Hot as hell!
My goodness, Yasiel was right when he warned me how hot it was in Veracruz, Mexico, but I guess I didn’t really think of how many other things could be miserably hot also! The pool, the casino (I was dripping sweat), the airport, outside restaurants, inside restaurants because they leave the doors open with the air going and anywhere in between the apartment and the grocery. I did crack up when Yasiel called me before I packed and said “I know all you wear is black dresses and big pantalones but I think you should find cooler clothes….
Well, he is right and every time I think about him telling me that start to giggle. I did have to explain to him why I wear the big pantalones (basically Womens boxers with legs) is that since I wear dresses it is way more comfortable than “girl” small underwear because I get chub rub. Which he understood because he has thick thighs. I reassured him if I was wearing pants or something I didn’t wear my big britches because yes I would then have other issues. Oh the discussions that we have.
If you have been following along I have been trying to go to Mexico for the past month ish to visit my friend Yasiel who is playing in Veracruz. One time really I think I had anxiety about the flight and was looking for a way to change it and Yasiel gave me an out, and then he had a pulled hamstring so his schedule is different than normal, and everyone has laughed am I finally going to get on the plane to Mexico and I did! Shannon wasn’t believing it until I was on the flight, but I followed thru, and arrived this past Friday and have been baking away ever since.
The area genuinely is beautiful. I am not quite sure what I expected but It is way better than I anticipated. For the most part, I feel the area that Yasiel is staying in is perhaps maybe in a new part of town, or is surrounded by new construction that makes lot of this area look fresh and clean. There are many many restaurants I would eat here thankfully, and I have always loved Mexican, and anything that comes along with rice and beans so I am doing okay food wise. Japan and Korea were definitely more of a challenge.
Directly across the street is a torta place that we hit the first night and I know is an easy grab for me pick something up. I just do a simple beans (they do refried black beans) cheese and avocado which I could live on all three of those, and then the delicious torta which is the bun in essence. I have also found an adorable market around the corner that genuinely is a market that I would have shopped at in Europe or at home. Quite adorable, doesn’t have a ton but has enough and also has the most amazing bread called “Bomba or concha”. It is a little bit sweet bread (Yasiel and I agreed on this assessment) that is covered in either a mildly sweet sugary substance that is either chocolate or vanilla, covered or patterned. Either way, flipping good.
Something that many don’t know or expect from me is that I am a horrible eater! I drive everyone nuts that has to eat with me and for multiple reasons! I genuinely drive Yasiel a bit crazy because coming from Cuba, he would eat ANYTHING and then there is me. Someone who has a palate of a five year old. Which is genuinely what I ask when meeting someone for dinner is if the place serves something that a five year old can eat. I don’t eat pork and I don’t like seafood, and when it comes to Yasiel’s crew that will eat anything I struggle. So here in Mexico, doing a okay.
Yasiel obviously is a rather large eater and I on the other hand, I eat like a bird and confuse the heck out of people. So when it comes to be considering cooking for him, I genuinely don’t know where to begin! He eats such large amounts of food it is impressive. Best part of it is Yasiel knows how to cook, and he cooks pretty damned good, and I think although he doesn’t like to cook he would rather cook for us because he doubts my abilities all around I think. I have cooked him breakfast one morning and he hasn’t died or gotten sick thus far so I think I am in the clear. But I won’t complain when he is wanting to cook. When broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, potatoes, avocados not to mention protein are the options in one dish I don’t even know where to begin. He does!
I am going to sign off for today. Yasiel has his all star game this weekend and then also a home run derby that will be fun to watch. His mom arrived last night and I absolutely adore her also and although we don’t speak the same language, we do okay and sure laugh a lot.
Until next time,
Jenny /“Topeka” per Yasiel
