[Above: I had kitchen access today, so I made a vegetable casserole. This delicious amalgam consisted of chopped vegetables (zucchini, jicama, onion, pepper, and garlic), a cheese & egg mixture (queso crejo, oaxaca cheese, six eggs, and 1/2 cup flour), and spices (garlic powder, ground black pepper, salt, and fresh thyme and rosemary). ]
Weather: Today began in the high 50s and warmed into the low 80s. Sunny early day and cloudy late day.
Morning walks, sweep, & procurement:
Dawn over Taxco 4/24/2022. 
Remnants from last night’s fiesta. 
This appears to be a form of emerald borer beetle. I found it while sweeping this morning, and it moved in odd jerking motions (video below). 
I’ve been considering cooking equipment to bring back home to Florida. One of the most iconic and usable pieces of cookware available here is a Molcajete and tejolote – an especially rugged form of mortar and pestle. In this bowl, one can mash together ingredients for myriads of sauces ranging from salsa and guacamole to Italian sauces such as that one would apply to pizzas. When smashed instead of blended, ingredients take on a far more vibrant flavor. Tomorrow, in my free time, I think I’ll cure this molcajete. That means grinding dry rice in order to free up any chunks of grit and stone that would otherwise end up in the salsa.
Lunch of a homemade vegetable casserole & dessert of palm fruit:
I had kitchen access today, so I made a vegetable casserole. This delicious amalgam consisted of chopped vegetables (zucchini, jicama, onion, pepper, and garlic), a cheese & egg mixture (queso crejo, oaxaca cheese, six eggs, and 1/2 cup flour), and spices (garlic powder, ground black pepper, salt, and fresh thyme and rosemary). 
After pre-sautéing the vegetables, I put them in an oiled casserole dish and then poured the egg / cheese / flour mixture over the top. I next sprinkled on some more cheese and paprika and then put it in a 180 C oven for about 40 minutes. The final step was to let it cool for another 30 minutes. It was delicious.
The afternoon walk:
A Plumeria rubra tree found at the beginning of my walk. It bears a tremendous number of flowers which vary from orange to ruby red in hue. 
View of the Guerrero hillside on my way up to Cristo. 
View of Monte Taxco and the hills beyond from the foot of Cristo. 
I found these berries on the way back down through the forest. Their vivid purple hue was appetizing, but when I crushed one of them between my fingers, it smelled akin to the definition of poisonous. 
This bougainvillea has found a place to thrive. 
View from the Church of Guadalupe at about 6:15 PM. 
Dusk over Taxco (4/25/2022). 
During my visit with Padre and Madre over Duo today, I placed the molcajete in such a fashion as to make it appear ridiculously large. I should also note that after Padre beat me in a game of chess, I placed his king into the mortar and threatened to pulverize it.
Dinner at La Noche Estrellada – High quality fare and excellent service. – 9/10 (Cheesecake was from a street vendor.)
A dinner at La Noche Estrellada. Similar to last time, they started me off with sesame sticks accompanied by 3 distinctive sauces (Habanero salsa, a garlic pesto, and a chili chimichurri). 
The view from the restaurant’s upper terrace was terrific. I even got to see the lightning show of a distant storm. 
A bowl of chicken consomme accompanied by Gin & Tonic. The accompaniments to the soup were: jalapeño, onion, avocado, and lime. Delectable. 
The main course was a salad comprised of: high-quality greens, a little bit of apple, almond, sun-dried tomato, a little bit of dried cranberries, and grilled pechuga de pollo (chicken breast). This was dressed in a sweet honey mustard that I ‘cut’ with white vinegar. 
I was still a little bit hungry after that delicious repast, so I procured myself another mini-cheesecake. This indulgence was also admittedly made due to the fact that I only have 3 more days to acquire such delectable morsels for 25 pesos.
Final Note: These fireworks almost seemed personal – a celebration of having gone on this trip, having experienced all I have experienced, and of soon returning home.
I can’t count the number of times I begin reading your blog fully satiated and yet by the end I’m wanting a little bit of something tasty. The food there, both bought and made by you, looks tremendous.