🎼My Bologna has a first name 🎶
I hate to admit it, but I must. I am, in my heart, both a child and “an American”. I say this because I can’t look at the name Bologna and not hear the Oscar Mayer song. (In a similar way, I giggle about a particular Canadian city. Classless, I know.) Arrived in a torrential thunderstorm. ⛈️ It was lovely all the way from Milan. I even had a comfy window seat on the upper deck of the train! Stepped…
Sola adventure – Milano
No, I haven’t forgotten how to spell. Sola is the feminine form of solo or “alone” in Spanish. Three days in Milano. Three days TOTALLY in charge of every second and every decision to be made. It is exciting, exhausting, and daunting. I won’t lie, I’ve cried more than once. 😢 Duomo tour – The only tour I booked in Milan. It took me up to the roof of the Duomo to the terraces, which used to be open to…
Drinking from the firehose
Milano – My first time here, and navigating in a language I don’t know, without my partner in crime. It wasn’t EASIER with the Basha, but we could take turns with the chaos “adventures”. The flights were easy, once I got to Malpensa things turned challenging. The nice lady from our hotel gave me directions from the airport. I had no idea it would take me 2hours to make the trek! At the airport the challenge was to (1) find…
People think I am strong
**Caveat: posts for the foreseeable future are all done on a tiny keyboard and with minimal formatting possible. Please forgive the messiness. It reflects where I am right now. 🤷 In truth, I am not strong. I am determined. I am stubborn. I am not strong, I hide the anxiety and the uncertainty and do it anyway. The adventure that I am beginning is big, busy, and was planned with two of us in mind. The run-up to today has…
Chilaquiles update
Yes. I am still on my chilaquiles quest. Life has been very hectic, emotional, and full lately, so I have been very lax with my chilaquiles posts. So much for trying to post each Sunday/Monday. 😂 Here is a quick rundown: 6April – La 16 Mesa Mexicana on 16Septiembre: Chilaquiles rojos. Served with 2 fried eggs, thick spicy (not too) salsa, crispy chips, and beans. This was a BIG hearty meal. For me, the yolks could have been softer, but…
One step closer, but no easier
The death certificate adventures continue. At last update I was in a Catch-22 because the Basha’s middle name was not spelled out on our marriage license. The Mexican government would not accept a middle initial, even if it matches the name. At that point, I channeled the Basha and decided that “the appropriate application of cash” was the best way to solve this conundrum. I hired a lawyer. The lawyer is Mexican, knows how Mexican law and the government work,…
My well-being is a house of cards
It has been 74 days since the Basha died. My brain seems to be coming back. I am remembering the Spanish that I’d learned. My phone and the computer aren’t as incomprehensible as they were before. I’ve even cooked for myself (a few times). I have been getting out and socializing with friends. I smile. I laugh. Sometimes I feel almost normal. Then, something out-of-the-blue will hit me and I’ll be falling all over again. Grief overwhelms me. I feel…
30March chilaquiles – Green & Rosse
This was another friend recommendation – and very good! It is located on A. Obregon and looks out over the Malecón. The location is both amazing and expen$ive. The chilaquiles, while delicious were about 50% more expensive than any of the other places I’ve tried. That said, the chips were crispy and cut to be bite-sized! Very helpful with a saucy dish like this. The sauce was a mildly spicy chipotle salsa, and it was served with 2 POACHED eggs,…
23March chilaquiles – Ocean Café & a surprise
On the recommendation of a friend, I went to Ocean Café on Agustin Arriola this morning for the “Chilaquiles Quest”. I was a little later than usual leaving today, but it turned out to be for the best. The classic car club had a first day of spring parade along the Malecón today. The one that got me to stop and pay attention was the Mystery Machine. All the owners/drivers were so happy to have people taking pictures of their…
Death in a foreign language – Day 1
A.K.A. Bureaucracy BLOWS Government paperwork is horrible, no matter how you look at it. In another language, the paperwork, processes, and expectations take on GARGANTUAN proportions. Unlike any deaths that I have been touched by in the United States, the Mexican process *could* be considered swift and organized. However as the person who has just lost the love of their life, and can barely speak English through the grief, it was a nightmare-ish vortex. Thank goodness for the friends, community,…