“Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.” George Carlin

On: February 17, 2019
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Abastos, Part II. We had AbueLinda (the cooking class Maestra) in tow for our second excursion to the great, big Guadalajara wholesale market -18 blocks BIG! She was our guide into further explorations and discoveries of this immensity. It was a Sunday and families galore were out in force shopping and eating their way through. Linda introduced us to some new cheese goodies and now we feel more confident on future trips knowing where to focus on foods.

DINNER with DRAMA … Yvonne and Julie were visiting from snowy 🥶 Seattle for a few days of warmth and sunshine … so after a promenade along the Chapala Malecon, coffee at Ajijic Plaza, it was time for dinner at one of our favorites and the No. 1 TripAdvisor restaurant in Ajijic, Teocintle Maíz, featuring innovative Mexican cuisine. We all sat down and ordered drinks and began what we hoped would be a lovely dinner. Well . . .

A trio of crabby senior ladies arrived at the next table; first off there was a commotion with their table selection and demanded to be seated by the window which was a designated reserved table; they claimed they’d reserved it weeks ago (really? in Ajijic?) and that they come here all the time (more later). Next up came their food ordering … “no bell peppers no onions no chili no gluten, no dairy, no peanut …” and what seemed like an endless list of food allergies. The owner, Ricardo, politely tried accommodating their requirements, pointing them to possible dishes and their preparation. All this was easily heard from where we were seated.

Our drinks arrived … delicious appetizers and then . . . one of the sourpusses had the audacity to tell me to lower my voice since I was too loud 😲! Anyone who knows me knows that I have a very loud and deep happy laugh 😂. I quickly replied how dared she – when I could easily (and distractingly) hear all her table commotion and demanding orders. Another “lady” butted in saying … “we said please,” … well, with that retort, it did me in, and right before I went full Cubanito on her, David went into his NYC Mode and they quickly retreated back into their ugly cocoons.

Every time the sour puss looked my way I gave her one of my Cuban stares 👀 and stuck my tongue at her. I knew it was childish, but by that time it became a cat and mouse game, and me as the cat was now having fun with it. David & Co. just ignored them.

They quickly ate and left. I have never seen a Mexican restaurant prepare dishes so quickly. I think the owner, Ricardo, just wanted them out ASAP. He couldn’t have been more hospitable and charming. No wonder it’s No. 1 👏

We enjoyed a relaxing, beautiful dinner filled with light conversation and more laughs. Dinner started with a Poblano dip and fresh Guacamole that was prepared with corn kernels mixed in ~ it gave the dish a nice texture; followed by Cochinita Pibil, a Yucatán shredded pork dish, for Yvonne and David and plump, luscious, large Coconut Shrimp with mango dipping sauce for me and Julie. Desserts: a Sergio-approved Coffee Flan (it was good!) and a light-as-air Chocolate Cake.

After dinner we talked with Ricardo and brought up our next table companions’ behavior towards us … he rolled his eyes and said some customers are very difficult and he hoped they were visitors and not town residents. That confirmed that they had never been there before.

I was worried for Yvonne walking the busy Tianguis market on Wednesday, but with her walker on hand, she was a steam roller ~ opening an easy path for me. Of course, the usual stops were our favorite purveyors and since we got a late start and the next day was Valentines … by the time we got to Javier the florist, his stock was decimated, but he quickly informed me that he had separated my gladiolus and beautiful green calla lilies. He knows by now that I like more exotic choices. That is why I love Javier and his great customer service.

Yvonne purchased from a street artist a very small painting created in front of her very own eyes by the painter using only the tip of his fingers. It was amazing and a wonderful souvenir.

We did our usual side trips out of town: a ride up to Mazamitla, a Mexican Pueblo Mágico, and a trip into Tlaquepaque, also just recently designated a Pueblo Mágico, for strolling, shopping and dinner at our favorite restaurant, Casa Luna. The decor and ambiance are unique & SUPERB and the food and drinks match the cool vibe. It’s always a busy place to be and to be 👁