Retirement Before the Age of 59: AN IDEAL MONDAY EVENING IN MEXICO: Football, Salsa Dancing, & a Cuban Band

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

AN IDEAL MONDAY EVENING IN MEXICO: Football, Salsa Dancing, & a Cuban Band

Cuban Band Night at Don Pedro's

Cuban Band and Salsa Dancing Every Monday

Retirement in México is bliss. There is always something fun to do, someplace enjoyable to go. December evenings in Sayulita are warm enough that we carry a jacket, just in case, but rarely need to wear it. Monday evenings at Don Pedro’s restaurant combine a perfect balance of enjoyable activities for Jon and me. It goes without saying that our meals and drinks are always awesome. But on top of that, they have Monday Night Football on the big screen TVs that Jon enjoys and Salsa dancing to Cuban music that makes me happy. Bliss.

Jon Likes his Front Row Seat to Watch Football

We arrive at Don Pedro’s about 7:30 to get a prime seat at the bar. The waiters are very friendly and the service is prompt. They mix a first-class Margarita for Jon and he settles in to watch his favorite sport. He doesn’t even care who’s playing—he always roots for the underdogs anyway. But, wherever we go for dinner on Monday night, it must include Futbol Americano on the screen.

When the Band Starts at 8:30, the Dancing Starts, Too

The Cuban band starts playing about 8:30 and the dancers quickly fill the dance floor. Don Pedro's has a cover charge, but when we come early for dinner and football, we avoid paying the cover. A few warm-up songs into the playlist and the announcement is called for everyone to join the Salsa lesson. That's when I move onto the dance floor along with many others, men and women alike. The dance teachers, a couple of young men, dance in the front with their backs to the crowd, demonstrating basic Salsa steps while all the dancers, inexperienced and professional alike, follow their moves. Soon the dance teachers progress into some pretty fancy Salsa variations. Most of us in the crowd continue to attempt to reproduce their every move, though some drop out and just watch in amazement. Salsa dancing is not only fun, it's amazing exercise.

I Look Forward to the Salsa Dance Lessons--Great Fun!

Jon would rather watch football than Salsa dance, so he has reconciled himself to watching from his seat, alternating between the screen and keeping an eye on the dance floor, while I dance with a few experienced Mexican men. Sometimes I will join a couple of women on the dance floor and we do some free-form Salsa dancing in a group. It’s all fun. My legs sure feel it the next day, especially since I also taught Zumba class that morning. No wonder my Fitbit reads over 14,000 steps for Monday!

December at Don Pedro's

Mid-December, Don Pedro’s is already gearing up for Christmas dinner. We know they prepare wonderful holiday meals and reservations are a must. So, Jon made our reservation for dinner on Christmas day. They also serve holiday meals on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Don Pedro’s is always our first choice for special occasions.