Our Man in Antigua

Turbonett was down, probably all the water in the junction/cable boxes…..idiots…punch some drain holes in the receptacles or even better…waterproof the lids! I know, too high tech for a low tech country…whew, the rains…clothes/boots that just dried out are now re-soggy,as am I..yep, it’s not a real word but this isn’t a real country…

Thanks to one and all for recommending the o-so scary book called The Art of Political Murder, a chronicle of the 7 or 8 years it took for Guatemalan justice(sic)to track down and convict the architects..nay, the miniors of the architects of the assassination of Bishop Gerardi back in the 90’s…same of the same players still playing politics here…and a big tip of the panama to my new next door neighbor, Michelle of Sydney(downunder)……the wine, cheese, prosciutto and all, especially the conversations were superb.

Neil C and friends at Ocelot, Ron on sax…Camilla counting the days til her departure…sadness abounds for all of us..Alex’ Sobremesa closed for a private party…wedding rehearsal..

Re the alcohol ban for this weekend: per an impeccable source (who’s also very tasty)it starts at noon on Saturday and lifts on 6am…’maybe 7am’ on Monday. A few eateries/bars observing the draconian measures(no alcohol, no profits..hello!) a season that’s already not been up to expectations and then this? One of the tour guides counting the days til the next cruise ship arrives..Sept 25^th or so..ok..the closures vs the partial opens…Sobremesa, El Muro, Angie’s? probably…dos Reilly’s uncertain, supposedly a closure and a poker game on Sunday..Da Vinci open, with secret service if they know you..Blue Sky closed..damn, RT2, at Chez Chris told me…hey, it was raining like hell…ask him yourself..Studio 35/Sangre? Even if they were open you couldn’t tell. Bistro 5 not open on Sunday per the brunch…Ocelot/Lava closed both days..the very fashionable and delightful Gina Cofino and a dinner party at Lava….looking terrific and armed with shopping bags..Shaun doing ‘valet umbrella service’ up/down the stairs…’went by El Caminante but Peter was upstairs…who is the totally ravishing waitress? He and Max of El Muro have the ‘eyes’ for tasty waitresses. El Cazadore italiano playing with an idea of playing with the liquor ban…Robbin Hass, who’s been thru this before, strongly recommends not screwing with the powers that be..the PNC? Out in farce..no, force tonight… more trucks than tuk-tuks..mano duro! Whatever…no,I’m not complaining…I’m glad to see them cruising the calles en masse…or in Toyotas…whatever..

wailing at Cafe No Se!

and another quality repair job…the jefe in the battered Dodge Ram appears to be the ‘quality control ‘ guy…this sucks…who cares?

Lastly…news from Nelson Lunding…’playing tonight, Saturday and Sunday afternoon in San Francisco…North Beach(one of my favorite ‘hoods) Mojitos/Mohitos…whichever…ask me about Halloween one time at the old Anxious Asp…two nuns in drag, a nasty habit to get into..Green Street..