It is now time to plan my 60th high school reunion...wow. This will be short but sweet. I don't get excited about trips to the states in times like these when air traffic is crazy. I will look forward it to be a closing chapter in my life and the opening of my last chapter...to be the best!
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Gaby stopped by early...12:30 is early for her. We had lunch at La Jicara then spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying. She went to a concert with friends but I opted to skip affairs with lots of people and noise. I can't hear conversations and get stressed as a result. Lee, my neighbor and I went to Te Amo Oaxaca for a bite to eat and wine.
View from Te Amo Oaxaca rooftop dining area.
Good Morning Oaxaca!!
Sunday afternoon so Gaby and I went to Casa Celia nearby. It had been a while and felt nice to be welcomed by the Chef and have a nice meal. 
Our Tomato, Serrano Ham and Fig Salad was gone before I could get out the camera.
Monday was a boring day.
Late in the afternoon I decided to call Gaby for dinner. She was in Colonial Reforma, the neighborhood North of the Oaxaca World Heritage site I live in. Fin, my friend from Iceland, had recommended a Seafood restaurant there that I had wanted to go to so I sent the address to Gaby and we arranged to meet. I took a bus then walked and arrived just before she did. It was excellent and now goes on my list for quality restaurants with good food at reasonable prices!
Octopus and Fresh Fish Brochette with salad.
Grilled Fresh Tuna Steak with Pistachio Crust & Garlic
That afternoon I went up the street when rain threatened and had a Hamburg at Tomas Cantina. Then returned to Gaby, Lee, and Chris with food snacks and Margaritas for the "Blue Moon" Got some great photos. 
I met Portia for lunch at Boulanc Bakery. She was going to come back to Mi Casa to give me some decoration tips but she was running late so we decided on another day and after lunch I stopped at Benito Juarez's home. He worked there as a child and fell for the Catholic daughter (he didn't like the church stealing from the poor, so when he married her, the ceremony was done on the steps and he never entered). When he became the President of Mexico he made a law the church couldn't promote their religion by wearing their vestments on the street.
Looks very like my Property Manager
You blessed yourself with Holy Water when entering his home (on the wall). He was the first indigenous President and the shortest: in the world.
Today I had Huevos Rancheros at the Market. Dinner was left over squash with Sea Bass Veronique in Wine Sauce with Grapes.
Good Friday Morning Oaxaca...a walk around the city visiting an "Art" exhibit then the San Pablo Cultural Center. I stopped at Alice in Gelatoland for a Pistachio Ice Cream then returned to get Gaby for dinner at Berliner.
Mosquitoes Are in Season
We left to eat with the threat of Rain but ignored it. Had some great German Sausages but upon leaving, the threat became reality and we lucked out with a Taxi....but then we couldn't go anywhere as a Wedding Parade was in front of us while it poured...no one seemed to mind.
CRICKETS...great protein
Another wedding!
If they aren't Handicapped, they will be shortly.
The next day,I left to have lunch with Ian at "MOOK", a new place
Lynn and her friend Becky, joined me for dinner at Te Amo Oaxaca. NO FooD PHOTOS...we all had Mole dishes, Mine was Verde Mole w/Chicken, One had Amarillo Mole with Lamb and I think the other was Colorado Mole with Beef? We enjoyed the view and the company.
Portia arrived for a visit and gave me some good pointers on decorating...I may use her carpenter...he did an excellent job on my old place that she now resides in. We went for Seafood close by. A man that appeared to have Alz followed us talking about the government closing all the ATMs. He was nice, lonely, lost and then turned down another street.
After we ordered he walked in our restaurant and sat next to us continuing to talk about ..??? He had a beer while we finished our Fish Taco's and my Ceviche. We left but he had no money and couldn't pay his bill so the waitress came after us and we chipped in to pay $6...so sad...and my age!
Gaby and I hadn't been to Chepeche, a close by wonderful Garden restaurant, so invited Chris to join us for dinner. Chris and I had Thai Steamed Roll with Pork Belly, Gaby's was Fresh Fish Milanese.
I am derelict in my job...no photos of the garden!!!
Friday I showed for Pool but nobody was there except me. I beat myself 5 games before dropping in Casa Hidalgo for a Ceasar Salad with Mushroom soup for lunch...took some photos that evening.
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Gaby and I had Breakfast at Aquacate. She had the Avocado Toast and I had the Breakfast Smoothie.
Finally I managed to have dinner at the "big" Popular but was very disappointed in the portion and preparation. Off my list for good.
On the way home I noticed a "Hamburg Joint" called Coyote and added it to my list. Chris was leaving in a day or two for Wisconsin so she and Gaby stopped by for an update drink.
The next afternoon I headed for Coyote to try their Hamburg. They featured around 7 different ones along with Hotdogs!
That evening I attended a lecture at the library on Health Care Options in Oaxaca. Packed house. I had my seat with pen and paper when the first speaker started. There were 3o with different areas of expertise to share but unfortunately the sound system failed (not the first time) and being one of the deaf who was sitting in the back near the speaker, I heard nothing! Maybe if he would stop speaking to the Slide Show behind him I could have read his lips? I left with nothing.
Gaby, Lynn and I had dinner at Ayuk Gourmet nearby. It was my first but not my last time. Very good. Gaby had the Mole, I the Tenderloin, and Lynn the Salad.
Unanimous 5 STARS
I returned for Breakfast the next morning. Also very good!
Later that day, I enjoyed a visit to Santa Sabor for Comida ...Mixed Salad, Stuffed Chicken with Rice and Tapioca Pudding with Guava Aqua.
Always good and always 90 pesos...around $5.
Knowing a good thing, Gaby and I had dinner the next evening at Ayuk. I had Pork breaded with Amaranth and Gaby the Chicken Enchiladas.
The following morning I went to Aquacate to have Avocado Toast with 2 eggs and Tofu with their Juice combo of the day....fantastic.
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Having had a Coyote Burger...I remembered El Quinque highly rated Hamburger, so to be fair, I returned for the first time in 2023 to try their Burger again to see if it was as good.
Chris, my friend from Phoenix, also a Permanent Resident here, was supposed to meet me for Breakfast at Casa Hidalgo but was a no show.
He missed a great Eggs Benedict with Serrano Ham
I love Eggs Benedict so Sunday Gaby, Chris (my neighbor), Lee and I all had Eggs Benedict at our Garden Restaurant "Chepiche" nearby. Lee took some photos and we stopped to buy a small plant for my house.
Lee's photos..
Chris was leaving the next morning for her flight to Wisconsin so we brought some wine and dessert while Warren dished up some Goat Cheese and sourdough bread and a pitcher of Daiquiris...Yuejin entertained us while he continued to prepare some Pork BBQ with Rice. Chris was falling asleep while Gaby broke out the desserts then we left so Chris could make her 4:30am Taxi pickup for the flight.
She made the airport but American cancelled the flight she was to take to her connection in Dallas so after waiting over an hour she missed her flight in Dallas and spent the whole day, finally arriving in 100% temp in Wisconsin that evening.
It was a nice evening and Warren read a bit from his just released novel "Monk on the Run" about a trying time in his life with some humor and a great tale. I decided to read it soon.
Caution...if you have the first American Air flight out of Oaxaca to Dallas for a connection...don't be surprised when they cancel the flight (because so few passengers) and you have to take the second flight only an hour later BUT miss your connection. American Air does not like to honor your ticket when they can just put you on the next flight and save the cost of an entire SCHEDULED flight that they booked for your connection in Dallas. It happens frequently on that flight!
The milkshake I had filled me up.
I am interested in MOOK. Unique, healthy, creative, fresh, and satisfying at a fair price in a good location.
Now they are serving limited but varied dishes for breakfast or lunch. I had a Chia Pudding with Ponce..a cider like drink usually served at Dias de Muerta and Christmas time, followed by Beetroot Humus with Bacon and Greens.
Later I did a photowalk starting with a favorite ''Antique shop".
Later I did a photowalk starting with a favorite ''Antique shop".
Dad and son living out of their car...playing together.
Gringo Indians...no offense meant
Another Protest
Governor's Palace
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Attitude is Everything |
I came home with a Chicken in the Oven, Laundry going, and a message from Lynn wanting to know if I was going to honor my part of our date. I was there in 10 minutes.
I slept late and after coffee and hours on the computer doing ?? I left for lunch at Boulanc's Bakery. It was cool and nice walking weather so I headed for the library.
Now it was dinner of Lamb Pita...loaded with fresh lamb that is raised and slaughtered just North of here. They do Roasted Lamb Specials for big events there and the Lamb is the best. It was fantastic...but my wine, the cheapest offer, was more for a glass than my meal. Take out, next time. The wine was a good one though.
I just missed the bus so started walking but came upon a Mezcal Speakeasy that spokeloud to me. I have day and night outdoor photos and now I am going in.
Great Gold Trim on the walls, Chandelier , small intimate 4 seater bar, back room with Marie Sanchez the Mother of Mushrooms on a wall mural, another back room with stand up tables, no chairs, and an upstairs that opens at 6 with some balcony seating. Music was low key for conversation but nice. NO FOOD so eat before you go. The Mezcalita was excellent.
The bus was at the door and dropped me at mine.
I went home and was getting ready to relax when I noticed a RAINBOW from North to South or vice versa? I took 27 photos from Two rooftops and two balconies.
No Photoshop...this is my terrace view. I did go up on two different roofs to get another view...all beautiful.
The next day I went to AM for breakfast of Fruit salad and Eggs Benedict with Salmon...lost all the photos of the food! Very good. After I took a photowalk.
I stopped at the Mezcal Speakeasy again and was told the upstairs was a separate bar with food that opened at 6 pm. I looked around and vowed to return another time to try it out.
Went to AT&T to check on my account. They increased security!
It was raining last evening so I went to Aldama Mediterranean Restaurant a short walk for a Salad, Pita, and Wine.
Today, Chris my Phoenix friend, will park here and I will take him to Ayuk Gourmet for lunch....looking forward to seeing him.
He had the Tacos Dorado and I tried the Pasta with Chicken stuffed with Oaxacan Cheese...too much salt. Pasta and sauce was good. We bid goodbye and I returned to bed early.
Maddie showed for our weekly Dominos and promptly beat me in a record game with a record loss score! Gaby stopped by so we all visited Ayuk again for late breakfast/lunch. 
Great Guacamole and Chorizo
I met Lynn, who just lost her house and everything she owned when it burned to the ground a couple days ago. The car they just bought may have survived the heat? The keys were in the house so AAA towed it 10 miles to spend a week making new keys and checking it for damage. The house was built by her father 30 years ago in Northern California. No one was hurt. They had many heartfelt offers from neighbors to stay with them and the Red Cross was most helpful. She is returning in two days to get with her husband and apply for their birth certificates so they can replace passports for their trip to Australia in November. They will be back to their apartment in Oaxaca in December. She has been making a list of all the contents and calling Kurt, her husband.
We had a nice goodbye breakfast together and wished them well. It will be good to see them in December.
Caught in a Rain Storm last night. Used my "TakeOut" bag.
French Toast Treat with Pork Cecina Protein.
Visited my old neighborhood restaurant. Chef changed...Portobello Mushroom and Fresh Fish of the Day.
Today is the 2nd Full Moon of August...and will be the last post for the Month. We only did one because I thought it would be a slow month....never in Oaxaca...always something waiting around the corner. Too cloudy for photo of Moon... See you in September!
