January 15, 2025 - Another Excellent Day

 My Wednesday routine today went well.  Noemi arrived promptly at 8 a.m. to clean.  I walked over to the Luxury Concept Peluqueria Spa to enjoy a manicure, pedicure, shampoo/head massage and blow dry.  A bargain at $34.  Also nice to walk in and be warmly greeted, by name.  

After the spa I made a quick trip to the grocery store which was significantly less crowded and more pleasant than my weekend visit.  Bummer that I didn't realize until I got home that I forgot paper towels and coffee.  Ah, well.  Good excuse to go back tomorrow.

Once back in the apartment I did my normal stuff.  Laundry, studied some Spanish, tutored some English and chilled.  A very nice day.  Here are a few photos.

Door open, coffee with a view.  A delightful way to start each day.

I've been coming home from my beach walks and even after stomping and doing my best to wipe off all the sand, it still gets in my apartment.  This morning, I found the foot washing station tucked around the corner from the lobby.  Yes!

There are a number of hotels like this one, across the street from the spa.  No ocean view but about $30 a night.  And two blocks from the beach.

Where I happily spend my Wednesday mornings.  I arrived a few minutes early so hung out under the shade of a tree.  A young man, selling tours, joined me.  He said hello and held up his brochures, with a questioning look.  I said "No thanks" and thought he'd leave.  But he stayed and we just watched the traffic together, enjoying a quiet moment.  After about five minutes, I said good bye and headed to the spa.  He wished me a good day.  I've felt nothing but safe and welcome here since I arrived.

The only other customers this morning were three middle-aged Colombian men.  They get as many men as women for manicures and pedicures.

That weird looking chair is where I get my shampoo and head massage.  Heavenly.  It converts into a massaging lounge chair.

I was apparently very relaxed because my watch kept going off, telling me to "Wake up!".  Shut up, Fitbit.

Roland has accepted my challenge to cook some pulpo when he arrives.  The challenge is making it tender.  You can buy a whole octopus (about 1 kg) for about $10.

They have a variety of salmon, which is pricier than in the US.

I'm not sure I'd want to meet these chickens alive.  Those are some HUGE chicken breasts.

I picked up some ground beef for dinner tomorrow.

Masa de maiz is used for making arepas, tamales and other local favorites.

It comes in white and yellow.

I love grape/cherry tomatoes.  They sell a lot at Carulla, with varieties I've never seen before.  These are just four of the different types they sell.

The water looks very brown today.  Because it is windier than normal?

They do not play with the warning labels on food here.

This ham was delicious but apparently not good for my health because it is too salty.  Now, I look for the ones that warn of excess sugar, salt and trans fats.  So tasty!

Food delivery is so cheap and easy, I've been very lazy about preparing meals.  Here's my lunch of gooseberries, ham, cheese and saltines.

I got this from the bakery.  I thought it was cake but it was puff pastry layers with arequipe, which is what is called dulce de leche in Argentina and caramel in the US.  It was very heavy and very sweet and shockingly, I tossed 1/2 of it.  

Noemi does a great job of cleaning.

This view is not getting old.  That's the pool and the Caribbean beyond.

One wall of the apartment is glass,with great views.

The Old City at sunset.

The sky at sunset doesn't disappoint.  And the hot tub has been busy every evening since I arrived.