Great or greatest day ever wasn't even a day but a fantastical, enchanted night filled with all of life's greatest gifts. I know what you're thinking. Greatest gifts? Life, Love, Peace, Happiness, Prosperity....No, it was Nachos, Tequila, and Mariachis. Those last three three words should be enough of a mental picture for you to imagine one great, or greatest, night ever. But if not, let me explain.
Any trip to San Antonio should always include a trip to Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery. After our friend's wedding, we stayed an additional day in San Antonio. After a wonderful performance of old school country music at the historical Aztec Theater, we walked the half mile to our favorite San Antonio restaurant. Thinking that if we arrived later, the crowd and wait would not be so great. WRONG! After arriving at 9:00 pm we were told the wait would be at least an 1 1/2 hours. WHAT? EXCUSE ME? I just walked 1/2 mile in high heels to be told an 1 1/2 hour wait?! Okay, put our name on the list.
This is the ONLY place I would wait for any length of time. Standing room only, the place was a mini-city alive with sounds, laughter, music, and aromas of Mexican food. We finally found a small table in the Mariachi bar and ordered drinks. This is when the magic unfolded...we decided to give up on a table in the restaurant & my beloved strolling mariachi duo, just order nachos off the bar menu, and watch the Slam Dunk Contest on the TV. Then, it was as if a Christmas miracle unfolded right before our eyes (Mi Tierra keeps its Christmas decorations up all year & I was sitting right by the Mariachi Christmas tree).
A huge table of patrons near us had hired a full Mariachi band. I'm talking 4 violins, 2 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, and 1 vihuela. Then they began playing....and playing, and playing, and playing for an entire 1 1/2 hours without any breaks. For a few songs, a woman ranchera singer accompanied them, singing love ballads. There were solos from various musicians and whole groups signing that kept getting more glorious with each song. Several songs were obvious crowd favorites, with all of the patrons singing along and swaying their bodies to the rhythm of the music. Soon the entire room of 50+ people came alive. There was singing, boot-stomp dancing, and sounds of grito Mexicano that filled the air. In life there a few fleeting moments that seem to almost hover above reality, you know....where you float in a surreal dream... this was one... nachos, tequila cocktails, and mariachis. It was straight out of a Freda Kahlo painting. Well, maybe one of the paintings with colorful parrots and not one of her freaky ones.
I know, I know....shhh, I know...your welcome.
Glossary of Terms
Grito Mexicano-Mexican scream or yell, similar to a cowboy's yeehaw http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grito_mexicano
Guitarrón-a large acoustic bass
Vihuela-a high-pitched, five-sting guitar
Ranchera-is a genre of traditional music of Mexico; traditional rancheras are about love, patriotism or nature
Check it out! http://www.mitierracafe.com/
Any trip to San Antonio should always include a trip to Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery. After our friend's wedding, we stayed an additional day in San Antonio. After a wonderful performance of old school country music at the historical Aztec Theater, we walked the half mile to our favorite San Antonio restaurant. Thinking that if we arrived later, the crowd and wait would not be so great. WRONG! After arriving at 9:00 pm we were told the wait would be at least an 1 1/2 hours. WHAT? EXCUSE ME? I just walked 1/2 mile in high heels to be told an 1 1/2 hour wait?! Okay, put our name on the list.
This is the ONLY place I would wait for any length of time. Standing room only, the place was a mini-city alive with sounds, laughter, music, and aromas of Mexican food. We finally found a small table in the Mariachi bar and ordered drinks. This is when the magic unfolded...we decided to give up on a table in the restaurant & my beloved strolling mariachi duo, just order nachos off the bar menu, and watch the Slam Dunk Contest on the TV. Then, it was as if a Christmas miracle unfolded right before our eyes (Mi Tierra keeps its Christmas decorations up all year & I was sitting right by the Mariachi Christmas tree).
A huge table of patrons near us had hired a full Mariachi band. I'm talking 4 violins, 2 trumpets, 1 guitarrón, and 1 vihuela. Then they began playing....and playing, and playing, and playing for an entire 1 1/2 hours without any breaks. For a few songs, a woman ranchera singer accompanied them, singing love ballads. There were solos from various musicians and whole groups signing that kept getting more glorious with each song. Several songs were obvious crowd favorites, with all of the patrons singing along and swaying their bodies to the rhythm of the music. Soon the entire room of 50+ people came alive. There was singing, boot-stomp dancing, and sounds of grito Mexicano that filled the air. In life there a few fleeting moments that seem to almost hover above reality, you know....where you float in a surreal dream... this was one... nachos, tequila cocktails, and mariachis. It was straight out of a Freda Kahlo painting. Well, maybe one of the paintings with colorful parrots and not one of her freaky ones.
I know, I know....shhh, I know...your welcome.
Glossary of Terms
Grito Mexicano-Mexican scream or yell, similar to a cowboy's yeehaw http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grito_mexicano
Guitarrón-a large acoustic bass
Vihuela-a high-pitched, five-sting guitar
Ranchera-is a genre of traditional music of Mexico; traditional rancheras are about love, patriotism or nature
Check it out! http://www.mitierracafe.com/
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