mmm-yoso!!!

Where in the world were we?

Even though we'd been back "home" from our last trip for just a few weeks....that "bug", that desire....the wanderlust hit us. We decided to take a trip over the weekend to a place we'd had on our "list" for a while. And enjoyed it more than we'd thought we would.

From the history and sights....

From the rather Bohemian neighborhoods to the grand wide streets....

And the history......

The colors.....

It was all amazing.

As was just taking a step back.....and looking at what was happening around you.

And of course the food.....

From the upscale.....

To the "classic".....

To the everyday.....

There was nothing that we thought of as mediocre....a very amazing thing; at least for us.

To say we ate well is an understatement.

And yet, even beyond the food, the one thing that stays with us is the warmth and kindness of the people.....

I realize that I'm soooooo way behind on our travel posts, while trying to keep up here at home. I do appreciate your visits!

Thanks for stopping by!

Amazing Camarones (shrimp) in Paredoncito (Benito Juarez, Sonora)

After a recuperative breakfast at Taquería Jiménez, we headed out with "D" and did some errands.....like hit the mall and stuff. By the time we returned to the hotel, Samuelo had recovered, and soon enough "D" Dad picked us up and we headed to the family compound in an small fishing village named Paredoncito, located at an estuary on the Gulf of California.

Walk to the back of the compound and this is what you see.....an amazing sight.

Horse drawn carts were ferrying people and shellfish back and forth from the boats. I think they must have a clam factory next door...... Mainly because I was literally standing on a mountain of clam shells!

And this had just been brought over......

Those had actually been prepped for one of the dishes.

The first thing that came out was this.......

This has got to be some of the best shrimp I've ever had! Samuelo was totally in heaven.....Sweet, so tender, so full of flavor.

They also wanted us to try the local chile peppers which were piquins....these tiny peppers are hot, but not unbearable.

The aguachile that came out next was just plain amazing....

They really didn't mess around with this, it was simple, lime juice, salt, onion, and some hot sauce......man this was good. Probably the best I've ever had. I'll never look at aguachile the same again.

After stuffing our selves silly with shrimp, tostadas, etc, etc.....

I headed out back.

There was something mesmerizing about watching the boats come in and go back out....then things slowed down as the sun began to set. It was very beautiful in its own way.

Soon enough, "D"'s Dad said the magic words..."vamos"!

It was time for us to pack up and head back to Ciudad Obregon......

For....would you believe it....dinner????

Ciudad Obregon: Taquería Jiménez

I recently managed to catch up with Akira and his beautiful Missus on one of their trips down to San Diego; which reminded me, I had promised some follow-up posts after our quick trip to Ciudad Obregon, but never followed up....sigh...what a tease!

So here's quick post for a Saturday night.

So what happens after you attend an epic wedding in Ciudad Obregon which ends with shot of tequila watching the bride and Q-nito do Gagnam style in the middle of the street at 4am?

Well. you wake at 8am and have Akira and his now wife take you to get birria! Well at least Q-nito and I.......Samuelo was incommunicado, must have been tough challenging the band's singers to a dance-off, huh?

"D" drove us down a couple of streets to the just the perfect place for me. A streetside stand by the name of Taquería Jiménez. The specialty, birria de chivo. By now, "D" had concluded that we weren't after "gringo food", we wanted the real deal and this place was, without a doubt, just the perfect remedy after an epic evening.

You know, whether it's Sapa, Hanoi, Luang Prabang, Cusco, or heck, even Chula Vista, I've found some of the most soulful, hearty, and honest food at places like this. Taquería Jiménez was no exception.

Rich, belly coating, hearty food, with the right amount of carbs somehow revitalizes you....or at least just makes you right mentally.

I don't think I need to add much more.

Though I'll leave you with this little tidbit. I did a search looking for an address. I finally found it on one of the those "food sites"....well actually let's give it up for foursquare.

For some reason, I was interested in the comments on this place. I went and did a translation of the first one which said, ""Tacos to revive after a long night of partying"......how true!

Taquería Jiménez
California 720 (e/ Jesús García Corona y 6 de Abril)
Ciudad Obregón, Sonora 

They just do it right in Ciudad Obregon

This past weekend, I did a world-wind weekend in Ciudad Obregon. I wouldn't blame you if you've never heard of C. Obregon, I hadn't. But I'll tell you this much, if you asked me to return tomorrow, I'd be on a plane in the blink of an eye. Two of my good buddies...we'll call them Samuelo and Q-nito came with me to attend the wedding of our good friend Akira, who I've mentioned in previous posts.... How a young man from Sendai ended up marrying a wonderful young lady from Ciudad Obregon, well that's a story for another day. In fact, I'll leave it up to you to tell me if you'd be interested in posts about this trip; which included flying out of Tijuana Airport....getting to the airport was an adventure in itself. Oh, and if you've never heard of Aereo Calafia before; neither had I, and we travel all the time!

They really know how to do it up here.... It was quite amazing to go from the formality of the wedding.....

To the reception....which went on until 2 in the morning! The band was amazing......

Then there was Q-nito, who just couldn't stop dancing....though it was Samuelo who challenged the various musicians to a "dance off".....

Which is how we three earned our reputations....Samuelo talks to anybody, Q-nito dances with everybody....and me? Well, I was pretty much sidelined with a little injury.....

So of course....I drank everything!

Then there was the after-party.......the highlite of which was watching the bride and Q-nito do Gangnam style in the middle of the street at 4am.

Two hours of sleep later found us having Birria de Chivo for breakfast at a roadside stand.

Then it was off to buy gifts, followed by a road trip to the sea side village of Paredoncito in the municipality of Benito Juarez, Sonora.

the horse drawn carts ferried people and products back and forth from the boats....it is shrimp season here.....I had some of the best shrimp ever.

After sunset we headed back to Ciudad Obregon....to the bride's house, for what else, well dinner of course! While the local carne asada (it's cattle country) was grilling over the mesquite.....

The bride's father waved us to the front of the house...where we were greeted with a Mariachi Band!

Q-nito and I ended our meals in Ciudad Obregon with adobado from a stand in the back of the hotel for breakfast. I went with the dorados.

And a double helping of what the owner of the place calls "power".....

We loved our time in Ciudad Obregon; the bride, her warm and generous parents, and friends were wonderful hosts. We can't wait to return the favor....or even, return to Ciudad Obregon! The only thing hotter than the triple digit weather was the warmth we felt as guests...three Asians in Obregon!

So there you go.......I'll let you decide if I should write more detailed posts about our trip. I've got a ton of stories....and heck, there's even an appearance by this guy......

And maybe even this.......

Hope you're having a great week!