“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” Voltaire, French philosopher

Plumbing problems prevailed this week … darn if the retractable sink faucet hose had sprung a leak. It being México, it would take the week to resolve … with several plumber visits to identify the problem; a new faucet ordered from Guadalajara; arriving defective; reorder new faucet; install it; test it and at long last, a working kitchen sink, hallelujah! So it’s installed a little bit crooked, but hey! it’s México. Gotta love this country and the plumbers who don’t come prepared with the basics in tow – like a simple can of WD40.

David asked where I’d like to celebrate my birthday. La Iguana en La Piedra restaurant has always caught my attention driving to/fro town. It’s among a strip of seafood restaurants lined up along the lakefront near home. On the weekends waiters stand in the middle of the carretera and compete with each other trying to lure in customers. Traffic will come to a standstill as drivers stop and peruse menus thrust into their faces.

Two dear friends lakeside, Arvada and Cheryl, hosted us at “The Iguana on the Stone.” We weren’t disappointed. Walk through the large front doors and a multi-tier group of palapas open onto Lake Chapala. Large Mexican families filled the premises. And then there were the four token gringos. We felt welcomed and delighted to be there.

Service was attentive; the food was delicious and well portioned. My ​molcajete de marisco​ was served steaming hot and overflowing with shrimps. Arvada’s steak was cooked as requested, claiming it the best tasting in México.

A 3-piece band played an array of musical genres from romantic ballads to cumbia, adding to the already lively atmosphere. From our table we could see the children’s play area. There, a balloon guy held court entertaining kids with his astonishing and imaginative creations. David took the opportunity to play to my inner child and motioned for him to come over. Introducing me as the ​ cumpleañero ​ and un bambino ​ grande,​ the “twister” asked what type balloon I wanted – a ninja turtle, of course. He delivered a beauty and made my day.

A slice of birthday cake arrived along with a great big sombrero belonging to Arvada; she’d arranged it with our waiter. I played the sport and donned it like a dandy (surprisingly it was quite heavy). What a great day!

Mother Nature has gifted us the most beautiful sunsets over the last few days…

​On the Menu … for a New Year’s Feast:​ lobster tails with spaghetti squash; stuffed shells (spinach and ricotta) with homemade sauce; homemade pea soup and grilled tuna fish sandwiches.