Last time I wrote, it was all words and no pictures. This entry will be, hopefully, the opposite: more pictures than words.
Yesterday was the first real blue sky we have had in a couple of weeks. Mind you, I am not complaining, but even mornings that started off beautiful, turned cloudy by mid-morning. Yesterday it started clear and remained that way until about 4 in the afternoon. We were pleased, as we had committed to going up to El Rio BBQ, about 3-4 miles up the Rio Cuale from out place.
We met the shuttle that Kurt, the owner, had provided. There was such a good turnout that, in fact, we ended up with two shuttles. We weren’t the only ones who say it was going to be a nice day.
I have talked about Kurt previously. He is a Portlander, who opened a restaurant, Época, about 6 years ago. During the last five years that we have been coming here, we were frequent patrons. Sadly, he lost his lease at the end of last season. In November, he opened El Rio BBQ. It is a completely different place. He is not trying to compete with other moderate to high-end places. He offers a simple, very reasonably priced menu in a beautiful, rual setting, right along the Rio Cuale.
It is a lovely setting and provides a completely different ambiance that being on the beach in PV proper (or perhaps “PV improper” is a better term. As I told someone, based on the turnout yesterday at his new place, losing his lease may be the best break Kurt could have had. You can see him here, in the center, doing his now famous bass refrain to ‘Under the Boardwalk,” always a highlight of the Friday afternoon jam session.
To start off, we had lunch there with our good friends, Gene and Gay Tennis, from Georgia. Polley and I shared (of course) some smoked marlin tostados and some potato salad. Both were excellent, but the potato salad was to die for. Very simple, with potatoes, dill, Italian parsley and capers, just swimming in olive oil. Another PV acquaintance, Ray Sander, had ordered a quarter rack of smoked ribs (smoked stuff is the speciality). He could not finish the huge helping, so I got to taste the ribs as well.
Following lunch, we just enjoyed the beach that Kurt has added. It fronts right up to the river, complete with beach chairs and umbrellas
At three o’clock, the music commenced. Our Scottish friend Bobby on flute and a Mexican, Roberto on guitar, with computer-generated accompaniment.
That is when things got going. Great groups of people literally kicked off their shoes (sandals) and danced the afternoon away
It was like my old memories of American Bandstand. Guys dancing with girls, but also, girls dancing with each other. The music that Roberto and Bobby play is perfect for the age group, all late 60s and early 70s stuff that you can not only dance to, but also can sing along. It was a packed house
A great time was had by all and for most, it has become a weekly Friday excursion.
Strangely, at about 4 p.m., the winds picked up, the clouds came in and I swear the temperature must have dropped 5 degrees in about 3 minutes. About 4:30, Polley and I bugged out, catching a cab back to town. We were completely done in and just stayed in and turned in early. Not used to the fabulous weather, moutains of food and, perhaps, a bit too much to drink.
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