Not quite August yet. I faxed my vote to Maricopa County, Az and received a reply the same day. Hello from Maricopa County Elections. Election Day is 08-02-2022.Your signature has been verified. Your ballot was counted.
Yeah me...took a while for this old duffer to figure it all out but it is done.
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ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING |
The next day I received a phone call from Customs Border patrol claiming they intercepted a package with my name on it containing stolen driver's licenses , 32 oz of cocaine, etc. He first ID'd himself with his name and made sure I wrote it all down..then his badge number. He explained the call was being recorded and available to the DEA, Customs, and Immigration. He asked if I knew addresses in Cancun, or Texas as well as Az.
This went on for some time and at first I bought it. He wanted to know if I had anyone that I would suspect to have reason to do me harm. Under law, he explained, I wasn't required to give out any information but these were serious violations that could require US Marshals and he would like me to ... that's when I said I am not giving out any information...and he hung up.
@ Toscana's in Jalatlaco
Well I am renting another property North of the Center. I needed more room to put all my "stuff" from Scottsdale. This is two bedroom and one bath and all included in reasonable rent. There is a catch: if I go over a certain limit on water, gas, electric usage I have to pay the difference. I will tell you what I just wrote Deke, our manager, who is home in Oregon right now but is the go to guy for telling the landlord in Spanish.
I RENTED ANOTHER PLACE
I bet that got your attention?
Hola amigo,
I hope all is well with you. I sold my condo in Az so I have a lot of stuff to bring here. What I have here with Fiallo is like a small vacation home I can pop in and out of when I feel like it. Until recently. Now it is my HOME BASE..everything will be here and Fiallo isn't enough room BUT I can afford both places and face it...we do have a GREAT location, barking dogs , loud new neighbors outside my window on the other side of the wall, and a short walk to everything right outside our door. I sign a year's lease (it says I can't cook Roast Beef...really..never seen a lease like this but never had a lease in Mx until now) tomorrow but with 2 month notice I can walk from it.
I am going to give it a go and find out. I figure 6 months should be enough time to decide if it is for me. I won't put a lot of money into things, for it's already furnished. The 3rd week in January I will decide if I want to keep things as are or give up Fiallo..(rent due April 1) OR give up Reforma and find another
replacement and still keep Fiallo...OR give them both up and go for a nice place to live in the last of my life then die.
So please reassure Hector and Lulu that I don't want to let go but if I do they would have a 90 day notice.
I feel I should tell them because they have become family to me. All of them. Alessandro (?) has been smiling and waving to me and I attempt to talk to him as best as possible. He was the one that was more reserved in his judgment and wanted more before he warmed to me.
Today he invited me to sit together outside and chatted as best we could. Just the two of us, it was nice. He wanted to know how old I was...etc. It was like I imagined if I spoke fluent Mexican and could get to know these friends on their level. They all are special.
So please let them know I had to move for more space and there is a good possibility I will pay the rent in April for another year, but things could be different. I will make a decision and let them know before the end of January.
I truly feel like a Nomad now with no fixed real home I own. It's been 50 years since I bought my first house in Plymouth, Ma. on the GI Bill..1972. My Dad told me " You don't buy a house unless you're going to live your life there. He died before he saw my first house...and he'd be surprised to learn I had 8 of them and 5 restaurants I know he would have been proud of. Assure them I will be going back and forth depending on activities, family or friend visits, my mood...
It's a big day tomorrow.
Haven't signed a lease in a long time.
Amigo David
My home on Fiallo: Rent approximately $367/month includes everything plus maid service once a week.
My new home in Reforma: Rent $650 includes everything except maid service.
I had to go to an emergency room this morning. They took my BP, had an interpreter come in to ask what other problems. A doctor on duty stopped to explain my high BP is manageable but higher than normal. My total charge $1.50 paid to the nurse that took my BP.
Turned out OK but necessitated a Cardiologist visit to revamp my meds. Been "out of it all day", now off to Pharmacy to get drugs and food for my Reforma apartment. You don't need a script to buy drugs except for addictive ones I think?
I did feel better and my BP was on tract the next day. My schedule is a mess right now. Lost one of my suitcases in the move. One of the taxis drove off with it. My Credit Card was stolen and I went crazy with JP Morgan trying to get a report filed. A taxi driver returned the bag when he discovered it in the taxi they assigned him.
Finally after almost an hour on the phone I got the CCard straightened out...someone had it and was trying to access my account but they closed it in time.
My new Meds seem to be working and I feel much better.
The move is starting to gel into place. I'm slowly getting settled into both places.
All's well that ends well....but I was frazzled , depressed and hated when there is NOTHING I could do about any of it except sit back and go with the flow. This is Mexico.
I encountered an Insect Art Sale.
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THE ARTIST |
Carol and I met after a week and decided we had something worth pursuing and after a long talk we went to my new place then out to a Sirilo in my new neighborhood for dinner.
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PINATA MASSACRE |
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FANCY PARTY...HAD TO WALK THERE? |
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| TREE PLANTED BEFORE THE STAND UP RESTAURANT |
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FANTASTIC SHRIMP CEVICHE |
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GRILLED FRESH FISH ON HUITLACOCHE RISOTTO WITH PURSLANE SALAD |
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FRESH MADE DONUTS ON MANGO ICE CREAM ...STRAWBERRY JAM |
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| HAPPY DAVID |
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...AND A WONDERFUL SERENADE |
Breakfast the following morning in Jalatlaco "Tipico" Restaurant. Deco like my childhood yard. Huevos Rancheros
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ANOTHER DANCE PRACTICE PARTY |
It has been a while since I have seen a pay phone but they are around Oaxaca, yet I have never seen a one in use.
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GOT LOST |
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| A VERY GOOD CHOCOLATE CAKE CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE FIRST DISHES ARE? HINT: THEY ARE MEXICAN? |
It becomes difficult to remember the addresses since its mostly cross streets or you get lost. Where you go to during the day will look totally different at night. Goes both ways. Most don't have signs hanging up above the entrance.
When we returned last night, a Chef was on the street passing out his menu with an introductory offer. It was a restaurant we tried a couple months age that had just opened and had a Middle Eastern touch. This one was from Chiapas, our Southern border neighbor. So we stopped in and tried it for breakfast. I liked the bitter, dark hot chocolate and forgot to photo the food. I was good but not special.
The streets of Oaxaca are over 500 years old so they are mostly all one way and narrow with at most one side cars parked, and 2 lane traffic going the same direction. Then narrow sidewalks on either side. You can see the problems. You have to keep your eyes on where you are stepping.
The streets of Oaxaca are over 500 years old so they are mostly all one way and narrow with at most one side cars parked, and 2 lane traffic going the same direction. Then narrow sidewalks on either side. You can see the problems. You have to keep your eyes on where you are stepping.
Oaxaca has a "Day for the Taxis". Every taxi in the state of Oaxaca decorates their taxi and dresses up with their family then they all get in the taxi and join the parade through the city while passing out candy and waving to all their customers. It is really quite nice with the Grandparent, children, grandchildren, the whole family in the taxi and so proud of their son, father, and grandfather. 
We heard of another highly recommended, recently opened restaurant. The young couple are from Barcelona. He's the Chef, she oversees the front and the food is very good, creative, done right, and delicious.
Excellent Chowder, Imaginative Salad, Flavorful Roast Pork and tasty desserts.
Our friends Robert and Joan invited us for lunch at another new restaurant. I had been to the previous one in that location and was pleased to hear these owners, had an Italian pizza place called Nimbus that we all used to go to in La Noria, years ago.
It was very nice to see them again and the food was very good.
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CHEF |
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OWNER AND CHEF'S MOTHER |
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| CEVICHE |
It was very nice to see them again and the food was very good.
The next day we returned to Tres Bistro for some Oysters, Octopus, and Tuna.
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AFTER DINNER DESSERT....AND COGNAC |
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KATERINA...WILL YOU MARRY ME? |
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DEPENDS HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN MY JAR |
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ROUGH DAY ... NEED SOME HELP! Once or twice a month I like to take some "Alone" time at the Zocalo and sip a wine while watching the world go by. |
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| STATUE |
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| REAL DEAL |
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FAMILY PLAYING CARDS WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR ORDER |
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LOVE THE ORIGAMI BIRDS |
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| POACHED EGGS IN A SEASONED BROTH WITH SPINACH/POTATO |
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| MY FAVORITE BENI |
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WE LOVE THE WALK TO AND FROM |
We love our new found Casa Celia..so returned for dinner.
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EXCELLENT CHEESECAKE |
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I DO BELIEVE THE SPANISH MAKE THE BEST GAZPACHO |
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...AND LENTIL SALAD ON PURPLE AND ORANGE SWEET POTATO WITH PICKLED RADISHES AND ONIONS |
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A TAPAS TO START |
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ROAST PORK WITH PRUNES AND PEACHES |
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GET A COVID BOOSTER OR TEST ON THE WAY HOME..$195 PESOS = $10 US |
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| MIGHT RAIN? |
MY NOT SO FORTUNATE NEIGHBOR WHO SLEEPS ON THE CONCRETE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH AT NIGHT. I SHARE A SANDWICH WITH HIM ON OCCASION. NEVER TALKS AND HE IS WEARING WHAT HE OWNS. WASHES IN THE FOUNTAIN AND IS ENTERTAINING HIMSELF LISTENING TO THE JUKEBOX AT EL TORO BAR FROM THE SIDEWALK.
Tonight we visited a popular restaurant that opened a second location closer to us. Del Jardin is a popular restaurant at the Zocalo with the tourists as well as the locals. We were greeted by a new waiter and we shared a Steak.
We parted and I started walking home in the rain but got behind a Wedding Parade and so just followed them until they finally turned off.
Click here: Student Massacre
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AND A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE 76'ER |
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THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DEL JARDIN IN THE ZOCALO |
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PHOTO OF THE ORIGINAL COVERS ONE WALL OF THE NEW, THOUGH IT LOOKS A PART OF IT. |
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| 68 IS A REFERENCE TO THE '68 OLYMPICS HELD IN MEXICO CITY AND THE COVERED UP MASSACRE OF 100'S OF PROTESTERS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE CEREMONIES BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT. |
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POPSICLE STORE |
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Today we wanted a change from Mexican food so headed for Berlina owned by Gabriel and Johanna. She is from Germany and does the cooking. Great German Brown Bread..and the sausages, mustard, Strudel...etc ...Oh the BEER!
We encountered one of the weekly evening bike excursions, then headed for a "new" balcony view with nice after dinner drinks.
We find ourselves going to Casa Celia at least once a week for their "Weekly" Comida menu. Today the Roasted Cauliflower with Yogurt, Nuts, and Currants..followed by Pasta dish. Then a Wedding being celebrated in the Rain.
Robert and Joan invited us again to join them for lunch at a new Japanese restaurant run by a young Japanese couple with him as the Chef and she the glue in the partnership. After, we played Mexican Dominos at their lovely home in Jalatlaco they now rent year round. This was our last get together before they returned to family and friends in San Francisco until the return in late December. The restaurant is Vegetarian.
NEED MORE PLATES..DIVIDE ONE IN QUARTERS
Chris helped me move some furniture to the new place with his car. It was greatly appreciated so I treated him to breakfast at another Pan-AM restaurant within walking distance from my new apartment.
Carol and I had not been to "Casa del la Chef" restaurant in over 5 months. He had completely remodeled it but was still serving his great menu. He stopped at our table and visited for a short time as we were the first customers of the day.
Labor Day is past so August Post is done. Enjoy. I am packing for another trip to Az, doctor visits, friends and return with more of my stuff!
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