La Cruz Hardware Stores and Laundries

I often hear cruisers and other travelers speak of “getting to know the culture” of the places they visit. I must admit a bit of confusion as to what they mean. I never hear of their being involved in any of the great life events of the “locals”: birth, baptism, confirmation,  graduation, marriage, death, etc. I’m certainly no different. I usually travel in a cruiser epidermis—a very thin skin of tourist-oriented establishments. Having grown up in a state that bills itself as “Vacationland”, I know full well the mixed feelings that locals have for affluent folks from “away”. So it is interesting to me when circumstances lead me to do business where the locals do.

I had several occasions that sent me to find hardware in La Cruz. Once I had to get PVC tubing from one hardware store and matching elbows from another since neither had both items on hand. Luckily, there are four hardware stores that are all independent. (The only chain anythings in La Cruz are an OXXO (7-11ish store) and a Subway.) I suspect that the growth of the town following the new marina will change all of that, so I have included pictures of the four hardware stores and the one fishing tackle shop.

     

Another business frequented by both the locals and the cruisers is the lavanderia of which there are two in the heart of La Cruz. There is provision for a Laundromat at the marina, but to date it has not been equipped. It will be fun to return to La Cruz in years to come and play one of cruisers’ favorite games: “When I first came here years ago, it was a better place.”