Monday, 3/6 -- heading home

We were up early, showering and getting a decent breakfast.  And finishing up a few things that were still cluttering up the refrigerator.  The avocados, from Emilio's "farm" (actually a big backyard) nearby are smooth and rich, so much nicer than even good avocados here.  We EACH ate one!

Time to go ... we get the various luggage pieces into the vehicle and one of Martha's relatives drives us to the bus station.  He was able to stand with us until the bus did arrive, to ensure that we got on the correct vehicle as many do go to Vallarta.  Some are more local, ours was an express.

We had reserved front-row seats with the notion that we'd have a clear view of the road.  But we hadn't anticipated that we were actually going to the movies -- the curtains were drawn, and there was a shade across the window in front of us (dividing the passenger section from the driver's area).  The first movie seemed vaguely familiar, and I realized that I was watching Morgan Freeman speaking perfect (I supposed) Spanish.  Looking a bit closer, it became obvious that what he was enunciating bore no relation to what I was hearing -- the show was dubbed.  It turned out to be "Now You See Me" which entertained us for a little over half the trip.

That somewhat dark film was followed by a totally frothy Mexican movie about two sisters getting married, one almost not to the right guy.  While we couldn't piece everything together clearly, it was amusing and ... just a bit too long.  We missed the final resolution, but were certain that the young lady would wind up with the right fellow in the end.

A quick cab ride to the airport and get checked in.  There were few people around, the lines moved quickly which was a nice start.  Then we realized the escalators to the departure floor were not running ... and THEN found that one of the two small elevators was out of commission as well.  Yikes!  Fortunately we were able to tuck in with another couple and get upstairs comfortably.

We assessed our lunch options and decided to eat in a table-service venue just outside of security.  Linda enjoyed flautas, Claudette enchiladas.  I was going home -- burger and fries for this kid.

Security is simpler in Mexico, we were through the screening in short order.  Then fought our way through two separate retail hallways ... oh, the endless SPECIAL OFFERS ... and managed to get to the gate.  As of last night, Linda and I still had an empty seat between us, but it didn't last.  We did get a pleasant row-mate though, a young man probably in his early 20's who was good company.

Back at O'Hare, we were able to land before the wind was TOO fierce and before the storm front came by, for which we were certainly grateful.  Claudette endured some complications as (make a note to your own future self!) her actual, physical FINGERPRINTS have worn off sufficiently that they don't "read" well on the scanner.  So she had to go prove herself, but was not long delayed.

Our taxi driver got us home promptly, and speaking for myself, it was early to bed and plan to sleep in tomorrow morning.  Another pleasant stay in Mexico completed!

And, as promised, here's the progress report on the needlework:

Sunday 3/5 -- getting organized for travel

Well, our final day in Tepic has dawned.  We have good bakery and good avocados vying for our attention at breakfast, and we're doing a decent job of emptying the smaller containers of leftovers so as not to leave TOO many mysteries in the refrigerator.

You'll recall that I'd whipped up a batch of Gabe's Favorite Bread earlier in the week, and Martha was anxious to round out her learning.  In the spirit of "using up," we used the remainder of the whole-wheat flour and most of the rest of the all-purpose.  And the other aseptic box of condensed milk.  And a yeast packet.  The result was a very pleasant milk bread with a nice whole-wheat kick to it.  Martha was able to experience the "sponge" consistency, and was pretty impressed with the 120 strokes of stirring that helps the gluten to get to work.

Emilio was happy to see more bread in progress, but assumed that it was being baked for us to take HOME.  Oh, no, amigo!  It's all yours.  He's a happy man, says it sits nicely in his stomach.  SCORE for home baking!!

Off and on, one or another of us would ramble upstairs and do some packing.  At "lunch" time (around 3P) Linda whipped up another batch of guacamole, and we brought out the dregs of some really good hummus.  And finished up the corn chips and some tostadas as well.  Emilio joined us, and we had a pleasant meal.

After that, we three ladies were set for the day it seemed.  Though another dose of good eating was heated up later, we couldn't make a strong contribution.  Besides, we needed to get to bed early as our departure for the bus back to Vallarta was around 7AM.

So upstairs we went, weighing suitcases that should have been anemic by now but somehow were only a couple of pounds light.  Happy for that, though! 

Saturday 3/4 -- NO FAIR!

No one got an early start today, a fine morning for sleeping in after a MEGA-busy day yesterday.  Some naps occurred as well.

Late in the afternoon, Linda and Claudette set out meet Veronica & the girls at the local fair.  We felt sure it was "on" as there was great excitement about a musician who was to perform this evening.

I, however, was not much into plowing into the madding throng.  I was making good progress stitching, and begged off as Emilio drove the others to the trysting point.

Imagine my surprise to have everyone tumble in less than an hour later.  They had been in the right place, but it was all buttoned up.  No fair THERE -- no FAIR!

The good news was, they were nearby to a very excellent bakery in fine European traditions, so we enjoyed a nice variety of buttery, sweet things and wondered just what had gone awry with the well-publicized concert.

After a bit, Veronica's husband called to check that she was here, and after another while he came by to take her and the girls on home again.  And the three of us were OK with a reasonable bedtime after our energetic-but-fun "dinner day" yesterday.

Friday, March 3 -- Family Dining

Well, our big day has arrived.  We'll have 9 adults and three kids for our festive meal.  There will be guacamole and sopes for starters, then we'll have the arrechera with mole, flanked by refried beans, seared zucchini & chorizo in tomato sauce, poblano rice, and of course tortillas and salsa.  We've purchased a very pretty cake with fruit on top for dessert.











Here the sopes are underway, you can see my high-tech "tortilla press" ... the top of a container of nuts and a can of chiles en adobo makes a pretty flat starting point.  Then the edges get pulled up all around, a bit like pie crust.













The finished pieces are cooked briefly on a dry skillet to set the bottom, then they'll rest until it's time to fry them properly.  A spoonful of salsa, a sprinkling of cheese and chopped herbs and they're good to go. 






The appetizers were served in the living room, to great accolades.  The only challenge was that "high" on this range corresponded to "medium low" at home, so it was a challenge to get the oil hot enough to fry the sope bases.  In the end, we just saved some for another day.  Linda got high marks for her guacamole, which includes a touch of cumin and sour cream; Carolyn's sopes were as popular with this group as they had been with the amigas at the hotel dinner.






Everyone tucked right into the main meal, there won't be too many leftovers.  Lots of conversation, wine, and dishwashing. The place was left in perfect order as everyone pitched in to help.  Senor Emilio pronounced the event "a ten!"

Thursday, March 2 -- Dining Out All Day

We started off a little slow -- a pleasant habit here in Tepic.  Everyone had turned over for another hour after an early-morning sound that was for all the world like a tornado warning klaxon.  Turns out it was a sugar factory quite literally letting off steam, a result of cooking down molasses.  The cane trucks are everywhere (we really lucked out coming up on Monday, didn't get stuck behind a single one) and the roads are littered with mangled pieces of cane that escaped.










 Late in the morning, we drove up to a small restaurant up a steep cliff, where Native families cook breakfast and offer beautiful beadwork for sale.  There's also a "grandfather" or shaman in the area who concocts a cream which eases a variety of discomforts.  Veronica came along and we enjoyed very fresh tacos and hibiscus "water" along with a beautiful view back across the valley below.

 












Tomorrow's our chance to feed the family, so we wanted to get off to an early start.  Martha's table is at maximum with our expected guest count of eleven, so we're strategizing how best to serve everything up.



After all kids were picked up from school, we headed to a nearby restaurant for "lunch" ... oh-so-fresh fish fillet or shrimp made in a variety of enticing ways.  No one really NEEDED dessert, but the flan was highly recommended.  It was really good, but we'd have been wiser to order one slice for the table!

 

As soon as we got home, we set off again as we had committed to help a friend of Martha's who serves a casual dinner to the many people who have relatives in the local public hospital.  Most of them don't have the funds to stay in a hotel, and sleep on the grounds wherever they can find a place, and Martha's friend provides a free meal with donations she's received.  Unfortunately, though, after we waited an hour she was nowhere to be found.  It turned out she ran very late that day, we were sorry to miss helping but it was good that she was able to offer her usual meal to these needy people.

After all that running around, we were happy to turn in at a reasonable hour.  Tomorrow we'll be plenty busy!

Wednesday, March 1 -- Last of Nuevo

We had pulled together a shopping list in preparation for our big dinner plans on Friday, and went off to fill a shopping cart.  This grocery had a better bakery, and we saw some lovely-looking cakes as well.  Elephant ears came home, but a cake did not. 

After washing and stowing the groceries, we finished off the last of the pulled pork, and we demonstrated how to make risotto.  Someone had gifted Martha with a bag of Arborio rice, which she had no idea how to use  Now she knows!

Tuesday 2/28 -- baking lesson

We're a bit discombulated about time.  Mysteriously, Tepic (which is EAST of Puerto Vallarta) is an hour EARLIER.  Further compounding the problem, not all of our devices recognized this special time zone.  So we are constantly double-checking the actual time.

We discussed various plans for the week, and eventually set out for some light grocery shopping and a spin through a local flea market.  A few items were identified for purchase at the market, and at the grocery we were looking for some good bakery items for breakfasts and the ingredients to make "Gabe's Favorite Bread" .  This will use up some items we'd brought along, and give Martha a nice demonstration of how to make yeast bread.  Here, of course, the main "bread" is tortillas ... wheat isn't such a big thing.  Getting OUT of the market was complicated by a couple markdown items that wouldn't scan, and a delay in claiming a bag we'd had to leave at security.

Suddenly Martha realized the TIME:  we needed to scurry off to pick up her daughter and then granddaughter.  This put a crimp in the plan to re-visit the market and pick up a few items we hadn't wanted to leave in the car in the pitiless sun; we abandoned the markdown items & the checked bag for the time being.

Oh well, first things first.  We got everyone into the car, then Linda and Martha circled back to complete the morning's tasks.  The bread was started (I always start with a "sponge," too loose to make into loaves but stiff enough to rise and get the gluten going) and folks were amazed at the prospect of fresh yeast bread.

We enjoyed the last of the turkey meatballs and the poblano rice for dinner, with some of the good bakery items passed around for dessert.  By this time the bread was on its final rise, Martha having gotten the experience of patting it out, rolling it up, and getting it into its pans.  (As baking pans were in short supply, we made one full loaf and four mini-loaves ... a new approach!)

Though many homes enjoy natural gas ranges and clothes dryers, gas is viewed to be expensive here and so (for instance) the oven has no pilot light.  After a brief search for a long-reach lighter, we were able to preheat it and later tuck the risen loaves inside.  A short hour later, we had four lovely mini-loaves and a tall full-sized one to celebrate.