Party, party, party

Party 1 - San Blas Day

A group of us went into town on Friday to have dinner at the San Blas Social Club.  I was surprised to find out that it was San Blas Day and the big celebration of the week was scheduled that night.  We dined on the patio which overlooks the town plaza.  The food was wonderful.  The Club is owned by an American and the cook and bartender are American also.  The bartender looks like a Mexican so I was ordering in Spanish.  He looked at me weird and I thought I had screwed up but quickly learned that he speaks very little Spanish.

Our group had chicken piccata, steak and shrimp, pork chops, stuffed chicken breast and one guy even ordered fried chicken and waffles.  I had the chicken piccata and it was the best I have ever had.  It came with 6 large raviolis stuffed with spinach and cheese.  I also tasted most of the other entrees and they were also good.  The total bill for seven was $140. US and included 3 to 5 drinks each person.

After dinner we sat on the patio and watched the crowd in the plaza grow in anticipation of the fireworks display.  The fireworks were not like anything you would see in the US.  There was a large tower built at the back of the plaza and for about 20 minutes different pin wheels on the tower provided a great show.  The finale was a giant spinning reel that took off from the top of the tower and shot up into the air a couple of hundred feet.  It was still spinning and burning when it came down and landed right in the middle of the crowd.

Later we had still more cocktails in the bar while we listened to a jazz trio playing old standards while a couple of customers turned it into karaoke.

Listening to the trio from the doorway (Standing room only!)

The crowd at the bar - 95% gringos

Party 2 - Super Bowl

All of the RV park residents, the employees and a few guests gathered in the restaurant to watch the super bowl.  We barbecued shrimp that we purchased from a fisherman on the beach.  These were jumbo blue shrimp and the cost was $24. for 5 pounds.  We also had rice and veggies and a great salmon spread.  The salmon came all the way from British Columbia!

We had a pool and predictably, my numbers did not win.  Strange thing though, 1800 pesos of the 2000 peso total were won by the guy running the pool and three of his close friends.  Next year I think I will run the pool and try to change my luck.

Party 3 - Aticama Day

Saturday and Sunday the village celebrates Aticama Day with a parade, rides, street vendors and fireworks. I am taking Dod up to the house tomorrow to watch the fireworks from above.  

The colorful umbrellas at top center in the photo are some of the rides.  The red tower is the town church which is opposite the plaza.  This is taken from the patio which should be a great place to watch the fireworks.