Week #2

Things here continue quite idyllic. While the sun always seems to be shining (alright, there was one cloudy day – and today is starting out less than perfect), it can be a little breezy, especially as the sun goes down. Our days are spent in a pretty regular routine. We aare now finding our selves rising about 7 am. This is largelydue to the combination of dogs and chickens who seem to start considering beginning their day around 6:30 am. By 7, we have given up.

I have found a good 4.5 mile walking course that takes me through the hills near our apartment. In fact, I walk under the little bridge that Elizabeth Taylor had built to link one part of her house to the other across the alleyway. I then work my way down the hill into the town for a mile or so before turning back to walk down the Malecon. The Malecon is this wonderful, wide esplanade that runs for more than a mile along the ocean. The walk along the ocean can be extended by a kind of boardwalk along in front of hotels. Then I work my way back through the zona romantica, the most touristy part of town. Then I go up into the very Mexican section, where sidewalks begins to crumble and asphalt turns to dust roads. There is a great open-air market there and I usually take a breather there and look at the fruits, vegetables, and meats. Yesterday morning I was witness to two huge pigs, laid out on a cutting table as though being prepared for an autopsy! Polley and I went back later to look things over, but have yet to prepare a meal.

With Eric, Greg and another fellow, Preston, we went out for drinks (Pre-Func!) and then on to dinner. We started with drinks at the Kit Kat Klub. Very small, but contemporary bar near the beach. Eric led me astray with a Coppertone Martini, while Polley, being the wiser, had just a glass of while wine. We had planned to eat at The Red Cabbage, but as it was Sunday, it was closed. While everyone talks of “The Cabbage,” we have yet to make it there. We then went to a very popular place called Che de Olla and stood in line for 10 minutes or so. It was soon clear that the line was moving very slowly, so we turned to a huge place called Fajita Republic. It looked a little slick, sort of a Mexican Spaghetti Factory, but the food was really good (and reasonable)! Polley had something called a “Crunchy Salad” and I had a vegetarian fajita. They are served with a variety of topping options. As I say, it was very good and not much money.

We, of course, had to follow up with a Post-Func! Greg and Eric are introducing us to worlds we would never find on our own. We went a bar called La Noche. Drinks were great, but it was very loud. Not conducive to conversation, so we soon called it a night. We had been planning to join a group called the “Secret Society” at Garbos later in the evening – we had been initiated on the streets earlier – it is a solemn ritual involving the application of glittery nail polish on your left pinky finger. It has been created by the delightful man from Las Vegas called Joe. A man who seems to fully enjoy every minute of life. However, we were a bit worn out and never made it to Garbos. However, the next morning, we were told we were missed!

I sort of lost the thread of our daily routine with the events of Sunday evening. But we are getting to the beach everyday. We tried a beach a little further north from the Blue Chairs, but found it rocky. I think we are committed to the Gay Beach for the duration. Those boys just know how to find the best locations!

Yesterday, we read at the apartment for quite a long time. We did stroll through the open air market and then headed to the beach. Fifteen or twenty minutes after we arrived, Eric, Greg and Preston showed up. The surf was great and I did quite a bit of body surfing. Had a couple of margaritas before heading back to call our house sitter. Alas, there was no answer and Polley was a little upset. We thought we had set this up and now it wasn’t working. We got back to the apartment and e-mailed and by that evening we had heard from Sam. It was no more than confusion on the time difference. All is well, but we do plan to call today (January 8). Around 6 we headed out again. Had a glass of wine along the beach and dinner at a quite authentic place called Tia Katrina. I had some delicious barbequed ribs and Polley had a small paella. The sauce was delicious, but the seafood was way overdone.

After dinner we wandered up the hill from out place to a little tapas bar I had seen on my walks, called Esquina. The tiny place was full so we just had a glass of wine. Menu looks great and I have a feeling it will be a regular haunt. Prices were very reasonable.

Home later, and watched the Bowl Championship game. I have now watched pro and college football all in Spanish.

We are headed off to breakfast with Greg, Eric and Preston along with their long-time friends, George and Pat. They are driving us to a little place a ways out of town. More later.