It’s That Time of Year Once Again…

This town really knows how to celebrate!

We have just concluded celebrating The Day of the Dead, with multiple parades, flower-adorned doorways, painted faces, costumes, and lots and lots of fireworks!

This week, we celebrate the US expat community’s Thanksgiving. We’ve had the Canadian celebration; this coming Thursday, we will celebrate ours.

Don’t want to cook? More than 15 of the best restaurants in town offer full Turkey with all the Trimmings dinners to choose from, with prices ranging from $200 to $20.00 per person.

I have never been a big fan of turkey, especially liking dark meat best (which is limited on a turkey). Therefore, a group of friends had planned to have a big dinner with a leg of lamb as the main course. But as usual, plans change, and don’t laugh, but this is what we are now doing.

We are having our celebratory dinner on Wednesday evening at one of our favorite restaurants, Berlin. We will enjoy one or two of their famous martinis to start, followed by a choice of a lovely salmon filet in a dill butter sauce, or a yummy ribeye steak, with a huge baked potato.

I am doing a 4-lb turkey breast on Wednesday morning, and on Thanksgiving Day, we will enjoy what we consider the best part of a Thanksgiving dinner – leftover turkey sandwiches, with a cranberry gallette for dessert!

Since mid-October have been house and kittty sitting (Kosmos, 21 years old-sleeps a lot!) at one of the oldest houses in San Miguel. (Some portions originally built in the 1700s). It’s an unusual house, with a glorious garden in the center, an all-wood addition on top, and my little casita at the back. My favorite thing is my magnificent Moorish-looking indoor/outdoor shower.

One of the things I am tasked with is keeping the homeowner’s vast collection of orchids healthy and happy. I mix a formula of fertilizer and sterilized water and squirt them daily. As you can see, it’s working!

What else have I been doing to keep busy? Well…I joined groups that play Rummykub and Mexican Train a couple of times each week. Tomorrow I start Mah Jong lessons! I’ve had so much fun catching up with old friends, and even made a few new ones. Sampling some of the new restaurants in town is always fun. The latest count was 1350 restaurants to choose from in San Miguel. From street food to taco trucks to 5-star establishments. Something for every taste and pocketbook.

Speaking of pocket books, the prices have certainly gone up since I was last here 3 years ago. Though you can still, if you look long and hard, find a tiny rental for $400-500 a month, the average for a nice, fully-furnished, most utilities included, 1-bedroom, will run you $1000+. And, of course, grocery and restaurant prices have risen, as well. It is still cheaper to live here than most anywhere in the States, but not the bargain it once was.

San Miguel is still a vibrant, colorful, noisy, and exciting place to live. The friendly locals, brightly painted street murals, dinner out with friends, huge weekly markets that sell everything, including the kitchen sink, and even chihuahuas dressed for the holidays!

I have been having a few health problems, the most annoying is that my center of gravity seems to be off-balance. I call it the woozies. But thankfully, besides rising prices, the number of doctors and specialists has risen to meet the needs of a growing population. I have excellent medical providers to choose from.

And once turkey-fest has passed, it’s that truly magical time of year. The lights, garlands, and trees are being hung and lit. Concerts and carols, even the mararachi bands serenade with Christmas songs.

I’m sure you’ll hear from me again in the not-so-distant future, but for now, I will sign off with good wishes to one and all for a Delightful/Delicious Thanksgiving, a Joyous Christmas, and a Happy Hanukkah!

Until next time…..