The place where I cut both my feet and still have to be grateful for

Under this romantic chute Toño learned to swim (Toño is the one embarking on a dive):




Sadly, littering is an issue all over the globe and so it happened that I cut both my feet with broken beer bottles in this water right below the same chute today.

However, if Toño had not been pushed into the water here by an uncle, who happens to be the closest in that picture, and thus learned to swim we might never had met at the the pool in Zürich.

Location:La Huacana, Mexico

Cristal

A few weeks ago, we could celebrate Toño's birthday. And since Toño has a penchant for both wine and presents, I bought him a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal 2002.



Cristal has become infamous for being the American rappers favourite bubbles, but little is known by most of its consumers about the rather modern way it was created:

Cristal was first created in 1876 for Alexander II of Russia, and is viewed by many as the first prestige cuvée. As the political situation in Russia at the time of his rule was unstable, the tsar feared assassination. He ordered that bottles containing the drink be made clear to prohibit hiding a bomb within them, as could happen with a typical dark green bottle. Louis Roederer commissioned a Flemish glassmaker to create a Champagne bottle with a flat bottom. Typically, bottles made from common glass have a bell-shaped bottom (the punt) to make them strong enough to cope with Champagne's pressure. A flat-bottomed bottle needed to be made from stronger, clear lead crystal. The Champagne has since become known as "Cristal".

The orange cellophane wrapper is there to protect the exclusive champagne from the bad effects of UV rays. By the way, lead containing crystal class should not be put into the glass recycling bin.

Among many other things, Toño was also given a magnum bottle of Château Cheval Blanc 1998. We are equipped to party really big :)

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Toño!

Always a day after México's, we can celebrate Toño's birthday. But unlike México, which celebrated its bicentennial day of independence, Toño has got to celebrate a prime number birthday.

When I consider every thing that grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;
When I perceive that men as plants increase,
Cheered and cheque'd even by the self-same sky,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
And wear their brave state out of memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant stay
Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,
Where wasteful Time debateth with Decay,
To change your day of youth to sullied night;
And all in war with Time for love of you,
As he takes from you, I engraft you new.
–- Sonnet 15 by William Shakespeare