April first...wow..my 73rd Fool's Day. Adelina kicked my out before I finished breakfast. I told her she would have to wait. So I ate quickly then I played a little pool, bought a "Oaxaca Man Bag" and decided my other was to fancy but works great when I'm traveling. Stopped at the bakery for more Peanut Butter and Rye Bread. Relaxed while sipping a Cardamomo Kefir with honey.
Checking Facebook after kicking Adelina out when I returned, I noticed this...
Wow...Lila Downs, Oaxaca's wonderful singer, with one of my favorite Hospitality people Salma Lopez, who runs Los Ramblas Acoticate del Mar, a great little seafood restaurant at the Pachote Organic Market that is close by. I patronize and support Salma and her Fantastic Chef of a husband, Arnod , in any way I can, for there contribution to my neighborhood and my love of Seafood. 
AND CHOCOLATE BROWNIE THAT SALMA , A PASTRY CHEF...KNOWS HOW TO DO.
San Pablo Cultural Center had a nice exhibit of Photos and Art that I enjoyed.
I stopped next door for a Matcha Latte
Then I took some photos at the Zocalo .
I had a Gout attack last night that kept me up. I took an Ibprophen thinking it might help but then had severe intestinal pain. Taking my Vodka to dinner tonight and will give it to Tom. It is off my list. The attack could have been the result of a tamarind concentrate that had lots of fructose or lots of Chicken I ate? I'm betting it was Vodka.
Tom and I met at Catedral where we enjoyed a nice dinner and conversation. He insisted on paying since I was leaving. We walked to the taxi stand and bid goodbyes until October.
Richard beat me at Dominoes Thursday. I had the lead until the last three rounds! Oh well. We went to the Los Ramblas del Mar for a wonderful lunch where Salma waited on us.
Sunday there is a restaurant where they feature Thai food on that day. Richard and I took a taxi to the Old Train Station with the restaurant across the street. We explored the station that was converted to a children's play area before going to the restaurant.
The food here was not so special but some of the customers were.
MEXICAN FAMILY OUT FOR SUNDAY BRUNCH
Today I had some photos enlarged and printed to Matte when I return. I might have a house then to hang them. I am calling tomorrow and hopefully will visit on Monday in Huayapa and see more. 5 pm I met Richard for Happy Hour at Distilrado.
It is Saturday and I'm off to get some tickets for a Concert at the Opera House tomorrow.
Annalisa and I are attending an Organic Food Festival later today, then dinner after at a new place, 520 Juarez. Hopefully we will be attending the Concert Sunday if I score the tickets. If not I will be attending a Wake for Geri Anderson, an New Englander, and acquaintance that wrote Oh Oaxaca...a story of her experiences since moving here.
No tickets were available, just have to come and wait in line. I did meet a group from Dublin that were waiting at the Theater for a walking tour of Oaxaca to start.
Annalisa and I decided not to attend the Organic Fest and just met for dinner at "Juarez", a new restaurant that had been opened only 3 months. We started with an overpriced cocktail that looked great but hers was made with Mezcal instead of Gin so we sent it back. Mine was a little sweet and I didn't taste any Gin.
Sunday I met Annalisa and Barbara after the concert but they were on a mission so I went on to buy souvenirs to take home for family then returned home. The tribute to Geri was changed to Tuesday. I met Richard later in the afternoon for dinner buffet at Catedral. It was quite nice and we were treated to some private entertainment for a party that was at the end of the dining room. The meal was quite good. There was a parade outside as we left. We bid good byes until next year.
Monday Samuel, my taxi driver was to pick me up at 3:30 but never showed or answered his phone so I took him off my list and grabbed a taxi who delivered me to Tony's home in Huayapa. The house he showed me was more like a compound and much more than I needed or wanted. He showed me another that fit the bill but still to big and more than I needed. I would like to have two place...the one I have and love in Oaxaca and a small one in Huayapam as a get away to the country place. There is one more but haven't been able to contact the landlord? I returned home.
Just after arriving at the door it started to pour. I was in the office and had the door opened. A little later I heard Adelina yelling for me. When I stepped out of the office into the living room...it was full of water that the wind whipped onto the entrance and into my home. It was a clean up but so refreshing.
Tuesday I attended the Tribute to Geri which was beautiful thanks to the library support and all her friends. She left everything to the library for an estate sale. Most was sold before I even knew about it. There were some of her photos for everyone to pick through and take home if they wanted. I took a few of interest. Geri was born and raised in Vermont and a staunch New Englander like my mother and her side of the family. Everyone shared stories of their relationship and remembrances of Geri
I met Hector later at Terranova for a nice lunch that we enjoyed. I hadn't seen much of Hector this trip but we had a nice conversation and made plans for my return.
Another rain started as we were leaving so I took a taxi home.
Dominoes today and I am the Jefe for the day. I arrived a little early and Elaine, a first timer joined me along with Madeline who returned after a visit to Boston. Milton showed just as I was dragging out the table. Sheila brought her smile to the table and the 5 of us enjoyed playing the whole afternoon, except Elaine left after the second round. Madeline, who did well last time she played, over took my lead and kept it for a victory in the end. It was a nice afternoon and we had a good time. Madeline will host next week if we get at least 3 to make a game.
Madeline must have felt guilty for beating me and offered to buy lunch this time. We tried Cabuche, where Martha and her friend Ellen were just finishing lunch when we arrived. We had a nice lunch and chat before parting until October.
CAUGHT
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| MAN DOESN'T LIKE PHOTO |
BUY MINE
CAUGHT
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| TEACHERS??? |
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| MINI MANGOS |
Friday I walked to the Bakery and had a salad and a Strawberry Kefir while reading my Sun magazine .
Today my last laundy before departure. Gadi, my former language teacher is in Oaxaca for the day and emailed me. We are having lunch at Boulenc Bakery. It will be so good to see her. I stopped for a Ginger drink at a small Cafe.
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| ALTER SHRINES UP EVERYWHERE
The flower circle arrangement represents the Crown of Thorns, a bowl with water is the tears the Virgin shed, the green plants...life, and the Lilies...Purity, Virginity.
Gadi and I had a nice reunion and enjoyed a late breakfast together before saying goodbye until October.
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11:45 am Palm Sunday...just experienced a mild earthquake...from somewhere a way's away...thank God. It was a 3.9 in Chiapas...second one today.
Monday was spent cleaning out the refrigerator, covering everything in plastic, and buying a back up alarm because my phone doesn't do it anymore. Tuesday I was up at 5 even though the alarm was set for 5:30...good thing because even after waking, I couldn't hear the phone when it went off and my new $40 alarm clock wasn't set right so never went off.
Feleciano was there when I opened the gate so I arrived and spent an hour trying to keep awake for my flight ...only o discover it was delayed an hour. I had a Ham and Cheese sandwich.
The flight went well but I couldn't check in until 2 pm so left my bags and explored the area.
SUBWAY STOPS
BLUE TORTILLA BUT NOT SURE WHAT ELSE
OAXACAN TRIQUE PROTESTS
TRIQUE
I checked in at 2 got settled and I looked around for good restaurants in the area and settled on a Yucatan place within walking distance. It was packed and featured Pibil...one of my favorite pork dishes made with fresh Oranges to add flavor and acidic to pork juices...great dish. This place made their reputation off that recipe since they opened in 1943. Pibil Tacos, Tortas, Shanks, Platters, Chicken Pibil, Turkey Pibil, etc. The shank and platter were too much so I just had a Torta (sandwich) to see how good it was. I had a craft beer while I was waiting and fought off a roach trying to take my table from me! Then the Torta was a disappointment so paid and left disappointed.
THE LINE
I explored the area some more and went into the center again.
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| POPULAR PLACE |
I had a salad earlier
Now it was close to Happy Hour so I thought of sipping a wine in an outdoor cafe on a side street. Alas, none served wine except that sweet Spanish drink with fruit...sangria. I finally found what I thought was a decent Italian Restaurant that sold 2x1 glasses of wine for 120 pesos...it worked but I ordered a Quiche Lorraine. It arrived as an individual pie and looked great but no substance. No real cheese or ham or bacon.
I had a mediocre breakfast in a bright and cheery dining room for about $8. Then I reported I could not get the safe open. Shortly after I returned to the room, the desk clerk/manager showed up and put in the master code to open it. Everything was still there. Severe lack of rest yesterday could have caused me to press the wrong button when I sealed it.
I left for the Museum of Mexico City...mostly art, photo and other exhibits from all over. It was interesting.
Now I'm off to Merkava Restaurant in the Contesa section of Mexico City for a long lunch/dinner IF my reservations I made last week are valid? Never received a verification from Open Table. My can't restaurants take their own reservations instead of paying someone to do it or going through a middle man.
Taxi started the meter at 9 pesos and ended at 75 peso a half hour later. Great family man, religious, hard working driver who struggled with his English while I did the same with my Spanish.
The place was not that busy so I probably never had to reserve a seat and was a half hour early so I went for a walk in the upscale Contesa neighborhood. A beautiful walkway surrounded by trees in the median of the road circling the area. I noticed a Fish sign so was immediately drawn to it.
The Fish shop was "Smart Fish" which I saw on a PBS documentary about the standards set for fish today. They have always been lax and misrepresented until Smart Fish started filming the boats and documenting the catches and training fishermen on how the Japanese kill fish with a spike to the head then clean and gut them to insure quality and freshness. Each label, whether it is for a portion or a side of fish that has been flash frozen and vacuum packed, is labeled with the Boat's name, Captain, the fisherman that caught the fish , the time, date and location. I had a long talk with the owner who works on the Pacific Ocean side from Puerto Escondido to Northern Baja of Mexico with the fishermen. Very interesting. I briefly checked some of the prices and found them very reasonable. All products, shrimp, fish, scallops, etc were frozen and of the highest quality. He also carried organic fresh produce for the local clientele.
I returned to the restaurant and had a cocktail and a mix of small dishes to try different dishes. After sopping up everything with Pita Bread and enjoying all the flavors...I decided an espresso and dessert were in order. The dessert was the most expensive but the most unusual. It was a choice of one of three "meriqane" like cakes. There was Cardamon, Chocolate, and Pistachio to choose from. I choose the Pistachio sliced and served with fresh baby figs, Camembert cheese and toasted Challa Bread. It was very sweet, light, and hard to describe. I would not order it again, only because it was mostly sugar.
I decided to visit the Palacicio del Belle Artes to attend an exhibit of a famous French Photographer called The Eye of Paris. It was a very extensive show covering his life in Paris from the early 30"s up to his death in the '70's I think. I was surprised to see a photo of Henry Miller circa 1932 and Lawrence Durrel of the same period. I had been an admirer of both but only knew photos of Miller in his later years in the states. I had watched the Durrels in Corfu about their life in the 30's living on the Island of Corfu and a few episodes were when Henry Miller came to visit. The photo I was looking at was the person in the series...the actor looked exactly like the photo. I enjoyed the whole show then returned to have a burger at the hotel restaurant to get some solid food in me.
Today I am off to Phoenix.
....AND COSTCO WHERE I CAN BUY THE BEST CHEESE IN THE WORLD....WELCOME HOME.
