Xochimilco, Papa’s Birthday, Aki…

Hi there, I hope you are well. This week was a busy one here in Mexico City. We went with my family to Xochimilco, I decided to do this little day trip on Monday because after the busy weekend, this very famous place is really quite. I was not wrong, we rented a “trajinera”. We took a 2 hour trip, in which we had the chance to go to see some ajolotes, including some reptilians and it was really cool, Aki and I really like ajolotes. We had a lovely time there, and the 2 hours which I thought at the beginning to much time, actually it was so quick the whole trip. Afterwards we decided to go to Coyoacan for a coffee and a delicious moka doughnut and had lunch at the local Market. It was a very nice beginning of the week. The following days we kept eating and met a couple of friends that Aki wanted to see before going back to Europe, later in the week we went to la “Ciudadela” to buy traditional souvenirs for Aki to take to Germany. She flew back on Thursday and on the weekend she already had to sing Gilda in Rigoletto. It was a very quick trip for her, but I am glad that we managed to see some nice things here in the city and that we managed to go to the beautiful Pacific for few days and got some sea and some sun and lots of Family. Now is Sunday and I cannot believe she left already. It seems she left ages ago but it was only few days ago.

This morning, we met my Grandfather and his wife and my uncle with my little cousin. We had Barbacoa, a delicious dish here in Mexico. We go to this place since I was like 11 years old. So, it is a family tradition to go for barbacoa to don Celso, he is the cook and the server of this dish at Colonia Roma Norte. Talking to my family is really nice and specially since I live in Europe, whenever I come is so fantastic to have some time with Family and Friends. This time during the morning with Grandpa, he told the story of the “Ortiz” side of your family, coming originally from Michoacan and we looked into google for different places on the map where the “Ortiz” come from. I love talking to old people and the stories they have to tell. Since I was little I love listening to older people. I remember, I had the great privilege to meet my great grand father, and he would tell stories about the time of the Mexican Revolution and about him working back in the 1920s, really amazing to me.

I almost forget, it was my papa’s Birthday and we had a great time, we took him to his first Japanese Restaurant of his whole life. We celebrated his 79th Birthday. It was really interesting watching him how he was reacting to all the different things he was trying. We ordered on purpose a great variety from raw fish to all cooked and in tempura. He tried so many kinds of fish in sushi version, sashimi as well as some chicken and grilled things, or better said yakitori. He also had some plum wine and some Japanese beer. We also bought in Germany before coming to Mexico, some clothes as part of his presents, specially for warm weather, as he lives in Veracruz which is in the Mexican Golfo and is really hot and humid.  As you know, because his age we decided to ask him first if he would be ok trying something new or rather have some nice food that he knows and for sure he likes. I have to say, we were all positively surprised that he was up for it. In the end I am really glad he gave it a try and that he actually enjoyed the food and ate a lot, we all ate a lot, Mama, Aki and I as well.

Now I am focusing on the following week which will be really challenging, I will teach for 5 days straight, at the Conservatorio in Puebla, then one day privately in the city of Toluca and then at the Escuela de Musica Sacra also in Toluca. I will go to Puebla with my father and then Toluca with my mum. I am looking forward to next week and around 21 students.

I keep my exercise routine, my daily reading and daily writing. Please take care and see you next week.