead of you.
Before each corner Ramiro blows his airport. We hate to see one of those trucks (or a cow) plow into us.

We approach Cofradia. Ted’s instructions suggest for us to park along the road at the beginning of town and walk to the office at the Hacienda.
It’s not far. As we enter the gate, we see many familiar faces and are greeted warmly.
There is our friend Joe, Susan, Ted and four of the Project Amigo employees we met last March. We meet a volunteer from Alaska, Kathy who is preparing for the Vision Work Week, for which a group of volunteers will arrive Friday and Saturday.
We also meet two couples, one from Canada, Susan and Don and the other couple, Penny and Jim from California. They are staying in Colima, where the Californians rent a house every year for the winter. They are big supporters of Project Amigo and came to say hello.

The staff are just starting a meeting with Ted and Susan. “After lunch, we will bring the Motorhome in” we are told.
So we decide to go for a walk. The two couples are also leaving and ask if we want to join them for lunch. We hesitate and explain all our cash is in de RV. “Not a problem, it’s our treat”. They say. Not knowing where we are going we do not bother telling anyone. We get in the car and drive up a mountain road. There is a cute outdoor restaurant on the hill overlooking the volcano on one side, and the valley on the other side. Down below is a small lake and a very popular picnic area for the locals. We need to come back here.
We have a wonderful lunch and return to the Hacienda, where we are told that everyone is looking for us.
We drive in the box of the little Toyota Pick Up to the RV with Diego (the official Project Amigo driver) and Ted to the RV. The car is removed from the dolly and the dolly attached to the Pick Up.
It’s so tight and those cobble stones make the RV shake from left to right. I am so glad I am in the car driving behind, because I can’t stand listening to the dishes and everything else rattle inside. Ramiro drives very slowly. Diego drives with him, keeping his eyes open. Even though Diego always drives the PA (from now on I will use this to refer to Project Amigo) bus, it is obvious that they don’t have any idea how difficult it is to maneuver this thing around the corner. A tree on the corner get to see the tail end of the RV from as close as 2 inches and so does a pole at the other corner.
Joe also hops into the RV. Ted is ahead of us with the Toyota and the the dolly behind.
One more turn at the square and we hobble on the little country road for another half Kilometer. There is Diego’s farm. We make it down the steep hill and barely through the gate onto the grassy area behind the little house on he lot.
It’s very uneven and we are having difficulty leveling the beast. The self leveling jacks are doing their best, but the wheels are lifted off the ground and that is a no, no.
With wood under the wheels we get it almost level.
All the guys are helping. The water hose goes over the roof of the house and gets attached to the tap in the back. Power comes our of the addition to the house and a hole on the other side of the fence is dug for the sewer. Our sewer hose is extended by a piece of pipe that ends in the hole, which is then covered up with a nice piece of corrugated roof. These guys know what they’re doing.

We open a few bottles of wine and toast to our safe arrival. This will be home for a at least a few weeks.

At times we did not know if we would ever get here, but all along an angel has been sitting on our shoulders, guiding us, encouragin us and giving us warnings and hints. We were never alone.

We unload the many boxes of Vitamins we have brought, the fabric for the sewing school and the jeans for the kids.

We still need groceries and drive with our car to Colima, about 3o minutes out of town. Joe comes along as our guide. It is too late to make supper at home so we stop at a small Italian place for something light to eat.
I can hardly keep my eyes open and dive straight into bed after putting some of the groceries in the fridge.

We’re home.