lunch, music, more no-shopping

ATTENTION! I DID NOT NEGLECT YOUR READING PLEASURE YESTERDAY. WE HAD NO INTERNET SO I COULD NOT POST. WE'RE BACK ON LINE THIS MORNING, SO YOU CAN ENJOY YESTERDAY'S DOINGS TODAY.

We hung around the house this morning, reading and enjoying the quiet of this place. Then we stirred into action and got ready to go up to lunch. We took the bus ~ always fun because it doesn't take a direct route to the central station. It winds up and around and over, finally, overloaded with kids going home from school, it crawls up a steep street and ends up near the central market. We walked from there up Calle Loretto to Ole! Ole! for a 2:30 comida. Interior looked just the same; bull fighting posters, photographs, old ticket stubs, and of course, the requisite bull's head jutting out from the wall as though he were plowing through the side of the restaurant.

A new feature this year; a delightful gentleman playing his guitar and singing great old, romantic ranchero music.

He may have been a bit flat from time to time but absolutely lovely nonetheless. He came to our table and asked what we would like to hear. I requested "Gracias a la vida", one of my most favorite Mexican songs. He said he only knew part of it so he played what he could. It was very nice. He invited us to come back on Monday to hear more music. But that probably won't happen; we have to start the pack-up-to-leave routine. Then a few more tunes, we ate our delicious fajitas (for me) and brochetta de verduras for Mr. C. We're polishing off the leftovers tonight.

On the way home we walked through the big central market. Half of it is devoted to tourists' needs; trinkets and mementos of one's visit here. The other half is fruits, veggies, butcher shops, household goods, and, of course, banks of gorgeous flowers.

More stops on the way, first the manta cloth shop, Girasol (sunflower), where I found a pair of pants, then on to a shop near our street where I bought a couple of Freida shopping bags for two Cuyutlán visitors who had admired mine and who each wanted one. I'll mail them when I get home. We also picked up some yummy butter cookies and a couple of croissants at Le Petit Fours, said to be the best bakery in San Miguel. I beg to differ. I like the Canadian bakery better; their whole wheat bread is worth the drive up here!

I have failed to mention the gorgeous jacaranda trees here. We are beyond the peak; the trees are leafed out. But this sight caught my eye; the play of colors was stunning; purple against the terra cotta.

This is also a very Mexican sight. How could anyone possibly figure out which line does what? Es la vida loca.

We staggered home around 5 PM, in the late heat of the day. Yes, it's darned hot here. I finished a book, and then tuned in to the News Hour on PBS. First time I've seen it since leaving home. Great to see everyone again. Then Washington Week. Again, old friends. Up to the 3rd floor to watch yet another beautiful sunset. It's cooler this evening; even a bit of a breeze. Housekeeper comes tomorrow morning so we have to be up and out by 11 AM. Probably up to the centro for a smart lunch somewhere. I'll take the camera.