Monday, January 23, 2012

A day spent at ease

Hands up those of you who know what this device is? Of course you do it's a washing machine - but what kind of washing machine? One with instructions in Spanish and an all in one machine. Set the wash up - wait for it to finish and then dry the clothes in the same machine. So what's so great about it? Its efficiency of course - uses little water and less hydro on the dry cycle. We had seen them in Europe but this was the first time we had to actually use one. No pictographs here, straight in at the deep end. Load it up press the right buttons and wait. The cycle is about three times longer than a normal machine but as said uses much less resources. And the results are just fantastic. Lets just say as we downsize the next cleaning/washing device might just be one of these.


Btut we couldn't hang around and admire the washing all day we had to change some money. Of course that can never be easy as each bank and cambio has a different rate. Today's rate for one US dollar ranges from as low as 12.30 pesos to 13.70 pesos. T bank we normally use is a short bus ride away but that was the easy part. As this bank paid a high rate it was always crowded. And to add to the waiting time was the recollection from last year that upon the first time in the bank a form had to be filled out giving passport and residency details. Anybody changing US money has to show a passport  for ID. Waiting to see the clerk who normally handled the form was painful as he was in the middle of issuing some form of loan to two middle-aged and garrulous women. Interrupting their mirth and merriment after fifteen minutes, I was told, in halting English by all parties involved that a form was not necessary. As  I arrived at the wicket, after another wait of fifteen minutes the first thing the teller told me was that I had to fill out a form. I told her, in a loud and visibly annoyable tone, that "That man told me I didn't have to" However I did, but as soon as she inputted the info into the computer my name popped up. You have been here before, "Yes two years ago." "OK", and I got my money. Just a normal day in Mexico.

1 comment:

  1. If you were a welfare recipient here at home you'd be very familiar with the confusion of contrary advice and the pointless paper shuffling, it's a time honoured technique to keep folks in their place. Just sayin'

    Also, can Doreen take a pic of you lounging on a tiny little chair like the guy in your earlier post? Just don't lean too far back and hurt yourself.

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