ADVENTURES OF A RETIRED NOMAD: August 2017

I hope to spend my last days here playing pool or sitting around the cafe's sipping wine and socializing with my friends. I have to keep blinders on to do that. So much going on...so yesterday I did nothing but pick up my laundry.

Today I was on my way to try a restaurant in the North of town. I took a bus to Llano Park then was going to take a taxi to but.....they were all in Llano park and not going anywhere.

This was Fiesta de Taxi. Bands playing, all the taxis in Oaxaca I think were there and decorated to celebrate. The drivers were dressed in their starched white shirts with the emblem of the area of Oaxaca they serviced on the Pocket and shaking hands with their compadres.

HELP I HAVE FALLEN AND CAN'T GET UP

ALOHA

COME UP AND SEE ME SOME TIME?

HEART CLINIC

HAVE TO COME BACK HERE TO WATCH THE ACTION

AND HERE FOR THE SUSHI

FINALLY...AND I HAVE TO FILL OUT MY OWN ORDER WITH SEPARATE CHECK

So I walked, took a break, walked, took a break, asked directions...and finally arrived with a half hour before I was to meet Darcy in the Zocalo. I placed my order and perused the Menu while sipping my coffee and fresh Orange juice.

My Blue Corn Tortilla came filled with egg and cheese mix wrapped in an Avocado Leaf or something like that ...the then wrapped again in the Tortilla.

Very tasty. I ordered a Corn Quesadilla to go...paid the bill and took a Taxi to the Zocalo.
The driver had his Taxi all decorated and said this was their day to honor their profession. The Day of the Taxi. The Taxis were back on the street and the procession was now joined by dancers and had arrived at the Zocalo. So he had to drop me off before my stop because of the celebration.

I passed a make shift theater where Cartoon story was being shown for the children. I visited and shared my Quesadilla with Darcy while we were serenaded by a talented singer, then headed home.

Sunday I bused to Llano park and stopped at Zoe's on the way to say hello.

She joined me to visit the Organic Market but they didn't have a lot of what I wanted so after listening to a nice Guitarist and having some cafe we walked back to Contessa Park and she pointed out Riviere which was closed then Nona's that we stopped in for a Mushroom Quesadilla before saying goodbye and returning home.

Gadi arrived Monday for our lesson but after I stayed home. Tuesday again we did some lessons but her last day would be Thursday so we spent a lot of time talking about travel and movies. I will miss her visits.

Tuesday I ventured out for Comida at Riviere

then after a nice coffee with Roasted Pork, Organic Salad, and Oven baked sticks of Potato and a Creme Brule I started home with a light rain falling. I noticed a Blind man with a walking stick...being followed by a blind woman...the blind leading the blind.

I had my umbrella out when I saw Mike across the way. We talked about an musical weekend coming up then parted. I was going to the market but after arriving at the Zocalo the rain turned into a down pour that lasted an hour.

There was a protest demonstration that broke up before a revolution took place and we all headed for the shelter of Importador Restaurant where Chris was just finishing lunch. We sat while I drank a couple of Mexican Coffees with Tequila while the protesters shared the shelter...except for one loner.

The rain stopped along with the river running by in front of us and I returned home. I stayed up too late.

Wednesday Gadi and I had a pleasant conversation with some Spanish thrown in and agreed to meet tomorrow at Black Coffee while Adelina cleans the condo. I fiddled with trying to do a slide presentation on my computer that according to Google was just hacked...so an hour later after running a Virus program and cleaning up the computer...

I left for Biznaga where I had a Chili Nogada stuffed with Walnuts and Ground Pork that was delicious

before witnessing an incredible roller blade skater navigating some cones in front of the Catedral...she and her partner were awesome.
I saw Richard with a friend from Tijuana just leaving Importado to stopped and had a Tequila last call before returning home. Richard is Ceramic designer or "Potter" so I asked about getting a dish I can bake with. He suggested a basic clay pot called an "Ollo". They left, I left.

NON WORKING MOTHER

WORKING MOTHER

TAKING DOWN THE FLAG

PREPARING FOR THE WEDNESDAY DANZA IN THE PARK.

Last lesson with Gadi before I leave. We didn't study hardly at all. She is leaving for Bogota and we will have lunch when she returns before I leave. I may take Spanish lessons with her on Skype from Arizona. I returned to discover Adelina forgot this was her day to clean...so tomorrow she will come
I decided to have dinner at Tapas y Vino. You get a Tapas with every glass of wine. I ordered Lebanese Pizza with Salad and had 4 Tapas...you do the math.

Very good for $12.

Adelina cleaned today while I shopped at the only Pachote Organic Market I had not been to and the best of the three.

The Korean lady bakes outstanding Brownies, Cookies, Crackers, Dumplings, Pizzas, Rice Cakes, Cakes of all kinds, Muffins, Bread...it is Heaven. Her assistant heats up Special Orders, like the Dumplings and Pizzas.

I ate one of her Dumplings then bought the best Whole Grain homemade Garlic Crackers to go with my Cheese, a Muffin and a bottle of homemade Apple Cider Vinegar. I will be shopping here every week when I return this Winter.

was

I was to meet Hector for lunch today at the Boulenc Bakery. We met when I arrived and he was just finishing Teaching at the local University and was off for the summer. Now he was returning next week to start the new semester. We hadn't seen each other for the whole summer. I got there early because I wanted the Breakfast English Muffin. They stopped serving Breakfast at one o'clock...so I was sipping my coffee when Hector showed up. We had a nice lunch and caught up on things and returned home.

PRETTY CLASSY COMMENT BOOK FOR GUESTS...LEATHER BOUND AND ETCHED.

Today I join Zoe and her son Josh and his wife for dinner at Pitiona . The Chef worked under Adria Ferren the Chef Owner of El Bulli in Spain. One of the best Restaurants in the world since closed. Goes to show...it is a business and has to make a profit to survive.

I ate at Pitiona just after they opened and wasn't impressed but we shall see. Josh has been the Chef a a prestigious private club in Hong Kong for 10 years now. He gets to write off some of his trip. I miss that fringe benefit when I was an owner. It will be a nice evening.

I arrived a little early and was seated at our reserved table. Zoe, Josh and his wife Pauli joined me shortly. We choose a 6 course tasting menu and sat back while the food kept coming for 2 and a half hours. It was entertaining way to dine. We mixed it up and shared each other's dishes so I can't tell you what was what but only that most of it was outstanding.

I walked home as my back had bothered me yesterday and today. I have never suffered any back problems and suspect it was a strain when I lifted the 5 gallon water into the dispenser 3 days ago and had been getting worse each day. Today I could hardly stand from a sitting position. Felt good after dinner, wine and the walk home.

Today I stayed home except for a brief walk to get some exercise and have lunch at Sabor's.

Half eaten Vegetable and Fruit Salad with coconut, carrots, cukes, watermelon , cranraisons, mango, jicama, etc.

Not bad for $4.

I was in pain all day.

Tuesday felt better but again...I stayed home all day then left to meet for another culinary gathering at Origin, a very upscale nice Oaxacan Restaurant. The Chef had met Josh so was there to welcome us and stopped a couple times at the table to answer questions or see if we needed anything. Our food and service was excellent. We choose different appetizers , entrees, and desserts then shared them. All was great but the desserts were the grand finale....awesome.