Worked slowed down in May, so I took the time to fill the freezer and enjoy some downtime.

Summer was in full swing. I had ChatGPT draw my evenings on the porch with the dogs:

It’s hilarious (and impressive) the details that ChatGPT picks up on in requests, like it’s the apocalypse so I’m probably looking a bit hungry. It didn’t do too badly with the dogs either, even if at first glance they seem more similar than in real life. But that’s clearly taller, leaner Lily on the left.

May is when Alma discovered her bliss, lying by me on her back to get a belly rub. When she raises her paws up alongside her head, you know she’s not going anywhere!

Dodger prefers to spend time with me in my office. Alma has taught her to speak, so she’s much more vocal now!

In May, the universe rewarded me with my DREAM cooking set. Remember, I cook on gas. There is nothing better than enameled cast iron for that. I’ve been searching for affordable pieces for years, and to suddenly be presented with my entire wish list from a brand I trust, in a colour I love, and at less than the price of a single piece of Le Creuset felt like winning the lottery!

In a bit of Benedict Cumberbatch withdrawal, at the end of the month I headed out to the cinema to see “The Phoenician Scheme.” It was one of those movies I would have passed on if I wasn’t such a fan of one of the leads, even if I knew he only had a bit part, but which would have been such a loss not to see. Highly recommend it!

I went to The Harbor, a mostly empty mall in the north of the city. Mérida has way too many luxury malls, and I don’t understand why we have this one right next to Galerías.

I had lunch at Los Jumiles first, a real gem tucked away downstairs by the fountain. There, I had a truly gourmet meal, starting with a local beer:

There were some totopos with salsas. I had to ask for picante and got at least one refill. Habanero just doesn’t hurt anymore. Weird!

The tuna tostadas with salsa macha were apparently hot, but not to my new palate. I found them mostly oily, but that’s salsa matcha for you. It’s very rare that I don’t have tuna tostadas as a starter if they are on the menu.

The complimentary totopos came with crumbly cheese that got eeeverywhere. This is my second bowl of habanero sauce, and I hadn’t even gotten my main yet.

I chose beef tongue as my main! I broke the ice on lengua when I had them in tacos, so I decided to see what an upscale restaurant could do with it. The slices of meat were thin, tender, and well seasoned. Delicious! I appreciated the blue corn tortillas to soak up the sauce.

I’d spotted a gelato place in the mall, so I declined dessert and finished my meal with a perfectly pulled espresso:

All of this for just under $700, plus a tip. I really need to get back there!