Frida's squash blossom soup

On Monday, David and I, with two other people from our hotel went to cooking school again. Our teacher greeted us at the door of her home, she was beautifully dressed in a red and white Mexican dress and had striking Mexican designed jewellery on. Not once did she put an apron on, nor did she get food on her clothing. We have always wanted to learn how to make flan and that was the first thing we learned. The most interesting part was carmalizing the sugar and water to the point where it was burnt slightly and then she coated the pan with it. Then she poured the flan mixture in, put it into a double boiler and cooked it for 30 minutes. Then we went on make squash blossom soup, made from a receipe of Frida Kahlo's. We spent three hours cooking and then sat down to eat the meal we had created. We had juice, which consisted of oatmeal, cantalope, water, cinnamin and sugar all put into a blender then topped up in a pitcher with chunks of cantalope and pieces of pecan. It was wonderful. Then we had our squash blossom soup followed by chicken in a orange sauce and the flan as the grand finale. We did not eat for the remainder of the day, our palates were satiated.

When we wander around Oaxaca I am always looking for art, much to my delight a wonderful artist showed up in our hotel. I have been privi to having numerous conversations with her and watching her work and I love what she produces. I am so inspired by Nan. She has been painting our hotel, working about 6 hours per day, her husband Alan is a poet, so when she works in the afternoon he goes to the museums and writes poetry. I have bought a small book of her art and she gave me one of her catalogues of her work, which I covet.

On Tuesday about 10 of us, Americans and Canadians, watched the inaguration for two hours, here at the hotel. It was interesting to sit and hear the comments of people about Bush, to hear the cheers when he left. People cried as they watched, we were hugged and the staff brought up beer, peanuts, made a Mexican way, and beer to celebrate. I am glad to have had the opportunity to share the with our fellow countrymen and women. To hear about their hopes and their relief of the possibility of change.

Today, is our last day here, tomorrow we leave for Mexico City at 11 in the morning. We will have Friday night and Saturday there. I have been feeling quite sad about leaving our little hotel and Oaxaca. This afternoon was our last dance class. We have taken 8 dance lessons, Monday through Thursday, everyday for two weeks. Yesterday, I asked our dance teacher if he made his living through teaching. He told me no, that he had been a lawyer, fighting for human rights and stopped because it was too dangerous. He now teaches dance and boxing and has a business with his mother. As he talked about his mother, tears came into his eyes. He does not know who his father is and it was his mother who raised him and his brother. She moved from a small village to Oaxaca at the age of eight to become a maid. She eventually went to school and became certified to teach school. In tribute to his mother and because he loves her so much he made a commitment to not drink, smoke or do drugs. An amazing answer for my initial question. Sleep well, Carol

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