Beautiful Traditions of Mexico Captured in a Stunning Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrnyopQs0bk&feature=share&noredirect=1

Just had to share this amazing video presentation on Mexico the fantastic!  Believe it or not, these are festivals and traditional celebrations I have seen and in some cases see on a regular basis.  I take them for granted, I've been here for such a long time.  But seeing them put together like this made me see them in a fresh new way, as if I'd never seen them before.  And I try to remember what I felt the first time I ever saw them, 10-15 years ago.  You have to admire these beautiful traditions which are kept alive year after year by these beautiful people!

My thought for today!

JAZZ AND FIREWORKS!!! Just another week in San Miguel!

Sibyl English (the hostess of the party of my previous post) is a FABULOUS jazz singer - and, unbelievably, I had never heard her sing!.  But to correct that, I went with a group of friends to her Thursday evening show at the restaurant Carcassonne in Centro.  I didn't take my camera (should have!!), but here's a photo of the restaurant: 

 

It's a really beautiful restaurant which I had not been to before.  Don't know if you can see in the photo, but that's a glass-enclosed wine cellar in the back of the room.  Food and service were both excellent, but of course it was Sibyl who made the evening so spectacular!  She's unbelievable!  Her powerful voice and very original stylings had us enthralled for over an hour.  Her songs are all familiar, mostly from the 60's, 70's and 80's (Georgia, Let It Be You, some Aretha, and even some Spanish love songs such as Besame Mucho). And at the end of the evening, when I was regretting that I hadn't come sooner to hear her because it was supposed to be her last night in San Miguel, she announced that she was staying on for another month.  I will be going back very soon and taking friends who have yet to hear her sing.

Then, as if that wasn't enough excitement for one week, October 1st was THE ALBORADA.  Those of us who live here know and dread this holiday, because the keynote feature is the LOUDEST fireworks of the year (in a town that loves to do fireworks for any, all or no reason).  Not only are they the loudest, but they start at 4am and continue for an hour.  I looked at my clock when the first one went off (sounded like a bomb so no one can sleep through that) and it was 3:58 and they lasted until 5:12am.  Fortunately this only happens once a year.  Hundreds of people actually get up early enough to get to the Jardin to witness the spectacular show.  Having seen these photos, I may try to do it one of these years!!!  

Isn't that just the most fabulous photo??!!??

Until the next time, Marilyn reporting on my life South Of The Border!

Another wonderful luncheon party in San Miguel

I haven't blogged for awhile because I've been away on a trip NOB (north of the border) and since this blog is entitled 'South of the Border', I only write about my life here in Mexico.  Suffice it to say I had a wonderful month in Oregon and California visiting friends and family.

However, I am so happy to be home.  And San Miguel is so home to me.  I have lived in 7 places before I came to Mexico - and I have never felt so at home in my life.  And that is the feeling that so many of us have here.  We felt like we had found 'home' from the first time we visited, and that is why we moved here.

So life in Mexico has resumed, and on Monday I went to a simple lovely luncheon party high in the Atascadero hills above San Miguel.  Sibyl English is a marvelous jazz singer and more than that, a superb individual, so gracious, loving and hospitable.  She and husband Jay invited a group of perhaps 40 people for lunch.  Here are some photos of the house, the people, the food!  It was one of those magical afternoons where you just feel so lucky to be living in this beautiful place.

One of the three terraces, this one with the most exquisite wading pool - and it was such a hot day you wanted to jump right in!

The pre-mixed margaritas!

The buffet table, which included tamales, tuna empanadas, the largest bowl of guacamole, and three different most delicious cakes.

Hostess Sibyl (center) with some of her guests.

Guests enjoying the food and the company.

Two new friends!

And two views from the rooftop terrace looking down over the heart of San Miguel.

Comida (luncheon) For Friends

Comida is a tradition in Mexico, typically taken between 2-4 in the afternoon.  It is a leisurely meal with friends, with plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying the food and the company - and even time for a siesta afterwards if one so chooses.  It is the main meal of the day - the evening meal  is very light (or non-existent if comida has been big enough or late enough!).  It's so civilized.  It makes me regret all the years I rushed to fit a lunch into an one-hour break from a job.  And makes me feel sorry for people who still do that.  Bad for your digestion, too.

Yesterday, I invited three friends for comida,  JoAnn, Sylvia and Maxine.  I went out in the morning between 10 and 11 to shop for all the ingredients so it would be the freshest possible.  Then I prepared a Zesty Tomatillo Soup (made with corn and chopped sweet red peppers); and tofu-vegetable fajitas served with sour cream and freshly-prepared guacamole (so fresh that it was prepared by me between the soup and the fajitas).  And I made a cheesecake with raspberry topping!  Lots of wine - and cappuccino with the cheesecake.

Everything was delicious and we had a lot of fun.

Saturday Evening Out On The Town with Friends

I really don't go out that much in the evenings - I've become quite the stay-at-home - but with friend Joyce visiting naturally we had to do a Saturday night dinner out.  I invited two friends to join us and we chose one of the newer restaurants that has recently opened, Casa Allende.  This is the entrance to the restaurant.

Casa Allende is a Mexican alta-cocina chef-driven spot, and Chef Osuna came to our table to welcome us and describe in detail much of the evening's offerings.  First was a salsa prepared at the table in a huge 'molcajete' which is essentially a mortar-and-pestle but this one was huge.

The salsa was delicious - one of the best I've ever had!  There was an amuse-bouche of portobello broth served in a tiny clear cup.  Bread baskets were served with two kinds of butter and three different kinds of salt, 

We all chose fish - sea bass and mahi-mahi - perfectly prepared and beautifully served  It was a very good dinner (and of course dessert!).

After dinner, we strolled through Centro enjoying the sight of all the churches beautifully lighted, so majestic in the evening sky. 

This is a typical Saturday night in San Miguel

SPA DAY IN SAN MIGUEL

A friend is visiting from Erie, PA and we decided to pamper ourselves at one of the many spas in town.  Joyce chose a spa pedicure and I had a wonderful facial.

 Then to celebrate friend Maxine's birthday, we took ourselves to La Posadita's rooftop restaurant for a wonderful 'comida' (late lunch) of guacamole, tostadas, spinach and cheese burritos, enchiladas de la casa and a smooth bottle of Chilean Chardonnay.  Wonderful way to end a special day!

SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY

I always enjoy a day in the country - this means getting together a group of friends and driving out somewhere to a lovely country setting that serves a good lunch.  Sometimes it's simple - sometimes it's extravagantly gorgeous.  Such was the case yesterday at Nirvana (their literature actually refers to the place as Heaven On Earth).

Three friends and I had a leisurely, delicious lunch there.  I hope the photos show what a good time we had.

             The house salad!

                                             A quail smothered in a chile sauce

My lunch - skewered portobellini - delicious!!!

I always say, "A day in the country can change your life..."   Maybe not this day, but it certainly was a nice outing for all!