Thursday, February 2, 2012

0725, Thu, 020212.     La Paz.     Happy Birthday Maxwell!  I hope your day is a great one.  It is also Groundhog Day as well as the birthday of one of our friends on Munjack Cay in the Bahamas, happy B'day Leslie.

We had another busy day yesterday, but very productive.  We started out before sunrise in the freezing cold.  By the time we made it to the docks we were both frozen.  We were grateful for the little bit of sunshine that was just peeking over the mountains.  We met up with Russ and Janet for a trip to get health insurance.  After walking a ways we hooked up with one of the local collectivos for a ride to the far side of town.  We had a vague idea where we were going and after asking several people we got within several buildings of our final location.  Russ was asking the parking attendant while the girls were asking the gardener and both concurred, we were only a stone's throw away.  We found the spot, good thing we came early.  After waiting with the group for awhile, a man lined up the crowd according to the number they had in hand.  We were the first at the end of the line without a number.  The group  was triaged, we then got a number, but Russ and Janet needed some copies.  We were number nineteen so made a beeline, about a half mile to the local copy place and back, now ready.  They were on number two when we got back.  It was going to be a long wait.

It was a long wait but nothing like I thought it would be.  Russ and Janet went up and then we finally got our turn.  Russ helped out tremendously with what to expect.  They ask your status of living and base the price of insurance on that.  They asked such things as, "Do you have a refrigerator, stove, ….wood, cement, or dirt floors, how many bathrooms and how many bedrooms.  We all passed, with a premium of $125 for a year.  Next step is a trip to the bank, again about a half mile away, to pay the premium.  It was the first and it was getting near noon so the bank was packed.  Russ and I people-watched as the girls stood in the long line that filled the bank lobby.  Watching the people, you would never know you were in Mexico.  Sue popped her head out the door at one point and motioned she needed something to drink so I headed down to the corner Oxxo (7-11) and picked up a water.  They finally made it through the long line and came out with receipt in hand.  Back over to the office, got finger printed and signed forms, then we were done.  Success.

We thought we might as well see what we signed up for so we walked a quarter mile down the road to find a brand new hospital, as good as any hospital I have ever seen.  This is one of two brand new hospitals in town that we can choose from.  How kewl is that? 

With our health card in hand we headed to the Mega store to do some shopping.  The collectivo dropped us off a block from the store which was found easily with the help of several locals on the bus.  We picked up lunch while at the store, filled our packs with food, and headed back to the marina on foot a successful day done.

R and J came over after packing food away and I mentioned we hadn't seen Scott, our neighbor, for several days.  Russ got on the radio and found, sure enough, he hadn't been feeling good the last few days and was simply laying low for a bit.  He joined us for cards and the battle was on.  We made it through a round of Baja Rummy and then introduced Scott to 64.  A fun evening.

We retired to yet one more movie.   Showing was another movie Bert and Petra had left with us called Thrive.  It was about the global economy and lots of answers about how we got to the state we are in.  It is presented by Gamble of Proctor and Gamble and has some very interesting stuff.  I think it will be one of those shows that needs several watchings to pick it all up…….more later..