San Juanico. San Juanico is where there is a cruisers shrine. Boats stop here and gather on the beach to tell their stories around a camp. When you leave you put something about yourself or your boat on the shrine. This is a tree with stuff hanging all over it. When we were there we found mementos left from many boats we have known from the Tacoma area. One in particular was special to us. Colin from S/V Vita Bella is a CYCT club member, from Tacoma


be fixed, but did not have the time or money (my portion after insurance would be $10,000) to get it fixed in Tacoma. Thursday, Dec 16th, Becky and I were walking through town on our way to visit an old Copper mine museum and came across a hospital. Becky said, “What about that hernia repair? You said you’d get it done in another country.” So, we walked in and asked if they could do hernia surgery, how much and when could it be done.


check-in and meet the surgeon (Dr. Chan) and the anesthesiologist (Dr. Pedro) at 4 pm. We agreed. Edwardo, my English speaking intern , took me to a room with an old metal desk and a chair that was taped together so the padding would not fall off. He asked my name, age and some questions about my parents, brothers and kids. All this information he typed on one piece of paper using his index fingers to hit the keys on an old typewriter. Old, as in not electric. At this point I had not signed anything and felt I could leave if I wanted to. Once this process was done I was sent to the next room for some tests. Edwardo stayed with me as he also did the tests. First was blood. They took three tubes of blood as they


At San Juanico there is a cruisers


shrine. Boats stop and gather on the beach to tell their stories and leave something behind. One in particular was special to us. Colin from “S/V Vita Bella,” a CYCT club member, stayed in Mexico for several years. He recently passed away, but his memory lives on in San Juanico, Mexico.


that had sailed to Mexico and stayed in there for several years. He recently passed away, but his memory lives on in San Juanico, Mexico. On December 13th, we pulled into


Santa Rosalia. We found we liked this place and decided to stay for Christmas and New Years. Santa Rosalia is a working town with no tourist industry, so there are no people selling their goods to Gringos. Right away we felt safe and welcomed. Everyone is so nice. The people all smile and drivers always stop to let pedestrians cross the street. Always! Before Becky and I left on this trip


to sail off into the blue, I told my family and friends that if we had medical issues we would let the rest of the world take care of us. Becky would just smile and go along with what I said. In September, before we left, I learned I had a belly button hernia that should 48° NORTH, FEBRUARY 2011 PAGE 42


Twenty-two hours, and $1,300 later, I was recovering nicely on the boat. I can’t say enough about the professional care I received. At 12:30 pm I entered the hospital


to inquire if they could or would do umbilical hernia surgery. A lady said to me, “No English.” I lifted up my shirt and showed her my hernia, she held up one finger to indicate one moment and she went to get someone else. The second person spoke a little English. After he looked at me, he also held up a “one moment” finger. After 10 minutes of waiting, I was getting ready to leave when a young man (Edwardo) in a white doctor’s coat showed up. He looked at me and told me to follow him to see the head of the hospital (the boss). This man listened about my hernia, then made some phone calls. He told me they could do the surgery at 6 pm that evening. I could stay for


would in the US. Then was the EKG. This was a little different. The machine was old and when I laid down to have the wires hooked up and was amused to see that a jumper cable attachment (like for cars) was hooked to my legs and arms. Then five or six suction cups, similar to what you would stick to a window, were stuck on my chest. One of the cups kept falling off but Edwardo ran the test anyway. After that I was given an IV and I was there to stay. By now Edwardo and I were getting to know each other and he was explaining the hospital program to me. He stayed with me the whole time. I’m sure he was assigned as my interpreter. At this time, Becky left to go back


to the boat and take dinner out of the oven. We had put a turkey in before leaving on our walk, as we had planned a big dinner. While she was gone, I told Edwardo that I was a little nervous about being in a Mexican hospital. He assured me all would be good. He said the nonessential equipment was old but the doctors were good. When Becky returned we met


the doctors, first Dr. Pedro the anesthesiologist, then Dr. Chan the


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