Cheers! For 93 years old, The Queen sure knows how to party! In a previous post I mentioned that the diplomatic cocktail parties everyone associates with diplomatic life only happen a couple times a year. Well, we attended one last night. We were invited to the UK Ambassador's residence to celebrate the Queen's 93rd birthday. This event happens at British Embassies world-wide every year.  After a few cocktails someone asked the British diplomats if this was sort of like their national day or independence day. It struck me, the independence days I had become accustomed to all over the Americas probably did not exist in most of Europe. The British diplomat responded with a wink admitting, "Well yeah, most independence days are a country's celebration of their independence from us!" Hahaha. I had never really thought about it from their perspective before. According to Wikipedia, "At present, the Queen's Official Birthday is marked as a de facto national day by British diplomatic missions overseas, but not in the UK itself."

Well anyway it was a bash. I had been expecting an evening garden party with wine, silver platers, clinking glasses, and pleasant hushed conversations. Instead the Ambassador gave a toast and ended her speech with the line from Bohemian Rapsody "Is this the real life..." and within seconds a Queen cover band finished the phrase, took over the stage and rocked (see video). There was Johnnie Walker and Hendrick's Gin alongside mezcal and Don Julio. There were dessert tables, modern art, Triumph motorcycles, photo booths with crazy hats, and someone walking around in a Queen's Guard outfit (fuzzy hat and all). I have to give a shout out to their 2019 plastic reduction campaign and art theme. It was a far cry from what I had expected but I gather the Queen knows how to have a good time, even in her 90's. Plus I got to speak English...God Save the Queen!

In Love & Tacos

I got the most wonderful surprise this weekend. I was walking to grab a bite to eat and I started noticing that things looked a little different. There were flowers literally everywhere! Wrapping the doorways, draping over balconies, arched into tunnels, and even arranged into adorable animals. I had run right into a fabulous springtime event called "Polanco En Flores." I was absolutely floored...there were literally thousands of fresh flowers. It was just beyond gorgeous and smelled so good. Because they are fresh this event only lasts 3 days. So what is a girl to do? Take the diplo-babies on a selfie tour with the stunning arrangements. Please keep in mind as you view these photos that the flowers are all real! There is not much more to say so this post is basically a gallery of springtime glory in Mexico City. If you are planning a visit to Mexico in 2020, I recommend to come for this event. 

Yes, I said it. The Popo is erupting! No no no (clutching my pearls) I am not speaking of Moctezuma's revenge or the intestinal distress often caused by travel in Mexico. A classy lady never speaks of such things. I mean the volcano! "El Popo" is the nickname for the Popocatépetl volcano which resides about 50 miles southeast of Mexico City. Popocatepetl means smoking mountain in the native aztec language. I'd say that is a pretty fitting name for him. I took this picture from the the car one day when we went to a Christmas tree farm at the foot of the volcano. Below that is a professional shot by Roy Salazer.

The last time this guy had catastrophic eruption was about 1,000 years ago and he was considered dormant for about 50 years until 1994 when he spewed back to life. The Popo is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Well recently he has not been on very good behavior and they have just raised the alert level from Phase 2 to Phase 3 (yellow alert). Great. I move here for like 3 years and suddenly, after 1,000 years, the volcano wants to live it up a little! The government has been circulating flyers about what to do should he blow. These are things I have NEVER thought about. I knew I was moving to earthquake country but being born and raised in San Francisco this did not bother me so much. Still, volcanos are like another level. This is a stratovolcano the likes of Krakatoa, known for its catastrophic eruption in 1883 and Vesuvius, whose eruption caused the destruction of Pompeii. I am willing him back to sleep.

In case you are wondering why I refer to him as a he, it has to do with aztec legend. Apparently he was an aztec warrior who died of sadness after returning from battle and finding his love had died of a broken heart when she received the false news he had been killed. She is the neighboring volcano Iztaccihuatl. The gods were touched by their story and transformed the humans into mountains so they could be together forever. Here is Artist Jesus Helguera's rendering of the volcanos and the legend's characters.

Below you will find more shots taken in the last month by Roy Salazer of "El Popo" in action. YIKES!

In Love & Tacos