Such a fun community of people to meet & play. Exercise. Social. Community.

Diego & Roger are building a wonderful group.

Virginia & her husband met me on a corner in Oaxaca- took me to the local market where we bought ingredients for our class & dinner. Chapulines (roasted grasshoppers) squash blossoms, pina mangos, tomatillos, peppers, tomatoes, chicken and away we go. Everything is made from scratch, cooked over wood fires. I chose blue corn which we grind into masa for tamales & tortillas. (Not so easy!) no gym resistance machines for these guys! We use a molcajete for garlic, tomatillos, chiles. We use a larger stone for tomatoes. We cook corn in water to soften. And then we prepare banana leaves ( very carefully) for tomales.

Our quesadillas have salsa verde, squash blossom & cheese & I made the tortilla! (Yup – not quitting my day job!)

Our tamales: chicken, masa, salsa verde

Our tacos- chicken, tomatoes, salsa verde

Virginia & her family are masters & I should have taken more photos!

Btw: if you ever get the privilege of having a tamale in a banana leaf – take it!

The Catholic convent closed – turned the site into a barren military base- that closed- then city planners were going to turn this into a parking lot. No! Instead, botanists brought in the right soil & transplanted plants & trees(95% success rate) and today we have this amazing place. Right in the center of the city.

A stone’s throw from Oaxaca is this amazing archeological site. This site is amazing as you will see from the photos & the treasures found there & safe guarded in the museum speak to the advanced culture there.

We get to spend 12 days in Oaxaca. We really don’t know what to expect and have heard that the craft artisans & food is fabulous. Wow! 😄 Indeed! Archeological sites, cooking classes, museums, shops. Mezcal cocktails, food, pickleball-of course—and such a wonderful authentic city