South of the Border,

Episode 2  01 Dec  ‘17

 Buenos Dias! After having unpacked our bags, distributed all the ‘demands’ made by Janu, a chilled beer & dinner, followed by a good nights sleep and we were ready to go. However, a day’s rest was in order before venturing out.

Saturday morning saw us first head to Parques Polanco, a complex just across the road, which could be loosely termed as a ‘mini’ Mall. Of course it offers almost everything, from provisions to  banks, restos…!

Parques Polanco

Our first stop of the day was Lincoln Park, located less than a five minute drive, Uber cabs are the most convenient forms of transportation, and can be whistled up in less than 5!

Niku on the Monkey Rings

Sidewalk between L Park & Polancito

Lincoln Park The park is basically a playground for kids, with all kinds of equipment, suitably located for differing age groups. Being Saturday, the park was full of kids & their parents, yet there was enough for all. The Green cover is also well thought of, around the park. In fact, the city has a very good tree cover and what we refer to as “road dividers’, are well-planned ‘Green zones’, and very broad. There’s an aviary too, housing a variety of birds, but mostly parakeets & budgerigars.

Another feature of the park, is that on both sides of it, there are stalls selling anything from trinkets, toys & of course food!. What struck me  is that not a  single stall (“tapri”) keeps or leaves the place messy. Nothing is thrown on the street, the area washed & swept before leaving!! (brings to mind, my pet peeve re our 'nagarsevaks' vis exotic places{at our cost}, to study garbage disposal & other issues, with a big 0 for implementation!) 

Fruit Juice Stall

Polanquito , as the place is called has  sidewalks on either side of the park that  are extensive and are great places to walk or sit around on the benches. Across the street, are numerous restaurants offering varied cuisines. Most have indoor & al fresco dining arrangements. We decided to try out a place serving Argentine fare & found a place outside, in a corner. All along, there were vendors exhibiting their wares ranging from utility items to kids games.

Polanquito

The one thing that struck us from the beginning, is  that the girls/ladies are always well-groomed & smartly clad. This goes for the janitors, public servants etc too!!

Malazzo While the ladies ordered fruit juice, Jenny suggested I try  a Dark Beer. So we ordered a Modelo Negra. Beers here are sold in small squat bottles or on tap. And there is an assortment of breads & sauces, generally pesto/salsa.

Modela Negra

 The inside of the place was very interestingly designed, with a circular wood-fired oven  in the centre & all other activities around it. We  ordered Empanadas, which are very much like our “Karanji” or ‘Gujjis’, bigger in size & can best be described a hybrid between a Samosa & Karanji. Liberally coated with a sauce, this was a good beginning to Latino foods! 

Mexican 'Karanjis'

 The juices, incidentally have been the best I’ve had so far, sweeter than any other and no (no) sugar added. Janu had told us that the fruits & vegetables here, are of very good quality (taste & freshness). Dessert was a Flan (Caramel Custard),  very rich & creamy, but…………. give me the Caramel Custard of “Good Luck”, any day/night!!

Flan

Mexican “Mandai. After topping up & recharge of spirits, it was time to replenish the home stock. So, we moved in the general direction of Mercado San Juan! You may (?) recall my post from St Louis re our visit to Soulard Farmers Market. Well, this was the elder brother of all ‘mandais’. We were pleasantly surprised at the rapport  Janu has built up within a year, with the local vendors.

Fruits & more..

Veg Stall

Well displayed goods, clean surroundings, & cheerful, polite  vendors! Can’t ask for more. The “fruitwalla” was generously slicing fruits of all kinds, for us to taste. Came across some strange & some very delicious fruits! And to top up the buys, the   Senora put all of them in a proper nylon shopping bag!!

Posada That evening, we were invited to a ‘posada’ which is a pre-Christmas  celebration, observing the passage of Mary & Joseph, looking for a place for the night. This was arranged in one of the many rooms available in the complex, by some families, who all were so friendly & warm…….and enthusiastic! 



Dinner was Turkey (of course), Ham, Pasta, assortment of ‘pan’ (bread) and a Fruit salad, all very traditional. Of course wine & Sangria too. All this was followed by Ponche’, which is a fruit punch, but hot, with lots of fruit slices, including sugar cane! Very invigorating. Apparently, Ponche’ is a “must have’ during parties. This was followed by the Pinata (Pinyata) ‘ceremony’. 

This is a star having Seven ‘points’, each representing the 7 sins!. The Pinata is hung up & thrashed with a stick, to the chant of the “Dale’ dale’ ” song. The cones are filled with sweets/toys for kids, which are collected by them when the cones burst! This is done at the commencement of any event, for  good luck! (‘shagun’) 
The finale' was, as is always, opening of gifts & exchanging them. The spirit of 'giving' is so apparent here & serves as a reminder to us all, that life is all about giving! Out hosts have been so gracious & helpful. To sum up, I recall an 'ethos' we learnt in our Army Days & follow it, to date, ".. the warmth of the food is directly proportional to the warmth with which you are received"!!   
Food has been very central to my travelogues, besides trying to discover the local culture, people and so on. Mexico is no different, It's been quite a discovery for me, as we all tend to carry pre-conceived notions about people, places etc, based, rather 'biased', on what we've seen/read as kids. Just like some Westerners still hope to see snake charmers & elephants at every street in India, I too, was quite hopeful of seeing gunslingers shooting at 'them varmints', in Texas & tobacco-chewing Comancheros here! It's amazing how images imprinted on our young minds, refuse to leave your minds. But that's the beauty of legends created & live in folklore. ( If you read 'Haritatya', from Pu La's "Vyakti ani Valli", you'll agree!!)
So long for now. TC. We'd love to hear from you. You are going to 'see' more of this place & people shortly. Till then, Adios Amigos!!
AshoKalpana