(Above: Madre discovered the name of this flower which I spotted on one of Casa Spratling’s Terraces, and we found it to be fitting for this day of the Holy week: Good Friday. Why? It is called the ‘Crown of Thorns Plant’ or ‘Christ Flower’.)
Weather: Today began in the low 50s and warmed into the mid 80s. Hazy in the afternoon.
Morning walk, write, & sweep:
Dawn over Taxco [4/15/2022].
A walk to the bank in the early morning. Unfortunately, I arrived more than an hour before opening, but the walk was peaceful (very little people) and actually level ground for the majority of the way.
Madre discovered the name of this flower which I spotted on one of Casa Spratling’s Terraces, and we found it to be fitting for this day of the Holy week: Good Friday. Why? It is called the ‘Crown of Thorns Plant’ or ‘Christ Flower’.)
The blossom were of an especially vivid blood-pink hue.
Breakfast at Scaffecito – Fruit and Coffee while reading Fahrenheit 451 – 10/10
Today I enjoyed breakfast on the central terrace because the Café was very full. The fruit consisted of sliced banana, mango, papaya, and pineapple. I topped it with fresh hierba buena (mint) plucked from a plant less than 2 meters away.
Leftover Lunch in my quarters followed by a mid-afternoon walk, accordion practice, and a walk to dinner:
Today’s lunch consisted of a 3 small slices of leftover pizza from the prior evening. It was delicious, and if anything, time gave the herb-riddled pesto to meld with the mozzarella and goat cheese.
A descending street in Taxco, midday [4/15/2022].
View from the Santuario de Ojeda (my last visit to this church was on Day 4 of this Taxco adventure).
On returning to the Casa Grande Hotel to inquire about and potentially see the rooms they have for rent, I discovered that all of those rooms are full at the moment. Perhaps I will have better luck after Semana Santa.
Casa Spratling’s thriving mini-arugula garden.
18 days of leaf collection.
First person PoV of playing the accordion on the lowest terrace of Casa Spratling.
This time, on my way to dinner, I took the back way to the Fountain Square. There were a great number people, and I believe there were more later on in the evening. Fortunately, by that time I had found a quiet place to eat.
Dinner at Tonali Restaurante – Great ingredients and kindly staff, but somewhat incomplete – 6.5/10
Tonali Restaurante – a rooftop restaurant tucked away on the street running just south of Santa Prisca Cathedral.
Only one other fellow was on the patio besides myself which made for a truly tranquil atmosphere.
La Ensalada Primavera – a pretty salad consisting of fresh cucumber, jícama, carrot, orange, and cilantro. I would have liked some form of dressing to go with it – a vinaigrette or merely vinegar – but they did not have either available at the time. So, I instead utilized a little bit of lime.
A small chuleta de cerdo (porkchop) topped with roasted vegetables and accompanied by a mini-salad and a mound of rice. The flavor of the pork and roasted vegetables was excellent (superb seasoning), but it was small for an individual of my stature, and the salad was once again served without a form of vinegar or dressing. As for the beer in the background, it was supposed to be a Cubana (a prepared drink consisting of beer, chili powder, salt, and Worchestershire). All this Cubana was, however, was beer in an ice-cold glass with a wee bit of salt on the rim. As the summary of this review states, the ingredients were all good and fresh, but it was not complete nor completely satiating.
Dessert from a street vendor – 10/10
A small tarta de queso, acquired from a street vendor (one of those vendors with glass cases by Mi Fondita Restaurante).
This was probably the best dessert I have had in Taxco, rivaling my own pastries in texture and low-sugar-content. It was still slightly warm, and the streudal on top had hints of cinnamon and possibly nutmeg. It was 25 pesos.
Final Note: I can honestly say that I have not been ‘homesick’ for more than a few hours on this trip. However, I can also admit that I am looking forward to some aspects of home quite a lot: my own kitchen, a more ketogenic diet (eggs, beef, and greens on a daily basis), and – of course – people to enjoy that food with and to make food for.
1 thought on “4/15/2022 – Taxco, Day 18 – Good Friday”
Padre
Looking forward to meals face to face also, there’s some great beef and greens awaiting your return.
Looking forward to meals face to face also, there’s some great beef and greens awaiting your return.