Y ahora, sola...

This morning a new chapter in the adventure begins. Or perhaps the better way to describe it is that today I transition from vacation to adventure. I woke up early to drive with Don, Dobbe and Jorge to the airport. Goodbyes on the curb always happen so quickly - a hug and a kiss and they were gone. The ride home was quiet, as I absorbed this new feeling. After being with family for almost a month, I was finally by myself, a condition I´ll be in for months to come. We rode along listening to Jorge´s French/English/Spanish mix tape, and I looked at the scenery out the window in a new light.

The first change I will have to make is to stop using vacation as an excuse to eat whatever I want. I have developed the not so fantastic habit of drinking bowls of hot chocolate, accompanied by pan dulce. It is a truly sensuous experience. You can´t help but put your whole face in the bowl. And when you dip the bread into the bowl it comes out dripping, barely holding together the distance between the bowl and your mouth. This is a Oaxacan tradition I have embraced wholeheartedly, but perhaps one that is better enjoyed a vez en cuando, rather than as a daily pleasure. Yesterday, being Don and Dobbe´s last day, was a day of pure chocolate indulgence, beginning with a morning walk to our favorite bakery, Pan & Co. where Don and I had to share one last pan chocolate, to fortify ourselves for the search for the ever elusive music shop. This treat was followed a few hours later with a last luch and La Soledad Hotel Chocolate, where we ate mole (a sauce made with chilies and chocolate), followed by steaming bowls of chocolate. Which is, we have been told, likely to make you feel like you are madly in love. "Hmm... I thought I was in love with you, but I guess it was just the chocolate..."

I am starting to know my way around Oaxaca well. I spent some time wandering around with Don in different neighborhoods, helping him find beautiful doorways and gates to photograph. He had decided this would be a fun project, and it is amazing how you start seeing so many details of a place when you look at every single building, and every door. The neighborhood close to where we are staying is beautiful. The streets are cobbled and quiet, and we found many doors to photograph there. I also took to looking for funny signs and names of businesses. Some of my favorites are: "Donas Homer", and "Wine Phoo y Amigos", the name of a preschool with a picture of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet etc on the wall out front. I think that Winnie the Pooh will now always be Wine Phoo to me.

In response to dad´s comment on my last post, I am happy to report that despite all the chocolate my stomach has been holding out quite well. Maybe it´s the acidophilus, maybe I am finally stronger than I used to be, maybe there aren´t too many dangers here. I suppose time will tell...