March 7 The Mexican banking system

 Ted returns frustrated yesterday afternoon, trying two different cards at two different banks and he can’t get local cash! Sheesh. We are in trouble. 

  First he thinks it may be because he was wearing his hat. We could not get money out of the wall in Cambodia because they could not see his face. We went into a bank later and it worked. It was also because our daily limit was low and with the time difference you could not take out more money on the same day. 

  Then he thinks it may be because of the  amount he is trying to withdraw. He keeps lowering it and starts to worry after several attempts it will keep his card!!

  Out on a long walk up the Paseo de Montejo, the big main Avenue, we find two banks - first one that will accept my MC caredit card and finally an HSBC that will accept Teds. We only ask for 3000 pesos ($250) and that seems to work!!

  The are nice classy shops along this avenue too, so I try to start spending some of it. Some nice souvenirs there. 

  We stop in at one museum on the way, a lovely old house set up in the style of 100 years ago - that is history?? My granny had some of that stuff in her kitchen...

  The old mansions and colonial homes here are beautiful. Many well restored, some falling apart. All with very high ceilings, multi colored town houses, our hotel included. 

  We walk to the impressive huge central Patria Monument, stop for gelato at the end, and walk back to catch a museum we missed. But with a half hour wait, we give it a miss and grab a cab home to cool off for the afternoon. I have only made it to the pool once so far, just pass out on my cool bed and read...

  But the pollution on the narrow streets (all one way) is awful and my eyes and nose keep telling me about it. Good news, Calles (streets) are numbered, odd one way, even the other.