Totally Unauthorized

Live, love, laugh, dance.

Since we’re enjoying their hospitality, I think I should introduce you to our hosts, Max and Barbara Tudor.

Barbara went to school with Gail and her sister Susan in Fresno, in a year I may not mention. Barbara and Susan were one year ahead of Gail, but they were all close and hung out at Chez Giffen where Mom Giffen taught them bridge.

Gail and Barbara also attended University of Colorado together, bonding by taking a 7:30 am 5-unit zoology class and commuting in Barbara’s little Mercedes.

Barbara then met and married Max Tudor, who was going to make a career of teaching.   He got the opportunity to run the American School in Puebla, Mexico at the age of 26, and has never looked back.  After Puebla, there was a school in Mexico City, then 10 years running the American School in Madrid.  Three kids, two of whom were born in Mexico.  Working for the State Department.  Back to the states.  13 years in Genoa, Nevada (a tiny burg outside of Carson City).  Miami.  Now back running another school in Mexico City.  Our friends are true citizens of the world.

So today we went to the Saturday market in  a local square.  Mexico City has simply expanded outward for hundreds of years, ingesting hundreds of tiny villages in the process, each of which is now a neighborhood community with its own town square.  We are in San Angel.

In the center square are artists, ranging from the hopelessly kitschy and primitive to some serious fine art. We bought a sculpture, natch.  Gail says I can keep it in my bathroom if I move the cologne assortment into a closet.  Done deal.  Prices are good here–it cost less than just the foundry cost would be in the states.

Then lunch, which is more of an afternoon activity.  I even had a mango margarita, which comes with something salty on the rim but it is red and brown and I can’t even begin to guess.  I liked it, and that’s enough for a mystery drink in a foreign country.

And foreign it indeed is. Service is at a Mexican pace. Prices are almost always negotiable–we found some new bed linens Gail wanted, and spent more time negotiating the price than we did shopping.  Tonight, we have to set the clocks ahead for Daylight Savings time–just because the US Congress decided to fiddle around with the starting date doesn’t mean anyone else has to.  This isn’t just Texas south.

Arranchera a la plancha

Okay, there are a few similarities.  Men still like to barbecue, and Costco still sells great meat.  This is an Arranchera, which is pretty much like a flank steak, sold already marinated at Costco.  You can buy the Weber grill here, too.  The spring onions are local.  Dinner was great.

Tomorrow, another town square, more art.  Ballet Folklorico at night.  Stay tuned for more details.