17 March

Tonight we had a little party to celebrate Javi’s birthday. Same as me, 33. Also with Don Pedro, Tomás, Rosa, Simon and me. It was so fun. Even though I couldn’t filter through the Spanish as it got later and the music was turned up.

It was the second time that I ate mystery meat today. The first time, Simon and I went to one of two restaurants in town. The Doña told me it was chicken, but I think it was not. Simon thought it might have been Caribou. For his bday, Javi was gifted some ready to eat Pandolin. It’s like armadillo but instead of a shell has scales and sometimes can be the size of a large dog. I had a bite to be polite. But I’m glad that my birthday won’t come so close to our arrival.

We were dining on the Spanish timetable so we had snacks at 8 and by the time we sat down at 9:30 I wasn’t so hungry anyway.

I am really pretty open minded about a lot of stuff. Especially about trying new things. But man, when I am in a new place like this, I crave the familiar. I know my tolerance will grow, but athere are only so many new things I can try in one day.