Tuesday, February 25: revisions, revisions

No one was up early after our pleasantly-long dinner last night.  We had made reservations for a sunset sail tonight, so it was to be a short day.  Then there's the question of when to prepare the final new menu ... after sail, or tomorrow?

After some circular conversation, we learn that the sail has been cancelled as the five of us are not enough to make the minimum number of passengers needed.  We spend time trying to reach Martha at her hotel, to tell her to bring swimsuits, but the hotel has no record of her residency again today.  Weird!

We then settle into our typical routine ... Carolyn enjoying wide-open sliding doors and a cool sea breeze, Linda & Claudette enjoying sunshine & breeze poolside.  We reconnect around 1P in the room, as Martha should arrive soon (expecting to sail).

The supply of vino blanco had been entirely exhausted last night, so when Martha and Alicia arrive we discuss the logistics of the next few days.  It's agreed that Martha, Alicia & Claudette will drive to Walmart and fill in a few blanks, while Carolyn & Linda concentrate on dinner prep.  Stuffing rehydrated dried anchos with diced potatoes was an interesting assignment ... pieces of pork roast were quickly sauteed and held for later presentation, and two zucchinis and chayotes were diced up.  Chayote was a new thing for us, it's a cousin of zucchini with a bit of a radish-y zip to it.  It was pleasant eating sampled raw, and added a nice crunch to the ultimate dinner dish.

The shoppers returned after a bit and we chatted for a while.  Finally it became clear why Martha was so unknown at her place of residence ... the reservation is in her husband's name!  OK, we feel less weird now.

With no cruise to attend, we served dinner a little early.  The starter was the stuffed anchos draped with an onion mixture in a sweet/sour sauce that was mighty tasty.

After a little break, the pork cutlets were presented with the steamed, cubed vegetables in a tomatillo-and-pepita sauce; a few roasted pepitas garnshed the presentation.  Steamed broccoli and the marinated onion mixture on the side, and we tucked right in.  No one felt the need for dessert.

We discussed plans for Wednesday and Thursday; we're hopeful that the museums will be open on Wednesday, so we will meet in the pleasant plaza in front of the Art Museum tomorrow at 11.  After taking in the exhibits there and at the neighboring Archeology Museum, we'll grab a bus up to F.I.S.H. and enjoy a fresh dinner, then split to our respective domiciles.  Martha took the heavy bag of goodies that Claudette had brought for her, and we celebrated the fact that the little styrofoam cooler now was filled primarily with beer (not fresh produce).  We're making progress!

And another beautiful evening to tuck us all in...