We are really lucky that Ensenada is crazy for festivals, especially food related ones. So far this summer we’ve had a festivals for Blues music, cheese and wine, Chinese food, mushrooms, books and lectures, Mexican culture, and a couple more that escape my memory at the moment. This weekend they had a Taco and Beer festival in the plaza right next to Cruiseport Village marina. Naturally, that’s where our afternoon taco-walk led us.
They had a live band playing at the Festival del Tacos y Cerveza.
Dancers performing the traditional Mexican Hat Dance, or El Jarabe Tapatio
They were really fun to watch.
There are 6,000 of these public reading and lecture rooms throughout Mexico.
These guys don’t know they’re paddling about in shitwater. No kidding. The sewer has an outflow right here and every time you cross the bridge, you can smell the sewage.
Paddle boats in Ensenada.
Orange slice jewelry. For reals.
And the big draw was…surprisingly, not the beer. Tacos took center stage.
Woman fixing her taco with a huge spit of pastor turning in the background.
Sharpening the knives at the La Esquina del Taco booth.
This guy makes amazing tacos, and at their actual restaurant, is always rocking out to his iPod.
Working their magic at the La Esquina del Tacos booth.
Everybody enjoying their tacos.
El Chente taco booth--these guys are actually right down the street from us. They rock.
Nala is so happy to be in the shade.
We are constantly reading, writing, and speaking Spanish, so we can become more fluent, and also as part of Eli’s schooling. There’s a lot of trying to figure out what something means in context. While we were resting in the shade, I asked Eli to try and figure out what this sign meant. He said, “Attention. Something about no water. And…don’t eat people???”
This water is not fit for human consumption.
Raspados operate on the same principle as a Sno-Cone, only infinitely better. First you wait in line for a long, long time.
Raspados are really popular when it's hot out.
Next, you choose from eleventy-hundred options, only 6 of which are actually available. After you choose, the pretty girl then fends off angry swarms of wasps as she scoops the ingredients into a large green cup. Which she first filled with shaved ice.
Raspado options at Joshua's Raspados.
Then she takes a big metal spoon and just mashes everything together, adds some whipping cream, and then mashes on it some more. At this point, you don’t feel very optimistic about the outcome.
Getting a delicious drink from the Joshua's Raspados booth.
Then she hands you heaven in a Styrofoam cup. Who knew?
Raspado de chocolate--Eli's favorite drink ever, maybe.
Our dog Nala, photobombing my anchor shot.
Eli making friends with a little white dog.
This little white dog wandered up to Eli and promptly fell in love.
You can rent these at parks and on the beaches. This kid was so incredibly stoked.
Very proud little boy, driving an electric ATV down the Embarcadero.
Folklorico dancers getting ready to dance at the Festival.
The guy who drives this train always has the most terminally bored look on his face. Probably not a teenage boy’s dream job.
Little train that drives around the Embarcadero.
The public bathrooms are pay bathrooms. They have a couple of attendants who take your pesos and then dispense the toilet paper.
Public restrooms in the plaza on the embarcadero.
Eli took this shot of the giant Mexican flag billowing over the plaza in Ensenada.
All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon.
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Mmm makes me want tacos a little bit. And that orange slice jewelry would make me nervous that some animal would eat it right off of me!