Today, I await a huge Amazon order to complete my shopping list. I felt like an 80-year-old kid at Christmas when it arrived. 79 actually.
On Friday, I went to Yuku and treated myself to a Tasting Menu of five sushi treats: Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Eel, and I have no idea what the last one was. He showed me in a book he had, but I was at a loss, and with my hearing, I didn't understand. Some kind of shellfish similar to a scallop. Also, a Rice Ball with Salmon stuffing and a Matcha pastry with Cream filling. That was the only food I got a photo of. It was so good I wolfed it right down.
The Street Artists were still at it from yesterday.
I certainly wouldn't trust that ladder... make do!
Last night, I let Botas, our complex dog, stay over as it was a thunderstorm out with loud Thunder. When I woke, he was in MY recliner! I got out the upholstery cleaner and a lap blanket to put on tonight to be safe. He doesn't get washed often and is out a lot. I left for a horse parade as part of the beginning of Guelagetza. The Mural was finished, and the parade was starting in my neighborhood to the Zocalo. This is an annual event, but I haven't seen it in several years. I guess over 100 horses, all groomed with riders groomed as well. The horse is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth, so I tried to photograph them all. You can skip these if you like.
Some of the riders had Mezcal in their Saddle bags and passed out shots to the crowd. Another tradition.
Finished Mural on my Dead End Street!
Do I have to get down?
I ran into another parade on the way home.
The photo doesn't show the hard rain so well. I did take my umbrella.
I returned to Yuku a couple of days later to reorder the tasting menu. It was so good, and this time I would take photos.
Long-time Neighborhood Cafe got a Makeover.
Lovely Sushi-loving couple from Atlanta
Nightly Dance Practice
Cone Sushi was delicious
Smoked Eel ...one of my favorites
Not sure if he does anything to this Tuna, but it's the BEST
Surprise Package wrapped with Chives was wonderful.
Fantastic Shrimp
Trade tools, don't think he got them on his trip to Japan?
Still at it!
Perfectionist is adding finishing touches.
I went to Del Jardin for their Tlayuda with Soup for lunch. Excellent Finally Finished
Forgot the Tlayuda Photo...Great wine though!
Friday Pool with the Boys Day...New Guelagetza Statues... After winning 4 out of 5 games (a record for me... I impressed myself), I took Alan, one of my first friends in Oaxaca, to lunch at Terranova. We both had the Daily Friday Fresh Fish Special.
I know...but it was so moist and flavorful!
Saturday is my Fresh Tuna Steak Special at Tasty Vin. It was also the big Guelagetza parade. I left and passed the dancers still practicing their routine. The Alcala, the main pedestrian street to the Zocala, was packed with people already waiting along the parade route. The parade would be two hours away, but it was already starting to form in my neighborhood. Tasty Vin was busy. My waiter already knew what I was going to order and confirmed it as he walked by. Great as usual.
I hoped to do a little shopping while in the area but the crowds were so big I decided to take the bus back. My street was blocked off so no bus. I couldn't even cross the street as the crowds lined up were 5 deep and when I managed to get close and said PERDON right in their ears they never moved or even looked around. No one was going to give up their place and all I wanted was to cross the street. I finally walked further down past the parade route, crossed the street, and walked back to my street. I walked home.
Ian, my neighbor, was going in the gate when I arrived. He said I just missed the parade. He had been at the beginning and said the army patrol stopped to try and get the crowd to stand back and they all booed them when they got out of their truck with their rifles. So they all got back in the truck and retreated, except the last soldier fell on the street trying to get in the truck, and everyone laughed at him. I hope you forgive me for not waiting for hours to photograph the parade. The Guelagetza show on stage can be seen on the internet:
https://casita-colibri.blog/2025/07/21/la-guelaguetza-2025-live-stream/
The owner of this blog, Shannon Shepard, sent this to me and I don't think she minds me sharing it with you. It is the performance that everyone comes to see...not just the parade.
Today I decided to visit Adama, a Mediterranean Restaurant I have not been to in almost a year. I followed the Jewish Chef from when she was hosting "POP UP" dinners on Facebook in her apartment to when she was a guest Chef at a famous local restaurant. She left Oaxaca and returned to open this restaurant about 5 years ago. When the war broke out in the Middle East, Mexico sided with the Palestinians. They weren't against Jewish people, just Israel!
I had Roast Cauliflower with Yogurt and Kebabs. All was the best meal I've had there.
The Chef Another parade tonight. Three Dancers who strutted around the parade were walking on the other side of the street when a boy, also dressed for the parade, saw them and excitedly yelled hello to them. They motioned him over so his Mom could take a photo of him with them. I think someday he will be one of them.
I am making Natto, a Japanese dish of fermented soybeans that is a daily staple in Japan. It turned out great and is now part of my morning diet...loaded with Via K2.
This evening I walked down to Belanc Bakery and Restaurant. Another favorite that has been months since my last visit. I had a great salad and a Homemade Pasta Bolongese that I ended up taking most of it home for breakfast.
Today I returned to Yuku for a Rice Bowl with Eel and a Salmon Roll. So good.
Walking around Oaxaca sure beats Phoenix, Scottsdale, and just about anyplace!
Natto to start the day. Stocked some in the freezer. Later off for my Massage. Missed my last appointment...my bad so I paid double, gladly for this one. After I stopped at Cabouche for an excellent Chicken Burrito and Salad. Natto with Rice
Frozen back-up Natto
New government Frump regulation to verify that this 80 year old, who went through 3 passports, VN Vet, Cub, Boy, and Explorer Scout, lifelong citizen who owned and operated 6 restaurants, had 6 houses, was the chef to 4 Star General Creighton Abrams in VN, has to verify he is who he says he is to get on Social Security and any government website by going to my local post office in Scottsdale in person to have them say yes...this is him. Also, on the way home from my vacation in Europe, I had to submit a letter stating how long I was going to stay in the US and where I was staying...Unless I was only stopping on the way to some other place. That is what I had to do when I entered China and North Korea! The USA is no longer my country. It irks me when his first move was to go into the IRS, Social Security, and take all our records to spy on us, and now he has set up a surveillance program with Palentier Tech to monitor our internet?
Eliz does an unbelievable massage....I am a new man!
Crowds are getting bigger every year.
Icara, a local Cooperative Restaurant next to our neighborhood Market, just got a new menu and Chef, so I tried the Salmon and Zucchini Salad. Both were excellent. I took half the salad home, then the next day combined it with my own salad mix for a luncheon meal.
I returned to a street vendor selling panoramic photos he's taken in places all around the globe. Then had lunch at of Shrimp and glass noodles at a dive bar recently purchased by a biker from Hawaii. That evening I returned to Icara for a "lite" dinner of Falafels with Humus.
Oaxacan Gardens
Taken in the desert of Arizona A Mosque in Sumatra
Didn't stay for the music, though I think I would have loved it. The instruments looked homemade except for the violin.
Early today, I visited a fabric store to get a roll of white thread and some needles to
sew a button on my shirt. One cashier. Dinner time I ran into the last Guelagetza parade and couldn't get across to my restaurant so stopped in a new Mexican Restaurant I had on my radar. It turned out to be delicious. Taco Pastor then a Burrito. It was crowded everywhere so I went home after. I was there for almost an hour, and those people had been waiting on the street for 3 hours, and the parade had not gotten to them yet!
The last day of the celebration, there was a massive tent at the Soledad Cathedral where vendors from all over the State of Oaxaca were selling their local dishes from maybe 35 different mini kitchens with a big tent in the center for beverages and a large stage at the end with a LOUD band playing LOUD but good music. I meandered around to find what I wanted and looked up to see my friend Lynn from Arcata. She recently lost her husband in an automobile accident that put her in the hospital and rehab for months. She looked good but was having to use a cane to walk around, and had just arrived back in Oaxaca a couple of days ago. I ordered some food and joined her and her neighbor, Rebecca, as they were just finishing their meal. We had a nice visit, but she was still tired from the trip, so we are getting together this Monday for breakfast.
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| Lynn |
RebeccaWednesday was Democrats Abroad, end-of-the-month Happy Hour!
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Yes, an Oscar Meyer Hot Dog with Guacamole. A little variety!
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| Rainy |
The last day of the month, I returned to Icarra and tried a Pizza. It was satisfactory and I took half home for snack. Been 6 months or more since I indulged.
Found a message on my gate....Jeannie just sent me my Credit Card to activate by FedEx for $85, and they didn't leave a number or say where I could pick it up. We will return tomorrow before 9 PM!!!! So I will wait all day tomorrow. I have a dinner engagement tomorrow...MEXICO!@#*$ Tomorrow is August 1st so I will send this out. Next week, I welcome Sercan,a SERVAS traveler. (servas.org if you're interested.) He is a member of 23 years and is from Turkey visiting Central America and Mexico. He left at the beginning of June and will stay here for 5 days. I am looking forward to meeting another SERVAS person who, like all the rest will become a lifelong friend and contact. I thank all of you and enjoy!
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