Sunday Nov 12 in Lake Chapala

Today we didn’t have any plans so we just kinda winged it.  We had breakfast at Maquina 245.  It’s a model railroad themed restaurant.  They have a working elevated model train running through the place just like Downtown Repalone’s place.  I got the chilaquiles in red sauce with two eggs, delicious.

I suggested we go to the Lake Chapala Society.  We got on a bus and had a fun ride navigating through tight turns and very bumpy roads.  We arrived in Ajijic and walked a couple of blocks to the LPS but unfortunately it was closed on Sunday.  We walked around the back of the LPS  towards the lake and noticed there was a talk going on and Lois wanted to go in so we went in.  The guy was talking about religious conservatism versus secular humanism.  Brian and Ed didn’t like it at all.

Ed called for his car and we went back to Ed’s and sat outside

under a tree with Ed's dog Buddy. What a sweet dog!  

After that Ed wanted to take us to a place east of the 7-11 for lunch, but we couldn’t find it.  We had to wait again for Ed’s driver but he finally came and took us to Mama’s.  This is Mama the owner and her grandson.  Mama's great.  She's very friendly, and is a successful business owner.  She is renting out an apartment to Ed.

Peter and Heather are regulars there at Mama's.  It was Peter’s birthday.  Mama brought a cheesecake!  There was enough for everyone at the bar.  

From there we went to Adelita Bar and Grill.  It’s a nice upscale place with a beautiful bar and outside patio, where we sat. I had the pork tenderloin.  Lois had the eggplant parmigiana and the other guys had ribs.  Every body liked their food!

Chapala Saturday November 11

Saturday November 11 2017

Very busy day!  First stop was the Deli 8 restaurant to meet Ed for breakfast.  We met his dog Buddy. His friend Marlene was also there.  I had the chilaquiles.

From there we walked to Ed’s place in San Antonio. 

Then we tool the bus to Lake Chapala Malecon.  Lots of vendors today.  Walked over to La Casita Del Molcajete.  With your meal you can have unlimited wine or margaritas.  I tried their enormous michelada.  It was delicious!

Later Lois was shopping for a hat and a bag.  I saw the Vampiro and had to try it.  Was also delicious, lighter than the michelada and more refreshing.  It has tequila, sangria, lime and orange juice, spices, and with cucumbers!

The mama and papa were also there selling me on the delicious Vampire. They were really fun people and they got my sense of humor.   I want to come back another day.

From here we went to the American Legion.  They were having a big party and all the tickets were already sold.  We found a table in the bar and hung out for a while.  We met the Collonel.  The tickets to Thanksgiving were also sold out, but they said they’re getting more tomorrow.  

Jose picked us up and took us to Mama’s number 2.  For some reason I couldn’t call Jose’s number.  But Ed was able to.  I assume I entered something wrong.  

At Mama’s Brian played pool and the rest of us hung out at the bar.  

There was an African Grey parrot named Pancho Villa!  I met Canadians Peter and Heather.  Ed doesn’t really get along with Heather because her views are very leftist.  Heather and I got along great!  She tole me that when she lived in New Zealand and made plans to move to Canada, her friends said “Canada?  It’s too dangerous there!”  And then from Canada to the USA her friends said “America is too dangerous!  Don’t go there!”  

After that we made a quick swing through the supermarket “Super Lake” and went home.

Trip to Lake Chapala Mexico

Friday November 10 2017

I met up with Lois in Houston and had some wine and a quesadilla.  We boarded the plane and we’re ready to fly!  

On the plane a very nice guy sat in our row - his name is Eduardo. He is originally from Mazamitla but is now a US citizen. He was a little scared of flying but he had to go home to Mexico for a family emergency. He was very talkative told me a few things, like try the Vampiro drink, try the ceviche in Chapala, eat Barbacoa, and try birra - it’s beef in red sauce.  Also:  From Guadalajara, take the tequila train trip.  Also check out Tonala arts and crafts in Guadalajara.

Arrived in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala!  Brian was waiting for us at the airport with our driver Jose.  We checked in to our hotel which is VERY rustic!

Tuesday May 12

Went to see the Casa Mila.  Grand residential building also designed by Gaudi.

After that Lois and I went shopping at El Corte Ingles again, the smaller store down the block.  Then back to the room for some needed rest.



For dinner we walked over to Llamber, the seafood place recommended by Henry Che.  It was delicious!

Monday May 11

Today we met Achi and Baerbel and went to the Sagrada Familia.  No words.

After that we had coffee and cake again.  Then we said goodbye.

That evening Lois and I had dinner at a place where they said they would save us a table outside.

I had the Ossobucco which was delicious!

Later that evening I bought a hat!

Friday May 8 2015

First full day in Barcelona.  Went to the Olympic village with Achi and Baerbel.  We entered on the city side where there was an auto show going on.  We walked up the hill to the Olympic stadium.  Achi and Baerbel decided to go up on the cable cars and we split from them to go to the beach.

Grabbed a taxi to Port Vell.  Took a quick walk over the Rambla De Mar to the mall on the water.  Walking back over the bridge, there was an alarm!  They had to open the bridge to let some sail boats through:



Then we saw an open cruise boat "La Golandrina" so we hopped on for a 1.5 hour tour of the oceanfront:

I got sunburned.

After that I wanted to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant.  We tole the taxi driver to take us to La Barcelona beach and are there some good restaurants there.  She dropped us off and recommended a nice place.  It was a big italiam restaurant with two floors and a large outside patio. But it was full.

We ended up at another outside place.  The waiter was very fine:

After that we were exhausted and took a taxi back to the Metro, then back to the hotel.

Flight to Spain

May 5 2015:  Flew to Spain!  On United Airlines. Newark to Madrid.  Took off around 8 PM.  It's one of those flights where you take off as the light is fading, and after eight hours, the sun re-appears on the other side!  They served a hot meal - I got the chicken.  My sister Lois got the lasagne.  Hers was better.  I sat next to a nice Spanish lady who was in the US to visit her daughter.  We shared a paper - "El Paix"  which means "The Country".

After landing in Madrid, we had to walk for what seemed like MILES to the baggage claim.  We had nothing to declare so we were off!  Hopped in a taxi which charged 30 Euros, not bad.  After a massive traffic jam and a side-street detour, he dropped us off across the street from our hotel which was weird - maybe u-turns are illegal?

Hotel Arosa is great.  It has a large lounge area for ordering drinks, nice breakfast room, delicious breakfast!  Hams, cheeses, bacon, eggs. 5 juices, cappuccino machine, etc.  And we had a large room with views of Madrid:

It has the tiniest elevators:

I waited in line at the Apple Store to get them to unlock my iPhone.

The Apple Store couldn't unlock my iPhone.  Damn them!  Apparently only AT&T can unlock it.  I went to the Orange store and bought a cheap smartphone and a SIM card with 20 Euros of credit.  I now have a Spanish phone number!

Walked over to Plaza Mayor to get oriented.  Many tapas bars are in the surrounding streets.  We went to a bull bar - La Torre Del Oro.  We ordered drinks and then food started appearing.  Starting with miso soup, then a little cup of palella with rice, fish, little bits of potato - delicious!

Later, we took a nap - I know, you're not supposed to do that - it just extends your jet lag.  But we did it.  Only one hour.  We had a nice dinner nearby.

May 6 2015: Took the hop on hop off tour bus.  They gave us free olive oils.  Weird.  We saw much of the city including many beautiful buildings:

We got off for the Prada museum.  After 6:00 it's free.  Saw works of Goya, Picasso, and others.

Later, we had the best dinner at La Carmela, again walking distance from our hotel.  I got the meat sampler.  Yum!  Lois had meat balls and fried eggplant strips.

Thursday May 7, 2015:  Taxi to airport.  Very nice taxi driver.  He gave us his card!  He recommended the public park with the lake in the middle for when we return to Madrid in a couple of weeks.  But now it's time to fly to Barcelona!  The flight on Iberia Air was a very short flight; 1:15.  No food or drink because we sat in last row and we landed before they could finish beverage service!  :(

Took a taxi again to our hotel.  We could never have found it using public transportation because he had to go down many small, twisty roads to get there!

Hotel Raco Del Pi is smaller, small room, but it's comfortable.  There is a tiny bar with free coffee and sparkling water that we are taking good advantage of.

Traveling to Spain

Getting ready to travel to Spain! What should I bring?

New Season of Torchwood is Coming!

Woah! Fascinating Re-built 2000 Year Old Computer

A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.
A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.

Link to article:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/2000-year-old-a.html?npu=1&mbid=yhp

Waiting for Doctor Who...

It's that time of the year! Yep! Waiting for the Doctor Who Christmas Special!

This year it's called "The Next Doctor". It seems like a tease. David Tennant has announced he is leaving the series after three seasons of playing The Doctor. It makes it look like David Morrissey (pictured, center) will be the next doctor.

But there are three more specials scheduled with David Tennant! So who knows?

Chickens

Bob Gentry at The Viper Room

A night out to see Bob Gentry and his Band at the Viper Room in West Hollywood. They were great! I had never heard him before in a show and it was awesome - he's equally comfortable on keyboards or guitar and the band was great!

Click here for a link to Bob Gentry's web site.

Click here for a link to Bob Gentry's Myspace.

Click here for a Youtube Video of Bob Gentry.

Click the picture below to see my slide show of the evening's festivities:

Desperate Housewives Party

It's another Desperate Housewives Party! Or just another excuse to get together with your friends!

Click here for pictures:

http://dwightwilson.smugmug.com/gallery/6632794_nMGGr/1/422962706_LuqWV

The Results

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

DSCF3184
Originally uploaded by dwightwil

We went to the premiere of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, helping it lead the box office with a 29 million dollar opening weekend. It was a cute, sweet, funny movie and I'm not saying that because I have 2 chihuahuas at home!

Funny picture

I love to collect funny pictures and animated gif files. My favorite subjects are monkeys and cats.

Fires Near Van Nuys

Okay, maybe I should not have painted such an idyllic picture of Los Angeles! (See my first post.) The recent fires in Chatsworth, Calabasas, etc, show that L.A. is not perfect. We are prone to fires and earthquakes. And riots. And bad TV movies.

My home is in West Van Nuys, in the flat part; not especially known for wildfires. But Chatsworth is only 10 miles away. It's not every day you watch the news and "CHATSWORTH" is plastered all over the screen!


















As I was driving home from work yesterday (Wednesday) on the 405, the smoke was drifting to the south, toward Malibu and out over the ocean. It didn't seem to affect me much, except that my favorite Mexican restaurant, Los Toros, happens to be in Chatsworth! I couldn't bear to lose another Mexican restaurant! (RIP Rusty's Hacienda in Glendale - you were bulldozed for a Burger King! You will never be forgotten!) But I digress...

Actually, I LOVE living near the Van Nuys airport. We get to see many amazing aircraft flying in and out, especially during air shows. Lately we are seeing massive helicopters. Rather than being an irritation, the sound of helicopters flying over my house makes me sleep better at night.





















But the situation is very serious. As I was driving home tonight (Thursday), the wind had shifted to the east. The smoke (now a hauntingly beautiful gray/pink) was now flowing directly over West Van Nuys. As I drove further north home, the sky went from paradise-blue to death-gray. The smoke-filled air made me cough. I began to see snow flakes. My experience told me these are not snow flakes, but rather burnt-ash falling from the sky. The smoke-filled air was quite thick. Back in the house, it's not so bad. (Glad I spent the big bucks on a new A/C system!) But just open the front door and damn! Close the door! Now!!! Time for a Margarita with Pinky.

I am very proud of our local firefighters. They have saved hundreds and hundreds of homes.

In Chatsworth:















And on Mill Creek:
















These guys are our modern-day heroes.

Thank you AP, Reuters, Yahoo! News, and MSNBC.

First post

This is my blog: One gay man's life and adventures in Southern California. This is the place I want to be. I was born and raised in New York City (Queens). I came to L.A. back in 1982 and never looked back! Who could resist:

• the Best Mexican restaurants in the world (outside Mexico, duh!)
• No tolls, bridges, tunnels, pot-holes, salt on the roadway to rust your car
• Plenty of Chips and Margaritas
• Affordable real estate (in 1984 when I bought my first house)
• The Pacific Ocean - Laguna - Santa Monica - San Diego

I was hooked! Well, add to that boystown (West Hollywood), Studio One, Oil Can Harry's, and temperatures that never go below 50 degrees F. and I was hooked and powerless to go back home.

This blog is for me to share my love of L.A. with the rest of the world. It's a place for my friends to see what I've been thinking about. I'm not into ranting. I believe in PLUR - Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. I want to share my enthusiasm and ideas, and maybe get some ideas from you. I'll be sharing pictures, music, recipes, secret hiking trails, new restaurants, the best dance clubs (at the moment), as well as links to cool web sites. Don't be a stranger - say hello!

Question of the day: Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?

-Dwight