People have got to learn: if they don’t have cookies in the cookie jar, they can’t eat cookies. Suze Orman, television host

Friends, Flamenco, Fountain, Flavors, Figgies & Shoes! . . .

Friends from Long Beach, Judith and Steve, came visiting on a stopover on their way to Puerto Vallarta. And a must stop on the way home from the airport is my favorite Mexican roadside diner, Los Milagros de Dalila. They have an unrivaled selection of guisados all wrapped in buttery soft flour tortillas. ¡​Que sabor!​ This place is packed 24/7. I figure Dalila’s Milagro (miracle) is the printing of money. Cha-Ching!

Most NOB visitors arrive loaded up with my amazon orders. However, Judith, baker extraordinaire, came armed with her famous, scrumptious “​Figgies​” (shortbread fig-filled cookies) and her rich chocolate brownies. Needless to say, our freezer is now stocked with sweets. David’s got his sweets drawer and I have my own freezer shelf filled with goodies.

Our time together was spent relaxing, talking and enjoying good food in the company of good friends. Here they got to experience Mexican life away from the coastline resorts. If you recall from past “Musings” we spent time with them last December at their time share on the shore in PV.

Friends told us about an upcoming show featuring a fabulous flamenco guitar player from Sevilla, Spain, Paul Bosauder. He was giving a small, intimate show at a charming, local restaurant, Jardín de Ninette. We sat just feet away from Paul and got to watch his fingers glide magically through the guitar strings producing heavenly sounds. Steve purchased a personally signed CD, ​“Tierra y Mar.”​ Terrific tapas were served along with the music ~ recreating Spain in our little corner of the world. ¡​Un sabor de España!​

To our surprise, it turns out the owner/chef’s wife of Ninette’s was one of the flamenco dancers at the “Flamenco: Weekend Axixic” show we attended with Padrino and tía two weeks ago. We complimented her performance and asked about the incredible silk fringed shawl she danced with. She said it was her grandma’s and that it was quite big and heavy to dance with and took many hours to master. She did and kudos to her.

Steve and David took a 90 minute day trip to the pueblos of La Manzanilla de La Paz and Concepción de Buenos Aires up in the mountains on the south side of Lake Chapala. This is where life slows down even further in México. Agriculture prevails here with corn, onions, berries and newly planted avocado farms. They even passed by a cock raising ranch!

They stopped into a small shop where ​Huaraches​​,​ Mexican sandals, are still made entirely by hand by three generations of the Cisneros family. David got measured and is having a pair of beautiful, custom fitted shoes made for him (ready in a month). What’s even more incredible is that the huaraches are all hand stitched – no metal tacks. It’s quite wonderful to know that some things are still treasured and exist and it’s up to us to keep alive by supporting these traditions.

In our many visits to the weekly Tianguis market, we‘ve become acquainted with another local artisan, Margarita, the fabulous “chocolates lady;” love her chocolate covered ginger. She and her partner, Larry, invited us to a potluck at their home … a welcoming party for Larry’s niece and boyfriend. In conversation we discovered the niece lives in the same town that David’s BFF, Michael, lives in, Shelton, CT. Small world.

The potluck dishes were all outstanding – all worth a second round of tasting. Flavors abounded on the crowded table including ​tamales​ and a Mexican chorizo lasagne. And then suddenly, a 7 piece mariachi band appeared, surprising us all, adding an extra festive atmosphere to an already lovely evening. Fantástico.

Hallelujah Amen … at long last construction has begun on the backyard fountain. The old jacuzzi border was broken up and used as part of the filler; more dirt and rocks were added and compacted. Piping and pump housing built; cement was poured for the base … hopefully by next week we’ll hear the soft sounds of gurgling water and frolicking birds.

​On the Menu​ … ​Mmm Mole​ … the last of my black mole from Oaxaca was used in Chicken ​enmoladas;​ beautiful “wonton purses” filled with cochinita pibil (Yucatán’s famous dish) … a trio of delicious, homemade low fat sausages created by our friend, Hans; field corn risotto with squash blossoms, peas, corn and mushrooms, and too too many dishes to count at the potluck (a great vegetable lasagne and a bountiful salad were my faves). ​Sabores por días ~​ Flavors for days!