I may not be cool enough for this town

This morning I moved from my apartment to the Hotel Condesa DF, an Australian-owned, impeccably deigned property in an old belle époque building across from the Parque Espana in my favorite neighborhood, La Condesa. Thanks to ten nights of business and personal travel, my night here at the ultra chic Condesa DF is 100% free. I am currently sitting at the hotel bar situated at the edge of the hotel's open atrium. I am currently surrounded by some of the best looking and best dressed, in a casual way, people to whom I have ever had proximity. Since 1:00pm the hotel's open air bar, on the 4th floor terrace with a view to the tree-lined hipness of La Condesa, has been hopping with youNg, gorgeous locals. The pounding music interrupted my siesta plans, but encouraged me to venture to the downstairs bar where everyone took refuge after a sudden rain shower. I feel exceedingly old and gringo, but thanks to a beer, spiced peanuts, and a shot of tequila anejo, I am very content.

Content. Contento. Enchanted. Encanto. These are the words that have entered my vocabulary the past week.

Last night, I had an echanating experience at a restaurant called Lampuga (Mahi Mahi). In contrast to today's overwhelm of hipness, last night was like being transported back to some bygone age. My friend David surprised and delighted me by coming down From Los Angeles for a quick break this week. On the recommendation of the web site Chilango.com we wandered our way to Lampuga. We ate very well. Grilled octopus for a starter. A fine bottle of Syrah from Argentina. Filet mignon with Roquefort sauce for me, a beautiful piece oF grilled fish for David. For desert, coconut flan and apple tart, topped off with aged rum and port. The food was exquisite. The service was warm, inviting and attentive. All of this would have made a great evening, but the kicker was that for the nearly three hours that we sat at our table, we were entertained by a quartet of musicians: a singer who reminded me of a Latina Adele, a talented (and cute) bass player, a guitarist, and a virtuoso on the contralto sax and flute. They performed a mix of bossa nova, classic salsa, Cubans, and jazz. And they NEVER stopped.
I have paid to hear music with my dinner in the United States, but never have I had such a beautifully relaxed musical dining experience. It might have been an experience that was easily accessible in some bygone day, but these days I think I need to cross a border to have this anachronistic adventure. Last night, I might have been a fuddy duddy, but I felt cool.