Rain. Not a pounding fury, just steady rain. That's what I woke up to this morning. From my window, I notice that the windows of the acupuncturista's office next door have been taped, and the office itself is dark.

Speaking of pounding fury...the apartment below mine is being remodeled by two guys who are making hay, so to speak, while the sun doesn't shine. I guess since they can't work outside, they've come inside to work. The hammering and pounding keep an even cadence for a few bars and then stop. Then resume.

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To ward off cabin fever, I went for a walk to a small restaurant, El Principal, about three blocks away on Altamirano Street, for la comida at around 3:00. I kept dry, except for my sandaled feet, thanks to my new umbrella. It was a miracle though because taxis whizzed by me on the narrow streets. I thought for sure I'd get drenched, but somehow I escaped.

The picture shown here--taken as I left my apartment--captures the gray sky and falling rain as seen from the second floor hallway of the apartment building. If you look between the two plants and past the wrought-iron railing, you may be able to make out the gate to the apartment building and the street beyond.

When I got to the restaurant, about four of the 10 or so tables were taken with diners eating and watching the TV perched high on one wall that was tuned to a news program describing hurricane damage in other parts of the state.

Today's menu featured a choice of soup (crema de zanahorria [carrot] soup or a sopa de pasta), arroz rojo or sphagetti, eight or nine different entrees, and pureed guayaba for dessert.

I ordered the carrot soup, arroz rojo, and queso asado. I thought I'd ordered something like a quesadilla--cheese melted between two corn tortillas--that I'm familiar with from New Mexico. But what arrived on the plate could best be described as a cheese fillet or cheese "steak." It consisted of a large, thick circle of mild white cheese that had been grilled on both sides, along with onions, and then the onions were served on top of the cheese, with refried black beans on the side. I was surprised and a little amused by this presentation--I never would have thought of frying cheese like a hamburger patty--and I expected the cheese to be bland, but the onions seasoned it nicely. All in all, it was quite tasty, along with everything that came with it.