24 - 2 VALENTINES DAY & END FEBRUARY

 Valentine's Day in the U.S. of A. would not be a big deal for me without a Valentine.  Oaxaca is because it's inclusive of all your loved ones included friends and neighbors. 

     My Salmon dinner with my friend from Phoenix, Chris at Cafe Local.

 

Helen scheduled a goodbye gathering with Pizza, Wine and Beer, the evening before she departs to return to Rochester.

We all met at her outdoor area in the compound where she was staying.  I was the only Male with a group of her friends from Maine, New York City, Toronto, Detroit, and ? .  These are all retired ladies that travel a lot and were very entertaining and fun.  Helen surprised us all with a Valentines Rose for each of us.  Her flight tomorrow was forecasted to be during a huge storm, so she was just hoping she would be OK.

Oaxaca has packs of stray Dogs that roam the city but are given shots for rabies and never bother anyone because no one bothers them.  There are 3 in this pack, taking their afternoon nap.

Halina is one the first friends I made upon arrival in Oaxaca 13 years ago. She is from Poland, lives in Detroit with Barbara, her partner and both are wonderful, giving people that travel the world. 

A lady from Maine that spent her life traveling with most of it in the Caribbean. She fell on a Oaxaca sidewalk and broke her shoulder. You do have to watch where you walk!

Returning home the day after Valentine's Day I encountered the same dogs, all refreshed from their nap but blocks away from when I first saw them.

Traffic was heavy. It is the day after V Day and a Friday when many waited to take their love ones out to dinner...busy everywhere. 

I great sunrise this morning.  I trimmed off my goatee for a different look?   Later I took my walk and encountered ...surprise...another wedding!

                       Photo of photo shoot blocked by lady with a dog.

Today I had breakfast at the Market while picking up some veggies for another big batch of healthy stew to clean out the refrigerator.  Forgot the food photo.  That evening I visited Yuku for a Sushi Roll and bowl of Rice with Eel that was excellent. 

Dominos Day at David's.  Maddie just returned from another visit to her family.  I called Helen last night to see how her 4 am flight went.  She was on a 3 hour layover in Atlanta at 6pm and still had to get to Rochester.  Over 1800 cancellations!

After we finished our Dominos we were going to lunch and passed by a great VW I loved.  The owner heard me through his window and came out to offer me a ride.  I declined but he took a photo for me then explained the VW through my interpreter, Maddie.

These were delicious creations formed into a triangle wrapped in a Santos Wrap. Sacred leaf then grilled to melt the cheese in with the filling,  So where is my photo of the Car...well I was in a hurry to have the photo taken in turned into a 20 minute video of mostly the inside of my pocket. I will try and edit it?

That evening I attended a Burning Man lecture given by a long time attendee. Here are some of the photos he showed us.

     Made from thousands of Canadian pennies!!!

                                       Made from used tires.

     

            with a Naked woman but not in High Heel shoes

This is where over 25.000 people showed for the big event

Mexican Rappers on the way home.

 The next day I read an article on Loneliness and decided to shoot pool the next day.  I had good fun but didn't win a game.

I had a great lunch with my friend Deke at Cabuche.  

              Finn from Iceland...great player and person.

Alan, who started our Mon, Wed, Friday games a long time ago.

                           Bill with a before and after shot.

That is not Deke or me or what we ate...I took this photo at Cabuche, as we were leaving after a great lunch.

I had lunch at Casa Celia's which was an excellent Beet Carpaccio. Then a haircut and returned home for early bedtime in preparation for a long hike tomorrow.

Half Moon

I rose before dawn for hike the library put on.  This was the Benito Juarez Trail which you may remember I took months back.  Today was cloudy so some photos may be the similar to the last. I logged 9 miles today.

 

             Ducks begging for food at our after hike lunch .....

We returned early and Bill, I met at lunch, came over to see my apartment and have a beer.  He is visiting Oaxaca for a couple weeks. After dumping my "stuff" I left for dinner at Cabuche. 

A wonderful Chicken Burrito, Salad, Wine, and a little relish tray with Cucumber, Jicama, and Carrots...nice touch and delicious!

    

This morning in returned to Cabuche for a Great Breakfast. I love their food , service and prices. Another relish serving, great coffee, nice Papaya, Banana, Blueberry, Granola and honey salad followed by two eggs on a Blue Corn Tortilla with a tasty Tomate sauce , cheese and Avocado...less than $10.

I stopped by the Textile Museum to view some unique weavings of tapestries, wall hangings and really unusual creations.

  

This evening I ate at Sur y Norte and tried the Chicken Enchilada's

Verde.  The wine was good but their was little chicken in the Enchiladas.  Mostly Sauce and Tortillas with the chicken precooked and put in a food processor so it was DRY and tasteless.  The View was great!  Visited the outdoor art gallery and stopped for coffee first.

 

Precooked Shredded DRY Chicken

                                              Clown Conference

                                Another Wedding Parade 

               Dancers every evening learning new steps.

Dominos Morning...beat again! Maddie and I off to Casa del la Chef for a Great lunch of Salmon and Greek Salad.

                                    SEE THE CRESCENT MOON?

                                                     

                                                   Papaya 

                          

                              I donated not adopted. Was tempting.

Today I tried Ramon Camaron, a long popular restaurant that I never patronized because they had no wine...but today I enjoyed their Grilled Fish with Salad and Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. Very good.

Returning to Yuku Sushi I enjoyed some really good Dumplings, Yakatori, and a Vegetarian Maki Roll with Wine.

...and a wonderful Sunset....

My last meal of February I shared with Deanna, another hiker.  We had another Cabuche fantastic meal. Deanna had the Chicken Salad, I enjoyed the Comida de Dia, Aranchero. Not sure on spelling but with Potato and Guacamole the marinated Steak was tender, delicious and came with a great salad. The Corn cake was a bit large even when we were splitting it and a bit dry compared to the last time I had it.

                                    I love Oaxaca's Trees

                                     Courtyard of upscale Hotel

February is over.  March "In like a Lion, out like a Lamb"? We will see next month. My friend Marjorie will be arriving for a stay. I so look forward to that.  She has been here before but it's been a while.

See y'all in March.