Claudette and Martha had come across elephant ears while shopping yesterday, so we enjoyed that treat for breakfast. Some contractors were still running around in the house completing various details of the many upgrades which -- while planned for a long time -- had been precipitated by our visit. (The shower surrounds, for instance, were installed yesterday!)
Having gotten the house in order and cross-checked with Emilio, the four of us hopped into Martha's car and set out for the sea. Again, roads varied from cobblestone streets on some blocks in town, to a smooth & modern tollway, to tiny mountain roads. We first stopped at San Blas, a town with the oldest fort on the Pacific coast, but so many changes had occurred since Martha's last visit that we gave up the search and continued on.
Many small villages lay along the way, each having installed two or more serious speed humps. One good reason for this is simple pedestrian safety, as many locals simply walk or bike from place to place. We suspect, however, that the reduction in speed also allows travelers to get a good look at the produce, foodstuffs and handcrafts on offer in small booths along the roadside.
Our mission, however, was clear ... make it to Casa Manana today! As the landscape flattened out, the orchards changed from mango to yaca (the tree, not the fleshy yucca plant) we found the place. It's both a hotel and restaurant; the restaurant parking involved threading our way through a palm tree forest ... but blessedly there was shade for the car.
While there was plenty of indoor seating, with a shaded deck right on the beach, why stay inside? We found a big round table where we could all sit looking out at the ocean rolling in, and settled in for the afternoon. Chips (oven-baked, light and tasty!), salsa and guacamole started us off ... oh, yeah, and a beer too. After a while we ordered LUNCH: shrimp burgers for Martha, Claudette and Linda, and beef tenders in a creamy ancho sauce for me. The shrimp were judged to be as good as ever, with lots of effort to identify the seasonings that make this particular sandwich such a standout vs. its peers in other venues.
The beef was very good,
tender in the flavorful sauce. A stack of shredded zucchini and a spoonful of mashed potatoes rounded out the plate. Everyone got a taste of the meat, which was pronounced a fine addition to the menu.(Oh ... and a beer to wash everything down.)
By mid-afternoon, many more people were arriving at the more-traditional LUNCH time. It was time for us to bid the sea farewell for now and head back into town. We found just a couple of slow trucks and managed to pass them in the end. We arrived back in Tepic at the height of rush hour ... and discovered that there were streets blocked off because the FAIR was just opening. Lots of folks walking to the festivities.
Despite the impediments, we got home but had no heart for dinner. Instead, we chatted well into the evening and, ultimately, went off to bed.
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