Viva Mexico (and other things)

ahhh Mexico, what a beautiful, dirty tramp of a country! I realized the impact that my experience there had on me the other day when I went outside of Corunya to eat at a Mexican restaurant owned by guys from D.F. (Mexico City). My previous attempt to eat Mexican a couple of weeks ago was a complete failure. It was a restaurant near the shore, across from an Indian place (nice!), that was the equivalent of Span-Mex and severely overpriced. Mierda! Twas a disappointment quickly forgotten as I stepped foot into that heavenly establishment 2 nights ago. Mexican flags, Xmas pinyatas, lucha libre masks, and indian artwork covered the place. Irene and I sat down and the waiter approached soon to ask with his tequila-smooth mexican accent what we would like to drink.

"Time for the test," I thought. "Do you have micheladas?" I asked. 

"Of course," he said through those jalepenyo-shaped lips, "regular or a la cubana?"

Oh joyous occasion! Oh spicy-hot nectar of the gods! who knew the satisfaction that beer, tomato juice, hot sauce, salt, lime, and a dash of secret sauce could bring!? The almost unbearable sting of that blessed drink that simultaneously invokes love, hate, and heart attack brought a host of memories flooding back to me. I remembered countless different benches, restaurants, conversations and good times all lasso'd around that fiery red drink. And then we ordered food...

Simple, authentic, rich and delicious. nada mas que decir. 

 after dinner we struck up conversation with the owner,  a young guy of about 30. He's a graphic designer that has lived here for 7 years, and he opened the restaurant because the Crisis has put off most graphic design work. We talked about Mexico, business, beer, and music. It was great. He made my night when he gave me a can of jalepenyos to take home because they are all but impossible to buy on the shelf here in Spain. I'll take any suggestions on what to cook with this one hit wonder that I have in my possession...

Thus ended that unexpectedly awesome night. And now Xmas vacations are upon us. Two and a half weeks of paid vacation and relaxation. I could almost get used to this semi-professional lifestyle, although that human instinct (at least i think it is) to turn and run towards seasonal work, travel, fun and self sufficiency lacking in modern world capitalist values and practices still whispers to me in the dark. 

Less then one week and I'll be in Andalusia, the synecdoche of Spain.