ADVENTURES OF A RETIRED NOMAD: 22 - 2 FEBRUARY VALENTINE'S DAY IN OAXACA

Just a quick note to try and put life in perspective:

I’ve an idea for Jeff Bezos. Instead of building a new $540 million super-yacht so huge that a historic bridge has to be taken apart for the yacht to get from the builder’s yard to the sea, why not just buy the Queen Mary? He could probably afford the fuel bill if he was to take it out for a ride – it measures its fuel consumption not in miles per gallon, but in tons (of fuel) per mile. A bit over one ton/mile – about one gallon every 20 feet.

So you think January was busy...February is booked already. January ended with a fantastic Birthday Celebration and dinner at Casa Oaxaca to honor Judi's Birthday. The weather was perfect while we dined at the Roof Top Dining Room.

A wonderful evening and an honor to share the occasion with such good friends as Marc and Judi.

Carol and I decided to venture out of our normal area into Jalatlaco Barrio to the Cafe Jalatlaco recommended by Lynn and Kurt. A nice outing and fantastic dinner.

THIS TREE IS OVER 370 YEARS OLD

Today we enjoyed another Breakfast at Pan-AM but keep ordering the same meal every time we go.

Domino Day: We played dominoes the next morning with Marc and Judi. Carol continued her winning streak to 6 consecutive wins! She is on her way to the Guinness Book of World Records. We revisited El Sabor for an afternoon Comida.

I regret not taking a photo of Judi's Shrimp Dish or Carol's Pork with Mushrooms. Both cleaned their plates.

There is an Exhibition called Micro Enormous that we bought tickets for this evening. After we hope to try No Name Hotel for their recommended Vegetarian Menu.

We arrived a few minutes early when a lady pulled up in a Vespa to open the doors for us.

AQUEDUCT BUILT BY THE DOMINICANS 500 YEARS AGO

Two younger ladies joined us for our 6 pm appointment. We were greeted then escorted into a small dimly lit room with unusual lighting and sat down. A little later, a man with a veil over his head who spoke in a strange voice knocked then entered a door on the other side of the room and proceeded to talk about the spirit.

He gave us a monocle with prisms embedded in the lens, to wear around our neck. We were told to stand while he chanted and encouraged us to sway and move with the beat while he drummed on bongos. Then we looked through our monocle at the lights.

He then guided us out the door he had entered and into a candle lit room where a woman guide requested we pick a candle from a row of them and light our candle from one large one. Reminded me of being an alter boy. Then we allowed some of the wax to drip into the big candle and placed our candles around the base of the big candle in sand.

She then led us into another room with luminous images on either side of the room, while she recited or sang a "Enya" like melody and spoke about spirits some more raising her hands up.

Leaving that room for a large room with colored luminous mushroom lights like plants growing around a stage where she sat and played an electronic instrument and sang a trance like spiritual tune as we sat on the floor surrounding her while looking through our prism monocles.

She then guided us to another room and another lady. The two of them put us in a circle while they did another chants while lights danced at our feet.

There was a ceremony that included sipping a beverage that tasted like hot chocolate. Then we were thanked for our participation and led out into a dim lit bar for a couple shots of Mezcal before exiting after an hour and a half.

Very Good Mezcal

Our other participants...possibly Witches?

Off to Sin Nombre Hotel for dinner...

We were led up to the roof but one more level was blocked off.

We ordered a glass of wine and some food while planning our next visit.

The next morning we decided to return to Marito y Moglie

for our Breakfast but we were disappointed to see they were closed. We went to Arugula next door.

Then returned home ....

That evening we visited a couple of friends of Carols that I had yet to meet. One studied pottery under an ex professor from Alfred University School of Ceramic Design. My first and last college I attended full time. I was Liberal Arts.

Very nice people and visit.

Sundays, Casa Historical has concerts. Not every Sunday but this was my first time back in 2 years for a Jazz concert.

FRIDA AND JANE

I had a burger and beer but after we were still hungry so split an order of Salmon at Tres Bistro.

It was nice to see a band playing in the Zocalo on Sunday evening with people enjoying the music and some dancing.

I had a "BEET Quiche" and coffee for Breakfast today. New Cafe.

Stitching an Art Work

Shot some pool today with Marc...then had lunch with Kurt and Lynn at Terranova.

NO ...NO DON'T JUMP...YOUR GAME WILL GET BETTER!

Wednesday we were to meet another David and Carol, who are friends we met a few years ago. They are from the NW USA and have been coming to Oaxaca for years. We decided to give Biznaga, one of our past favorite restaurants before they were forced to move, another chance. Our first visit wasn't great but this one was pretty good. I had a fresh fish with risotto and Carol had a Pork dish in Butternut Squash soup...both were delicious.

We arrived just as the Trumpeter was leaving and the virtuoso Guitarist was taking over the night shift. I can't think of his name but I met him and his wife a couple years ago at the building that Kurt and Lynn live in. He is their landlord. David and Carol showed up just after we arrived...I think they live in the same building. We enjoyed the music and the company but didn't stay to long.

Dominoes Day and a victory for Marc who unseated Carol from her 6th or 7th consecutive win, though I must admit she had the lead for most of the game. We had Comida at El Sabor again...it is so good. Carol and my Chicken thigh with a Mushroom (Corn fungi) sauce didn't look appetizing but was. Marc had another Tlayuda, a Oaxacan dish, and Judi had the Shrimp again without the chilies.

I picked up some Tamales on the way home and later that evening had the Chicken Rojas Tamale for dinner. This is half of it after I opened it up.

My favorite but I have 12 different ones to pick from...all for $1.40...28 pesos. They are great for breakfast, lunch or dinner and one is a meal! Next time I'll show you the whole Tamale.

Lecture on Murals tonight. Pizza with Kurt and Lynn after, then Carol and I start the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival tonight. Superbowl Sunday tomorrow. Valentine's Day on Monday.

The lecture was a bit uncomfortable with the seating so I ducked out to get a bowl of "Beet Gazpacho" then after we feasted on Pizza in Jalatlatco Barrio.

We had breakfast at new place for me called ONNO Loncheria and found it very good!

I'm not a big Super Bowl fan so just spent the day reading and relaxing then caught the last 3 minutes on TV before calling it a day.

I did pick up some flowers for my Valentine and had a nice lunch she fixed for us. We walked around town, then stopped at Kiyo for coffee and Cheesecake.

For our Valentine's dinner, we decided to go to Humito, Lila Downs's new restaurant with her "Club" upstairs for music entertainment. The night we dined the Club was closed, but we did get to see the views.