New Era

Lots of willing party posers and thankfully a photographer.  Unfortunately the photographer had to leave early to get some sleep after a long day at work.  So no pics of the later arrivals!

Rita, Peggy, Sarah

Roberta, Dick, Laura B., Gwen and Robert

Javier, Chuck, Sarah and Moni

It certainly was not the end of the world and it may have been the end of the Mayan calendar, but we'd like to think of it as the beginning of a New Era. We had an End of the World/End of the Calendar Party on the evening of the 21st. We invited about 30 people- a mix of American and Mexican friends. All celebrated with gusto. We chowed down on homemade Mexican tamales (in corn husks) from Sra. Arcer. Two types: red with chicken and rajas con queso (poblano peppers with cheese). There was lots of discussion about Mexican tamales, Yucatan tamales, Chiapas tamales, etc. Which are the best? Who prefers which? We had pozole from Los Otates restaurant with radishes, cabbage, onions and tortilla chips. All agreed that this was truly fine pozole -even the pozole aficionados!  Edwin came earlier in the day and made a huge bowl of guacamole. Wonderful. He seasoned Peggy's pico de gallo perfectly. Peggy also made great sangria.  Friends brought other drinks and desserts. Chocolate. Fit for Mayan gods. If it is going to be the end of the something, what better way to go out than with your belly full of great food and drink! As usual down here, there was plenty of stress leading up to the party: Where's the tamale lady live?  Shall we pay in full before we get our tamales? Is Otates ever going to acknowledge our order which we texted to them as they speak no English there? Will it really be ready at 5:30PM as the party started at 6PM? On and on. Hand wringing. Nail biting.  Gnashing of teeth.  But, as is normally the case, it turned out fine. Just not on our normal American schedule! Good friends, good food and no rain! The cat even got to have a little guacamole!  No End of the World, for us only a new beginning.