Day: December 2, 2015

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A Chile Effect

I wound up missing lunch today because of Work Stuff and my blanket date. By the time I was done with work at 5:45, I was quite shaky with hunger (despite some quickly inhaled raisins and cheese upon return from my date) and I needed a walk. So I decided to get some takeout (para llevar) from Osuna, clear across Isla. I ordered and asked for extra pickled chiles (curtidos).

There were a few people waiting for food, so I knew it would be a long wait. There was an older lady sitting alone at the table across from me, with a clear view to the kitchen. At one point, I heard her mutter to herself, “Someone likes those pickled chiles!”

I laughed and said that was me.

She turned in shock and said, “You speak Spanish! Thank God! We can chat! Waiting alone is so boring!”

We must have chatted for over 20 minutes about her grandkids, weather, travel, our long and exhausting day, our hunger, what I do for a living, and more. And we also talked about chiles curtidos. Too spicy for her. 🙂

When I got home, I found my extra chiles sealed in a plastic bag sitting on top of my torta, which held the usual amount of chiles. The gal who put them together for me must have remembered me well because her extra was just the right amount! I have to say my favourite part is the carrots. Yes, those same carrots I was terrified of last year! Palates change!

No picture of the torta, sorry. Told you I was hungry!

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A Solution to a Sticky Situation

I really appreciate my landlady’s effort in putting some comfier seating in the house this winter. But faux leather is rather sticky in this climate. So I’ve been meaning to cover the chair with something. I priced sheets, fabric, table cloths, even curtains.

Finally, I decided that I wanted one of the rougher machine woven traditional Mexican blankets, preferably in purple, to sort of match my kitchen curtains. I laughed when I priced one in the Golden Zone at a whopping $200, best price $170. I was offered a slightly better price of $160 firm at the Mercado here and $140 firm in Durango. So yesterday, I ran into the beach blanket vendor here on Isla and made an appointment to check out his wares today.

I came home with this for $100:

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Who you know is important!

I almost peed myself laughing when another vendor ran up to him and told him to stop bothering me because I’m an Islander and he retorted, “She’s my friend! We made a date for this!”