ADVENTURES OF A RETIRED NOMAD: 22-3-4 LAST WEEKS IN OAXACA.PUEBLA, THEN ARIZONA

Friday we had dinner at Biznaga. I hoped to find shredded Pork Pibil on the dinner menu but it wasn't so I feasted on Filet of Sole, Salad and Spaghetti with a glass of wine before crossing over to Jalatlaco for Jaime's opening of his new art gallery.

A very small unpretentious gem of a location on the corner, next to a popular Hotel located in the up and coming Barrio de Jalatlaco with it's artistic flair and cobblestone streets. It was quite busy when we arrived. A mixed crowd of mostly young fans of Jaimes and many serious artists in their own right. His mother, Sandra kept the flow going with food, drink and whatever needed attending to with assistance from Jaime's attractive friend.

He is an amazing talent and I plan on adding some of his art to my photo collection when I return from Arizona.

Today I visit my massuse.

Returned home to take my curtains to a neighbor seamstress to be altered. She had them back in one hour and they look much better. Did some reading...Seinfeld...Generation War movie...and packed. On my way to pick up Carol for farewell dinner at an Argentina restaurant with Marc and Judi.

The new Oaxacan Look?

MY DEAREST FRIEND PENNY LUCK FROM NOLA AND CARNIVAL

15 MINUTES OF FAME - LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Tomorrow is our bus to Pueblo, Costco, Museums and restaurants.

THREE WONDERFUL DAYS IN PUEBLA...FIRST TIME OUT OF OAXACA

We boarded our bus for a 4 hour plus ride through a very scenic area of Mexico until we arrived in Puebla where we took a taxi to the Historical center to our NH Hotel which was very nice.

We unpacked , then walked to the Zocalo (Center) and took a tour of the Cathedral there. It was a pleasant day. Our plans were to visit two museums and eat at nice restaurants. The city of Puebla has a 3.5 million population compared to 300 thousand in Oaxaca and reminded me a lot of Mexico City.

Later that afternoon I picked a restaurant from the internet that we could walk to for dinner. We walked around about way and arrived.

We were the first and only customers!

We sat by the window with a view...ordered our food and watched children play.

Never eat out at a nice restaurant on a Monday when the Chef is off duty. My "Roasted Chicken" dinner was cooked earlier...like the day before, reheated and consisted of one drumstick. I complained, which is a rarity, and the waiter returned from the kitchen explaining that if I wanted a replacement for the Chicken I would have to pay for it. I thought he meant the difference in price but after exchanging the Chicken drumstick for a hamburg pattie, I got a bill for what we ordered plus a Hamburg dinner. I complained again to the manager this time. He promptly removed the one dinner and offered us an additional two glasses of wine, which of course we accepted along with his apology and left happy.

Our second day we had our breakfast at an unusual Community Theater Restaurant that featured a limited breakfast offering of Waffles with some Egg dishes and fancy coffee and hot chocolate drinks. It was very cheap and delicious. I had a large French Hot Chocolate, Waffle and an Omelet. Carolynne had a Scrambled eggs dish with Cappuccino.

We then took a taxi to the famous International Museum of the Baroque Art designed by a Japanese Architect featuring Baroque Art from the City of Pueblo and the World.

We took a taxi to Costco for $2.50. When I arrived at Costco we applied for my Mexican membership and gave him my Phoenix membership number. They gave me a card and set me all up and said that I was still good for a couple more months in Phoenix. They were so friendly and took care of everything so I would be a member of Mexico Costco when I returned.

We went downtown and brought back some groceries to take back to Oaxaca. Then went to a local bar with loud music and MTV. Carol had a wine cooler sangria and I had a 2 X 1 Margarita.

Mural Poblanos was a highly recommended restaurant we dined at that night.

MEZCAL CART

Morning was a nice breakfast at the hotel buffet and then off to Amparo Museum for a real treat.

Lunch time on the roof with a view of Puebla.

More of the Museum

Off to Happy Hour from a Rooftop Hotel on the way back to dinner at Mural Poblanos.

Our great waiter Lucius was off tonight.

We left very satisfied and anxious over early 6 am wake-up call with taxi to bus station. Bye Puebla.

Morning and all seemed well. We were checked out and waiting for our DiDi taxi who was stuck in morning traffic. He arrived a bit after 7am and dropped us at a roadside Bus Station that looked nothing like the one we arrived at. It was now 7:30 and I protested as he dumped our suitcases out of the trunk , grabbed his money and rushed away. I showed our ticket to the attendant who told me we had to go to another bus station. We called another taxi who arrived shortly to take us in a different direction to a Fancy Mall that had a bus station. We had to go inside with our bags to find out and turned around to see him speed away. Again the attendant pointed to the name on our tickets and directed us to go there. It was 7:45 and we grabbed a taxi in the entrance area who drove us in another direction until we reached what I recognized as our bus station. It was a huge complex and we had to walk quite a distance to the ADO desk to be directed another long distance to our departure gate. It was tiring and we were hungry so I grabbed some sandwiches at a kiosk with some liquid yogurt drinks. We checked our bags into the storage area of the bus and boarded for Oaxaca.

A four hour ride and we arrived in Oaxaca ADO Station where we took separated taxis home. Carolynne's taxi ran into a blockade and she had to lug her bags a few blocks to get home. On the way she noticed an ADO bus.

I was relieved to be back and felt it was a great 3 days we shared. The next day we were to have a late lunch at Danzante Restaurant at 2 pm. It was "Good Samaritan" Day in Mexico. A day where different homes and businesses offer beverages and some snacks to strangers. A way of enhancing your character and showing good will. Some beverages have alcohol, some don't . Everybody in Oaxaca seemed to be out and about on this festive day.

Excellent Tenor and Soprano Singing Arias

I was planning on stopping to get some printing done and some medicine. I ran out of one of my scripts that I tried everywhere to fill and couldn't. I found another drug I had been taking a long time ago for the same thing so found it at the Pharmacy but it was $50 for 3 month supply instead of free like in the states for Medicare. Now I was late so skipped the printer but fought the crowds and arrived just in time. We were having dinner with Bob and Ruth who were good friends of Carolynne and long time residents in Mexico but have been living in Oaxaca for about 7 years and found it to be the best place.

We left after to play Dominoes at Bob and Ruth's home nearby. They gave me a tour of the lovely home they have , we played Dominoes , then Ruth served us Chocolate and Coffee homemade Ice Creams that she had made with Banana Bread! Bob poured a nice Mezcal to go with it. We had a lovely time with wonderful people.