CUMPLEANOS DE JAVIER

Thursday was Javier's birthday. And what a birthday it was!

In the morning Aurora, Javier and I went out to breakfast. The place Javier had wanted to go wasn't open yet so we went to his second choice, a chocolate bar where Javier and I had tamales with chocolate salsa. We had a lovely long conversation about our families' histories and agreed we needed to write about them because our families' histories are imbedded important events in the histories of our countries.

That night we met on the roof top terrace bar of the Hotel Aspetia which is owned by Aurora's friend Inez -- actually it is officially owned by her oldest son, Javier (another Javier) and a partner, but Inez runs it. It is one of my favorite places in Queretaro with a spectacular view of the historic center of the city especially at sunset and after when the churches are all illuminated. The group was Aurora, Javier, and their son Santiago, his wife Carla and daughter, Sophia and Inez's younger son, Santiago (another Santiago), his girlfriend, and her older son, Javier. Inez joined us a little later after a hair appointment. We drank vino tinto and ate little specialty pizzas they are known for. While there, we learned that their hotel had just won "Hotel of the Year". As the night went on and bottles of wine were emptied, my spanish got better and better. I understood most of a conversation about the organic vegetable growing business that Javier (Inez's Javier) had started in Celaya.



Eventually Ceci's (remember my first Spanish teacher from Tequisquiapan) oldest son arrived with the producer and director and others he works in Mexico City. They are in Queretaro recording the sound track for a movie they have been working on for five years. It will be called "Tequila", and it is about an old Mexican legend. Aurora and I looked at each other and said "My god, these big shots are babies!" They all looked to be in their 20s, or maybe in their 30s. We felt like "dinosaurios ---- ok, dinosarios borrachos". With 2 or 3 glasses of wine, I can even joke in Spanish.

We began to talk about leaving, because it was after nine and Sophia had school the next day. But Javier (Inez's Javier) invited us all to spend the night in the hotel. We at first graciously declined because our homes were within 4 or 5 blocks of the hotel. But Javier wouldn't hear of it. He brought up 3 sets of keys -- a room for Santiago and his family, a room for Aurora and Javier and a room for me! So we stayed, drank more wine and finally were shown to our VERY luxurious hotel rooms. I watched part of a movie until I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 9:30 because the room was so dark and quiet because of the heavy wooden shutters that protected the windows.

What an experience!! A night, gratis, in Mexico's "Hotel of the Year" --- 5 blocks from my own home!!