The Ready or Not Adventure Guide

As I have already mentioned, one of Ryan’s New Year’s resolutions for 2017 is to try 100 different food/drinks.  The longer we’re in Vietnam, the more I’m discovering that I’m also trying an assortment of new things, whether or not I intend to do so.  Here are some of the surprises we’ve found on our plates so far.  Some have been more surprising than others.

1) Shrimp fries

These crispy little critters were just cooked right in.  They weren’t terrible to the taste, if you could get past the texture.  I actually thought they were a little bland, but I’m sure the sauces on the table would have fixed that right up.

2) Goby fish

In truth, Ryan hasn’t been nearly as adventurous since he ordered these.  When they came out, he wasn’t sure what to do, so he just ate the whole thing and the lady that worked there looked horrified.  After the first one, he left the heads and tails…

3) Beef ball soup

I still don’t know what these were but I’m thinking that they weren’t actually testicles (although I’ve only head fried testicles, so I don’t really know).  They were pretty dense and somewhat chewy with less flavor than I’d expected.  Again, I think adding spice is expected, it’s just a shame I really can’t tolerate much at all…

4) Vietnamese BBQ

This place was pretty interesting.  We tried the octopus and some pork.  Both were good with lots of flavor and we actually liked the texture, which was surprising to me.  A little rubbery here, and little crunchy there, not too bad at all.

5) Mystery seafood soup

We found that little tidbit floating around in our soup.  It looked kind of like an eyeball.  I couldn’t get up the nerve to try it but Ryan did.  He said that it popped and a paste-like substance squished out…we still haven’t figured out what it is but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t an eyeball.

6) The non-assuming banh mi

I’ve come to learn the hard way that the simple, non-assuming banh mi can kick my ass in the spice department.  Every time I bite into one of those hidden peppers, my world ends for about fifteen minutes.  Not fun.  Not fun at all.

7) Crispy fish

It was a dark and humid night and I had finally decided to brave the mysterious world of seafood and order my first Vietnamese fish.  I thought crispy fish would be safe.  After all, we’d had our share of fresh fish in Colombia and they were always good.  You just had to give it a good picking through with your fork first.  However, this one arrived with chopsticks, and I was at a complete loss for words.

8) Broiled fish

Same dark and humid night.  I did manage to find a silver lining.  When Ryan’s broiled fish came out–also accompanied by chopsticks–I considered myself lucky.  (Although his had surprisingly good flavor.)

9) Banh tam bi

This southern Vietnamese dish consists of thick rice and tapioca noodles covered in pork, drenched in coconut cream dressing.  I loved the idea of this dish, but the consistency of the noodles and the strange mix of flavors were a little off-putting.  I think the truth of the matter is that it just looked pretty gross, and I never got past it.

10) Crab and shrimp pizza with Thousand Island dressing

So we knew what we were ordering this time, but we were curious enough to do it.  One or two pieces were good, but after that, all I could taste was the dressing.  It was definitely worth the try, but not something I’d likely order again.

The result of this culinary craze is that I’ve developed a food suspicion.  When my order comes I have taken to looking everything over very closely before popping it into my mouth.  Sometimes I find that the coast is clear.  Other times however, I find that I’m not so lucky.  Instead of tasting the tempting morsel I thought I’d ordered, I taste fear.  It’s a flavor that has become all to familiar.  Now, it seems that there is only one thing left to do.  Have courage and look to the silver lining, which in this case is weight loss.  Little did Ryan and I know, we were achieving both of our goals simultaneously.  Ryan gets to try new things, and I’ve lost ten pounds!

The minute Ryan and I landed in Danang, I let out a big sigh of relief.  The air was fresh, the traffic was light, and our hotel was a three minute walk from the beach.  I’ve always appreciated the beach, especially since I grew up in Wyoming surrounded by sagebrush.  I love the sand and the sound of the waves and the color of the water.  When I discovered that My Khe Beach (aka China Beach) stretches for twenty miles, I knew that Danang was going to be my kind of place.  And better yet, this was only one of the many beaches in the area, which include some of the best beaches in Vietnam.

Although Danang has a population of roughly a million people, the city didn’t feel especially large or intimidating.  I could finally cross the street without worrying about getting hit by a scooter or run over by a car and my ears weren’t plagued by the constant blaring of car horns.  The traffic was surprisingly light, so much so that Ryan and I decided to rent a scooter.  As it turns out, I really enjoyed exploring the area from the back of a scooter.  Our night ride was especially fun because we got to see the dragon bridge all lit up (even though it didn’t shoot fire, which I understand it does do).

Once we were equipped with our very own scooter we were free to zoom around at our leisure.  One of our early adventures took us to Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain.  The route was green and the breeze in our faces felt great.  We stopped at several more beaches along the way.  We just had to remember to use caution when we climbed back on the scooter, since the seat could get very warm.  And of course, helmets on.

One of my favorite stops along the Monkey Mountain route was at Son Tra Resort & Spa.  They have opened up their facility to the public and allow free access to their beach, which was beautiful.  Their resort was impressive and I think that it would be a great place for a family get-together.  In addition, their restaurant served good smoothies.  It was nice to stop in and relax while enjoying a lovely view.

By the second or third day Ryan and I had seen many of Danang’s nearby beaches and we were a little puzzled that there were not more people out enjoying them.  As far as beaches go–and nice beaches at that–the beaches around Danang were practically deserted.  I had read that there is quite an undertow.  We did see many signs posted along the coast that prohibited swimming and I assume that this was the reason.   Still, the sand was nice and while the water was a little on the cool side during this time of year, I expected to see more beach bums.  The only people we did see out enjoying the beaches were other tourists much like ourselves.

The answer, at least one of them, came the next morning when we got up and ventured out at 6am to watch the sunrise.  It turned out that dawn was a happening place on My Khe Beach.  People were out running and dancing and swimming and stretching to loud and upbeat music.  It was pretty much the only time we saw the locals enjoying the water and Ryan kept insisting (jokingly) that the locals of Danang are vampires.  As soon as the sun rose, they were gone.  I had to admit that it was pretty funny watching them clear out with the first traces of light.  It served as a good reminder that it occasionally pays to drag one’s butt out of bed.

With one mystery nearly solved we were soon onto our next.  There are several ways of telling when you’re getting close to Marble Mountain.  Not only can it be seen from a good distance away, but the closer you get, the more marble shops begin to line the streets.  If you’ve somehow managed to miss both of these signs, you will probably be approached by a local on a scooter.  She will zoom up beside you and tell you to follow her–she’ll show you the way.  She will (somewhat aggressively) escort you to free parking outside her family’s shop.  Once you are there, she will waive you inside.  Before you know it, you will have bought a $20 USD marble rooster that was lovingly carved by her father.  But what can you do?  You loved the rooster.

In all seriousness though, visiting Marble Mountain was definitely worth the trip.  We wandered in and out of caves and pagodas and temples until it started to rain.  We initially took shelter but when it continued to rain harder and harder, we bought a couple of flimsy rain ponchos and continued on our way.  Poor Ryan had a hard time fitting into his, but he made it work.

Ryan and I stayed on the peninsula and I noticed a distinct difference between the peninsula and the city itself. Not only did the peninsula have a distinctly industrial feel, but the food options were much more limited.  For the most part, there was one option.  Seafood.  Normally I would have been thrilled because I love seafood.  The problem (for us) was three fold.  First you had to pick your dinner from where it was swimming around in a tub.  Second you had to tell them how you wanted it prepared.  The third and biggest issue was that neither of us speaks Vietnamese. If you happen to make it this far, a fourth problem might appear in the form of chopsticks.  Your food might even be brought to you raw, in which case, you’ll have to cook it for yourself.

Another interesting aspect regarding our visit to Danang concerned our accommodations.  Our hotel served a great breakfast and the rooms were very nice.  However, they didn’t afford a whole lot of privacy and we kept getting locked in our room.  Ryan eventually mastered the technique, but every time I tried to open the door from the inside, an alarm would go off and in a panic, I’d hide in the bathroom in front of the see-through glass wall.  Don’t ask me why, it was just something that I kept doing…

So, despite some fishy business finding food and an interesting view and an over-priced marble rooster, we really enjoyed our trip to Danang.  In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we’re going to try to move there once my CELTA course has ended.  If I’ll lucky, we’ll be able to find a place near the beach with a good view.  I’ll just have to learn how to order (and eat) the seafood.

Ryan and I recently ventured to a new part of the city.  District 7 is one of the larger districts in Ho Chi Minh City and is one of Saigon’s main expat districts.  Our primary purpose of checking this area out was to determine if we would want to relocated there, once my CELTA class has concluded and I’m ready to start bringing in the dong.

What I found was promising.  The streets are much wider, the traffic is more manageable, and there are fewer people.  Much to Ryan’s dismay however, there are fewer street food vendors and the cost of living is definitely higher.  It also looked like there were some pretty nice houses in addition to a variety of upscale restaurants.

District 7 is home to many highly rated and well respected learning institutions.  We spent most of the day just walking from one school to another, stopping at some malls along the way, and getting a feel for the area.  All the while, I tried to picture myself living there for a year or more.

After hours of exploring I decided that I could be happy living in District 7.  Not only would I likely be within walking distance of my workplace, but the pace of the area was much more relaxed and appealing (to me).  One of the major selling points for me was Crescent Park.  It’s near the rainbow bridge and looks like a good place to go running.  Who knows, I may even get up the courage to drive a scooter.  Wouldn’t that be something!

Ryan and I have been living in Ho Chi Minh City for a month now.  It’s definitely taken some getting used to but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t noticed some pretty impressive things happening here in this bustling and mysterious place.  The following top ten list shows the highlights from my time in Ho Chi Minh City thus far:

1) Tet Decorations

My last post was all about Tet, so I’ll try to not be too redundant.  Let me just say that seeing all the beautiful flowers and impressive decorations has been fantastic.  The city was decorated when we arrived and many of the decorations are still standing.  They look great, especially at night when they are lit up.  Everywhere you go they are a little different.  Decorating is something that the Saigonese seem to take very seriously and I greatly appreciate it.

2) Gold Member Seats

We had only been in the city for a few days when Ryan took me on a surprise adventure to the cinema at CGV Liberty Citypoint.  We purchased gold member seats (sort of by accident), and enjoyed reclining chairs, blankets, and tea in a theater that could accommodate only ten or so viewers.  This was the coolest movie experience I’ve ever had!  Thank you Ryan for the awesome treat!  Also, thank you language barrier, LOL.

3) Bun Cha 145

So far this has been my favorite restaurant.  As the name suggests, Bun Cha 145 introduced me to bun cha which is a dish of grilled fatty pork served with white rice noodles (vermicelli) in a tasty sauce.  In addition, I had the best dessert that I’ve had in a long time–fruit-filled deep fried spring rolls.  They were amazing!  What a great meal and one that I hope to repeat as often as possible.  They’ve been closed for a couple of weeks for Tet, but as soon as they reopen, we’ll be back!

4) People’s Committee Building

The magnificent Uy Ban Nhan Dan Thanh Pho Ho Chi Mihn (Ho Chi Minh People’s Committee Building) is located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard.  This area’s splash of French architecture is my favorite part of District One.  We were able to see it before, during, and after Tet and it’s always a nice place to walk through.  It’s also very near the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

5) Bubble Tea!

It’s taken me a while to figure out how to order this tea because they have it everywhere and it’s always a little bit different.  There are so many choices about which kind of tea (I like the milk tea versions) and which “bobas” go into it that I never quite know what I’m doing.  Usually, I guess and I point.  This milk tea?  These bobas?  I personally prefer the black ones.  They have subtle flavor and by far the best texture (in my opinion).  Usually I get what I was hoping for, but regardless, it’s always good.

6) Warm Drizzly Rain

The first few days we were here, it rained every afternoon for an hour or so.  The rain was warm and we walked a good distance without getting soaked.  We’ve had two or three rainy days since, and sometimes it really rains hard, but for the most part the weather has been either overcast or warm and sunny.  It will definitely be interesting to see what happens during “monsoon” season.  My understanding is that it rains for six months!

7) Bun Thit Nuong

This is my favorite dish.  It generally consists of grilled fatty pork over rice vermicelli (with spring rolls, if I’m lucky).  Lots of fresh greens are added, as well as a fish sauce on the top.  We’ve managed to find it in many locations within walking distance and that means that I’m a happy girl.  My favorite versions have mint, but that’s not as common.  I must add that it’s entirely possible that I’m ordering the wrong thing and that the ones that come with mint are actually a completely different, yet similar dish with a similar name.  Regardless, the bun thit nuong gets two thumbs up from me.

8) Wet Hand Wipes

It’s important to not forget the little pleasures in life.  Having these wet hand wipes may be a simple thing, but it feels so stinking good to use them.  They are thick and soft and they make your hands feel so nice and clean.  In addition, they are often the only hand wiping option as I’m finding more and more restaurants that don’t have napkins available.  These usually cost $3,000-$5,000 VND (about $0.20 USD) and are worth every penny!

9) Jackfruit!

OMG!!!  This fantastic fruit tastes just like bubble gum!  I could eat it until the end of time.  We’re talking morning, noon, and night.  I was first introduced to jackfruit in a beverage.  I didn’t know what it was but it had bits of coconut and what I believed to be mango floating around in it so I was sold.  The mango turned out to be jackfruit instead.  I’ve been keeping an eye out for it ever since.  We found a lady that sells it just around the corner and I get a pack when I want to treat myself to something extra special.  It usually cost $25,000 VND (about $1 USD).

10) Home Sweet Home.

Ryan and I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City during high season.  In early January it’s not too hot and it’s not raining and people often come to spend the remainder of their vacation before going back to their busy lives.  This made apartment hunting a little difficult.  It didn’t help that we were looking for something for two months (and for two people).  This is generally thought of as too long for a short-term rental and too short for a long-term rental.  However, we found one!  It’s a tight fit but the shower is somewhat separate and the AC is awesome!  A maid also comes twice a week and does our laundry.  It’s a pretty nice set-up.

Ryan and I hadn’t been in Ho Chi Minh City long when everything shut down for Tet New Year celebrations.  This meant many different things.  On the upside, this was a great time to explore the city on foot.  For the first time since we’d arrived, we didn’t have to wade through people.  Traffic decreased by at least half.  It was dead quiet (in comparison) and streets were suddenly very easy to cross.

On the downside, it suddenly became very difficult to find food.  Everything closed as people stayed home to celebrate with their families.  We also ran out of clothes because the lady that cleaned our building had collected our laundry and then virtually disappeared for about a week.  I only had a couple things and I was washing them in the sink and shower just about every-other day.

As you can imagine, I quickly grew tired of this and finally I went in search of our missing garb.  I found them on the roof and after a few glances this way and that (although I don’t know why I bothered), I reclaimed what was ours and made a B line for our room.  I wondered if she’d be confused when she returned to work and found a good portion of the clothing missing, but I didn’t really care.

After that I was reluctant to let her take our clothes again.  I started stashing them in places where she wouldn’t find them and take them away and potentially keep them for a week or more.  However, it wasn’t long before I was facing the same situation and I had a choice to make.  I could either give them up, or I needed to get busy washing them by hand.

The next time she came to clean I had them ready for her in a bag.  I have to admit my stomach tightened a little as I watched her take them away.  I wondered how long it would be until I saw them again.  Luckily she brought them back a couple of days later.  The turnaround time was much better when Tet wasn’t thrown into the mix.  Still, it was always a little difficult for me to say goodbye every time laundry day rolled around.

Ryan and I are currently living in Ho Chi Minh City where they just finished celebrating Tet (Tết).  This is the Vietnamese New Year.  Tet is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture and Ho Chi Minh City has roughly 8 million inhabitants, so we were expecting A PARTY.

Tet usually lasts for three days although the “festivities” can last for a week or more.  It takes place in late January or early February, depending on the Vietnamese lunar calendar.  Ryan and I saw some pretty impressive decorations in the weeks leading up to Tet.  Signs in both Vietnamese and English announced the coming of 2017, The Year of the Rooster.  We even stumbled upon a few small-scale dragons dances.  Things were gearing up and I was getting excited.

When the official days arrived however, beginning on the eve of January 27th this year, I discovered the complete opposite of what I had been expecting.  The city was the quietest I’ve ever seen it!  Most of the businesses were closed and the public areas were practically abandoned.  This was completely the opposite of what Ryan and I have experience during our travels through South America and Mexico on national holidays.  We were shocked.

Apparently, this mysterious and somewhat elusive holiday celebrates the arrival of spring.  I suspect that this might be one of the reasons that the city was overrun with flowers.  Not only do they make wonderful gifts, common during Tet, but they were also used to make elaborate flower displays.  The flowers were by far my favorite part.  They sure beat all the food stall closures.  Tet may be the only holiday during which I’ve lost weight.  Luckily this was one of my New Year’s resolutions, so all is well.

I have since learned that Tet is celebrated in a big way, only the celebration is relatively private and held mainly at home surrounded by family.  At least Ryan and I got that part right.  We spent the Vietnamese New Year together in our quiet and cool shoe box of an apartment.  It wasn’t too shabby either.  I have a feeling I’m going to be learning a lot in 2017.  The rooster is going to be picking my brain all year long!

When Ryan’s aunts came to visit us in Mexico back in November, Aunt JoAmy noticed that I walk slightly duck-footed.  This was news to me.  Still, I didn’t give it too much thought until my mom pointed out the same thing.  This was a few weeks ago in Portland.  I was trying shoes on in preparation for my journey.  That was when Mom noticed that my right foot is turned out more so than my left.  Strange right?  And she insists that this is a fairly recent development.

Now that I find myself in the midst of rushing Ho Chi Minh City traffic, I am concerned that my duck foot is going to get run over.  I feel that this is a valid concern.  The traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is a sight to behold, espeically for a small town girl from Wyoming.  Ryan and I arrived two weeks ago.  We have been staying right downtown in the heart of the city.  Traffic is loud and bustling and the narrow sidewalks are so overrun with parked scooters that pedestrians are forced to walk in the street.  Cars and scooters zoom by with only inches to spare, and less so, if one of your feet is turned out, no matter how slightly.

I have become very much aware of my duck foot and what it is doing, especially today while I was braving my way along Bui Vien, one of the busiest streets in District One.  I had to keep an eye on this rogue foot (which happens to be the right) to be sure that it was pointing straight ahead.  This slowed my progress and eventually gave me the giggles.  Ryan finally decided we should walk on the other side of the street where my duck foot would be turned in away from traffic.  So, duck foot IN it was.

To make matters worse, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a store window and saw that my hair had grown outrageously fuzzy from the combination of the high humidity and drizzle of rain.  I was the fuzzy duckling and I was waddling down the busy street, splashing my way through the puddles.  Of course this only made me laugh harder.  It was a wonder I didn’t get hit!  Luckily I survived and lived long enough to tell the tale.  Tomorrow I’ll be doing it all over again and I’m going to have to learn to procede with extra caution.  This fuzzy duckling is just going to have to get used to her new self and remember to either walk on the right side of the road, or to keep that duck foot turned in.

I’m not going to lie.  So far our new adventure has been a little overwhelming.  Not only is Ho Chi Minh City huge and PACKED with people, but all of the sights, sounds, and smells are rather assaulting.  I hate to use such a strong word, especially one with such negative connotations, but it’s the truth of the matter for me, thus far.

That being said, my husband is in love.  He finds the energy of the city to be especially appealing.  We are staying right downtown in the heart of the city center in District One where there are endless culinary possibilities, among other things.  One of his New Year’s resolutions was to try one-hundred new dishes/drinks this year and we’re already making a commendable dent.

I am giving it a valiant effort, bumbling my way through yet another language barrier (I never thought I’d miss Spanish).  I often remember, albeit a little too late, not to cross my arms or point to things.  I try to pass money (here called VND or dong) with both hands, instead of one.  Still, I could not feel more out of place.  In fact I feel like a downright fraud surrounded by other travelers who seem to be naturally embracing this great city’s energy.  This includes my husband and good for him.

Don’t get me wrong.  It’s nice that we are surrounded by other travelers–we are in backbackers central, after all.  Yet I can’t help but wonder with more than a little envy how they make everything look so easy!  They (referring to the worldy women) even wear stylish dresses or flowing elephant pants while day in and day out, I continue to sport my active wear.  I’m more prepared to visit Machu Picchu than to mosey down the street in search of some fresh spring rolls.  Still, my clothes are as fast-drying and functional as I was hoping they’d be, so I suppose it should be kudos to me.

One of the most difficult things for me to get used to, besides the wet bath (the entire bathroom is always wet!), has been the time difference.  We are fourteen to fifteen hours ahead of our family and friends in Wyoming and Portland.  This means that when I call my Mom in Portland, I’m technically calling her from the future.  Her today is my tomorrow.  Although this is pretty cool, it serves as a strong reminder that I am in fact half a world away from all the people that I love, with the exception of my husband.  Vietnam is the farthest I’ve ever been away from home and I’m already a little bit lonely.

But chin up.  Like all things, my new adventure is just going to take some getting used to.  This may be my first Asian rodeo but it’s certainly not my first time on a horse.  (I know, I know, but I couldn’t resist.)  I’m sure I will find plenty of things to fall in love with.  The bubble tea has been a great start.  Until I’m feeling a little more at home, I’m just going to try to keep my eyes and ears open.  I’m going to keep trying new things.  Most importantly, I’m going to keep breathing.  Just so you know, this is more obvious to some people than it is to others.  So hello wide world.  Hello big bustling city.  And to all my family and friends that are still somewhere out there, hello from tomorrow.

This year, thanks to both my dedication to bingo and a lot of luck, I won two tickets to celebrate Thanksgiving at the American Legion in Chapala.  I had heard wonderful things about their Thanksgiving feasts and I was eagerly anticipating some turkey and pumpkin pie.

When Ryan and I arrived, we found the place decorated for the occasion.  We started with drinks and by the time they began serving dinner and delicious aromas were wafting through the air, we had worked up quite the appetite (or at least I had).  Luckily for me, our table was one of the first to be served, so I didn’t have to wait long.

My plate was set down before me and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to find it filled with both light and dark turkey, along with two kinds of potatoes (mashed and sweet).  In addition, there were green beans, stuffing with walnuts, and cranberry sauce.  The food was hot and it tasted delicious.

While we ate, we enjoyed some nice conversation with the gentleman who was sharing our table.  Although I was nice and full by the time I’d emptied my plate, I had thought far enough ahead to wear a stretchy skirt and so I made room for the pumpkin pie.

Ryan and I both left happy and full and made our way to the Chapala malecon for a nice stroll.  Did I mention we were thankful?  We were thankful for pie, and bingo, but mostly we were thankful for each other and for the wonderful adventures we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy over the past two years.  We are truly blessed.

 

Since I have moved to Ajijic, Tuesday has become my new favorite day of the week.  The reason is simple and it may be silly, but the truth of the matter lies in one word.  Bingo.  My name is Amanda and I will freely admit that I am an addict.  Not only am I addicted to the game of bingo, but I have found to my delight, that I am surprisingly lucky with dauber in hand.

So here’s how it works.  Every Tuesday I slip on comfortable flip flops and walk the mile into town.  It is a pleasant walk along the malecon of Lake Chapala and I usually take the opportunity to call my mom or my sister and chat with them along the way.  The event is held at Maria Isabella’s, which in my personal opinion makes the best naranjada in town.  This is like an orange version of a sweet lemonade and translates on local menus to “orangeade.”  It is fantastic.

Once I get to the restaurant, I hand Mike $200 pesos.  This is about $10 USD at the current exchange rate.  In return he gives me and an entire afternoon’s worth of fun!  This includes a colorful bingo packet of eight games with three squares per game, a Loteria card (which is the Spanish version of bingo), and a magical purple dauber.

Note: For an additional $100 pesos ($5 USD) I can double my chances of being a big winner by receiving a second complete bingo package for half price (hell yeah!).

In order to decide whether or not I would like to spend the second $100 big ones, I usually browse the prize table.  Gambling is highly regulated in Mexico and thus the winners of each round of bingo get to select a prize from the table, instead of receiving cash.  For me, there is no comparison.  I would take a prize any day.

Wayne and Richard have done an incredible job rounding up an assortment of prizes every week since the event began back in March.  All the proceeds go to students of the “Have Hammers…Will Travel” program which teaches young people from the ages of 8-14 some important skills and provides great opportunities for their futures.  http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3696-hammering-out-a-future-for-young-people-in-chapala-mexico

Prizes often include crafts built by the students of “Have Hammers…Will Travel” and often painted by Richard’s wife Cindy.  These are things like book ends, shelves, chihuahuas, etc.  I’ve accumulated quite the collection in the past several months, including Poco Loco, my chihuahua.

A variety of pictures and paintings can be found on most days.  My favorite prize of all time is a watercolor of a street in Ajijic that I frequent on my way to the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) for game day on Mondays.  The steeple of the new Catholic church can be seen in the background of the painting.  It was painted by a local favorite named Efren Gonzalez.  This picture is currently hanging in my hallway and every time I walk past it, I feel like a real winner!  (I’m not joking.)

I was also fortunate enough to win two large silkscreen pictures that go very nicely in my kitchen, as well as an artwork of the “Loteria” card to always remind me of how much I’ve enjoyed this past year.  The card in the artwork even displays a couple of my favorite items.  These include “el boracho” (the drunkard) and “la corona” (the crown).  Of all the efforts I’ve made to improve my Spanish in the last two years, playing the Loteria on Tuesdays has been the biggest help by far.

You might think that I’ve well finished going on about the bingo prizes by now, but think again.  My last big haul earned me tickets to the next upcoming event at the American Legion.  Thanks to this lucky round, I won tickets for Ryan and I to celebrate our Thanksgiving dinner there.  We enjoyed two kinds of potatoes (sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes), light and dark meat, green beans, stuffing, and cranberry something, which was good.  Not to mention pumpkin pie!  This was the first thanksgiving that I could include “bingo” in the long list of things I had to be thankful for.

Once again back to the prizes, although I’m almost finished.  There are often books and jewelry as well, in addition to coupons to use at the second-hand store “Todo Bueno” or Maria Isabella’s.  I’ve won several “date nights” this way and I think Ryan was fairly proud of me.  I also won a gift certificate to a local boutique where I picked up this fantastic hat!

Did I mention that the grand prize each week for the blackout is a trip to the beach town of La Manzanilla?  One lucky person wins this trip every couple of months.  My good friend Tina even won it earlier this year.  So yes, the prizes are fantastic.  Not only that, but playing bingo is just a lot of fun.

Each week I find my seat and arrange my cards in anticipation.  The wait staff at Maria Isabella’s is wonderful and they have taken to bringing me my naranjada as soon as they see me.  I order the Nachos Ajijic sin cebolla (without onions) in order to keep up my energy, or so I tell Ryan when I bring him my receipt afterwards.

Rick is the manager of Maria Isabella’s.  He takes his seat in the front of the restaurant and in his Mexican accent he says into the microphone, “Are you ready to rumble?”  People laugh and hoot and then Rick spins the balls…”And the first number is sweet sixteen,” he says.  That’s the moment I know for sure that it’s going to be a good day.  And it usually is.