Welcome 2024. On New Year’s Eve, I traveled from Albuquerque to Oaxaca, arriving just in time for a birthday dinner at Quince Letras with my friend Carol. We sat on the rooftop terrace and enjoyed a delicious tomato salad and tlayuda with chapulines (yes, grasshoppers).
Left to right: Santi the Snowman, sculpture in front of Santo Domingo Church, tomato salad at Quince Letras.
Then, the celebration continued on New Year’s Day with brunch at Criollo with Kay and Dean. The ambiance is terrific and the brunch is way more economical than the dinner. It is served on Saturdays and Sundays only. We sat alfresco in a gravel paved open patio sheltered by mature trees. I like the food here and it is very relaxing. Reservations required.
Left to right: potato enchiladas with mole coloradito, roast pork sandwich, French toast at Criollo
This was followed by a late afternoon dinner at Casa Taviche with Eric, Elsa and Santiago. The limited New Year menu was filled with hearty entrees — a roast pork with adobo sauce, baked fish with cream sauce, and a filet mignon. I recommend the pork, tender and flavorful. Pork roast adobo shown at right.
Life is good. I’ve managed to gain more pounds. Not good.
Back up: Jacob and Shelley took me out to pre-birthday dinner on December 30 at High Noon Restaurant and Saloon at Old Town Albququerque before flying the next day. I highly recommend this restaurant. Locals love it here. Truly the start of a spectacular welcome to 2024. Photos of High Noon Saloon below. Margs are terrific.
It’s good to be back. I’m now settled into my casita in Teotitlan del Valle. We have tours starting in a week, first to the Oaxaca Coast, then on to Michoacan, Chiapas (we still have a couple of spaces open), and finally to the Mixteca Alta.
It’s a balmy 80 degrees Fahrenheit here in Oaxaca. Such a difference from the high of 21 in Taos yesterday. While I love it there, I’m happy to be where my bones are warm.
Wishing you all a very healthy, content, and satisfying New Year.
Live long and prosper! –Leonard Nimoy, The Vulcan Salute
