Take that Napoleon!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo everyone!

Wanna know what you're toasting today? A little history: While I was aware that the day in Mexico isn't celebrated as exuberantly as it is in the US, I hadn't realized our country's (eventual) involvement in the historical event being honored. Napoleon III had sent his French troops into Mexico (led by Maximilian) thinking he would expand his empire there, but didn't count on Mexico's skilled horsemen, determined locals, and Indians armed with machetes and stampeding cattle kicking their French ass. The Mexicans beat the French in 1862, inadvertently keeping them out of the US while we battled our Civil War and allowing the Union army to grow nice and strong. Of course, undeterred, the French came back a year later and caused problems for both Mexico and the US for 3 years, but with our own war winding down, we provided weapons and ammo and sent some fighters down (who joined as Mexican soldiers) to help dislodge the French forces once and for all (which was sort of ironic since Mexico had fought off a US invasion just 14 years prior - we do like our wars). All's well that ends well, and how better to celebrate than guacamole and tequila? We may or may not seek out a margarita or two.

I have to admit we haven't done much in the way of the song writer's festival. We have wandered past a few places where some of the singers are performing, but as the official website says, they're strumming "informal adaptations of Nashville's signature." Nashville = country which means we'll be doing something else. Many of the bars here play country music or various versions of Jimmy Buffet twang regularly, which we tend to avoid (sorry!). Next Saturday (May 11), the Sunset Pier is going to have a tribute to Bob Marley concert, which is more up our alley, so we'll go and jam to that.

The weather this weekend has been great. We jumped on our mopeds for every little reason Saturday just to enjoy the breeze blowing through our hair (kind of like I used to get into the dinghy and let loose when I had a need for speed).

It's free local's first Sunday, and the Custom House is open this time. We haven't seen that yet, so will check it out. This is the place with the huge statues out front, and you'll recall that last time we were there with our friends Tina & Ron, Tina had a little accident. Maybe it'll be safer inside.

I'll update the blog if we do anything of note.

For my fellow cat lovers.