It was a beautiful 10-year run. And after many ups and downs the past several weeks as we’ve continued to wrap our lives here, we don’t leave sad but grateful for all we’ve been able to do and see, for all the friends we’ve made and those we’ve crossed paths with. When we return to Mexico, it will be because it’s the next step forward rather than a step back.
Catching the ETN bound for Mexico City Airport with all our worldly possessions. Next stop: Prague.
Aldama 57
Today was un dia tranquillo, a tranquil day, a kind of quiet and restful Saturday. Just to get out of the house for a bit, we went for a walk and ended up having a jugo verde and café at Aldama 57. I’m unclear how it relates to the adjacent hotels. Regardless, nice atmosphere, good coffee, and friendly service.
While there , we met another couple with three sweet, friendly dogs. I wish I had been able to get their photos. As sweet, friendly dogs are prone to do…errr, as we are prone to do with sweet, friendly dogs, we couldn’t resist saying hello. In the small world department, the couple turned out to be from, of all places, Slovakia and Germany! So of course we ended up talking all about where they were from, how Ethan is in university in Prague, and how we are visiting him next month. It’s so interesting to meet someone coming from there to here as we go from here to there.
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With the return of the rain over the last week (thank you, Tlaloc), I’ve noticed lots of the chicatanas laying about. I forgot to get pictures, but they are easily googleable (I just had to use that!). They are the male and female leaf-cutter ants (Atta mexicana) that come out every year. As the rains return, they set forth in the millions to establish new colonies (el vuelo nuptial, in Spanish; la revoada in Portuguese).
They go by many names in Mexico. Here are but a few…well, many that I have been able to find: arriera, hormiga campestre, hormiga de San Juan, cuatalata, chancharra, chícatera, tzicatera, shícatera, jibijoa, mochomo, monchona, parasol, quiss, nacasma, nokú, nucú, tepeoani, zompopo, tzim-tzim, tzín-tzín, tzitzin.
The most common and the only I’ve actually heard in use is chicatana. The word derives from tzicatl in Nahuatl, which means “butt”, and azkatl, which means ant. Hence, “ant butt”. Oh, Mexico…
Back in about 2016, during the first rains, we woke up to a courtyard flooded with about 6 inches (15cm) of water. On the cusp of coming in the apartment. When I raced out the storm drain, I discovered several thousand of the chicatanas had drowned and collected in the storm drain, which required shoveling them out so the water would drain.
We have yet to try them, but we are told they are delicious. Here a video of them being used for culinary ends:
Meandering Family: Beyond the Nest 