I cleaned the lens on me camera today before heading off to Tonala, but by the time I got there the lense had steamed up on the inside with the special cleaning fluid. I’ve been googling ways to get rid of it but all the results come up as “DON’T put drops of cleaning fluid directly onto the lens as it can cause condensation inside”, well, I worked that out for myself. How do I get rid of it is the question… I’m hoping that leaving it to bake in the car for a while will sort it out. In the meantime, I’ve got some interesting pix of Tonala with a hazy frame effect… Just hope it won’t be a permanent feature of my photography…

Also, M & D got their wardrobe. Here’s Monica in the back of their car with it:

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.

Our little Agave Tequilana, itself grown from an hijuelo (or Agave Pup, as I’m unreliably informed by teh interwebs) stolen from the fields of Tequila, Jalisco has sprouted two new Hijuelo shoots. So in a week or two they can be replanted and maybe go some way to stopping itinerant cats crapping in the garden with their soon to be spiny pencas.

Help yourself to the photos, now with an all new Creative Commons share alike license. Don’t go crazy now…

Talking of agaves, I read Sita’s 2nd chapter in her dissertation today and it’s brilliantly written, fascinating stuff all about pulque, mezcal and tequila’s road to prominence in the United States of Mexico… Also, agave expert Ana’s coming round and we’re off for a meal in famous local restaurant called something like the Artichoke Heart. Should be good.

Hmmm, what did I do yesterday? Well we had a look at another furnished apartment with D & M but it was downright strange and far to pricey. Monica wasn’t overly happy with the lighting and I couldn’t deal with the weird combination of 70s lounge styling and random Catholic iconography in all its gory detail around the place. Never mind, no rush and all that. Sunny D’s still got some kind of throat infection so he’s not been able to go to Spanish classes. Bless. Anyroad, after looking at the house I survived a street hamburger and wandered round with me camera again as evidenced here :

I’m looking into taking some quick courses at the UdeG on various techy topics. PHP and advanced Flash look inviting enough and a snip at 100 quid or so for 20 hours instruction. That’s me next port of call.

Last night Daniel, Monica, Carlos, Jonathon and I went to the Lucha Libre. The usual plan is to meet at the Rincon de la Doa for pre-lucha banter, but it’s being remodelled so we ended up at the nearly empty Nuevo Leon. We drilled Monica on her Spanish verb tenses and got some tequila in to make the upcoming theatrics easier to believe. And once again the luchadores did not disappoint. The stand outs were Hijo del Rayo de Jalisco and some bloke in red gloves with vaguely indigenous features whom the audience chanted “Pocahontas” at… Another solid evening’s entertainment.

And since you’re doubtless wondering what I had for tea yesterday, Tortilla Espaola, and then Tacos de Carne Asada from Tacos Reforma (y Americas). Thanks for asking 🙂

My site’s playing up today, probably best not to submit any comments just in case. My budget web host, Ehostone promise they’re on it…

Just a few flights and car rental to sort out and WE’RE GOING TO THE YUCATAN! Staying here and seeing all manner of things. This is going to be SO GOOD! And I’m not one to use exclamation marks lightly…

Alrighty, with that paradise in mind, back to the translation.

Had a nice long walk this morning through markets and quiet Sunday streets and metroed it half the way back, photos flickrwards as per usual.

Yesterday Monica’s turn to cook came round again and we had bbq’d chicken and other stuff, then round Jose’s casita in the evening and drinks at Cafe Colibri. We’re also working our way through another HBO series, Big Love all about a polygamous mormon family and the special flavour of hell that it all entails. Essential viewing. Righty, back to Cancun research.

There’s 150 of the buggers, not 50 as first thought… Here’s me making friends with Earth Cow in Chapultepec:

I was reading in Sita’s book on the History of Salt (more interesting than it sounds) about how modern cattle are domesticated aurochs– vicious wild beasts that used to leave a trail of destruction across swathes of Europe.

Last night we went to Tinto y Blanco for the first time. It’s owned by a sommalier/chef bloke and is famous for its wines, so we felt quite safe ordering carafes of the house red. Sita reckoned the Pinot was where it’s at though. The portabella appertiser was the best thing we had there, though my asparagus and mushroom crepe was well nice. Having returned recently from the British Isles it’s nice to convert the prices to pounds sterling and feel even better about what you’re eating. Anyroad, then on to bowling. Somewhere along the line, my thumb’s got bigger and thus a shot where I couldn’t let the ball go and ended up chucking it in the air and it landing somewhere half-way down the lane, amazingly without leaving some smoking crater… It was a dodgy game all round, though Monica improved 10 fold, Daniel was consistantly brilliant and Sita’s always been a great bowler. I was not on form… Any road. We’ll play the decider once our scars heal.

Another spanish word of the week: La Baticueva. Bat cave. Bats of course, are called murcielagos… Here’s the one we saw in Los Colomos park t’other day. We also managed not to molest any of the fauna, which include abandoned house rabbits…

M & D are still casa-less, but they’re on it. We’re off for a meal somewhere and then bowling. It’s been a while, not since Ed was here this time last year. I think I’ve seen The Big Lebowski more times in the last 2 years than actually gone bowling. Anyroad, I’ve put on some nice, clean socks especially and am ready for a few white russians and fluking the occasional chuza (strike) at the bolinche…

So I can play my “favourite” game of trying to find a decent program to watch before I finish my sandwich…

Having a grand old time of it with Monica and Sunny D. Events so far have included house-hunting, a couple of parties, Colomnos park, markets, dinner parties, computer repairs, and DVDs aplenty (see Film Reviews).

I’m trying to fall back into some kind of routine which should include more regular blogging, but what with 3am cockroach scares and stuff things are still settling down.

Mexican Spanish word of the week: Tope – A road bump/ sleeping policeman thing. Ubiquitous in this particular part of North America. In Spain they’re Guardias tumbados I think, or sleeping (Civil) Guards

Since I left Gwod the cows have arrived, 50 odd of them I think. Just snapped a fraction of them today with my PDA so the quality’s not grand, but so far they’re an impressive bunch. We’ve now seen cow parades in Geneva, Atlanta and somewhere else that escapes me now… Chicago? Anyroad, little by little things are approaching normality round here.

No word from M & D as of yet… Hope they didn’t turn around and go back to L.A. to check on the cats.

Sita was navigating, so the route taken may vary from the map… Overnight stopping points, Nogales, Arizona and Culiacan, Sinaloa

Fastest yet. We’ve now done the GDL-LA trip 3 times. And this time managed it in 3 days, driving around 10-11 hours a day. My favourite bit is definitely the Culiacan-Mazatlan bit as you cross the Tropic of Cancer and the desert turns into lush forests and mountains. Next favourite, Tepic to Guadalajara- all agave fields and volcanoes. Gorgeous. We also had a quick wander round Tepic. And a pizza. Can’t wait to get back into the Mexican swing of things. M & D should be arriving any day too. Good times. Any new year’s parties happening?

Torta ahogada

Bugger, the alarm didn’t go off…. never mind it’s 7 am, and we’ll be hitting the road in 15 mins or so for Nogales, Arizona. Then Los Mochis, then Guadalajara in Mexico querido y lindo. Monica and Daniel are leaving tomorrow, more of that soon. Monica’s got a blog if you fancy following along their exploits for the next 6 months… the link’s on the blogroll chili cat in LA. Looking forward to the Mexican landscapes and seeing everyone again.

Bienvenida to the latest guestmappee- Karla in Brazil. Gracias por pasar por mi bloguito : )

Hasta muy pronto, enjoy the turkey leftovers y’all…

Sita got me a fiddle… Sorry neighbours… Happy Christma’s y’all

I just sent this YouTube link to Jose. Hall and Oates are two of his favourite all-time recording “artists”. Then I thought it was too good not to share with a wider public.

Enjoy!