LandfallVoyages

Yesterday I went out for coffee again, obviously, and had to do a couple of errands.

After the first two, a stop at a pharmacia and something else that I can’t remember right now, I had to repeat the paint stripper journey.

I went to the same paint store and to the same taco stand as I had a few weeks ago. After both were done and I was riding my bicycle home, (BTW, riding a bicycle around Ensenada is like being a cat who lives in a neighborhood full of puddles and loose dogs) between dodging busses and potholes I had time to reflect on the difference between a few weeks ago and today.

I went to the Comex Pinturas store first. Last time it was really awkward and they had to go find the guy who spoke English. This time I was able to greet the girl in front well enough that she smiled rather than just looking confused, I asked for the paint stripper and she led me right to it without any difficulty, I made the purchase and then looked around for a few minutes just so that I would know what they had.  A different clerk came over and asked if I needed any help and I was able to tell him thanks, but I’m just looking around, all in decent Spanish, without any problems.

At the taco stand, I ordered dos tacos de adobada con todo y una fresca. That’s two marinated pork tacos with everything and a grapefruit soda, all for under $2.00. The owner was there and he’s a really nice guy who was a commercial fisherman and has traveled the whole Pacific in search of tuna. He speaks great English (and Tagalog and Norwegian) but he won’t speak English with me. He likes me, you see, and he wants me to practice my Spanish.

First we talked about the weather and pretty girls walking by. Then we moved on to sailing and my upcoming trip south. We covered a lot of geography of the North Eastern Pacific, all the ports down the outside of Baja and inside the Gulf of California, and the various attributes and expenses of most of the harbors. All in Spanish.

I left feeling proud of how much Spanish I’ve picked up since we’ve been here. I still have a LONG way to go, but progress, my friends, progress.

Comex Paint Stripper