DEPART ZIPOLETE - BACK IN OAXACA

    The front desk drew up my bill: 11,000 Pesos for 11 days / 1800 Pesos for Food and Beverage $640 Just under $60 a day...BUT I did spend a lot for Medical Treatment 3500 Pesos along with my fancy dinners, transport, and generous tips, maybe 7000 Pesos so total maybe $1100.  Next time I will stay at the San Crisobol with A/C for a week and if I want to go nude, I'll sit on the beach.

    I am off tomorrow and will do quick Happy Hour goodbye at The Pub. Tom was seen hitching of Zipolete this morning. Mike, Paul, and Bina said goodbye and I was at Provenienca for dinner by 6:30 having a really classic appetizer

then Coconut Shrimp that was out of this world with a Mango Sauce, Rice and Vegetables.

Xavier sat with me a while and said goodbye. Yvonne also stopped by the table to bid me a safe trip.
    I was up at 6:45 had breakfast and Felipe picked me up and drove me to Pachutla and the station. A collectivo was leaving when I arrived and I said Oaxaca? and he said hop in...BUT a couple minutes later I noticed we were headed back to Zipolete. The driver dropped me off, I flagged a cab that took me to the Oaxaca collectivo station and was on the Van in 10 minutes thinking I would be home early.
      Wrong.  It was full and stayed full the entire trip with stops along the way to drop and pick up people or check in to the various Collectivo stations with the "station Master" checking all tickets and rosters. 

We stopped at the half way point of San Jose which gave me a chance to go the bathroom...twice!  When we took off the movie Amityville Horror was put on and started out with a man going bedroom to bedroom shotgunning a family while they slept in there beds.  A three year old who was watching in fascination started projectile vomiting all over his Mother, himself and the back of the driver's seat.  It was a tiring trip and I was glad to be back.
     Sandra and Maya were out so I cleaned up, unpacked and repacked for the overnight at Zoe's. They arrived and we all left for The Catedral Restaurant for dinner.
     Zoe didn't show so we decided to wait 10-15 minutes before ordering. Finally at 7:30 we ordered and I THEN sent a message to Zoe asking if she was coming or if there was a problem BUT the food came and we started eating.

We chatted a bit while sorting out the bill then left.
    I took off for Zoe's but as the taxi was going up Pino Suarez I asked him to drop me off at the hotel El Domingo and ran in to check to see if they had a vacancy.  I was tired, they did so I checked in happy to have a warm bed to sleep in.  After checking my email and finding a message from Zoe explaining she had a bad reaction with a drug she was taking but still had a place for me to stay.  I apologized, surfed the cable network, then read myself to sleep.  The hot shower was worth the stay, not to mention the free breakfast.
    Sandra was attending a hike today after seeing her daughter off so I did some shopping to have something at the house to eat and headed home.  It was nice to settle in for the first time since I left Arizona.  Sandra came home that evening and we went out for dinner at Tres Bistro where Saul greeted me with a hearty hug.

My usual Salmon was great as was her meal.

We stopped to watch the Pluma Danza in the park then returned home.

Adelina saw us off to a Folk Concert the next day at Convinto near Llano Park.

ADELINA

The concert was Dan Groats doing some old classics.  John Prine's Lola was really good.  We had some mulled wine and I got to see Pat and Don who informed me that her brother Darcy was not doing well and may have to stay at there home as he can't manage by himself. We left to confront a protest demonstration of Moto Taxis that had all converged on Llano Park and were going around it as a group in a circle so as to block any other traffic from getting through.  

The next day we went shopping at the Organic Market, had a Jugo Verde "green drink" 

We attended an afternoon concert held near our neighborhood.

I wanted to treat myself to dinner at a fabulous restaurant that my friend Tomas had recommended before I left for Zipolete.  I "Googled" it and was surprised to see so many 5 star reviews that I am convinced it was the best restaurant in Oaxaca.  Sandra and I took a Taxi to Colonial Reforma to find out.

Carpaccio of Octopus with Arugula

Mexito Salad

My half eaten Homemade Pasta

Dorado Filet of Fish done to perfection.

Side Salad

ASPIRING CHEF

IT WAS THE BEST I'VE BEEN TO AND WILL RETURN

Now for the best Breakfast place at Belanc Bakery!

SHAKASUKA

SOURDOUGH WITH BEANS AND CHEESE

That evening as we were headed for the Comida at Terranova's , Alexis the waiter next door tried to entice us to

his restaurant.  I told him we would return after dinner for a drink.  Well Terranova stopped serving the Comida around 4 pm...so we stopped to see the nightly holiday dance group then headed up to Berlina for Bratwurst and Potato Salad washed down with a nice beer.

Gabriel and his wife Johanna greeted us at we headed for the roof top terrace and a nice relaxing meal on a beautiful evening.

We planned on getting in some culture the next day.  We went to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

GUESS WHO

We walked through the streets of Oaxaca.

A band was playing in the courtyard of the San Pablo Cultural Center where we stopped for coffee.

My friend Micheal from Montreal was in the crowd enjoying the music but not the view.

That evening we were to meet Judy and Marc, a couple from Cape Cod that I had not seen in over 2 years.  They came early and were leaving after Christmas but returning next year for two months. We met at Populara..a popular restaurant for dinner.  The place was crowded so they took us next door where we had our own separate restaurant to eat in.  The food and company were great.

Some last minute shopping on the way home.

       I made an attempt at recreating a "Beet Tower Salad" I had in Zipolete. Sliced Beets layered with Orange segments, Goat Cheese and Chopped Walnuts.  It tasted good but the presentation was poor.

It was close to Sandra's departure and we were to meet Annalisa tonight at Mexita's for another great meal and Annalisa's special cookies to take home.

   
     The one favorite restaurant we hadn't visited was Cabuche.  The next morning we were off to have breakfast.

CORN MUSHROOM OMELETTE

POACHED EGGS IN MEMOLITAS WITH GREEN AND RED SAUCE

     We passed through the Zocalo where preparations for the Night of the Radishes Festival were underway.  Every year a competition is held in three categories: Radish Sculptures, Dried Flower Scenes and Corn Husks Creations.  The winner gets money and fame.  

SEPARATE TABLES FOR THE CONTESTANTS AND WALKWAY FOR VIEWING

          There was a concert that evening at the San Paulo Cultural Center we attended.

 Sandra and I had the Comida at Terranova's one afternoon then enjoyed our last dinner at the same place but upstairs where we could relax and view the Zocalo. 

FISH STEAMED WITH VEGETABLES...

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS WITH SPINACH AND CHEESE

      She was off the next morning for the airport and home.  She planned a 10 week trip to Columbia on her Ipad while here.  Computers can be an addictive habit that sucks you in but for some things they are indispensable. Until we meet again....