Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Suds and Wax

Living in Mexico sure is a different cultural experience. Unfortunately, sometimes in Cancun I don't get to see the "real" Mexico. It even differs from neighbourhood to neighbourhood here. Por ejemplo in my neighbourhood we don't have the guy on his bike selling elote, or the icecream guy, etc... However, in my Suegros' neighbourhood they have it all - the gas trucks driving around blaring their music, the jardinero's, the ladies who iron looking for work, etc....

You know what we do have? Our very own car washer who also happens to serve as our gardener. Now I know allll the neighbourhoods have someone like this, but that's really all we have! You see, about twice a week he comes by the neighbourhood on his bike with a very small trailer attached and comes knocking. It's more like singing - I actually have no idea what he is saying, and hubby doesn't either!! Ni modo.

For $50 pesos he will hand wash the entire car inside and out. For $200 he will do all that and wax it. Now that is a deal. Sometimes nothing beats washing by hand, now does it? This morning he asked me for something to drink so he got an ice cold cerveza. I let him know it was his propina!


There he is ....

How cool is that??

8 comments:

Jackie said...

I'm sure you made his day! :)

Anonymous said...

We don't have much in my neighborhood either... a Novedades guy and the occasional gardener.

Leslie Harris said...

That is pretty cool! We don't have one of those in our neighborhood. I'm sure he loved his propina.

KfromMichigan said...

OK so next time I stay with you and not my friend!! :) I hate it when the gas man, water man, fruit man etc. wake me up early in the AM!

Unknown said...

Very cool i miss the elote man too but i totally understand what you mean i feel mexico is the no touristy places and of course i've only been to the tourist areas boo me i guess that means i've never been to mexico :(

bordersaside said...

We also have a neighboorhood mr fix it. He sits up at the corner close to our house and when we first moved in a neighboor told us only to trust him and that he has been working our area for ten years or more. He even had buisness cards. I love that we have all those guys driving by in our neighboorhood. My girls get as excited about the pan panedero guy as kids do about the icecream truck in the states. He also has a little song and I asked Issac what it says and it sings about "tell your mom and dad to buy you some bread" To funny I think it must be hipnotic because even my one year old screams "pan.. pan..." when we hear him coming.

ElleCancun said...

Jackie - Oh I think so!!! LOL!

Gringation - Not in your neighbourhood either?? So we aren't alone!! LOL!!!

Leslie - You may not have one of these, but I do know how much you do have!! LOL!!

KfromMich - hahaha, you bet!! Yes, I'm very grateful that it's not too loud, but we do have the loud cars!! VERY loud cars passing alllll the time!! LOL!!

Ruby - Hahaha, you get it!! Yeah, it works both ways for me! I love the fact that we have a Costco, etc.. However, I'd love to have a real zocalo, etc... I mean the one here is so different!!

Amanda - Awww...what a cute story!!! See, that's why I wish we had some more ppl passing by!! The REAL Mexico!!! LOL!!! Too cool amiga :)

Anonymous said...

I love all the people who come by offering their services. We get the truck painted like a cow that sells great cheese and that has a horn that "moos" the guy who uses a pan flute to let you know he will sharpen your knives, the gas truck,the elote cart and of course the tamale guy just to name a few.