‘Intelligent Falling’ Theory

The Artichoke place was nice enough, but unfortunately a few hours later I suffered a night of what has now become a fortnightly bout of gastric fun… If I’d know about CEPE’s new scatological bent they’d’ve been very interested. At times this house seems a home for sick gringos…

Anyway, all better now, thanks and heading to the place where Guadalajara was founded the second time, “The place where the sun rises”, Tonalá to go wardrobe shopping with M & D. That’s shopping for wardrobes, not things to wear… Sita’s up to her eyeballs in academia again so she’ll not be coming along but might tag along for jeans shopping in Plaza del Sol this avo. We also decided last night that next weekend we’re going to Barra de Navidad for a change. I’ve not been there for 10 years or so, it was the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean. There were waves and I managed to take the skin off my stomach when I got plunged into the beach by a Pacific breaker. I still vaguely harbour ill feelings toward the waiter at the restaurant who recommended I put salt and lime on the wound to help it heal. Strange how searing pain can help your memories… Anyway I’m older and wiser less young now (nearly 32…) so I’ll not be taking waiters’ advice on matters medical this time round.

So along with the sunshine, Monica and Daniel left Guadalajara this morning at some point or another, we slept through the exodus. They took us out to the La Loteria cantina and the I Latina last night for a superlative send off. It’s been grand having them around. Some of many highlights include trips to Michoacan, watching entire seasons of TV programs, washing the dog, German/Mexican cuisine, more new restaurants than you can shake a fork at, Chacala, Spanish lessons in Starbucks and bars, Sanjuaneando, craft buying frenzies, accidental furniture shopping in the Baratillo, Lucha Libre, Tequila and lots more… Happy trails, Monica and OD!

I’m well chuffed, one of the pix I sent to a local newspaper got printed today. Mine’s the top left one:

The competition is ongoing for a year and there’s cameras and holidays in Cancun to be won. Details in hungover Spanish here.

Just got back from a weekend’s worth of good living in Mazamitla to celebrate Sita’s birthday. The first night was grand, proper rain, lower temperatures and a fire roaring in the cabaa. We also discovered the restaurant we’d visit 4 times in our 48 hours there. However the spa/jacuzzi facilities weren’t all they were cracked up to be on the website so we upgraded to a different place with a jacuzzi in the room and a selection of DVDs for the 2nd night. We also used the charro skills we learnt in Brecon last summer to amble down to see a gorgeous waterfall on horseback. It was a lovely winding trail through bizarre mexican woodland full of pines, cacti, agave and palm trees.

In the afternoon there was spectacular thunder and lightning which we watched from the safety of our new favourite bar drinking Negra Modelo and watching Mexico lose 1-0 to France in between power cuts. A power nap and we were ready to polish off more meat that you can shake a stick at in the restaurant again. This morning I nipped into town to see what was going on at sunrise. Lots, as it turns out. But no flower sellers were open so Sita had to make do with a chile plant… Then we had the breakfast buffet at our restaurant. Since we’re regulars and were chatting with the owner after we’d eaten as much as we could at the buffet, he brought out cheesecake and icecream with a candle in it and put Las Maanitas CD on. V.nice. I’m still full 7 hours later, and we’re off again to Santo Coyote this evening to fill up again. Bring it on. Check back soon for more online recording of what I’ve eaten lately. Lots of photos round Flickr if you’re feeling up to it 🙂

Blog a little…

In the meantime, a photo can tell a thousand words and Dad´s pix are worth a look too.

I`m told it takes one day per hour of time difference to get used to the jet lag, which gives me 3 more days of excuses for naps and waking up in the middle of the night and eating twiglets and cheese sandwiches.

Thanks to Mark Wilton-Jones‘s handy little guide and coding, I’ve put a new section on the right for you to swap between stylesheets. I’m not sure how it affects the loading time of the page and if there’s an public uproar, I’ll remove it. Also the new title picture:

is not perfect, and I’ve realised that IE users (Why, oh why?) can’t deal with the PNG transparency. Another quirk I just noticed with explorer is that if your screen resolution is less than 800 wide, the sidebar disappears south. So I’ll be rejigging all that soon enough. Sita’s not keen on the font for G and W neither, so it simply has to go… enjoy it while it lasts… Them buttons are made for clicking…

Last night Sita made ‘plans’ to go to the cinema with her mates, but the advertised film they wanted to see wasn’t there so they ended up in a bar in Zapopan. Jose, victor and me went straight to La Barba Negra for beers and blues, since we don’t excuses to hit the bars. Jose’s had one hell of a week, he’s another one who should blog. Well, he does have one for his excellent poems but I reckon the world would like to know more about a week that ended with someone cycling away from his block of flats firing gunshots in the air and shouting “Arriba, Sinaloa”. Comment below to petition Jose to set up mividaesunatelenovelamalaybarata.blogspot.com …

Today we’re going to an Indian restaurant. Yep, in Guadalajara. It’s brand new and supposedly has curry… it’s been 9 long, curryless months and expectations are high… Shall reveal all manana…