Cooking with Rick and saying "yes" to the dress

The naysayers were indeed wrong this time, the Food and Wine Magazine sponsored Festival that is currently on here and in Ixtapa, our upscale neighbour,  is a huge success.  Of course, for the gourmands and wine connoiseurs who travelled from the US or Canada where it is still white or gray in this chilly Spring, how could it not be! 

So Iris and I carefully chose the events we wanted to see, and headed off early yesterday morning to hear the guru of Mexican cooking, Rick Bayless, do the premier seminar at Hotel Las Brisas in Ixtapa.  I may have been one of the few people there who do not watch Rick on Food TV, but I do know about Rick and I do have one of his cookbooks.   Listening to Rick acclaim the wonders of our local cuisine, shopping for fresh ingredients in the mercado and watching him use the same techniques for making red chile salsas as my friend Monica, from The Cooking school at Patio Mexica,  just reaffirmed my belief that the intuitive ways of cooking that happen here are indeed special.  It is easy to forget that what we see on a daily basis is a culture still linked to its traditions and those traditions are sought after by people all around the world...and this weekend the people who are here prove it.

So as we enter our final 3 weeks before we return home to Victoria, I have a primary goal left.  Our sponsored student in Nino's Adelante, Doraliz,  will be turning 15 in this coming October.  For most of the young women in Mexico this event is marked by the special celebration called Quinceneara.  We were invited to be here for Doraliz's fiesta on October 29th so we will book our flights with that date in mind.  But when I talked to our friends Shelagh and Ross who have attended so many of these events with families who they support, I wanted to know how I could help this family who have so little with the costs of the event.  What could we do, what should we buy as a gift?   Shelagh and Ross sagely said that whatever we did, we didn't want to buy the dress, because these dresses are very expensive...but they suggested we should ask Doraliz's Mom "como podemos ayudarles por la quincineara?"  ("How can we help you with the party" ) Without a moment's hesitation, she looked at me and said "compra la vestido?"    ("Buy the dress") But then she had a further request...that we not just purchase a dress at the store, but instead, we should find a dressmaker to make a custom dress of Doraliz's dreams for the occasion.   Now, Doraliz is tall and very slim and in Mexico, most labour is very inexpensive, so without further thought I said "of course"  Porsupuesto.....and the fun has begun. 

With the help of my good friend Monica we have secured a costurera "Bety" who lives close to us and is capable of designing and making a dress based on a photo.  So after assuring myself and Doraliz's Mom that the meeting between the designer and the debutante went well, we entered the realm of internet searching for dresses.   Armed with prints of every dress she liked, Doraliz has made her selection....we have the measurements and our next step is to purchase the material....

For Doraliz, who lives at the top of a hill, her neighbours are squatters with no functioning plumbing, dirt floors and the threat of eviction by the city,....this will be the night of her dreams.   Her family are devoted to the success of her and her 3 siblings.  Her young parents with the weight of the world on their shoulders are committed to giving her the party of her dreams and how can we not help.  We will do all we can to ensure that once in Doraliz's life her dreams can come true...because there may just be many other dreams that she can accomplish too and we hope we are playing a part in them too.  Now how about a few school items for her classroom!   

The bonds that connect us and different visions of "Paradise"

I've just returned from 5 days in Anthem Arizona with 7 friends who have known me for most of my life. Although each of us has chosen very different paths, and some have faced significant challenges, it was remarkably easy to reconnect our friendships and celebrate our 60th birth year. We all feel blessed to share in this timeless friendship and to be in this time and space in our lives entering our next decade.  Some of the group are still happily working in jobs that they love and others, like me are retired, fully or partially. 

We stayed in the vacation home of Diane and Vic, an attractively furnished, spacious home in a Del Webb planned community of design restricted homes, golf courses and recreation centers in the desert outside of Phoenix.  All of the homes were painted in the colors of the desert and the landscaping of all homes and common properties were tasteful combinations of rocks and cacti or desert trees.  The streets were wide and car free as everyone parks inside their 2 or 3 car garages.  The majority of cars were seen at one of the two recreation complexes which are built in each community.  In fact, that is where we saw the majority of people, as each home appeared vacant although in fact we were told that at least 60% of the houses were owned by fulltime residents and this particular community was not restricted to seniors only.  The nights were quiet with  the only sounds in the neighborhood the morning and evening birdsounds of the California Quails as they meandered through the neighborhood happy to have the sun and warmth back in the desert. 

Arriving back here in Zihua was like entering another world!  Not only is our little condominium apartment a tiny space with minimal amenities compared to the luxury of the desert homes we saw, but also, the town is alive with the busy combination of a long holiday weekend and Mardi Gras.  This year, the riotous party celebrated to coincide with the start of Lent was delayed a week, probably to avoid conflict with Guitarfest and to ensure that the maximum number of Mexicans could attend while they are here for their ritualistic beachside vacation celebrating Benito Juarez's birthday (the first day of Spring). 

Unknowing bus drivers from inland pueblas are attempting to weave their way through our small colonia streets, unloading groups of vacation holiday makers.  The parade was a sensory feast including free beer from the Corona float and to top it all off ..... last night's full moon was the largest it will be for years to come. 

This welcome back to our vacation home was just the cultural jolt I needed to clear my head of the desert and vacation home envy.  Together with a little adventure jaunt to a previously unknown destination (Playa Valentin - only accessible by panga) I was quickly reminded why we chose Mexico as our second home.  I saw the beauty in the desert, I understand the value of having perfectly manicured properties, spacious homes and well planned recreation complexes to ensure fitness.   But for me....this is where I feel the happiest...Mexico, it's not for everyone, but it works for me. 

And now I'm on a mission...buying a quincineara dress for Doraliz - this week we will meet with the dressmaker "costurera" who will create the perfect princess dress of Doraliz's dreams in time for October when we return for her fiesta. 

Happy Spring! 

A week to party...a day to pray and a trip to see old friends

When I'm in Victoria, I find myself telling others about Zihuatanejo, and how I spend my time there each year.  One of the highlights annually is a fundraising event called the Zihuatanejo International Guitarfest, which is a week long music festival hosting a variety of international musicians with varied guitar styles playing in concerts and "bar shows" around town.  So, how could my flamenco dancing, Gaelic music loving Canadian dragonboating friend who was born in Scotland of Polish ancestors not come?  When Irena arrived, I had fun introducing her to our Mexican and ex-pat friends....I watched their reactions as I explained this interesting cultural juxtaposition in this country where the majority of people will live there entire lives within 20 kms. of their birthplace.  Oh Canada...you are a true multicultural country!

The week has been spent combining being "tourists in our own town" and music junkies as we go from gala concerts, beach side dinner shows to curbside dancing outside the packed restaurants and clubs which host the events.   It's almost over and everyone is already talking about how it can be better next year.  It's an amazing accomplishment in this small town and thanks to all the volunteers who have worked so hard to make it happen. 

But yesterday we awoke to the horrible news of the Japan earthquake, we watched and listened on Internet and CNN channels that were playing all over town.  We were told to prepare for a possible tsunami and found all the small beachside cafes empty, schools along lowlying areas were closed and the town seemed to be in a state of suspended animation as the predicted hour arrived and nothing happened.  But approximately 4 p.m. local time, Gene noticed that the water level in the bay receded, water rushed out from the local boat harbor, the Salinas Lagoon and within a few minutes, waves and ocean water flowed back toward the shore...luckily no damage anywhere here, but a day to reflect on how a similar event here or back home in Victoria would be experienced. 

So today, I pack to say farewell to this place I love.  I am heading to Phoenix to meet up with 7 of my school days (think 50 years ago) friends for a 5 day party at Diane's sunny home.  My friends from Canada can't wait to get to the heat and I'm worried that it could be too cold and I have no warm clothes.  We aremeeting to have a little party to celebrate the year of our 60th birthdays.  I'm excited about seeing everyone, but I also know that I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone,  I'm going to a big city with big traffic, big box stores and big price tags...all things that living for 5 months inZihuatanejo does not accustom me to....but to the big city I go.   Party on!!   Gene and Cori and Irena will be here without me to say goodbye to the rest of the musicians at the Sunday night in the zocalo conert and I'll be back with some of the treasures you can only by north of the border...like doggie bags and good quality shampoo.... see you soon back here in Mexico!