I Want My Mexico

Now, let me state for the record that I am indeed complaining. Yes, I am very lucky to be living in England and I am having a bang-up time at Oxford. But, there is just one problem. It's not Mexico.

My major gripe is the lack of good Mexican food. Scratch that, the complete and utter lack of anything resembling a Mexican restaurant or even Mexican food stuffs in the local grocery. At first I saw it as a challenge, see how long you can go without refried beans, Elin!

But, it's January. And for the last two years, January has meant only one thing...Playa del Carmen. Playa is a beautiful former fishing village on the Yucatan Penisula. It is just the most wonderful place to spend two lazy weeks, drinking fresh juice and laying under beach umbrellas made of wood and branches.

Here are some photos from last year's trip:




Blake and Kirsten after our adventure day (and just after Blake assaulted me with a kayak...)



Priceless.

So, what do I do this January? I come back to Oxford and my new and lovely home and community at Magdalen College and do it up right at the Mexicana Bop this past Saturday night.



That's me and Marieke.

I danced it up, ate way too many nacho-flavored doritos with sub-par salsa, and drank a pre-mixed margarita and a warm bottle of Sol beer...and it was great fun!

Hot Cross Buns

This is why I love England. It's tea time and I've settled into my dilapidated loveseat with a cup of Tetley tea and a toasted hot cross bun. It's only my second ever hot cross bun and this is because they only seem to appear in the shops after Christmas, where they are a mainstay until the Easter holidays.

Who else thought they were "Hot Crossed Buns"?

They are akin to cinnamon raisin bagels, without the bagel and with more fruit. Toasted with an excess of butter seems to be the nationally recognized method of consumption and far be it from me to rebel.