La Cocinita, El Mercado, and Gigi's

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Yesterday was going to be a rest day but it just didn’t turn out like that.   There is always something going on and even though you’re on vacation you still have things to do.  We started off the day with the group at La Cocinita for breakfast.  We decided to not overeat because after we would be heading to the mercado.   I had an omelet and a hot milk with Nescafe.  It was delicious.  At La Cocinita they bring plates filled with fresh cheese, refried beans, tortillas, salsa and other goodies and that’s before bringing your meal.  So I attempted to hold back as much as I could.

The adobe oven where they make the fresh ground corn tortillas and cafe de olla.

We hopped in the SUV and headed over to the mercado.  Some things never change and this market is one of them.  It isn’t very big but runs a couple of blocks long.  All the Christmas items are still out, and now red and yellow underwear for New Year’s.   Red is for love and yellow is for money.   I never see any that are mixed colors.

Walking around I decided I needed a haircut and a shoe shine.  The group walked over to the main plaza and sure enough there were a couple of boleros waiting for customers.   My shoes look brand new with a good shine.  Gail had her shoes shined as well.   While they toured the square I was off for a haircut.  Well, Jorge was busy until 6 p.m., Toni doesn’t open early on Saturdays, Lupita had over and hour wait but around the corner I found a place.  Great haircut!

I was hoping to get in a nap before our afternoon activity.  Heinz and Ulli came by along with Sal, Barb, Doug and Cathy and we loaded up and zipped down the road to Gigi’s Restaurant outside of Mazamitla.  It is an open area with lots of greenery, pine trees and quiet, still air.  The restaurant is actually a house divided up into dining rooms.  We had a room for 12 with a fireplace.  There are also outside palapas but you really need a reservation for those especially during a holiday.   We were more than happy with our place.  

The menu runs the gamut.   Some of what was ordered;  escargot, Thai curry, chateaubriand, Greek salads, and of course beer and wine.  We ordered the house wines, both red and white and many were interested in what label it was.   During the meal we mentioned our favorite wines which are La Cetto and when the bill came we asked about the house wine and sure enough it was La Cetto.  Good choice!

Lots of fresh flowers and delicious homemade breads spread among us.