Hope I can write straight - we've just returned from an evening at Cafe Firenze and have polished off a couple of bottles of wine in addition to dinner.
Dinner was wonderful, although the people seated near us [old ( - I'm talking 80-90), I'm-better-at-choosing-food/wine- than you] type people. I've dealt with them for years; too many years.
Anyway, our meals - with which we had no problems whatsoever included: fois gras mousse on brioche toast and a wine reduction dotted about the plate as an amuse bouche; black truffle risotto (Michael) and Kobe beef brushetta (me); New England-style clam chowder (Michael) and Beet carpaccio with toasted garlic goat cheese aioli (me); Tangerine smoothie Intermozzo; Wild boar and porcini mushroom ragout served with homemade papparedelle pasta (Michael) and Lamb chops in a pomegranate glaze (me); finishing with Tiramisu with Don Julio tequila cream sauce.
All told, an excellent dinner. The pomegranate glaze was a bit sweet and I don't particularly like tequila sauces, but every thing else was wonderful. And the party next to us - experts at everything including kitchen ventilation - provided a plentiful source of dinner conversation. We nearly came to blows by the end of the meal. They were still there, trying to show off their knowledge and experience with food as we left.
And partway through the meal, it rained. Not a time of year to expect rain, but a quick downpour, the remnants of which we treaded gingerly through on our walk home after dinner. Really refreshing. Not the same as a rain in Palm Springs - where we could detect the distinctive scent of the Mesquite plants in the desert - but still, it changed the atmosphere for the better.
Feliz Anos (with a tilde) Nuevo , everyone!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Day
Merry Christmas to you all! There was a bit of celebration in the neighborhood last night around midnight as Christmas Eve turned into Christmas Day. Dogs barked a lot, so there wasn't too much sleep for us. Especially when each 'boom!' caused the dogs - sleeping on the bed - to rocket off the bed, hit the floor, skid around the corner into the hall and go barking downstairs, eventually returning to hop onto the bed and sleep again - until the next aerial bomb went off!
Michael has suggested boarding the two noisy ones at the doggie B&B out in the campo for NY weekend which is certain to be noisier. I think we're gonna.
Anyway, while tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrate in Bethlehem (no bombs this year - yet), we've whipped up 3 kilos (about 6-1/2 lbs) of broccoli in a Gorgonzala sauce to take to our gringo potluck Xmas dinner later this afternoon. They just need their buttered breadcrumbs and some time in the oven to brown them and we can drive across town to friends' in our old neighborhood. They're providing 3 turkeys, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, and one of the hostesses' corn pudding; the rest of the guests are bringing side dishes and desserts. Should be about 25 people all told, so I'm sure there will be leftovers. I hope so; this is a great recipe we tried out a few weeks ago, and I was quite sad when we finished it....
This post is courtesy of Michael, who has walked into town, leaving me with access to the internet while dogs snore around my desk. And I'm here by plugging my computer directly into the modem instead of using the router that used to work for both of us until earlier this morning. Just the opposite situation than the one we had a week or two ago with Michael not being able to reach the internet while I still had access. Another Mexican Moment, I guess.
Anyway, the best of the season to you all!
Michael has suggested boarding the two noisy ones at the doggie B&B out in the campo for NY weekend which is certain to be noisier. I think we're gonna.
Anyway, while tens of thousands of pilgrims celebrate in Bethlehem (no bombs this year - yet), we've whipped up 3 kilos (about 6-1/2 lbs) of broccoli in a Gorgonzala sauce to take to our gringo potluck Xmas dinner later this afternoon. They just need their buttered breadcrumbs and some time in the oven to brown them and we can drive across town to friends' in our old neighborhood. They're providing 3 turkeys, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, and one of the hostesses' corn pudding; the rest of the guests are bringing side dishes and desserts. Should be about 25 people all told, so I'm sure there will be leftovers. I hope so; this is a great recipe we tried out a few weeks ago, and I was quite sad when we finished it....
This post is courtesy of Michael, who has walked into town, leaving me with access to the internet while dogs snore around my desk. And I'm here by plugging my computer directly into the modem instead of using the router that used to work for both of us until earlier this morning. Just the opposite situation than the one we had a week or two ago with Michael not being able to reach the internet while I still had access. Another Mexican Moment, I guess.
Anyway, the best of the season to you all!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
Here it is, Christmas Eve, and all is - well, warmish to be truthful. Although it's 17F in Santa Fe (same altitude, just further north) and 21F in Michael's hometown in the U.P. of Michigan (even further north), it's about 50F here and heading up to around 80 later today. Fine weather for a walk into Centro to enjoy a cuppa at Starbucks!
Nevertheless, it still feels like Christmas, even if the sun is shining and the gardener will soon be here to tend to the landscape. There's just something in the air, ya know? Reading FB, there are lots of friends in places that are a lot colder talking about snow and ice. I feel sorry for them and envious, too. When we lived in Southern California it was always great to visit my sister's and brother-in-law's cabin in Idylwild when it snowed - even with those 39 steps down to the house from the parking space!
Here's a little adaptation of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, a la Mexicana - La Noche Buena to help with that Christmas spirit:
While mama worked late in her little cocina,
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado
In hopes that St. Nicolas would feel obligado,
To bring all of the children, both buenos and malos,
A nice bunch of dulces and other regalos.
St. Nick in a sleigh wearing a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero!
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
Were eight little burros, approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
"Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Ay, Maruco y Nieto!"
Then standing up tall with his hand on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly shaking like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then, huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
He stood with soot smeared all over his red suit de gala.
He filled all the stockings, each with a lovely regalo,
Then he turned and, in a flash, was gone like the viento.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight (and this is verdad)
Merry Christmas to all! Feliz Navidad!
Graham Felipe
Nevertheless, it still feels like Christmas, even if the sun is shining and the gardener will soon be here to tend to the landscape. There's just something in the air, ya know? Reading FB, there are lots of friends in places that are a lot colder talking about snow and ice. I feel sorry for them and envious, too. When we lived in Southern California it was always great to visit my sister's and brother-in-law's cabin in Idylwild when it snowed - even with those 39 steps down to the house from the parking space!
Here's a little adaptation of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, a la Mexicana - La Noche Buena to help with that Christmas spirit:
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
Not a creature was stirring; ¡Caramba! ¿Que pasa?
The ninos were all tucked firmly into their camas,
Some in vestidos and some in pijamas,
Not a creature was stirring; ¡Caramba! ¿Que pasa?
The ninos were all tucked firmly into their camas,
Some in vestidos and some in pijamas,
While mama worked late in her little cocina,
And El Viejo was down at the corner cantina.
The stockings were hanging con mucho cuidado
In hopes that St. Nicolas would feel obligado,
To bring all of the children, both buenos and malos,
A nice bunch of dulces and other regalos.
Then outside in the yard there occurred such a grito,
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to my window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think it era?
That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito.
I ran to my window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think it era?
St. Nick in a sleigh wearing a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero!
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados,
Were eight little burros, approaching volados.
I watched as they came, and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
"Ay, Pancho! Ay, Pepe! Ay, Cuca! Ay, Beto!
Ay, Chato! Ay, Chopo! Ay, Maruco y Nieto!"
Then standing up tall with his hand on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly shaking like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea.
Then, huffing and puffing, at last in our sala,
He stood with soot smeared all over his red suit de gala.
He filled all the stockings, each with a lovely regalo,
Then he turned and, in a flash, was gone like the viento.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight (and this is verdad)
Merry Christmas to all! Feliz Navidad!
Graham Felipe
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Club 33
Some of you probably know that we belong to Club 33, the private club inside Disneyland designed and founded by Walt himself, hidden away above the New Orleans Square area. [I say we, but there is only one member allowed, so Michael - as the younger of we two - is the actual member, figuring that he should outlive me.] Although my family arrived in Southern California in 1957 (just 2 years after DL opened), I had no idea that the Club even existed until Michael came into my life and he knew all about it, although he'd been in So Cal only a few years.
So we wrote the letter, filled out the application form, and waited about five years (enjoying the Club as guests of a member during the wait) before we were invited to join. Others joining at the same time had waited 8 - 11 years; guess we were just lucky to be asked when we were....
Anyway, although we had just decided that we wouldn't join if it was offered (the money we'd set aside in the bank account burning a hole in our pocket), we immediately changed our minds and wrote the check. The cost is on the extreme side: there's the hefty initiation fee and an annual membership fee that only goes up each year. When people ask what benefit we receive from being members, we always reply: We are given the opportunity to spend even more money! Meals are not free and special events are really not free. Yes, we get into the parks free, but that was available as a Premium Passholder for a much lower cost - even with free parking included.
Still we love it and although living in Mexico now, hope to continue our membership as long as we can afford it. This year the dues notices did not come out on schedule; a bad sign. It turns out that the Club will be run by Walt Disney World Resorts etc and they are bundling things together with a new club in the remodeled DCA that will be part of the Carthay Circle Theatre building. I don't think we'll be opting for the whole shebang, valued at $10,000 for the first year, but will remain members of Club 33. They seem to be turning the management over to Disneyland Special Activities, too -- no telling what that foretells. Several perks will be changing; some have been announced already. Just waiting for the call that will explain it all....
The web is abuzz with news of the phone calls Disney is making to existing members. I suppose that they will be hoping to scrape some folks off the waiting list (currently closed and with an anticipated wait of 11+ years) when they offer them the CCT membership.
We shall see.
So we wrote the letter, filled out the application form, and waited about five years (enjoying the Club as guests of a member during the wait) before we were invited to join. Others joining at the same time had waited 8 - 11 years; guess we were just lucky to be asked when we were....
Anyway, although we had just decided that we wouldn't join if it was offered (the money we'd set aside in the bank account burning a hole in our pocket), we immediately changed our minds and wrote the check. The cost is on the extreme side: there's the hefty initiation fee and an annual membership fee that only goes up each year. When people ask what benefit we receive from being members, we always reply: We are given the opportunity to spend even more money! Meals are not free and special events are really not free. Yes, we get into the parks free, but that was available as a Premium Passholder for a much lower cost - even with free parking included.
Still we love it and although living in Mexico now, hope to continue our membership as long as we can afford it. This year the dues notices did not come out on schedule; a bad sign. It turns out that the Club will be run by Walt Disney World Resorts etc and they are bundling things together with a new club in the remodeled DCA that will be part of the Carthay Circle Theatre building. I don't think we'll be opting for the whole shebang, valued at $10,000 for the first year, but will remain members of Club 33. They seem to be turning the management over to Disneyland Special Activities, too -- no telling what that foretells. Several perks will be changing; some have been announced already. Just waiting for the call that will explain it all....
The web is abuzz with news of the phone calls Disney is making to existing members. I suppose that they will be hoping to scrape some folks off the waiting list (currently closed and with an anticipated wait of 11+ years) when they offer them the CCT membership.
We shall see.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Our Disney Vacation - Part the Third
Well, before I completely forget what we did at the end of our cruising vacation - and with Michael's able assistance recalling events - here's the last part of our vacation which began on our way to Vancouver in September and ended with our return to Mexico in October.
Once we made it off the ship, we wended our way through immigration (again) and customs, found our luggage, and trekked outside to wait on the curb for our friend, Diane, to pick us up and thence to Disneyland. There was only one little snag in the process, when Michael realized that we were missing a small bag with a Disney animation cel, computers, et cetera. A quick trip inside and it was found with the helpful Disney people at the disembarcation desk. Whew! That animation cell wasn't ours....
Diane found us standing on the curb, waving at her; we quickly loaded our stuff into her car; and we were off to Orange County. Once we arrived at the Grand Californian Hotel and Resort, we checked our luggage (the room wasn't ready, of course, since it was still before lunch time) and headed out to the parks. We also phoned our friends from Northern California who were on their last day at the DLR and coordinated meeting for dinner at the Club.
Several rides later - I can't wait for the new Soarin' to go online - we checked with the front desk at the GCH and found our one-bedroom villa was available. Yippee! A chance to collapse, shower/shave, and all that stuff. Dinner was at Club 33 tonight and we actually got our favorite waiter! There are several whom we enjoy (and just one we can't stand), but our favorite seems more difficult to be assigned now that we're members than when we were guests at the Club. Anyway, the five of us had a great dinner. Hadn't seen Pat and Dave in person since our WBTA cruise the year before. After dinner they went off to pack for their return trip north; Diane drove back to the L.A. area; and we sacked out.
Monday was a park day. No, we didn't make it to rope-drop. Instead - once we were both awake (
I think Michael actually went to the gym while I was still asleep) - it was off to White Water Rapids for breakfast. Unfortunately, I moved my hand into range just as the server (attempted to) place my breakfast before me and there was breakfast and milk all over! It was clearly my fault, but she apologized sweetly and insisted on replacing my breakfast. Tasted twice as good!
The it was time for more parks and shopping. One of our tasks was to visit a Target store for supplies and pack them in our bags for the return trip. Target is one of the places I really miss in Mexico. In the San Fernando Valley, we lived in a location surrounded by Target stores. One was extremely close, another nearly as close in another direction, there were two more to our west, two more further north of us, and one east of us. If our first choice was out of something, it could be found at another store.
Every Sunday morning began at the computer by searching through the on-line Target sale flyer to find what we didn't know we needed! It's great that we have Costco, Sam's Club, Home Depot, and even Sears down here - but I miss Target the most. No running around from pillar to post: you could find anything you needed at that little French department store!
So we shopped (it's a walkable distance from the hotel - not close, but walkable when you're used to walking 4 miles a day at a mile altitude) and schlepped things back to the hotel. Diane has also brought with her all the things we had shipped to her home and those had to be packed up, too. Our mail service from Texas charges us both by weight and value (at 17%), so shipping things to us via Texas tends to be expensive. Shipping to Diane allowed us to skip the weight/value costs - although some things were eventually shipped to avoid the excess baggage fees!
Tuesday we picked up the car whose rental we arranged Monday afternoon and headed up into town. Our goals: our dentist in San Fernando for me; errands in the San Fernando Valley for Michael. I had had an issue with a tooth here in Mexico and my SMA dentist had attempted to patch it up using the new blue-light material. It hadn't held more than a week before it was history. Luckily, it wasn't painful, so it was on my list of dental services once we got to L.A. The good doctor Mark dealt with my other issues in the morning and booked me into an afternoon appointment for the afternoon, when he rebuilt that part of my missing molar (with the same blue-light material) and sent me on my way - healed once again. Have I told you my molars include my wisdom teeth and that their roots are so intertwined that I don't ever want to have them extracted?!? Dr. Mark always says: If there's a next time, out they come. But he hasn't had to resort to that step yet. I hope to die with them in situ.
Anyway, while I was at the dentist, Michael was getting the animation cel valued for a friend in Mexico and running some other errands. We returned to the dentist's a bit early for my appointment, but found that they had tried to call us to tell us of a cancellation earlier in the afternoon. Got there just on time!
For dinner we met Diane at one of our favorite restaurants - Casita del Campo - in Silverlake for drinks and dinner. (Have you ever noticed that most - if not all - of our favorite restaurants in California are Mexican?) Managed to drive back to Disneyland, turn in the car, and walk through the drizzle back to our villa at the hotel.
Wednesday dawned a rainy day, so we stayed warm and dry with only an occasional foray into the parks between rainy periods. Naps are good things. Dinner was the chicken dinner at the Park Plaza restaurant in front of the Castle, then to bed. Tuesday had knocked us out!
Thursday was a better day, weather-wise, and we enjoyed it in the parks again after packing up a whole bunch of 'stuff' from the cruise and shopping and mailing it to ourselves. Those baggage limits are really 'limits' and we nearly always travel as inexpensively as possible, so there's not much of a baggage allowance.
The nice thing about spending time in the parks as a Club member - or annual pass person - is that you don't have to do everything in one day. We wandered about, picking and choosing which attractions to favor with our presence. A bit later in the day my sister and her husband arrived, we added them to the room registration (it was a one-bedroom villa, so we were still legal) and eventually we all changed and headed out to Club 33 again.
Another fabuloso dinner, much frivolity, and then we headed back to the hotel, Michael and I changed into our traveling duds, and the shuttle picked us up at 9 pm for the trip to LAX. Paula and Tim stayed in the villa and returned to San Diego Friday.
So we eventually made it home, not without some drama at the Leon airport: that pesky roller-bag tried to escape once again and was left inside the customs area just after going through the X-ray scanner. We realized it was still inside after was had left the area and they wouldn't let us back in to fetch it until everyone else had left the area. Unfortunately, we arrived just as another flight arrived, so there was some delay waiting for everyone to clear - which our van driver was not happy about - but there was nothing we could do! TIM (This Is Mexico!)
Finally made it home, collapsed, dogs delivered later that morning. Back to normal, except for the unpacking (which took a few days) and catching up on our sleep. Six dinners at Palo, two at the Club; lots of daily coffees and free pastries at the Cove Cafe: no wonder I gained 10 pounds! Should have them off in time for the next vacation.....
Once we made it off the ship, we wended our way through immigration (again) and customs, found our luggage, and trekked outside to wait on the curb for our friend, Diane, to pick us up and thence to Disneyland. There was only one little snag in the process, when Michael realized that we were missing a small bag with a Disney animation cel, computers, et cetera. A quick trip inside and it was found with the helpful Disney people at the disembarcation desk. Whew! That animation cell wasn't ours....
Diane found us standing on the curb, waving at her; we quickly loaded our stuff into her car; and we were off to Orange County. Once we arrived at the Grand Californian Hotel and Resort, we checked our luggage (the room wasn't ready, of course, since it was still before lunch time) and headed out to the parks. We also phoned our friends from Northern California who were on their last day at the DLR and coordinated meeting for dinner at the Club.
Several rides later - I can't wait for the new Soarin' to go online - we checked with the front desk at the GCH and found our one-bedroom villa was available. Yippee! A chance to collapse, shower/shave, and all that stuff. Dinner was at Club 33 tonight and we actually got our favorite waiter! There are several whom we enjoy (and just one we can't stand), but our favorite seems more difficult to be assigned now that we're members than when we were guests at the Club. Anyway, the five of us had a great dinner. Hadn't seen Pat and Dave in person since our WBTA cruise the year before. After dinner they went off to pack for their return trip north; Diane drove back to the L.A. area; and we sacked out.
Monday was a park day. No, we didn't make it to rope-drop. Instead - once we were both awake (
I think Michael actually went to the gym while I was still asleep) - it was off to White Water Rapids for breakfast. Unfortunately, I moved my hand into range just as the server (attempted to) place my breakfast before me and there was breakfast and milk all over! It was clearly my fault, but she apologized sweetly and insisted on replacing my breakfast. Tasted twice as good!
The it was time for more parks and shopping. One of our tasks was to visit a Target store for supplies and pack them in our bags for the return trip. Target is one of the places I really miss in Mexico. In the San Fernando Valley, we lived in a location surrounded by Target stores. One was extremely close, another nearly as close in another direction, there were two more to our west, two more further north of us, and one east of us. If our first choice was out of something, it could be found at another store.
Every Sunday morning began at the computer by searching through the on-line Target sale flyer to find what we didn't know we needed! It's great that we have Costco, Sam's Club, Home Depot, and even Sears down here - but I miss Target the most. No running around from pillar to post: you could find anything you needed at that little French department store!
So we shopped (it's a walkable distance from the hotel - not close, but walkable when you're used to walking 4 miles a day at a mile altitude) and schlepped things back to the hotel. Diane has also brought with her all the things we had shipped to her home and those had to be packed up, too. Our mail service from Texas charges us both by weight and value (at 17%), so shipping things to us via Texas tends to be expensive. Shipping to Diane allowed us to skip the weight/value costs - although some things were eventually shipped to avoid the excess baggage fees!
Tuesday we picked up the car whose rental we arranged Monday afternoon and headed up into town. Our goals: our dentist in San Fernando for me; errands in the San Fernando Valley for Michael. I had had an issue with a tooth here in Mexico and my SMA dentist had attempted to patch it up using the new blue-light material. It hadn't held more than a week before it was history. Luckily, it wasn't painful, so it was on my list of dental services once we got to L.A. The good doctor Mark dealt with my other issues in the morning and booked me into an afternoon appointment for the afternoon, when he rebuilt that part of my missing molar (with the same blue-light material) and sent me on my way - healed once again. Have I told you my molars include my wisdom teeth and that their roots are so intertwined that I don't ever want to have them extracted?!? Dr. Mark always says: If there's a next time, out they come. But he hasn't had to resort to that step yet. I hope to die with them in situ.
Anyway, while I was at the dentist, Michael was getting the animation cel valued for a friend in Mexico and running some other errands. We returned to the dentist's a bit early for my appointment, but found that they had tried to call us to tell us of a cancellation earlier in the afternoon. Got there just on time!
For dinner we met Diane at one of our favorite restaurants - Casita del Campo - in Silverlake for drinks and dinner. (Have you ever noticed that most - if not all - of our favorite restaurants in California are Mexican?) Managed to drive back to Disneyland, turn in the car, and walk through the drizzle back to our villa at the hotel.
Wednesday dawned a rainy day, so we stayed warm and dry with only an occasional foray into the parks between rainy periods. Naps are good things. Dinner was the chicken dinner at the Park Plaza restaurant in front of the Castle, then to bed. Tuesday had knocked us out!
Thursday was a better day, weather-wise, and we enjoyed it in the parks again after packing up a whole bunch of 'stuff' from the cruise and shopping and mailing it to ourselves. Those baggage limits are really 'limits' and we nearly always travel as inexpensively as possible, so there's not much of a baggage allowance.
The nice thing about spending time in the parks as a Club member - or annual pass person - is that you don't have to do everything in one day. We wandered about, picking and choosing which attractions to favor with our presence. A bit later in the day my sister and her husband arrived, we added them to the room registration (it was a one-bedroom villa, so we were still legal) and eventually we all changed and headed out to Club 33 again.
Another fabuloso dinner, much frivolity, and then we headed back to the hotel, Michael and I changed into our traveling duds, and the shuttle picked us up at 9 pm for the trip to LAX. Paula and Tim stayed in the villa and returned to San Diego Friday.
So we eventually made it home, not without some drama at the Leon airport: that pesky roller-bag tried to escape once again and was left inside the customs area just after going through the X-ray scanner. We realized it was still inside after was had left the area and they wouldn't let us back in to fetch it until everyone else had left the area. Unfortunately, we arrived just as another flight arrived, so there was some delay waiting for everyone to clear - which our van driver was not happy about - but there was nothing we could do! TIM (This Is Mexico!)
Finally made it home, collapsed, dogs delivered later that morning. Back to normal, except for the unpacking (which took a few days) and catching up on our sleep. Six dinners at Palo, two at the Club; lots of daily coffees and free pastries at the Cove Cafe: no wonder I gained 10 pounds! Should have them off in time for the next vacation.....
Monday, December 12, 2011
Mexico's Patron Saint
It's once again time for the feast day of the Virgen of Guadalupe (actually, it was last week on the 12th). As a prelude to the Christmas season - which doesn't end until Three King's Day or Old Christmas - it's a lovely way to start.
There are processions through the streets, of course, with folks bearing likenesses of the Virgen. The day is greeted with fireworks (aerial bombs, actually) beginning the day before and continuing through the night. While Fiyero and Coca sort of ignore them, Miyaki objects - barking as each one goes off - and waking us up throughout the night. We don't usually have too much feast-day noise throughout the year in our current part of town, but this is an exception.
We walked into town, picking up the tail-end of the processions and the beginning of the 'let's bless our horses' at St. Antonio's church. We're accustomed to seeing large animal poop on the streets from the occasional burro being led through the city, but there was a continual trail of poop as we walked along the road into Centro. Only as we reached Col. Antonio did we begin to see the stream of horses and understand why there had been so much!
Aren't we lucky that there was someone there to paint her picture, since we didn't have cameras then? It seemed like every household in the procession had a picture of the VG to be blessed. And that miracle of roses during the winter -- I look out our front window and see our own rose bushes blooming away, even at our mountainous altitude. But it makes a nice story and I suppose the Church needed more converts, so we have our own version of the BVM. As some friends say when Jesus speaks to them: Be quiet; can't you tell I'm talking to your Mother?
Well, enough sacrilege; time to enjoy another feast day and hope that the explosions stop going off before we strangle Miyaki!
There are processions through the streets, of course, with folks bearing likenesses of the Virgen. The day is greeted with fireworks (aerial bombs, actually) beginning the day before and continuing through the night. While Fiyero and Coca sort of ignore them, Miyaki objects - barking as each one goes off - and waking us up throughout the night. We don't usually have too much feast-day noise throughout the year in our current part of town, but this is an exception.
We walked into town, picking up the tail-end of the processions and the beginning of the 'let's bless our horses' at St. Antonio's church. We're accustomed to seeing large animal poop on the streets from the occasional burro being led through the city, but there was a continual trail of poop as we walked along the road into Centro. Only as we reached Col. Antonio did we begin to see the stream of horses and understand why there had been so much!
Aren't we lucky that there was someone there to paint her picture, since we didn't have cameras then? It seemed like every household in the procession had a picture of the VG to be blessed. And that miracle of roses during the winter -- I look out our front window and see our own rose bushes blooming away, even at our mountainous altitude. But it makes a nice story and I suppose the Church needed more converts, so we have our own version of the BVM. As some friends say when Jesus speaks to them: Be quiet; can't you tell I'm talking to your Mother?
Well, enough sacrilege; time to enjoy another feast day and hope that the explosions stop going off before we strangle Miyaki!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Our Disney Vacation - Part the Second
So, after a brief break in posting (what's a month between friends?) here is a report on the second week of our Back-to-Back Pacific Coast/Mexican Riviera cruise. Unfortunately, as time goes by, the memory banks dim, so I'll be depending on the Personal Navigators (daily schedules) and notes saved in the Bon Voyage box our travel agency provided as a stateroom gift.
After a really slow check through US Immigration (we back-to-backers were the last group off the ship and I think the officers were tired and chatty), we checked in for the second cruise. This was complicated by the on-shore cast members having different ideas of what line in which we should be standing - but we eventually got checked in and herded off to a special waiting room. After a brief wait (20 minutes or so), we were permitted to re-board the Wonder, where we got the full treatment (parties announced individually, CMs applauding, et cetera). There was even a card from the prez of DCL thanking us for being b2b-ers waiting for us in the new stateroom (right next to our first stateroom).
As usual, Disney threw a terrific Sail Away party: music, dancing, characters performing, general festivities all ending with the playing of the Disney horns' tune (When You Wish Upon a Star). I get misty-eyed just thinking about it....
Tonight was another dinner at Palo, so we suited up as penguins and toddled off after pedicures in the Spa. Why did we wait until so late in life to enjoy massages, manicures and pedicures? Dinner was, as usual, superb! Before dinner we attended Welcome Aboard: Let the Magic Begin! in the Walt Disney Theatre.
Monday and Tuesday were days at sea - our favorites. No schlepping off and back on board, just do what you want - sleep, lounge by the pool, read in the Cove Cafe (that new second story is quite comfy) with a hot coffee drink, stare out at the sea, whatever! The show Monday night was The Golden Mickeys, always a favorite with recaps from the best-known Disney movies patched together with the story of a stage manager who is called upon to emcee the show at the last minute and learns a lot about herself in the process. Dinner was formal night at Triton's, so we dressed in our tuxes again.
Tuesday was spent much the same. The evening show was Alfred & Seymour, a couple of comedians who were genuinely funny! Artists' Palate for dinner with their Show parade. We had brunch at Palo this morning - reserved for at-sea days.
Wednesday was Puerto Vallarta. We suited up (bathing suits this time) and headed off the ship for a day at the beach. Our favorite beach when we went to PV regularly was the Green Chairs on Los Muertos beach. Next to the Blue Chairs, it wasn't quite as crowded and more relaxed. The last time we were in PV (aboard a ship, of course) we headed there and the fellow who managed the beach chairs and drink concession remembered us and our fave drinks - after 10 years! However, this time the place was gone.... So we settled on a spot a little further up the beach until we ate and drank enough and headed back to the ship. PV hasn't changed much - they are working on a new malecon (the at-sea part of the Pan American Games were going to be held in PV later in the summer and they were spiffing the place up).
Got back to the ship, showered, dressed as penguins again, and went to an early dinner at Palo. By this time we were old friends and had a couple of favorite servers. We skipped the show tonight: Toy Story: the Musical. And to think I was part of a study group a few years ago considering whether Toy Story could be made into a musical to be performed aboard the ships! But neither of us like the character, Sid, so we decided to skip it (and the 6:30 Palo ressies helped make up our minds.
Thursday and Friday were spent in Cabo San Lucas. Since we own at a resort there, we slipped off the ship and had breakfast at the resort's restaurant, then headed out for some beach time on the resort's private beach. Wave the little flag for drinks service and lunch.... Ah, that's the life! Thursday was Pirate Night, so we got into our simplified costumes for dinner. I missed the big, plumed hats we normally wear, but luggage restrictions on the airplanes being what they are.....
Thursday night was spent circling out at sea and then we returned to Cabo on Friday. This was supposed to be a different port, but all cruise ship lines decided to take a miss on that port after some trouble earlier in the year. We had to be back aboard by 1:30 to leave for Los Angeles, so our time ashore was shortened, but we still enjoyed the beach at the resort. Then our last opportunity to wear our tuxes for our last dinner at Palo. By this time I think even the dishwasher knew who we were - but that's nice, too. And we managed to see Dreams, An Enchanted Classic which has Peter Pan flying onto the stage through the open window, Peter and the girl who's been trying to learn how to fly doing so around the rooftops of London, and then Tinkerbell sprinkles her fairy dust throughout the entire theater (the entire ceiling lights up and twinkles - also a misty moment!).
So we didn't see every show, we missed the 3D version of Lion King among other things, but we did what we wanted, when we wanted, and that's what's cruising is all about!
Oh, and we did book a few future cruises. We were on board the day Disney announced that there would be a second 14-day cruise to the Hawai'ian Islands in Fall 2012, so we booked that. Couldn't manage the Spring 2012 Island cruise as we will be on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage in March/April. But six months later, okie-dokie! Then we also booked two 'Dummy' cruises for December 2012 that we'll move to other dates when the new schedules open. Booking future cruises while on board has a financial incentive, so we took advantage. Now to figure out how to pay for them all....
Still haven't gotten the pictures downloaded and added to the blog. I suppose I should quit dithering and just do it! We'll see; you've probably noticed how long it took to write this second week installment. I'll try to finish up with the time we spent at the Disney Resort in a more timely fashion! I've tied up the box of memories so the next bit will be strictly from memory, so it should be brief!
After a really slow check through US Immigration (we back-to-backers were the last group off the ship and I think the officers were tired and chatty), we checked in for the second cruise. This was complicated by the on-shore cast members having different ideas of what line in which we should be standing - but we eventually got checked in and herded off to a special waiting room. After a brief wait (20 minutes or so), we were permitted to re-board the Wonder, where we got the full treatment (parties announced individually, CMs applauding, et cetera). There was even a card from the prez of DCL thanking us for being b2b-ers waiting for us in the new stateroom (right next to our first stateroom).
As usual, Disney threw a terrific Sail Away party: music, dancing, characters performing, general festivities all ending with the playing of the Disney horns' tune (When You Wish Upon a Star). I get misty-eyed just thinking about it....
Tonight was another dinner at Palo, so we suited up as penguins and toddled off after pedicures in the Spa. Why did we wait until so late in life to enjoy massages, manicures and pedicures? Dinner was, as usual, superb! Before dinner we attended Welcome Aboard: Let the Magic Begin! in the Walt Disney Theatre.
Monday and Tuesday were days at sea - our favorites. No schlepping off and back on board, just do what you want - sleep, lounge by the pool, read in the Cove Cafe (that new second story is quite comfy) with a hot coffee drink, stare out at the sea, whatever! The show Monday night was The Golden Mickeys, always a favorite with recaps from the best-known Disney movies patched together with the story of a stage manager who is called upon to emcee the show at the last minute and learns a lot about herself in the process. Dinner was formal night at Triton's, so we dressed in our tuxes again.
Tuesday was spent much the same. The evening show was Alfred & Seymour, a couple of comedians who were genuinely funny! Artists' Palate for dinner with their Show parade. We had brunch at Palo this morning - reserved for at-sea days.
Wednesday was Puerto Vallarta. We suited up (bathing suits this time) and headed off the ship for a day at the beach. Our favorite beach when we went to PV regularly was the Green Chairs on Los Muertos beach. Next to the Blue Chairs, it wasn't quite as crowded and more relaxed. The last time we were in PV (aboard a ship, of course) we headed there and the fellow who managed the beach chairs and drink concession remembered us and our fave drinks - after 10 years! However, this time the place was gone.... So we settled on a spot a little further up the beach until we ate and drank enough and headed back to the ship. PV hasn't changed much - they are working on a new malecon (the at-sea part of the Pan American Games were going to be held in PV later in the summer and they were spiffing the place up).
Got back to the ship, showered, dressed as penguins again, and went to an early dinner at Palo. By this time we were old friends and had a couple of favorite servers. We skipped the show tonight: Toy Story: the Musical. And to think I was part of a study group a few years ago considering whether Toy Story could be made into a musical to be performed aboard the ships! But neither of us like the character, Sid, so we decided to skip it (and the 6:30 Palo ressies helped make up our minds.
Thursday and Friday were spent in Cabo San Lucas. Since we own at a resort there, we slipped off the ship and had breakfast at the resort's restaurant, then headed out for some beach time on the resort's private beach. Wave the little flag for drinks service and lunch.... Ah, that's the life! Thursday was Pirate Night, so we got into our simplified costumes for dinner. I missed the big, plumed hats we normally wear, but luggage restrictions on the airplanes being what they are.....
Thursday night was spent circling out at sea and then we returned to Cabo on Friday. This was supposed to be a different port, but all cruise ship lines decided to take a miss on that port after some trouble earlier in the year. We had to be back aboard by 1:30 to leave for Los Angeles, so our time ashore was shortened, but we still enjoyed the beach at the resort. Then our last opportunity to wear our tuxes for our last dinner at Palo. By this time I think even the dishwasher knew who we were - but that's nice, too. And we managed to see Dreams, An Enchanted Classic which has Peter Pan flying onto the stage through the open window, Peter and the girl who's been trying to learn how to fly doing so around the rooftops of London, and then Tinkerbell sprinkles her fairy dust throughout the entire theater (the entire ceiling lights up and twinkles - also a misty moment!).
So we didn't see every show, we missed the 3D version of Lion King among other things, but we did what we wanted, when we wanted, and that's what's cruising is all about!
Oh, and we did book a few future cruises. We were on board the day Disney announced that there would be a second 14-day cruise to the Hawai'ian Islands in Fall 2012, so we booked that. Couldn't manage the Spring 2012 Island cruise as we will be on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage in March/April. But six months later, okie-dokie! Then we also booked two 'Dummy' cruises for December 2012 that we'll move to other dates when the new schedules open. Booking future cruises while on board has a financial incentive, so we took advantage. Now to figure out how to pay for them all....
Still haven't gotten the pictures downloaded and added to the blog. I suppose I should quit dithering and just do it! We'll see; you've probably noticed how long it took to write this second week installment. I'll try to finish up with the time we spent at the Disney Resort in a more timely fashion! I've tied up the box of memories so the next bit will be strictly from memory, so it should be brief!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Our Disney Vacation - Part the First
Well, the photos aren't ready (let's face it, I haven't had the oomph to attack the photos, yet) but I suppose I should say something about our recent vacation.
Yes, we're retired and yes, we needed a vacation. This doing-nothing-in-particular is hard work! Nothing like they promised when I was still working and dreaming of retirement. Of course, one of the allures of retirement was the ability to travel without regard to the need to issue paychecks or to ask for time off from a boss that didn't believe in taking time off herself.
You all know we're a couple of Disney nuts, right? Disney fanatics, perhaps. Disney freaks to a few close friends who don't understand our endless fascination with most things Disney.
So the Wonder has been on the West Coast recently. Spent the summer doing Alaska; winter is spent doing the Mexican riviera. So the ship has to be moved from the northern climes (it sailed out of Vancouver for Alaska) to the southern climes (it sails out of Los Angeles for the MR). So we booked ourselves on the west coast repositioning cruise from Canada to L.A. And as long as we were on the ship, we decided to stay on the ship for the first MR of the season. And while we're in L.A., it's been a long time since we visited the Disneyland Resort.... Nearly three weeks of Disney, Disney, Disney!
The first cruise was primarily sea days - our favorites! We flew from Mexico City to Phoenix for immigration and customs, then on to Vancouver the day before we sailed. We had reserved a room in the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel which is built on the top of the wharf from which the Wonder was to sail. The hotel upgraded our room so that we had a wall of glass onto the bay and the city beyond. That meant that we could stay awake and watch the Wonder as it sailed from drydock to the wharf. Quite a sight. We didn't stay up all night, but it was out there, lit up for all to see each time we awakened.
Morning eventually dawned and we showered, dressed, packed, and headed out for a bite of breakfast. After all, lunch wouldn't be served until 11:30 or 12:00. Just how long are we supposed to wait?!? The hotel is a bit pricey, so we zipped downstairs and found breakfast in the mall beneath street level. After that we only needed to walk downstairs from the first floor lobby to the cruise terminal and check-in. The hotel took care of moving our luggage to the ship for us.
We had obtained an early check-in assignment, so there was plenty of time to wander around the wharf and check out the Wonder from outside as well as a couple of other ships. She was our first Disney ship and I think will always be our favorite. Yes, we're booked on the Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy in the spring, and I'm sure it'll be nice, but the Wonder is a smaller ship (about 2500 passengers) and more 'homey.'
Met some nice folks while in line waiting for check-in whom we would run into aboard ship. Lots of 'family' aboard, but most of them too infatuated with themselves to say 'hello.' I wonder if they would exchange greetings if we were running for the lifeboats and let them go first....
The first cruise was wonderful. We did stop the first full day in Victoria, where Michael and I visited the Natural Science Museum after wandering around the downtown area. The Museum has amazing re-creations of the seashores with the appropriate wildlife as well as a huge walk-through early Victoria Island exhibit. We had a great time and stopped by the Empress Hotel for a quick peek at the famous tea rooms before heading back to the ship for lunch.
After that we were at sea until we visited Ensenada for a day before heading back north towards Los Angeles. Although we hadn't planned on getting off the ship in Ensenada, we took a tequila tour with lots of history and tasting involved. Much better than one earlier trip to Ensenada when we took a tour of a brandy distillery that included singing a song that included every person's name who was on the bus! Did I mention that we were in the back of the bus....?
I would have preferred it if we had stopped over in San Francisco (that was the midpoint stop on the northbound repo cruise in the spring), but that wasn't in the cards. Since the cruise had originated in a foreign country there was no requirement to stop at a second foreign port (Ensenada), but there was time to burn, so that the ship arrived ready to disgorge the repo passengers and embark with new folks for the first Mexican Riviera cruise of the winter season the same day.
I'm going to be a bit sketchy about goings-on aboard ship. It was the usual Disney entertainment, meals, and activities. Didn't partake in too many organized activities, but had a swell time. Became fast friends with the bartenders in the Promenade Lounge mid-ship on Deck Three. They even rounded up cucumbers for our gin and tonics made with Hendrik's gin. We were sailing with the owner and the IT person from the Florida-based travel agency that we use, and our meals were synchronized, so that was fun! Always good to be with Rick and Andrew. In fact, Rick and his wife will be on the Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy with us. We're hoping we'll be able to match dinner reservations there, too. Guess we'd better call Kim, our agent.
We did manage to visit the adult-only, premium restaurant on board, Palo, a total of six times during the two cruises. We're blaming that for the weight gain. Also - because of the time spent in Alaska - the adult's only Cove Cafe (sort of Starbucks with free pastries) - had been enlarged to include an enclosed second story. Spending time reading in the Cove Cafe while the watery world slipped by, munching on delicious pastries and drinking sweet coffee drinks didn't help the ole waistline, either.
We weren't lucky enough to sail in the same cabin on both cruises, so we had to pack up after the repo cruise, but our second cabin was just next door, so the cast members moved our things while we got off the ship for about 20 minutes between cruises. Well, it was probably a bit more than 20 minutes since we had to go through immigration and customs and that line was s-l-o-o-o-w. But we got back on fairly quickly and then we were off to Mexico!
Yes, we're retired and yes, we needed a vacation. This doing-nothing-in-particular is hard work! Nothing like they promised when I was still working and dreaming of retirement. Of course, one of the allures of retirement was the ability to travel without regard to the need to issue paychecks or to ask for time off from a boss that didn't believe in taking time off herself.
You all know we're a couple of Disney nuts, right? Disney fanatics, perhaps. Disney freaks to a few close friends who don't understand our endless fascination with most things Disney.
So the Wonder has been on the West Coast recently. Spent the summer doing Alaska; winter is spent doing the Mexican riviera. So the ship has to be moved from the northern climes (it sailed out of Vancouver for Alaska) to the southern climes (it sails out of Los Angeles for the MR). So we booked ourselves on the west coast repositioning cruise from Canada to L.A. And as long as we were on the ship, we decided to stay on the ship for the first MR of the season. And while we're in L.A., it's been a long time since we visited the Disneyland Resort.... Nearly three weeks of Disney, Disney, Disney!
The first cruise was primarily sea days - our favorites! We flew from Mexico City to Phoenix for immigration and customs, then on to Vancouver the day before we sailed. We had reserved a room in the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel which is built on the top of the wharf from which the Wonder was to sail. The hotel upgraded our room so that we had a wall of glass onto the bay and the city beyond. That meant that we could stay awake and watch the Wonder as it sailed from drydock to the wharf. Quite a sight. We didn't stay up all night, but it was out there, lit up for all to see each time we awakened.
Morning eventually dawned and we showered, dressed, packed, and headed out for a bite of breakfast. After all, lunch wouldn't be served until 11:30 or 12:00. Just how long are we supposed to wait?!? The hotel is a bit pricey, so we zipped downstairs and found breakfast in the mall beneath street level. After that we only needed to walk downstairs from the first floor lobby to the cruise terminal and check-in. The hotel took care of moving our luggage to the ship for us.
We had obtained an early check-in assignment, so there was plenty of time to wander around the wharf and check out the Wonder from outside as well as a couple of other ships. She was our first Disney ship and I think will always be our favorite. Yes, we're booked on the Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy in the spring, and I'm sure it'll be nice, but the Wonder is a smaller ship (about 2500 passengers) and more 'homey.'
Met some nice folks while in line waiting for check-in whom we would run into aboard ship. Lots of 'family' aboard, but most of them too infatuated with themselves to say 'hello.' I wonder if they would exchange greetings if we were running for the lifeboats and let them go first....
The first cruise was wonderful. We did stop the first full day in Victoria, where Michael and I visited the Natural Science Museum after wandering around the downtown area. The Museum has amazing re-creations of the seashores with the appropriate wildlife as well as a huge walk-through early Victoria Island exhibit. We had a great time and stopped by the Empress Hotel for a quick peek at the famous tea rooms before heading back to the ship for lunch.
After that we were at sea until we visited Ensenada for a day before heading back north towards Los Angeles. Although we hadn't planned on getting off the ship in Ensenada, we took a tequila tour with lots of history and tasting involved. Much better than one earlier trip to Ensenada when we took a tour of a brandy distillery that included singing a song that included every person's name who was on the bus! Did I mention that we were in the back of the bus....?
I would have preferred it if we had stopped over in San Francisco (that was the midpoint stop on the northbound repo cruise in the spring), but that wasn't in the cards. Since the cruise had originated in a foreign country there was no requirement to stop at a second foreign port (Ensenada), but there was time to burn, so that the ship arrived ready to disgorge the repo passengers and embark with new folks for the first Mexican Riviera cruise of the winter season the same day.
I'm going to be a bit sketchy about goings-on aboard ship. It was the usual Disney entertainment, meals, and activities. Didn't partake in too many organized activities, but had a swell time. Became fast friends with the bartenders in the Promenade Lounge mid-ship on Deck Three. They even rounded up cucumbers for our gin and tonics made with Hendrik's gin. We were sailing with the owner and the IT person from the Florida-based travel agency that we use, and our meals were synchronized, so that was fun! Always good to be with Rick and Andrew. In fact, Rick and his wife will be on the Maiden Voyage of the Fantasy with us. We're hoping we'll be able to match dinner reservations there, too. Guess we'd better call Kim, our agent.
We did manage to visit the adult-only, premium restaurant on board, Palo, a total of six times during the two cruises. We're blaming that for the weight gain. Also - because of the time spent in Alaska - the adult's only Cove Cafe (sort of Starbucks with free pastries) - had been enlarged to include an enclosed second story. Spending time reading in the Cove Cafe while the watery world slipped by, munching on delicious pastries and drinking sweet coffee drinks didn't help the ole waistline, either.
We weren't lucky enough to sail in the same cabin on both cruises, so we had to pack up after the repo cruise, but our second cabin was just next door, so the cast members moved our things while we got off the ship for about 20 minutes between cruises. Well, it was probably a bit more than 20 minutes since we had to go through immigration and customs and that line was s-l-o-o-o-w. But we got back on fairly quickly and then we were off to Mexico!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
It's the Fifth of July!
Yes, it's the day after Independence Day here in Mexico. Okay, it's not really July 5th, and Independence Day is September 16th, not July 4th. It is a great holiday, which is celebrated beginning the night before with the reading of El Grito - the call to independence from the Spanish, proclaimed in the nearby town of Dolores Hidalgo by Father Miguel Hidalgo. And it wasn't Dolores Hidalgo then - just plain Dolores. As San Miguel de Allende was just San Miguel el Grande. The first town to which the peasant army marched was San Miguel, where the Allende family lived and young Sr. Allende was in the thick of the revolutionary planning. So it's a big ole holiday here in San Miguel. And you can probably see a pattern emerging here: Dolores = Dolores Hidalgo; San Miguel = San Miguel de Allende, eh? Where it all began! (I'm not kidding, you can look it up!)
Although the party began on Thursday, September 15th and continued on into the 16th, we missed it entirely last year. We were on our way to Barcelona, Spain - where they don't celebrate Mexico's revolution for some reason. Can you guess why? Anyway, we then sailed westbound across the Atlantic, meandered through the eastern Caribbean islands, spent some time in WDW, and eventually made our way back home to Mexico. It was all over by then.
This was our chance to participate in the festivities first hand. After walking past the stands selling patriotic gear (flags of various sizes, car pennants, bric-a-brac, and those Vuvuzela horns that were so effective at the World Cup last year) for the last couple of weeks, we tried to stay up until midnight on Thursday to watch the fireworks from our rooftop patio. Failed; fell asleep before they started.
On Friday, we walked into Centro and tried to reach the Jardin at the center of town. Got about a block from it when the crowds became unmanageable and we abandoned the Jardin for lunch at Hecho en Mexico. And in a shocking display of the lack of patriotism for our host country, we ordered bacon-guacamole burgers! [They were great, by the way!]
We were thinking of walking part way into town to watch the parade later in the day as it reached out into the non-Centro area, but there was a terrific thunder storm that shook the town about the time the parade was to start. We don't do crowds and we don't do electrical storms (don't get us wrong, we love them when viewed from inside). So we missed the parade which started after the storm abated. We also missed watching the bullfights - well, not so much.
When we walked into town this morning, things were pretty much back to normal. The crowds were still with us, though not so very many. Actually the Jardin looked quite normal for a Saturday morning. But Starbucks was jammed! There was no place to sit, so we walked over to those lovely looking, iron benches in the Jardin that are not so lovely when sitting before we made our way home; four miles according to the trusty pedometer.
Now to pack a few last things and head off to the Mexico City airport really, really early Monday morning for this year's trip down the coast of the western United States, the Mexican Riviera, and a few days at Disneyland - where it all began!
Although the party began on Thursday, September 15th and continued on into the 16th, we missed it entirely last year. We were on our way to Barcelona, Spain - where they don't celebrate Mexico's revolution for some reason. Can you guess why? Anyway, we then sailed westbound across the Atlantic, meandered through the eastern Caribbean islands, spent some time in WDW, and eventually made our way back home to Mexico. It was all over by then.
This was our chance to participate in the festivities first hand. After walking past the stands selling patriotic gear (flags of various sizes, car pennants, bric-a-brac, and those Vuvuzela horns that were so effective at the World Cup last year) for the last couple of weeks, we tried to stay up until midnight on Thursday to watch the fireworks from our rooftop patio. Failed; fell asleep before they started.
On Friday, we walked into Centro and tried to reach the Jardin at the center of town. Got about a block from it when the crowds became unmanageable and we abandoned the Jardin for lunch at Hecho en Mexico. And in a shocking display of the lack of patriotism for our host country, we ordered bacon-guacamole burgers! [They were great, by the way!]
We were thinking of walking part way into town to watch the parade later in the day as it reached out into the non-Centro area, but there was a terrific thunder storm that shook the town about the time the parade was to start. We don't do crowds and we don't do electrical storms (don't get us wrong, we love them when viewed from inside). So we missed the parade which started after the storm abated. We also missed watching the bullfights - well, not so much.
When we walked into town this morning, things were pretty much back to normal. The crowds were still with us, though not so very many. Actually the Jardin looked quite normal for a Saturday morning. But Starbucks was jammed! There was no place to sit, so we walked over to those lovely looking, iron benches in the Jardin that are not so lovely when sitting before we made our way home; four miles according to the trusty pedometer.
Now to pack a few last things and head off to the Mexico City airport really, really early Monday morning for this year's trip down the coast of the western United States, the Mexican Riviera, and a few days at Disneyland - where it all began!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — He needed a little push before speeding backward down a makeshift slide. Once in the water, he popped his head up for one last look. And then he was gone. The wayward emperor penguin known as "Happy Feet" was back home in Antarctic waters after an extended sojourn spent capturing hearts in New Zealand.
Wellington Zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla said Happy Feet's release went remarkably smoothly given that the boat was being tossed about in 25-foot (8-meter) swells in the unforgiving Antarctic ocean.
"He swam away, not caring about us anymore," Argilla said.
She paused.
"And that's a good thing," she said.
Wellington Zoo veterinarian Lisa Argilla said Happy Feet's release went remarkably smoothly given that the boat was being tossed about in 25-foot (8-meter) swells in the unforgiving Antarctic ocean.
"He swam away, not caring about us anymore," Argilla said.
She paused.
"And that's a good thing," she said.
Another Weather Report
I know you've all been waiting with baited breath for a new weather report. Now, it doesn't have the same immediacy as the remnants of Hurricane Irene, which hurled wind and rain up the Eastern seaboard and on states as far away as Vermont, flooding and isolating towns that are still waiting for their electricity supply to be reconnected. Nor is it even on a par with Tropical Storm Lee, delivering up to 20 inches of rain on the Gulf Coast this weekend, but we did receive 2 inches of rain over Friday night!
We had nearly given up on any further rain; it's pretty far into the rainy season here and our 9-month dry spell will soon be under way, so everyone we spoke with was quite happy with the deluge. It caught us by surprise since after a few bouts of sprinkles in the early evening, most of the rain poured down later in the evening - after we'd retired for the night. Even with the cupola in the bedroom ceiling, the house is pretty well insulated from noise and the rain didn't wake us up until morning. Two inches probably isn't enough to make a noticeable difference in the presa, but any rain helps!
Luckily, it had rained itself out on Friday night and things were dry last night (okay; a few muddy spots remained) when we walked into town and back to enjoy a PreHispanic meal at a new restaurant. Actually, it is going to be a new deli specializing in meals-to-go using ingredients, seasonings, and cooking methods from the PreHispanic era. For instance, the mashed green bananas which played a part in the casserole of sweet, spiced chicken required two days of preparation. Even slower than the recent rage for slow cooking, eh? The meal - which included a salad with hibiscus flower dressing, a potato croquet stuffed with cheese and a spinach-based salsa, and the aforementioned casserole - was very tasty, particularly the casserole. I think they're having another dinner next Saturday; we may try another menu.
The chef is from Oaxaca, a hot bed of indigenous folk with distinctly 'early' cooking styles and recipes. Though formally trained in Italy, he has adopted the Oaxacan styles of cooking to good effect. It's his native part of Mexico and he combines the native styles with his formal training nicely. It did involve sitting at large tables with - gasp! - strangers, but we made the best of it. At least they were interesting without being slightly wacko. You have to be careful around here!
In even lesser news, we've finally gotten our hands on the correct battery charger for the new camera. It took two tries, but this last one seems to be the real deal. The camera came without a separate charger because it has the ability to recharge a battery while it is still in the camera, but I wanted to be able to travel without dealing with the cables, et cetera that are required to connect the camera to power. We also have a back-up battery that I wanted to be able to recharge while using the camera out-and-about.
The first charger had the additional ability to charge from a vehicle's battery, but didn't fit the batteries. Luckily, this second charger was cleverly researched before ordering and it specified that it would work with the battery series with which the camera operates. Additionally, this charger did not get entangled in our mail delivery service: it was dropped into the USPS mail on August 23rd and reached us on September 2nd - about 10 days, which is about right with the additional courier service to SMA. So we've got both batteries charged up and we're ready for our pending vacation!
Speaking of vacations, it was very strange to go to Costco in Celaya last week without two of our good friends. Their remaining aunt had passed on recently (oh, that's a long and separate story) and, as a result, the girls had a modest inheritance. They've been without a car for about five years (it was sold to finance some knee replacements) so once we arrived in town they stopped taking the bus to Celaya and we traveled together about every two weeks to Costco/Home Depot/Sam's Club in Celaya. This was particularly imperative when they opened a restaurant and needed supplies on a regular basis.
Well, what with the aunt's demise, the restaurant was closed; with the inheritance a small car was purchased; and now they've gone off to Europe for six weeks to re-visit Italy and sail around the Mediterranean on the Queen Victoria (another 30-year bucket list item to check-off). So it was a bit strange to visit Costco and not share a pizza with them - but that meant all the more for us! Lunch and dinner, yum!!
There's not much else to report this week. The dogs are getting brushed out before being sent to the doggie B&B while we're on vacation; there are no pressing transcripts at this point (our reporter is on vacation, herself); we're sorting out how to pack for two cruises and several days in Disneyland with formal clothes and piraty outfits and stay within the strictures of airline baggage limits (I think there might be an extra bag or two). We've simplified our pirate costumes for the trip: no big frock coats, no tri-cornered, plumed hats, no thigh-high boots. It was going to cost us $80 to UPS our hats to Canada for the first cruise! It'll be dreadlocks, instead. They pack much more compactly....
We had nearly given up on any further rain; it's pretty far into the rainy season here and our 9-month dry spell will soon be under way, so everyone we spoke with was quite happy with the deluge. It caught us by surprise since after a few bouts of sprinkles in the early evening, most of the rain poured down later in the evening - after we'd retired for the night. Even with the cupola in the bedroom ceiling, the house is pretty well insulated from noise and the rain didn't wake us up until morning. Two inches probably isn't enough to make a noticeable difference in the presa, but any rain helps!
Luckily, it had rained itself out on Friday night and things were dry last night (okay; a few muddy spots remained) when we walked into town and back to enjoy a PreHispanic meal at a new restaurant. Actually, it is going to be a new deli specializing in meals-to-go using ingredients, seasonings, and cooking methods from the PreHispanic era. For instance, the mashed green bananas which played a part in the casserole of sweet, spiced chicken required two days of preparation. Even slower than the recent rage for slow cooking, eh? The meal - which included a salad with hibiscus flower dressing, a potato croquet stuffed with cheese and a spinach-based salsa, and the aforementioned casserole - was very tasty, particularly the casserole. I think they're having another dinner next Saturday; we may try another menu.
The chef is from Oaxaca, a hot bed of indigenous folk with distinctly 'early' cooking styles and recipes. Though formally trained in Italy, he has adopted the Oaxacan styles of cooking to good effect. It's his native part of Mexico and he combines the native styles with his formal training nicely. It did involve sitting at large tables with - gasp! - strangers, but we made the best of it. At least they were interesting without being slightly wacko. You have to be careful around here!
In even lesser news, we've finally gotten our hands on the correct battery charger for the new camera. It took two tries, but this last one seems to be the real deal. The camera came without a separate charger because it has the ability to recharge a battery while it is still in the camera, but I wanted to be able to travel without dealing with the cables, et cetera that are required to connect the camera to power. We also have a back-up battery that I wanted to be able to recharge while using the camera out-and-about.
The first charger had the additional ability to charge from a vehicle's battery, but didn't fit the batteries. Luckily, this second charger was cleverly researched before ordering and it specified that it would work with the battery series with which the camera operates. Additionally, this charger did not get entangled in our mail delivery service: it was dropped into the USPS mail on August 23rd and reached us on September 2nd - about 10 days, which is about right with the additional courier service to SMA. So we've got both batteries charged up and we're ready for our pending vacation!
Speaking of vacations, it was very strange to go to Costco in Celaya last week without two of our good friends. Their remaining aunt had passed on recently (oh, that's a long and separate story) and, as a result, the girls had a modest inheritance. They've been without a car for about five years (it was sold to finance some knee replacements) so once we arrived in town they stopped taking the bus to Celaya and we traveled together about every two weeks to Costco/Home Depot/Sam's Club in Celaya. This was particularly imperative when they opened a restaurant and needed supplies on a regular basis.
Well, what with the aunt's demise, the restaurant was closed; with the inheritance a small car was purchased; and now they've gone off to Europe for six weeks to re-visit Italy and sail around the Mediterranean on the Queen Victoria (another 30-year bucket list item to check-off). So it was a bit strange to visit Costco and not share a pizza with them - but that meant all the more for us! Lunch and dinner, yum!!
There's not much else to report this week. The dogs are getting brushed out before being sent to the doggie B&B while we're on vacation; there are no pressing transcripts at this point (our reporter is on vacation, herself); we're sorting out how to pack for two cruises and several days in Disneyland with formal clothes and piraty outfits and stay within the strictures of airline baggage limits (I think there might be an extra bag or two). We've simplified our pirate costumes for the trip: no big frock coats, no tri-cornered, plumed hats, no thigh-high boots. It was going to cost us $80 to UPS our hats to Canada for the first cruise! It'll be dreadlocks, instead. They pack much more compactly....
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Bang! Pop! Pow!
Holidays, fiestas, saints days - they're all big things here in Mexico. And they are all celebrated - usually with fireworks beginning at dawn. And fireworks include aerial bombs, i.e., loud explosions.
We thought we had escaped most of the noise when we moved to La Lejona. We have no church in our section of town (it's a fraccionamento, not a colonia) and the nearest churches are some ways away, so what bombs that are set off are not near. The dogs don't even notice them.
So imagine our surprise this morning when it was Bang! Pop! Pow! We hurried up to the rooftop to see if we could find out what was going on. It sounded quite close, so if it was next door we could throw a bucket of water on the offenders!!!
However, it was about a block away: a procession on the road out of town towards Celaya. Dozens of folks walking down the highway in the outside lane, accompanied by several police vehicles with flashing lights, flag men to remind drivers to use the inside lane, and a band in bright orange/red suits (playing slightly out of tune). Banners were carried by members of the procession that stretched for some ways.
It was kind of neat, actually, and I was glad they were out of reach of our buckets of water. The instruments would suffer from the damp - though they sounded like they had already suffered.
We later found that it was a saint's day - San Pacual Bailon (thanks, Viktor) so all is square. San Pascual was a religious born on Passover (hence, the name Pascual) in 1540 in Aragon, Spain. Until he was 24, he was a shepherd, then became a Franciscan brother. He later became patron of the Eucharistic Congresses and nighttime Adoracion.
Not sure where the church of San Pascual is in town. Perhaps just a neighborhood that celebrated the saint's day. As usual, we're guessing here. Isn't Mexico fun!
We thought we had escaped most of the noise when we moved to La Lejona. We have no church in our section of town (it's a fraccionamento, not a colonia) and the nearest churches are some ways away, so what bombs that are set off are not near. The dogs don't even notice them.
So imagine our surprise this morning when it was Bang! Pop! Pow! We hurried up to the rooftop to see if we could find out what was going on. It sounded quite close, so if it was next door we could throw a bucket of water on the offenders!!!
However, it was about a block away: a procession on the road out of town towards Celaya. Dozens of folks walking down the highway in the outside lane, accompanied by several police vehicles with flashing lights, flag men to remind drivers to use the inside lane, and a band in bright orange/red suits (playing slightly out of tune). Banners were carried by members of the procession that stretched for some ways.
It was kind of neat, actually, and I was glad they were out of reach of our buckets of water. The instruments would suffer from the damp - though they sounded like they had already suffered.
We later found that it was a saint's day - San Pacual Bailon (thanks, Viktor) so all is square. San Pascual was a religious born on Passover (hence, the name Pascual) in 1540 in Aragon, Spain. Until he was 24, he was a shepherd, then became a Franciscan brother. He later became patron of the Eucharistic Congresses and nighttime Adoracion.
Not sure where the church of San Pascual is in town. Perhaps just a neighborhood that celebrated the saint's day. As usual, we're guessing here. Isn't Mexico fun!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Just a little more, please....
Just when we thought the rainy season was over, it rained last night! The day had been overcast most of the time and there were big storm-like clouds in the evening, but we were still surprised when the rolling thunder and lightning turned into real rain. Often the clouds - and even thunder and lightning - come to naught.
Now, there wasn't much (only 0.44 inches overnight), but it was the first rain we'd had in August. The Presa (the large reservoir west of town) is quite low. I've even heard that you can see the roofs of the homes in the village that was flooded to form the Presa - though we haven't gone looking ourselves and it may be a bit of hyperbole. Since we are headed into the dry season, we need every bit of rain that can be squeezed from the clouds overhead.
Even now, there's thunder and a few sprinkles. Although it will play hob with our plans of going into town for dinner, the rain is needed. Let's hope it produces more than sound and light effects!
Now, there wasn't much (only 0.44 inches overnight), but it was the first rain we'd had in August. The Presa (the large reservoir west of town) is quite low. I've even heard that you can see the roofs of the homes in the village that was flooded to form the Presa - though we haven't gone looking ourselves and it may be a bit of hyperbole. Since we are headed into the dry season, we need every bit of rain that can be squeezed from the clouds overhead.
Even now, there's thunder and a few sprinkles. Although it will play hob with our plans of going into town for dinner, the rain is needed. Let's hope it produces more than sound and light effects!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
One of Life's Accomplishments
We successfully had our garbage picked up yesterday! Now, that may not be big news for most of you, but it is for us.
In the states we had these three big, rolling bins - one for trash, a second for green stuff (lawn clippings, etc), and the third for recyclables. Here in Mexico we have nothing. It's all do-it-yourself.
In Colonia San Rafael the trash was picked up 3 times a week (good when you don't have garbage bins to hold the trash): Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning about 7:30. We knew when the truck was nearing our street because the neighborhood kids would ring our doorbell and ask if we had any 'basura' - which they would be happy to hand in to the truck on our behalf, and thanks for the tip.
The trucks are not the automated things we had in the states. They are open-topped trucks with high sides and there are at least a couple of men in the back, accepting the bags we handed up and spreading the garbage around the truck, separating any recyclables and putting them to one side.
When we moved to Fracc. La Lejona, we were told trash days were Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, so we were prepared to take our trash out the first trash day after our move. Surprise! The days are actually Monday, Wednesday & Friday - just like back home in San Rafael. However, there are no children in our neighborhood to assist with the trash pick-up. And there's no one to pound the piece of metal with a bar to alert the homeowners of the impending truck.
The folks with the truck will pick up your bags of trash from the sidewalk if you aren't there to hand them up yourselves (thus ensuring their Christmas tips), but if you put them out too early, the neighborhood dogs are likely to tear the bags open and help themselves to a snack.
And since their pick-up time is variable - and we might not be home during the afternoon on a trash day - it's always a good thing when we manage to get our trash picked up. Sort of gives you a sense of accomplishment!
In the states we had these three big, rolling bins - one for trash, a second for green stuff (lawn clippings, etc), and the third for recyclables. Here in Mexico we have nothing. It's all do-it-yourself.
In Colonia San Rafael the trash was picked up 3 times a week (good when you don't have garbage bins to hold the trash): Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning about 7:30. We knew when the truck was nearing our street because the neighborhood kids would ring our doorbell and ask if we had any 'basura' - which they would be happy to hand in to the truck on our behalf, and thanks for the tip.
The trucks are not the automated things we had in the states. They are open-topped trucks with high sides and there are at least a couple of men in the back, accepting the bags we handed up and spreading the garbage around the truck, separating any recyclables and putting them to one side.
When we moved to Fracc. La Lejona, we were told trash days were Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, so we were prepared to take our trash out the first trash day after our move. Surprise! The days are actually Monday, Wednesday & Friday - just like back home in San Rafael. However, there are no children in our neighborhood to assist with the trash pick-up. And there's no one to pound the piece of metal with a bar to alert the homeowners of the impending truck.
The folks with the truck will pick up your bags of trash from the sidewalk if you aren't there to hand them up yourselves (thus ensuring their Christmas tips), but if you put them out too early, the neighborhood dogs are likely to tear the bags open and help themselves to a snack.
And since their pick-up time is variable - and we might not be home during the afternoon on a trash day - it's always a good thing when we manage to get our trash picked up. Sort of gives you a sense of accomplishment!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
So much for dinner in the back garden!
One is frequently reminded that - living in the mountains as we do - the weather you may experience may be a completely different experience for someone quite nearby.
There are no official weather stations here in SMA. We have no airport of our own, hence no official weather station. However, there are unofficial or private weather stations: one in the colonia in which we live, one closer to Centro, and one out in the campo on the north side of town. They are each connected to the Weather Underground so their uploaded results are readable on the Wunderground website.
The weather station out in the campo even summarizes the data from the other two stations and reports all three on their web page. The differences between the locations is very obvious when the reports are shown side-by-side. We've been told this all along, but when it's presented graphically, it's hard to ignore. The station in the campo reports hotter and colder temperatures, day and night, than the stations in town where our particular architecture tends to level things off. The variations between day and night are lessened since the presence of buildings slows both the heating of the city and the cooling at night. The masonary buildings are slow to warm during the day and slow to cool off at night because of their composition.
The greatest difference is when it rains. A neighborhood in another part of town can get a vastly different amount of rain that we do at our house. A recent spate of storms delivered over 3 inches of rain at the house, while friends in the same colonia received over 6 inches! What a difference a few blocks (and the differences in geography) can make!
However, because our weather stations are unofficial, we never received weather forecasts in the past. Only recently www.weather.com has begun posting forecasts for SMA. And they're fairly accurate, temperature-wise. Although during the summer there is often a chance of rain predicted on most days, we've learned to not expect any precipitation unless the prediction is at least 80 - 90%.
So imagine our surprise this evening when a faint roll of thunder was followed by rain spattering the pavement in the back yard. The rain prediction for today was only 60% at most. We had gone ahead with plans for dining in the back garden instead of inside based on the forecast. We'd just prepared the salads and baked ziti with sausage and meatballs when it started to rain!
Well, as it turned out, perhaps 'rain' is too strong a word. Prolonged heavy sprinkling might be more accurate. At any rate, dining al fresco was out of the question. So we took our plates into the office and I'm trying not to spill any pasta sauce on the keyboard as I write!
The sun is out once again, the thunder had faded (though there's some again right now), and the pavement has begun to dry. If it rains a bit more, perhaps we'll not need to water the lawn today after all.
[For historical accuracy, last night's precipitation amounted to 8.4mm or 1/3-inch including that which fell at the dinner hour and a bit later - around 9pm.]
There are no official weather stations here in SMA. We have no airport of our own, hence no official weather station. However, there are unofficial or private weather stations: one in the colonia in which we live, one closer to Centro, and one out in the campo on the north side of town. They are each connected to the Weather Underground so their uploaded results are readable on the Wunderground website.
The weather station out in the campo even summarizes the data from the other two stations and reports all three on their web page. The differences between the locations is very obvious when the reports are shown side-by-side. We've been told this all along, but when it's presented graphically, it's hard to ignore. The station in the campo reports hotter and colder temperatures, day and night, than the stations in town where our particular architecture tends to level things off. The variations between day and night are lessened since the presence of buildings slows both the heating of the city and the cooling at night. The masonary buildings are slow to warm during the day and slow to cool off at night because of their composition.
The greatest difference is when it rains. A neighborhood in another part of town can get a vastly different amount of rain that we do at our house. A recent spate of storms delivered over 3 inches of rain at the house, while friends in the same colonia received over 6 inches! What a difference a few blocks (and the differences in geography) can make!
However, because our weather stations are unofficial, we never received weather forecasts in the past. Only recently www.weather.com has begun posting forecasts for SMA. And they're fairly accurate, temperature-wise. Although during the summer there is often a chance of rain predicted on most days, we've learned to not expect any precipitation unless the prediction is at least 80 - 90%.
So imagine our surprise this evening when a faint roll of thunder was followed by rain spattering the pavement in the back yard. The rain prediction for today was only 60% at most. We had gone ahead with plans for dining in the back garden instead of inside based on the forecast. We'd just prepared the salads and baked ziti with sausage and meatballs when it started to rain!
Well, as it turned out, perhaps 'rain' is too strong a word. Prolonged heavy sprinkling might be more accurate. At any rate, dining al fresco was out of the question. So we took our plates into the office and I'm trying not to spill any pasta sauce on the keyboard as I write!
The sun is out once again, the thunder had faded (though there's some again right now), and the pavement has begun to dry. If it rains a bit more, perhaps we'll not need to water the lawn today after all.
[For historical accuracy, last night's precipitation amounted to 8.4mm or 1/3-inch including that which fell at the dinner hour and a bit later - around 9pm.]
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Santa Fe is on Fire! - II
The next morning dawned early (here in SMA, the sun stays up longer but it doesn't rise any earlier: 7:00 am is about year-round), but we were ready for breakfast and dined on chiliquiles with green peppers and fruits with delicious coffee. I'm a bit of a coffee snob and wasn't expecting much, but even with cream and sugar, it tasted like COFFEE!
We took the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the new camera (what happened to that 16 MB chip?) and headed out into town. Stopped at a couple of places then decided we'd try Maria's for lunch. From the inn we took a cross-country route rather than walking down the more popular streets to Maria's -- and promptly got lost. Saw a lot of nice neighborhoods before we turned down a street that - by chance - was the street on which Maria's was located.
They make a mighty fine margarita with any one of their multiple tequilas; we tried two of them and enjoyed our luncheon. Michael ordered the sampler platter (taco, chile relleno, enchilada, and tamale - Christmas style). I enjoyed the stuffed burger (I know, how Anglo!) but it was stuffed with cheddar cheese, onions, and green peppers. We also shared Michael's bunelo with lots of honey!
We headed back to the inn (using the main thoroughfares this time - a much shorter trip) and then decided to walk to the Plaza. Visited the Museum, a camera shop (bought a 4 GB chip, as the camera's memory was full after taking the second picture), bought a Zia necklace for Michael, then stopped into our favorite hat shop - gotta plan for next year.... Back to the inn for a nap and then on to the opera.
This was planned as an interesting evening: shuttle to the opera, a buffet dinner with our friends Michael and Will (who live in Santa Fe), a talk about that night's opera, and then the performance. Santa Fe Opera starts at 9 pm in July - things must be dark, you know - and it was really a good thing this time. The production (Faust) had a dark storyline and the production was largely black: black flooring, black ceiling, black walls, and many black costumes. The use of light was important and it just wouldn't be the same if it had still been light out. This is changing next year, when the opera will begin at 8:30 instead of 9:00 in July. Not sure this is a good idea, but the old general director is gone and there's little reverence for some of his ideas!
Anyway, the dinner was great fun! The four of us simply picked up from where we left off last year and carried on. Good friends are like that. The meal was good, the talk was above average, and the show magnificent. I understand that on opening night - when nearby Los Alamos was still involved in a forest fire - as the back of the stage was opened, the fires of Hell were aptly portrayed with smoke, fire, and exploding pine trees. Even though the fire had gone away, it was still an exciting performance and it didn't seem like 12:30 when it got over. Not sure we needed the French ballet scene, but with a French conductor, you can bet we got it!
And there was talk of next year's season. I think we're going to try for three operas next year; maybe four of the season's five, depending upon how long we want to stay in Santa Fe. There's Tosca, Pearl Fishers, and King Roger for sure; maybe Arabella and even Maometto II, if we get wild and crazy (M-II is Rossini, not my favorite composer).
We're not planning as much traveling in 2012: Cabo in January; a Western Caribbean itinerary on the Disney Dream and the maiden voyage of the Disney Fantasy in March (with about eight days at Walt Disney World, of course, around the cruises). So perhaps we can manage more operas in Santa Fe - or not. There's always the possibility of an additional cruise....
Early Sunday morning we packed up (after a breakfast of feather-light lemon ricotta pancakes in a lemon syrup with berries and bacon) and drove the hour back to ABQ, turned in the car, and shuttled to the airport. Checked the bags, went through security - where I got the full-body x-ray treatment - and went off to await our departure.
And uneventful flight except for the person who lost their breakfast a few rows ahead of us. The need for a clean-up crew in Phoenix delayed us a bit, but we made it to San Diego in two short hops.
Our connection with Paula and Tim went more smoothly this time and they were waiting to pick us up so we zipped off to IKEA for some last-minute shopping. I really miss that store in Mexico. We've heard that there is an IKEA store in DF, but their website doesn't mention it. Paula had done some advance shopping for us at IKEA and Crate and Barrel (and we had covered Target needs in Santa Fe), so there wasn't too much to do, but it was a weekend and the place was jammed. Whew! Weekdays are better.
Then back to their house to repack our suitcases and average the weight distribution. Dinner called, so off to a Mexican restaurant (natch) in Hillcrest for an early dinner and then on to the Civic Theater for the closing performance of Shrek - The Musical. Wasn't sure how I'd like this, but it was inventive and well-performed and I think we all enjoyed ourselves in our fifth row orchestra seats. Don'cha just love theater?!?
Our visit drew to a close and we hustled over to the Greyhound bus station (that's another story; perhaps a mood piece is called for sometime soon) where we caught the bus to the border and then on to the Tijuana airport. No muss, no fuss at the border, but a long line at the airport check-in counter. We eventually made it to the front and checked our bags, then went to the gate to wait for loading.
From there onto the plane and a three-hour flight to Leon, where our shuttle driver was waiting for us. It was a fuller shuttle this time so the trip was longer as we dropped folks off at their destinations in San Miguel. Busy, but a much less frustrating trip than the trip north!
Oh, and the van needed new shocks! Have I ever told you about traffic control in Mexico? One word: topes. Not only here in San Miguel where our designation as a World Heritage site prevents such modern things as store signs and traffic lights, but the rest of Mexico uses them too, anywhere they want traffic to slow down. Bounce, bounce, bounce, but we made it home at last.
Once again, we traveled for more than 24 hours and as soon as we had tagged the furniture, I headed upstairs for a nap. Don't really sleep much on airplanes. Volaris has a lot going for it (prices, schedules, good service), but generous amounts of space are not among their virtues. Even Southwest allows more space between rows, and I think the Boeings that Southwest flies are wider than the Airbuses in Volaris's fleet.
So here we are, safe and sound again. The bathroom mirror frames (reminiscent of 'Who's the fairest of them all?' in size and design) were now mirrored. The carpenter arrived to install the spice racks beneath the wall cabinets, and this morning the masons arrived to complete the fountain platform in the back yard. Not that we're going to have a fountain, but the owners had originally planned on one there (and in the front yard, too) so there was plumbing and a rough concrete platform built.
There were some difficulties in the execution of the design we had in mind, but it looks great, it's nearly completed, and it's even better looking than the tiled steps the same masons did for us leading down into the backyard from the loggia.
Next up: a back-to-back cruise on the Disney Wonder from Vancouver to Los Angeles, then on to the first Mexican Riviera cruise of the winter season in mid-September/October. And as long as we're in Los Angeles, a stay at Disneyland to see the work that's been done so far on the re-imagining of California Adventure from a representation of the whole state to a recreation of Los Angeles in the 1930s when Walt first arrived in town. Oh, and a few dinners at Club 33, of course, with friends invited, et cetera.
Can't wait!!!
We took the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the new camera (what happened to that 16 MB chip?) and headed out into town. Stopped at a couple of places then decided we'd try Maria's for lunch. From the inn we took a cross-country route rather than walking down the more popular streets to Maria's -- and promptly got lost. Saw a lot of nice neighborhoods before we turned down a street that - by chance - was the street on which Maria's was located.
They make a mighty fine margarita with any one of their multiple tequilas; we tried two of them and enjoyed our luncheon. Michael ordered the sampler platter (taco, chile relleno, enchilada, and tamale - Christmas style). I enjoyed the stuffed burger (I know, how Anglo!) but it was stuffed with cheddar cheese, onions, and green peppers. We also shared Michael's bunelo with lots of honey!
We headed back to the inn (using the main thoroughfares this time - a much shorter trip) and then decided to walk to the Plaza. Visited the Museum, a camera shop (bought a 4 GB chip, as the camera's memory was full after taking the second picture), bought a Zia necklace for Michael, then stopped into our favorite hat shop - gotta plan for next year.... Back to the inn for a nap and then on to the opera.
This was planned as an interesting evening: shuttle to the opera, a buffet dinner with our friends Michael and Will (who live in Santa Fe), a talk about that night's opera, and then the performance. Santa Fe Opera starts at 9 pm in July - things must be dark, you know - and it was really a good thing this time. The production (Faust) had a dark storyline and the production was largely black: black flooring, black ceiling, black walls, and many black costumes. The use of light was important and it just wouldn't be the same if it had still been light out. This is changing next year, when the opera will begin at 8:30 instead of 9:00 in July. Not sure this is a good idea, but the old general director is gone and there's little reverence for some of his ideas!
Anyway, the dinner was great fun! The four of us simply picked up from where we left off last year and carried on. Good friends are like that. The meal was good, the talk was above average, and the show magnificent. I understand that on opening night - when nearby Los Alamos was still involved in a forest fire - as the back of the stage was opened, the fires of Hell were aptly portrayed with smoke, fire, and exploding pine trees. Even though the fire had gone away, it was still an exciting performance and it didn't seem like 12:30 when it got over. Not sure we needed the French ballet scene, but with a French conductor, you can bet we got it!
And there was talk of next year's season. I think we're going to try for three operas next year; maybe four of the season's five, depending upon how long we want to stay in Santa Fe. There's Tosca, Pearl Fishers, and King Roger for sure; maybe Arabella and even Maometto II, if we get wild and crazy (M-II is Rossini, not my favorite composer).
We're not planning as much traveling in 2012: Cabo in January; a Western Caribbean itinerary on the Disney Dream and the maiden voyage of the Disney Fantasy in March (with about eight days at Walt Disney World, of course, around the cruises). So perhaps we can manage more operas in Santa Fe - or not. There's always the possibility of an additional cruise....
Early Sunday morning we packed up (after a breakfast of feather-light lemon ricotta pancakes in a lemon syrup with berries and bacon) and drove the hour back to ABQ, turned in the car, and shuttled to the airport. Checked the bags, went through security - where I got the full-body x-ray treatment - and went off to await our departure.
And uneventful flight except for the person who lost their breakfast a few rows ahead of us. The need for a clean-up crew in Phoenix delayed us a bit, but we made it to San Diego in two short hops.
Our connection with Paula and Tim went more smoothly this time and they were waiting to pick us up so we zipped off to IKEA for some last-minute shopping. I really miss that store in Mexico. We've heard that there is an IKEA store in DF, but their website doesn't mention it. Paula had done some advance shopping for us at IKEA and Crate and Barrel (and we had covered Target needs in Santa Fe), so there wasn't too much to do, but it was a weekend and the place was jammed. Whew! Weekdays are better.
Then back to their house to repack our suitcases and average the weight distribution. Dinner called, so off to a Mexican restaurant (natch) in Hillcrest for an early dinner and then on to the Civic Theater for the closing performance of Shrek - The Musical. Wasn't sure how I'd like this, but it was inventive and well-performed and I think we all enjoyed ourselves in our fifth row orchestra seats. Don'cha just love theater?!?
Our visit drew to a close and we hustled over to the Greyhound bus station (that's another story; perhaps a mood piece is called for sometime soon) where we caught the bus to the border and then on to the Tijuana airport. No muss, no fuss at the border, but a long line at the airport check-in counter. We eventually made it to the front and checked our bags, then went to the gate to wait for loading.
From there onto the plane and a three-hour flight to Leon, where our shuttle driver was waiting for us. It was a fuller shuttle this time so the trip was longer as we dropped folks off at their destinations in San Miguel. Busy, but a much less frustrating trip than the trip north!
Oh, and the van needed new shocks! Have I ever told you about traffic control in Mexico? One word: topes. Not only here in San Miguel where our designation as a World Heritage site prevents such modern things as store signs and traffic lights, but the rest of Mexico uses them too, anywhere they want traffic to slow down. Bounce, bounce, bounce, but we made it home at last.
Once again, we traveled for more than 24 hours and as soon as we had tagged the furniture, I headed upstairs for a nap. Don't really sleep much on airplanes. Volaris has a lot going for it (prices, schedules, good service), but generous amounts of space are not among their virtues. Even Southwest allows more space between rows, and I think the Boeings that Southwest flies are wider than the Airbuses in Volaris's fleet.
So here we are, safe and sound again. The bathroom mirror frames (reminiscent of 'Who's the fairest of them all?' in size and design) were now mirrored. The carpenter arrived to install the spice racks beneath the wall cabinets, and this morning the masons arrived to complete the fountain platform in the back yard. Not that we're going to have a fountain, but the owners had originally planned on one there (and in the front yard, too) so there was plumbing and a rough concrete platform built.
There were some difficulties in the execution of the design we had in mind, but it looks great, it's nearly completed, and it's even better looking than the tiled steps the same masons did for us leading down into the backyard from the loggia.
Next up: a back-to-back cruise on the Disney Wonder from Vancouver to Los Angeles, then on to the first Mexican Riviera cruise of the winter season in mid-September/October. And as long as we're in Los Angeles, a stay at Disneyland to see the work that's been done so far on the re-imagining of California Adventure from a representation of the whole state to a recreation of Los Angeles in the 1930s when Walt first arrived in town. Oh, and a few dinners at Club 33, of course, with friends invited, et cetera.
Can't wait!!!
Santa Fe is on Fire!
So by 4 am we had risen, taken care of some last minute tasks, showered, shaved, and were in the SUV for the drive to the Leon airport. (Actually, I was up and about by midnight.)
Anyway, the trip started off just fine. The shuttle was a bit early, but we were ready for it. It got lost finding the house of the other person on the shuttle, but we left town in good time, reached the airport on schedule (even though two rabbits tried to slow us down on one of the roads - eewww), we checked our bags at the counter and went off to a new waiting room that we'd not used before.
The flight was fine - full, but we had our two aisle seats and it's only a 2 -3 hour flight. Lots of people at the Tijuana airport waiting for luggage, but we got our bags, found a taxi, and arrived at the border, only to find a line of about 2,000 people snaking around, down the hill, across a park, and disappearing into the distance. Drat! we had a plane to catch, Paula and Tim were waiting for us on the US side, and we were supposed to catch breakfast together.
So we backtracked and found a taxi/van to take us to the border gate, skipping the wait in line. Or so they said. Of course we had to wait until the van was full (waiting) and then we drove up to the border crossing point. But they couldn't let us out at that point (we'd have had a tussle on our hands from the folks who'd been standing in line for hours!), so we sat as the driver waited our turn in the 'Bus' lane (wait, wait, wait). By the time we reached the front of the line four hours had passed. We couldn't call Paula or Tim 'cuz our US cell phone was in the luggage on the top of the van and there was a big, heavy, old man who spoke only Espanol sitting between us and the door, so we couldn't rescue the phone and call them.
So four hours later we reached the front of the line and were unloaded into the side door for the US Customs & Border Patrol review -- which took about 5 minutes.
Called Paula who scooted back to the border to pick us up. We had talked ourselves into missing the plane and having to take a later one to Albuquerque, but Paula said, Oh, let's try to catch this one; you'll make it!
So when we reached the airport moments later, we dashed inside, SouthWest's agent sent us to the checked baggage counter right away, Michael had to go to the other end of the counter to print out our boarding passes (I had not found them when he printed them at home the previous night, so we did not have them with us), then zipped back to the baggage check counter and our bags were tagged 'Late Check-In' which absolves the airline from any responsibility if they don't make it! The agent said she thought we'd make the flight; she wasn't sure about the bags.
Luckily, Southwest in San Diego has a very nice set up with their own TSA screening agents and we easily made it to the gate before they called the flight for boarding. The change of planes in Phoenix went smoothly, and we landed in ABQ to find that our bags made the flight along with us!
After shuttling to the car rental area, we picked up our car (they didn't try to upgrade us this time) and were on our way to Santa Fe. Found the B&B easily (we took our GPS with us) and figured out how to get into our room since the owners had left (we got there kinda late), which involved lock boxes, multiple keys, directions, et cetera.
After freshening up, we walked to one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Fe, Rio Chalma - which we first discovered when we took a restaurant walking tour with a local culinary school. We've returned each year for our first meal in SF. They also have a rather good bar with Hendrik's gin and a decent selection of tequilas. Oh, and the food is superb, too; dinner included pulled buffalo sliders with foie gras....
At this point we had been up for twenty-four hours, so we toddled off back to the B&B and fell into bed.
Anyway, the trip started off just fine. The shuttle was a bit early, but we were ready for it. It got lost finding the house of the other person on the shuttle, but we left town in good time, reached the airport on schedule (even though two rabbits tried to slow us down on one of the roads - eewww), we checked our bags at the counter and went off to a new waiting room that we'd not used before.
The flight was fine - full, but we had our two aisle seats and it's only a 2 -3 hour flight. Lots of people at the Tijuana airport waiting for luggage, but we got our bags, found a taxi, and arrived at the border, only to find a line of about 2,000 people snaking around, down the hill, across a park, and disappearing into the distance. Drat! we had a plane to catch, Paula and Tim were waiting for us on the US side, and we were supposed to catch breakfast together.
So we backtracked and found a taxi/van to take us to the border gate, skipping the wait in line. Or so they said. Of course we had to wait until the van was full (waiting) and then we drove up to the border crossing point. But they couldn't let us out at that point (we'd have had a tussle on our hands from the folks who'd been standing in line for hours!), so we sat as the driver waited our turn in the 'Bus' lane (wait, wait, wait). By the time we reached the front of the line four hours had passed. We couldn't call Paula or Tim 'cuz our US cell phone was in the luggage on the top of the van and there was a big, heavy, old man who spoke only Espanol sitting between us and the door, so we couldn't rescue the phone and call them.
So four hours later we reached the front of the line and were unloaded into the side door for the US Customs & Border Patrol review -- which took about 5 minutes.
Called Paula who scooted back to the border to pick us up. We had talked ourselves into missing the plane and having to take a later one to Albuquerque, but Paula said, Oh, let's try to catch this one; you'll make it!
So when we reached the airport moments later, we dashed inside, SouthWest's agent sent us to the checked baggage counter right away, Michael had to go to the other end of the counter to print out our boarding passes (I had not found them when he printed them at home the previous night, so we did not have them with us), then zipped back to the baggage check counter and our bags were tagged 'Late Check-In' which absolves the airline from any responsibility if they don't make it! The agent said she thought we'd make the flight; she wasn't sure about the bags.
Luckily, Southwest in San Diego has a very nice set up with their own TSA screening agents and we easily made it to the gate before they called the flight for boarding. The change of planes in Phoenix went smoothly, and we landed in ABQ to find that our bags made the flight along with us!
After shuttling to the car rental area, we picked up our car (they didn't try to upgrade us this time) and were on our way to Santa Fe. Found the B&B easily (we took our GPS with us) and figured out how to get into our room since the owners had left (we got there kinda late), which involved lock boxes, multiple keys, directions, et cetera.
After freshening up, we walked to one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Fe, Rio Chalma - which we first discovered when we took a restaurant walking tour with a local culinary school. We've returned each year for our first meal in SF. They also have a rather good bar with Hendrik's gin and a decent selection of tequilas. Oh, and the food is superb, too; dinner included pulled buffalo sliders with foie gras....
At this point we had been up for twenty-four hours, so we toddled off back to the B&B and fell into bed.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
"A flat walk to the Jardin"
After several days with a 60% probability prediction of rain, it has finally started to do so. Usually it takes a probability of 80% - 90% before it will reliably rain, the heaven bursting forth with manna from heaven.
On the walk home from the restaurant tonight, it looked as if the clouds south of town were heavy with rain, but we weren't really expecting any rainfall. So imagine our surprise when, shortly after closing the front door, the rain came!
Don't know how much we'll get or how long the rainfall will continue, but at least things will get rinsed off. The heavier rains from last week left dried puddles of mud along the sidewalk (if you can call it that) from our home into downtown. A rinse would be appreciated. Hope there's enough rain to make it so.
As luck would have it, we leave home tomorrow morning at 4 am for the 'local' airport in Leon (about an hour's drive away) for our trip to Tijuana, and thence to San Diego to Albuquerque and Santa Fe for the opera this weekend. We'll be back in SMA Monday morning. Hope it's stopped raining by then!
After dinner, we were just admiring the view down the Ancha towards home and commenting on how 'nearly' flat the walk was when we noticed the clouds. Built on a mountainous hillside, there are very few 'flat' streets in town. I always laugh when someone advertises a house or apartment for rent with the phrase 'flat walk to the Jardin.' Mostly because there are very few flat walks anywhere in town.
However, for our trek into town, the Zacateros/Ancho de San Antonio/Salida a Celeya road is darn close to flat. Only a barely perceptible rise along the entire two-mile length. Now, once you reach Centro, there's a definite up-hill walk to the Jardin of a few blocks - another reason there's no 'flat walk to the Jardin.'
I suppose when compared to some other treks across town it seems flat!
On the walk home from the restaurant tonight, it looked as if the clouds south of town were heavy with rain, but we weren't really expecting any rainfall. So imagine our surprise when, shortly after closing the front door, the rain came!
Don't know how much we'll get or how long the rainfall will continue, but at least things will get rinsed off. The heavier rains from last week left dried puddles of mud along the sidewalk (if you can call it that) from our home into downtown. A rinse would be appreciated. Hope there's enough rain to make it so.
As luck would have it, we leave home tomorrow morning at 4 am for the 'local' airport in Leon (about an hour's drive away) for our trip to Tijuana, and thence to San Diego to Albuquerque and Santa Fe for the opera this weekend. We'll be back in SMA Monday morning. Hope it's stopped raining by then!
After dinner, we were just admiring the view down the Ancha towards home and commenting on how 'nearly' flat the walk was when we noticed the clouds. Built on a mountainous hillside, there are very few 'flat' streets in town. I always laugh when someone advertises a house or apartment for rent with the phrase 'flat walk to the Jardin.' Mostly because there are very few flat walks anywhere in town.
However, for our trek into town, the Zacateros/Ancho de San Antonio/Salida a Celeya road is darn close to flat. Only a barely perceptible rise along the entire two-mile length. Now, once you reach Centro, there's a definite up-hill walk to the Jardin of a few blocks - another reason there's no 'flat walk to the Jardin.'
I suppose when compared to some other treks across town it seems flat!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Disappointing Weather
Well, the anticipated big rains - as a result of the Tropical Depression/Tropical Storm/Tropical Depression Arlene have fizzled out. Once predicted to reach San Miguel by early afternoon on Thursday, the storm collapsed before even reaching Queretero.
Friday's rain amounted to 0.19 inches; Thursday's only 0.09 inches; and there's been no rain yet this morning. We enjoyed the bit Friday night as we taxied to friends' home in Centro for dinner - and returned home shortly before midnight.
Our dogs were curious when we came home smelling of Gia, their cat, and Baruch, their King Charles Spanish mix dog. Coca was the only one who sat next to us and sniffed our jeans, but they all slept on the bed for most of last night, to remind us who they are and how much they love us :).
Guess we're back to more 'perfect' weather. A bit overcast this morning but it's dry. I shouldn't grumble as we have tickets to a food and wine festival this afternoon. The hotel has promised that if it rained, the event would be moved inside, but they have a lovely green space and I think outside would be the preferred location. It's a benefit for Feed the Hungry, so we ponied up the money for the tickets and will be enjoying the event with our friends from last night's dinner. They are younger than we and recover more quickly from late nights than I - especially - can.
Michael has gone into town to give our old landlord a check to cover the two utility bills for our last month at that property. 'A check' - not a really common occurrence here in Mexico. In fact, we just got our first book of checks on the account we've had since early last year. Our old landlord would take a check in US funds; our new landlord told us that she would take a check in pesos, so we ordered a book of them from the bank. This will be the first time we pay our rent by check; I hope she remembers what she told us (through an interpreter). Otherwise we'll be running to Mega to use the ATM!
Friday's rain amounted to 0.19 inches; Thursday's only 0.09 inches; and there's been no rain yet this morning. We enjoyed the bit Friday night as we taxied to friends' home in Centro for dinner - and returned home shortly before midnight.
Our dogs were curious when we came home smelling of Gia, their cat, and Baruch, their King Charles Spanish mix dog. Coca was the only one who sat next to us and sniffed our jeans, but they all slept on the bed for most of last night, to remind us who they are and how much they love us :).
Guess we're back to more 'perfect' weather. A bit overcast this morning but it's dry. I shouldn't grumble as we have tickets to a food and wine festival this afternoon. The hotel has promised that if it rained, the event would be moved inside, but they have a lovely green space and I think outside would be the preferred location. It's a benefit for Feed the Hungry, so we ponied up the money for the tickets and will be enjoying the event with our friends from last night's dinner. They are younger than we and recover more quickly from late nights than I - especially - can.
Michael has gone into town to give our old landlord a check to cover the two utility bills for our last month at that property. 'A check' - not a really common occurrence here in Mexico. In fact, we just got our first book of checks on the account we've had since early last year. Our old landlord would take a check in US funds; our new landlord told us that she would take a check in pesos, so we ordered a book of them from the bank. This will be the first time we pay our rent by check; I hope she remembers what she told us (through an interpreter). Otherwise we'll be running to Mega to use the ATM!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Rain Sogga
Okay; we've moved the continuing sogga -- err, saga -- of the rain to its own blog entry. I know it's sad when the entries are only weather reports, but we've been waiting for this rain since last summer. I'm sure the fascination will wane soon. Until then:
TUESDAY MORNING
According to a local private weather station that is part of the WeatherUnderground, the rain that fell last night between 8 - 10 pm measured 13.7 mm or - drum roll - .54 inches!
We're on our way at last!
WEDNESDAY MORNING
And last night (most of it after midnight) the same station reported 7.2 mm or .28 inches in a short, but heavy rainfall. It's still pretty cloudy outside; perhaps there's more in store?
THURSDAY MORNING
After a session of nine-pins played by Hendrick Hudson's crew, the rain came down and down and down. Measured 1-3/4 inches by morning. We may need to create a separate rain post for the blog if this keeps up. Total for the last few days: a hair over 2-1/2 inches! It would be interesting to see what the rain water has done to the 'stinky creek' in our old neighborhood. Perhaps I'll need to walk into town today.
FRIDAY MORNING
Looks like things may becoming to an end. Just a hair less than a tenth of an inch yesterday and nothing during the night. Here's hoping that it's only a brief respite giving the rain a chance to soak in before the next bout. However, the predicted chance of rain is less beginning Sunday. On the other hand, it should have been enough to start turning the countryside green!
SATURDAY MORNING
Only a smattering of rain on Friday. Doesn't it know this is rainy season?
SUNDAY/MONDAY MORNING
The rain is back: 0.65 inches on Sunday and 0.22 inches on Monday. Not much rain for the amount of thunder that was going on Monday afternoon - just as we were going to the dentist. Yes, our first try at obtaining medical care here in Mexico. {That's not counting the eyeglass prescription from the states that we had filled here at Costco.)
The rain could have been taken as an omen, except the dentist (new in town) was capable, well-versed in the latest technology, and had small hands so he could work on my tooth-filled mouth without too many contortions on my part. He also follows the theory I'm fond of: pulling a tooth is the last resort. So besides cleaning my teeth ultrasonically, he x-rayed and resined the back of my molar that had broken off (leaving the front of the tooth and the filling intact). And he got the resin right the first time - no filing or adjustments needed. About 35 minutes in the chair and I was on my way! We'll be back. Did I mention that his English is pretty good? And he's cute?
TUESDAY MORNING
According to a local private weather station that is part of the WeatherUnderground, the rain that fell last night between 8 - 10 pm measured 13.7 mm or - drum roll - .54 inches!
We're on our way at last!
WEDNESDAY MORNING
And last night (most of it after midnight) the same station reported 7.2 mm or .28 inches in a short, but heavy rainfall. It's still pretty cloudy outside; perhaps there's more in store?
THURSDAY MORNING
After a session of nine-pins played by Hendrick Hudson's crew, the rain came down and down and down. Measured 1-3/4 inches by morning. We may need to create a separate rain post for the blog if this keeps up. Total for the last few days: a hair over 2-1/2 inches! It would be interesting to see what the rain water has done to the 'stinky creek' in our old neighborhood. Perhaps I'll need to walk into town today.
FRIDAY MORNING
Looks like things may becoming to an end. Just a hair less than a tenth of an inch yesterday and nothing during the night. Here's hoping that it's only a brief respite giving the rain a chance to soak in before the next bout. However, the predicted chance of rain is less beginning Sunday. On the other hand, it should have been enough to start turning the countryside green!
SATURDAY MORNING
Only a smattering of rain on Friday. Doesn't it know this is rainy season?
SUNDAY/MONDAY MORNING
The rain is back: 0.65 inches on Sunday and 0.22 inches on Monday. Not much rain for the amount of thunder that was going on Monday afternoon - just as we were going to the dentist. Yes, our first try at obtaining medical care here in Mexico. {That's not counting the eyeglass prescription from the states that we had filled here at Costco.)
The rain could have been taken as an omen, except the dentist (new in town) was capable, well-versed in the latest technology, and had small hands so he could work on my tooth-filled mouth without too many contortions on my part. He also follows the theory I'm fond of: pulling a tooth is the last resort. So besides cleaning my teeth ultrasonically, he x-rayed and resined the back of my molar that had broken off (leaving the front of the tooth and the filling intact). And he got the resin right the first time - no filing or adjustments needed. About 35 minutes in the chair and I was on my way! We'll be back. Did I mention that his English is pretty good? And he's cute?
Monday, June 20, 2011
Rain, rain, don't go away - just yet!
The rains have been slow in coming this summer, but I think this must be the beginning of 'summer' here in San Miguel. Traditionally summer is not particularly hot because of the almost daily rains in the late afternoon or early evenings which moderate the heat.
We haven't had the luxury of rain yet this year and the temperatures have been high. Predictions of up to a 60% chance of rain have gone unnoticed by the rain gods. Our local Yahoo! list has featured posts claiming successful rain dancing - but the rain was spotty at best and extremely minimal. One wag threatened to go out into her garden and shake the sweat off her brow - equaling the previous night's rain!
But tonight (with a prediction of a 70% chance of rain) it seems different. Although the clouds weren't as dark as they have been, they are still threatening, there is lots of thunder, and one can see what appears to be rain moving towards the town from the horizon. We just came down from the rooftop terrace when we were actually sprinkled on!
So umbrellas were battened down and loose items tucked away, ready for the worst.
Maybe that extra 10% chance of rain was all that we needed. We'll see....
We haven't had the luxury of rain yet this year and the temperatures have been high. Predictions of up to a 60% chance of rain have gone unnoticed by the rain gods. Our local Yahoo! list has featured posts claiming successful rain dancing - but the rain was spotty at best and extremely minimal. One wag threatened to go out into her garden and shake the sweat off her brow - equaling the previous night's rain!
But tonight (with a prediction of a 70% chance of rain) it seems different. Although the clouds weren't as dark as they have been, they are still threatening, there is lots of thunder, and one can see what appears to be rain moving towards the town from the horizon. We just came down from the rooftop terrace when we were actually sprinkled on!
So umbrellas were battened down and loose items tucked away, ready for the worst.
Maybe that extra 10% chance of rain was all that we needed. We'll see....
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Well, we won't do that again!
Whew! Just returned from an exhausting 'vacation' to the midwest for a family function, delivering a dog to a new home, and some light shopping on the return trip. Now I remember why we haven't done this before....
The drive up to the States was interesting, as we had driven down to SMA via a different route last year - skipping most of Texas and the flooded Rio Grande river. So it was the first time for this particular trip to Kentucky and everything was new and different, including that meandering drive through eastern Texas and the Ozarks.
Our dog, Chiquitita, traveled well and behaved when we left her in the motel rooms while getting dinner each night. Visiting with our friends near Louisville - where we introduced Chiqui to her new friend and family - was a joy. Formerly from Pasadena, they had been our more-or-less neighbors for several years (and Michael's good friends since his move to Los Angeles) and had previously had one of our Wheatens. It was great visiting with them and catching up with the last 15 years or so. Chiqui settled in well and got along famously with their present dog, Tanner.
Then we moved on to my brother and sister-in-law's home for a visit. Actually, it was for their 50th wedding anniversary surprise party - which turned out to be more-or-less a surprise and included a lot of their friends and our relatives that I hadn't seen in, maybe, 40 or 50 years. A good time was had by all.
Since my sister had flown in for the party (and hid out at our nephew's home before the event), we then headed up to southern Indiana with her to see the house they own in our old hometown. Still in need of some TLC, it certainly has possibilities! But Paula's right - you need to take a month or two to stay on site while the work is done.
Then it was off on our return trip to Mexico. Of course we hadn't planned the trip quite well enough - we were moving houses before the move as you may recall - so our travel directions were only one-way. We had to reverse them for the return trip, which wasn't as simple as it sounds. Luckily we had our GPS device with us and it proved pretty good. We did manage to miss a turn or two, but it all worked out (some day we'll tell you about that killer pothole in Monterrey - and our adventures at the border - which are better left unreported to protect the innocent) and we eventually arrived home. It's taken us a couple of days to pull ourselves together and feel normal again.
And, yes, we did go shopping at an IKEA in Texas, so there's lots of boxes to unpack and assemble. We arrived home to the find the carpenter installing the bathroom cabinet doors and to inspect the kitchen wall cabinets that were installed while we were gone. Our friend, Victor, arrived to perform his last day of watering the lawns in our absence, and yesterday the remaining dogs returned home from their own acation at Wendy's B&B.
We've decided that we will never drive into the states again, but fly instead. It was one long drive from the border and the return to Mexico through Nuevo Laredo was confusing at best. Only after we reached the Mexican countryside did it become pleasant again.
So we're home again. Lawns green and lush; the kitchen cabinets (reworked) will be re-installed later today so we can then finish unpacking the kitchen goods; the three remaining dogs (Fiyero, Miyaki, and Coca) are happy to be back home; and we've been unpacking and assembling the new patio set for our rooftop and today we're working on the new dining room table. Once the table is done we can arrange for Pedro to install the dining room chandelier and do some additional work around the house while we finish assembling the rest of the things we bought.
All is not without some disappointment, however: The kitchen cabinets were not as specified - even though I'd provided detailed drawings - so those are being modified to be closer to the original design; the IKEA shoe cabinet that we bought in Texas has interior compartments for the shoes and only two work - the other two have parts that do not match each other, which will be a chore getting replaced long distance (we may need to enlist the help of my sister in San Diego as there are no IKEAs in Mexico); and, we lost our US cell phone early on during the trip and it hasn't been found, so we must deal with the phone company moving the minutes and time over to the new phone.
However, it was a good trip overall: We spent time with our old friends who had moved to Kentucky; Chiquitita has a new, loving home; we dined at several really good restaurants; we visited our old hometown of Brazil, Indiana; Michael met some of my extended, crazy family; and we didn't have any issues that weren't settled amicably even though it was a stressful time. Overall, it was a plus!
The drive up to the States was interesting, as we had driven down to SMA via a different route last year - skipping most of Texas and the flooded Rio Grande river. So it was the first time for this particular trip to Kentucky and everything was new and different, including that meandering drive through eastern Texas and the Ozarks.
Our dog, Chiquitita, traveled well and behaved when we left her in the motel rooms while getting dinner each night. Visiting with our friends near Louisville - where we introduced Chiqui to her new friend and family - was a joy. Formerly from Pasadena, they had been our more-or-less neighbors for several years (and Michael's good friends since his move to Los Angeles) and had previously had one of our Wheatens. It was great visiting with them and catching up with the last 15 years or so. Chiqui settled in well and got along famously with their present dog, Tanner.
Then we moved on to my brother and sister-in-law's home for a visit. Actually, it was for their 50th wedding anniversary surprise party - which turned out to be more-or-less a surprise and included a lot of their friends and our relatives that I hadn't seen in, maybe, 40 or 50 years. A good time was had by all.
Since my sister had flown in for the party (and hid out at our nephew's home before the event), we then headed up to southern Indiana with her to see the house they own in our old hometown. Still in need of some TLC, it certainly has possibilities! But Paula's right - you need to take a month or two to stay on site while the work is done.
Then it was off on our return trip to Mexico. Of course we hadn't planned the trip quite well enough - we were moving houses before the move as you may recall - so our travel directions were only one-way. We had to reverse them for the return trip, which wasn't as simple as it sounds. Luckily we had our GPS device with us and it proved pretty good. We did manage to miss a turn or two, but it all worked out (some day we'll tell you about that killer pothole in Monterrey - and our adventures at the border - which are better left unreported to protect the innocent) and we eventually arrived home. It's taken us a couple of days to pull ourselves together and feel normal again.
And, yes, we did go shopping at an IKEA in Texas, so there's lots of boxes to unpack and assemble. We arrived home to the find the carpenter installing the bathroom cabinet doors and to inspect the kitchen wall cabinets that were installed while we were gone. Our friend, Victor, arrived to perform his last day of watering the lawns in our absence, and yesterday the remaining dogs returned home from their own acation at Wendy's B&B.
We've decided that we will never drive into the states again, but fly instead. It was one long drive from the border and the return to Mexico through Nuevo Laredo was confusing at best. Only after we reached the Mexican countryside did it become pleasant again.
So we're home again. Lawns green and lush; the kitchen cabinets (reworked) will be re-installed later today so we can then finish unpacking the kitchen goods; the three remaining dogs (Fiyero, Miyaki, and Coca) are happy to be back home; and we've been unpacking and assembling the new patio set for our rooftop and today we're working on the new dining room table. Once the table is done we can arrange for Pedro to install the dining room chandelier and do some additional work around the house while we finish assembling the rest of the things we bought.
All is not without some disappointment, however: The kitchen cabinets were not as specified - even though I'd provided detailed drawings - so those are being modified to be closer to the original design; the IKEA shoe cabinet that we bought in Texas has interior compartments for the shoes and only two work - the other two have parts that do not match each other, which will be a chore getting replaced long distance (we may need to enlist the help of my sister in San Diego as there are no IKEAs in Mexico); and, we lost our US cell phone early on during the trip and it hasn't been found, so we must deal with the phone company moving the minutes and time over to the new phone.
However, it was a good trip overall: We spent time with our old friends who had moved to Kentucky; Chiquitita has a new, loving home; we dined at several really good restaurants; we visited our old hometown of Brazil, Indiana; Michael met some of my extended, crazy family; and we didn't have any issues that weren't settled amicably even though it was a stressful time. Overall, it was a plus!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Under the name of Sanders
Our home in San Miguel is looking a little barren as we pack and transport smaller things to our new house before the official moving date of May 24th - this Thursday. The idea is to move things that will fit into our minivan ourselves, reserving larger, bulkier, heavier things for the movers. And I think we'll be pretty busy these next three days if we manage to carry out the plan. The house is still ours through the 31st, so there is time to clear up the final things after the move.
Before we left town for Cabo, we had the house (which is new construction) thoroughly cleaned - it took 4 days - then had the steps down into the backyard tiled, and the house's tile floors (including the roof garden) all sealed and then the house cleaned again. There's still a lot of work to do to make it 'ours' but there's no big hurry. It's never been lived in before and - in true Mexican fashion - we need to install all the light fixtures, ceiling fans, drapes, etc. We're also going to add wall cabinets in the kitchen and there are already plans afoot to expand upon the landscaping. Our current house has only two bedrooms and a studio/guest suite. The new home has five bedrooms: master, guest, library, office, and gym (?). It was freshly painted, but some of the colors are not exactly what we'd prefer, so there's that, too.
The rooms all have boveda ceilings with large concrete cornices which have halogen 'up lights' installed, but the central fixtures are wiring only. How many chandeliers will be needed? Ceiling fans? Custom mirrors for the bathrooms (the frames are part of the tile work)? It looks like we may be leaving several fixtures behind at the house - which had mostly flat ceilings. Many of them won't work with the new ceilings.
The new house also has no kitchen appliances, where our first home came equipped with the basics, so we're shopping for those, too. Found a fridge that's actually larger than the one we had planned on getting that was 'nearly new' and well cared for. That saved us nearly half the price of the new one. It's to be delivered today so we'll be able to keep water and ice on hand during the move. The range may come later.
My sister Paula once produced an entire Thanksgiving dinner using only a microwave, so we may exist without the range for a while. However, we do need to connect the water heater to the gas tank and install a cut-off valve on the range connection before ordering a tankful of propane or we'll blow the house up! Pedro is going to be busy even though we didn't use him for sealing the floors.
Then we also need to have the water purification system installed and check out the wiring for the television/telephone/internet service. The electrician was supposed to have that wiring all figured out and installed, but his English is about as good as my Spanish, so we need to make sure it's going to work before moving the service from our current house to the new one. Can't be without internet service!
Luckily, our Margarita is going to follow us to the new house and we just found out that her husband is a gardener, so we may have the front/backyard care figured out. Hope he has his own lawnmower.
And on June 1st, we leave for the states for a visit that should include a stop at an IKEA on our return to SMA for 'a few things.'
Before we left town for Cabo, we had the house (which is new construction) thoroughly cleaned - it took 4 days - then had the steps down into the backyard tiled, and the house's tile floors (including the roof garden) all sealed and then the house cleaned again. There's still a lot of work to do to make it 'ours' but there's no big hurry. It's never been lived in before and - in true Mexican fashion - we need to install all the light fixtures, ceiling fans, drapes, etc. We're also going to add wall cabinets in the kitchen and there are already plans afoot to expand upon the landscaping. Our current house has only two bedrooms and a studio/guest suite. The new home has five bedrooms: master, guest, library, office, and gym (?). It was freshly painted, but some of the colors are not exactly what we'd prefer, so there's that, too.
The rooms all have boveda ceilings with large concrete cornices which have halogen 'up lights' installed, but the central fixtures are wiring only. How many chandeliers will be needed? Ceiling fans? Custom mirrors for the bathrooms (the frames are part of the tile work)? It looks like we may be leaving several fixtures behind at the house - which had mostly flat ceilings. Many of them won't work with the new ceilings.
The new house also has no kitchen appliances, where our first home came equipped with the basics, so we're shopping for those, too. Found a fridge that's actually larger than the one we had planned on getting that was 'nearly new' and well cared for. That saved us nearly half the price of the new one. It's to be delivered today so we'll be able to keep water and ice on hand during the move. The range may come later.
My sister Paula once produced an entire Thanksgiving dinner using only a microwave, so we may exist without the range for a while. However, we do need to connect the water heater to the gas tank and install a cut-off valve on the range connection before ordering a tankful of propane or we'll blow the house up! Pedro is going to be busy even though we didn't use him for sealing the floors.
Then we also need to have the water purification system installed and check out the wiring for the television/telephone/internet service. The electrician was supposed to have that wiring all figured out and installed, but his English is about as good as my Spanish, so we need to make sure it's going to work before moving the service from our current house to the new one. Can't be without internet service!
Luckily, our Margarita is going to follow us to the new house and we just found out that her husband is a gardener, so we may have the front/backyard care figured out. Hope he has his own lawnmower.
And on June 1st, we leave for the states for a visit that should include a stop at an IKEA on our return to SMA for 'a few things.'
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Taking a Vacation from Retirement
We've just returned from a week in Cabo San Lucas. We try to visit twice a year, and we may make it three times this year if we plan right. In fact, we were there last December, at the end of February, and now in May!
We always stay at the Cascadas resort on Medano Bay. Our visit in January/February is at the invitation of my brother and sister-in-law who own six weeks in the Luna penthouse (a third floor, two-bedroom unit of only 6300 square feet with its own swimming pool). We also owned (until very recently) a humbler two-bedroom villa in December, and we have numerous certificates for a week's stay that we earned when purchasing various units in the past. We still have a couple of banked weeks on the books with the management company, too, so December's visit may be at a property in the Conchas Chinas area of Pto Vallerta. Last time we were in PV, we were on a Mexican Riviera cruise that stopped for the day.
Our time in Cabo was wonderful. We spent most days under a palapa on the beach eating/drinking/reading our time away. We did walk over to Sam's Club and the Super Walmart once for supplies, but ate most meals at the resort's restaurant - either under the palapa, in the open-air restaurant, or on the beach in the evening.
During our February visit, we sampled the restaurant at the rebuilt resort, The Hacienda, and found both the service and food quite good and reasonably priced, so we ate five dinners there during this visit. We were fast friends with the staff by the end of the week. The service slipped once or twice, and they got our drink order wrong one night (and wouldn't admit it), but they redeemed themselves on the last evening. So we'll be back next year! [Their signature dessert is a hand-made paper bag of churros served with both a chocolate and (our favorite) a caramel dipping sauce. Yummmy!]
We did take a couple of cooking classes and attended a couple of tequilla tastings (controlled pandemonium), but otherwise it was a week of sloth! In February the weather was a bit chilly - I frequently went to the beach wearing Levis and a shirt. This time the weather was better, although there was a strong wind each evening/night that tossed around the palm trees outside our villa. We stayed in a Malaga unit this time: a one-bedroom on two floors. Patio, Jacuzzi, living room, kitchen, and bath on the first floor; bedroom and bath on the second. And the first floor of the villa was on the third floor of the building, so we had a very good view of those tossing palm trees!
We flew from Mexico City and had arranged transportation from SMA to DF using a local shuttle company. We paid for the combination bus/car travel (car from SMA to QTO and a cushie bus on to DF). However, both coming and going we traveled by either car or a shuttle van - for the original price! A very comfy way to travel. Of course, we can't always be certain we won't be driven to/from the Queretero bus station, but it sure was a nice upgrade!
We're now back in SMA and working on our move to the new house. More on that later. It's food to be home!
We always stay at the Cascadas resort on Medano Bay. Our visit in January/February is at the invitation of my brother and sister-in-law who own six weeks in the Luna penthouse (a third floor, two-bedroom unit of only 6300 square feet with its own swimming pool). We also owned (until very recently) a humbler two-bedroom villa in December, and we have numerous certificates for a week's stay that we earned when purchasing various units in the past. We still have a couple of banked weeks on the books with the management company, too, so December's visit may be at a property in the Conchas Chinas area of Pto Vallerta. Last time we were in PV, we were on a Mexican Riviera cruise that stopped for the day.
Our time in Cabo was wonderful. We spent most days under a palapa on the beach eating/drinking/reading our time away. We did walk over to Sam's Club and the Super Walmart once for supplies, but ate most meals at the resort's restaurant - either under the palapa, in the open-air restaurant, or on the beach in the evening.
During our February visit, we sampled the restaurant at the rebuilt resort, The Hacienda, and found both the service and food quite good and reasonably priced, so we ate five dinners there during this visit. We were fast friends with the staff by the end of the week. The service slipped once or twice, and they got our drink order wrong one night (and wouldn't admit it), but they redeemed themselves on the last evening. So we'll be back next year! [Their signature dessert is a hand-made paper bag of churros served with both a chocolate and (our favorite) a caramel dipping sauce. Yummmy!]
We did take a couple of cooking classes and attended a couple of tequilla tastings (controlled pandemonium), but otherwise it was a week of sloth! In February the weather was a bit chilly - I frequently went to the beach wearing Levis and a shirt. This time the weather was better, although there was a strong wind each evening/night that tossed around the palm trees outside our villa. We stayed in a Malaga unit this time: a one-bedroom on two floors. Patio, Jacuzzi, living room, kitchen, and bath on the first floor; bedroom and bath on the second. And the first floor of the villa was on the third floor of the building, so we had a very good view of those tossing palm trees!
We flew from Mexico City and had arranged transportation from SMA to DF using a local shuttle company. We paid for the combination bus/car travel (car from SMA to QTO and a cushie bus on to DF). However, both coming and going we traveled by either car or a shuttle van - for the original price! A very comfy way to travel. Of course, we can't always be certain we won't be driven to/from the Queretero bus station, but it sure was a nice upgrade!
We're now back in SMA and working on our move to the new house. More on that later. It's food to be home!
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