Weekend Update

I have come to learn that weekends are a time to get off your butt and do some serious exploration, no matter how much you may want to rest. Why not try to experience as much as you can with the time and weather you've been given for one day?

Must admit, Friday I was so exhausted I got home and was out cold before 10PM. So needless to say, some essential rest happened. Saturday I got to do all of my favorite things though! So it paid off.

There are many farmer's markets in the Arizona area, however the one in Tempe is really just an overpriced little concrete grocery store so be sure to avoid it. My co-worker, her husband, and I all discovered that the hard way, but thanks to smart phones and 3G networks we were able to find a real farmer's market with people that sold their own produce and baked goods and grass-fed beef. Thank you Scottsdale.

One aisle of Scottsdale's Saturday Farmer's Market

Farmer's markets are dangerous places to go if you are a) hungry, b) ADD/ ridiculously curious, c) conducting research on your new location of residence, and ultimately d) if you love food. There are just way too many samples, and good stuff. I don't think I've ever tried something bad at a farmer's market anywhere around the world, and I hope I never do. We had fun sampling different items (with me avoiding the carbs as best I could) and left with a few deals on some delicious produce.

Then I got to train in the afternoon and go out that night. It was an average night out in Scottsdale but still had a good day. Eat, train, dance, it's difficult to have a day as good as that.

Sunday Funday I headed out to the Cubs spring training game against the A's. Pretty sure I baked my skin to a nice canela color, no burns thankfully. Cubbies lost, but it was nice to just relax and spend some alone time with baseball and a few hundred fans for a good price and a free 5th inning 'seat upgrade' haha. Then I headed off to a Venezuelan restaurant in the area. Say whaaaaaat?? It's true. The sole Venezuelan restaurant that exists in this state is in my count, known nationally for being highly racist. I don't know how I could've been more blessed by that discovery. I ordered a pabellón patacón and a glass of fresh guanábana juice from my non-latino waiter and then sat anxiously waiting for my homesickness-cure to come out from the kitchen. It was pretty yummy, They had some weird pink-sauce on the carne mechada which I'm pretty sure was nata mixed with ketchup, but other than that I was a happy girl. My uncles, Nana, tia and mom are much better chefs though; we are really spoiled in my family. As I was getting ready to leave I saw a kid from Venezuela that is playing for the Orioles come in and order and as much as I wanted to chat him up about the food there and how baseball was going, my Spanish sucks right now, so I chickened out. If anyone wants to practice Spanish, call me up. Then I went out to Geisha A-Go-Go for some Sushi with friends for dinner after I had trekked back home.

Original seat

Seat after 5th inning "free upgrade." 

Pabellon patacon w/ fresh guanabana @ My Arepa

I think I walked close to 5 miles that day between bus stops and locations but it made up for no workout on Friday and was worth it. Turning weekends into solo adventures has been good and I'm excited to see what I'll find next weekend. Hopefully, if you ever find yourself in the greater Phoenix area, these blogs will help you to easily navigate the food scene, should I be absent for some reason.

Much peace and love. I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend, heard it was beautiful in Cali. Stay blessed.