Ceviche de caracol y camaron

Last Friday was a quit work early day and everyone wanted ceviche. Stephen, my neighbor and a fisherman and I went shopping for caracol (snail) and shrimp. First stop was Pescaderia Ramos in Barra on the lagoon. Barra was a zoo with all the vacationers walking in the streets and Ramos only had shrimp.

Next stop was Pescaderia Aguilar near the northend of the mercado in Melaque and they had caracoles. Melaque was a little better for traffic but this holiday season is not the time to be driving any more than you need to.

So back to the house we go with a stop for a kilo of limes, veggies and crispy tortillas. My first time for caracoles and not overly impressed but was a great ceviche over all.

Stephen in front of Barra fish store

Fish store in Melaque

Hugo cutting caracoles after cleaning the shrimp

Shadows

Getting some of the shadows I was hoping for. The afternoon light does nice things. They did the finish coat of stucco on this section yesterday and it is almost dry to an even color. Would make a good paint color I think. The suggestion is to varnish the vent bricks/tiles and leave the natural color

Posada after work

Carne asada, friends and music. We quit work around 2 yesterday and started up the bar-b-que. Hugo brought over a bottle of Tequila, I bought some beer and people started to arrive. Didn't party late as many wanted to spend the evening with family

The workers diet

The workers diet is generally not very good and they eat a lot of it. Chicharron is a favorite and is cooked up every morning in multiple places around Melaque in these large vats. Wednesday is beef day at this Jaluco butcher shop ... along with the usual pork. You usually have to get there before 10am or it will be gone ... or at least the best parts of meat. Chicharrón is mainly skin but also any tender part of the animal ... cooked until it is unrecognizable and crunchy. One kilo of tortillas and a large bottle of Coke makes breakfast.

Carnitas is another breakfast favorite and these stores/restaurants usually close by noon. Carnitas (little meats) is boiled pork that can be ordered as meat only or about 1/4 fat. Carnitas usually come with tortillas and salsa.

The exceptions to this heavy, greasy diet are when one of the workers wife makes something at home and she brings it over. They live just a block away and often there are nice surprises. Still the large bottle of Coke is required.

Virgen de Guadalupe dance in Villa Pinal

I was out at the house today puttering around and our local taco lady came over to say her two girls were dancing in the Virgen de Guadalupe dance just down the street. Went over and was offered a seat (old folks you know) and a glass of juice while we watched.

The best I can say about these things is it's a study of indurance. The music doesn't change much, the dance steps do ... but they do this half hour dance a couple times a day over the celebration ... and will join the big parade tonight in Melaque