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!
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