Butane success

It only took about a half a day to get our BBQ butane tank refilled! Yahoo! I took the car to Santa Cruz which is about a one hour drive. It is similar to a time warp due to the best gringo radio station is stuck in the 70's and 80's. It brings back so many memories..

Next I pulled into the Tropigas plant for the refill. The large fence gates were locked and it was about 1215pm. I decided to get out of the car and look around for someone. It is really hot today as well as humid. After a few minutes I pushed open a gate and started in. I didn't want to go too far as I had left the car running. About that time a guard came around the corner holding his lunch. He started shaking his head no and talking in Spanish. I think he said that they were closed for lunch and to come back at 130pm. I smiled and thanked him. So I have over an hour to kill in Santa Cruz. I wander around pricing some things. Then our Chinese grocery store had some items that I had been looking for so I got my canvas shopping bags with my small ice chest and headed in. Crushed garlic in a jar! Oh baby! Some of the fruit and veggies were looking good so I grabbed some of them. I couldn't get myself to buy the meat today but I did find a frozen bag of broccoli. There was even four small strawberry yogurts. I finished off with some cans of spicy sardines for the boat and a jug of wine. After paying, the cashier maneuvered my cart through the broken sidewalk for about a block to my car and helped me load up. I really could have never negotiated that cart to my car with all the obstacles.

Time to check out Tropigas again. I pull in and the gates are still closed. It is almost 2pm. Then I see the guard about 100 yards away catching fruit from a tree. There is a guy on the ladder and they are working as a team. He sees me but they are busy for now. I wait in the air-conditioned car and listen to my tunes. After a few minutes, he approaches with his bag of limons (some type of lemons/limes). After I park near the loading dock, he motioned that we wants me to back the car in. I do. Then as he is filling my tank, he motioned to a trailer nearby and says something in Spanish. He repeats it a couple of more times and then I realize he wants me to pay and to tell her something like 20 liters. I know it is not liters but I try that anyway as it was the best I could do. Inside the trailer was a beautiful young lady that understood the amount and charged me about $10.

A strong caballero (from the ladder) steps up to load it in my car. With my weak Spanish, I thank him and say he is so strong. He flexes and smiles. Now back to an hour of my time warp. Back home within four hours. Pretty good day.