The Road Back

Dexie loved playing on the edge of St. Moritz pond. He chortled with glee, grabbing and shaking brachen and moss covered twigs. Thanks to Aunt Cindy and cousin Dylan for loaning him boots to fill with pond water!

On our way back to Maine, we counted EIGHT red-tailed hawks along the highway. That was a record for us and we wonder if the foggy spring day was the reason for so much lurking about.

Four Cousins on St. Moritz Pond

Gramily and Zadie's Grandchildren

Mexican Princess

This little Mexican Sophia was very pleased to pose for a photo and her mother highly approved. She appeared to be six or seven.

Third and Final Tuesday Market Visit

I had never seen chicks DYED, presumably for Easter. T assures me it is done in the USA too. I'm against it. How could you improve on the cuteness of an undyed chick? You can barely tell from the photo, but YES, they are alive.

Orange studies orange:

Backyard colors at our house:

Bits and Pieces

We are in the last few days of being here. I think I am in transition because I am feeling somber. Here are a few offerings.

Interesting stone work in our neighborhood, that appears to be improvised:

Doorway that seems to be whimsically constructed with security measures in mind:

Parroquia and Cubanismo band...it was hopping!

You know I'm a terrier fanatic:

On Sunday we went bird watching. I can't show you the birds as I don't have a fancy telephoto lens, but we saw at least one:
curve billed thrasher, mockingbird, canyon towhee, white winged dove, mourning dove, broad billed hummingbird, vermilion flycatcher, Cassin's kingbird, kiskadee, cattle egret, white faced ibis, golden fronted woodpecker, female blue grosbeak, verdin, raven, red-tailed hawk, yellow rumped warbler, American kestrel, white tailed kite, blue-gray gnatcatcher, loggerhead shrike and MANY MORE species! It was AWESOME!

Ballet Folklorico

Traditional dances were performed by local children and adults in colorful costumes. There was lots of swirling and stomping, dramatic gestures and stories within stories.


Our house guest is enthusiastic about everything Mexican. Today he is hoping for an old fashioned shave with hot towels.

Tuesday March 11 in SMA

Transportation varies in San Miguel. We see these burros about once a week, making deliveries.

This little girl is so absorbed in her painting craft, she never even noticed me taking the photos.

But these men DID notice and gave me waves and big smiles, after I clicked the picture.
Jacaranda trees are blooming all over San Miguel now. From the roof tops there are small purple clouds everywhere.

Mexicolor

Mexicolor...It's everywhere!


Safety regulations? I don't think so. People travel bumbling around on the sides of pickup trucks; toddlers standing in the front seats of cars, leaning on dashboards; whole families travel together on four wheelers. Dad was talking to the taxi driver and joined the rest of the family so there were FIVE people on this vehicle! It's like being back in the fifties, a nostalgic feeling.

Marimba Band in the Jardin

This isn't the first time a marimba band has played in the Jardin. Every time is a big treat and the same great dancers come and dance for hours.

The best dancers change partners often and display their virtuosity with the cha cha, rhumba, maranga and more. Note man with hat, red shirt, suspenders in the background. Many male dancers dress in a 1930s style. The man in white wears a folk shirt each time. All the men want to dance with this beautiful, older black woman in the foreground. She's very graceful and good at following individual styles.

We had dinner for the second night in a row at El Vikingo! The shrimp cocktail is unlike the American one. It comes in a big goblet mixed with fresh avocado slices, garlic, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, salsa, limes, all very fresh. The waiter offered to take our photo, the FIRST of us together on this holiday of two months.

The shrimp cocktail!
(80 pesos, $5.30 and fifteen wild shrimp)

More Lord of the Conquest

Lord of the Conquest Festival

Today is the day called Lord of the Conquest here in San Miguel de Allende. It represents the acceptance of Christ by Mexico's Indians in the 16th century. The Aztec costumes are dramatic, particularly the head pieces which are mainly feathers. These are our neighbors headed to the Jardin for the dance ceremonies. There is dancing and drumming going on all day and all night.

This is the youngest dancer I saw, estimated to be between two and three years old.

There are seed pods strapped to the dancer's legs. Most dancers wear huraches, but some are barefoot and some have alternative shoes. The costumes are highly variable.


I could put about a hundred more photos up, but I'm trying not to overdo it.

Birds and Trees

Receptionist at a local mercardita; he loves it when you imitate his whistle.

Our second door-to-door bird salesperson - Sorry you can't see the TWENTY plus birds within. The first one carried two birds in a small woven plastic bag, lined with bird seed.

Two tree blossoms and the trees from which they come



Note that there are NO leaves, just these exotic blossoms

Wrong Side of the Fence

This could be a Mexican version of Dylan! He was on the street side of the gate and soon after this photo was taken, three older siblings hurried out and brought him safely inside. Afternote: T says I am being kind in my description. The older siblings actually cuffed this niño in the back of the head, had him in tears when they DRAGGED him back inside. I missed all that. I guess he got the message that he isn't to wander off.

Where we ate last night: Aquis en Mexico, a restaurant run by the same family for four generations with extensive, authentic Mexican offerings. The owner is a doctor by day. Don't you wish you were here? Our meal with drinks cost about $7.00.

Throughout our meal, I kept staring at this painting, perplexed. Finally I realized that it was carcasses hanging out to be drained AND that it was hung upside down!

This is how it would be if it were hung correctly:

Here is the title in the upper right corner, as it is hung, the name of the restaurant. Personally, I think the owner is playing a joke on patrons.

Haircut!

We passed the barbershop on the corner of our street on our way home from dinner. It was 8 p.m. and this little guy was having his hair cut. He appeared to be about five. The barber seemed to be trying to explain to his dad that he had a hard to control cowlick.

Everything is open at night, moreso than in the day. One of our favorite places is a carwash by day and restaurant by night.

Mexicana

Eggs here are sold in plastic bags! They're under a dollar, about 75 cents for a dozen.

I love all the cacti. This one lives on our street.

We went to a neighborhood art open house today. I'm sorry to say there are no photos of the art, but these two little ones captured my photographic spirit. They were playing with the flowers in a beautiful display. No one cared that they were having a good time and ruining the display. I LOVE their style (hair, clothes etc.) therefore you're going to get four photos of them.






Neighborhood girls who were a bit bashful that I wanted their photo. They were flirting with more smiles for T.

My knife-edged wrap is DONE! Finally! After about 65- 70 hours of work! This is the view with the knife edge at the top.

This is the view with the knife edge at the bottom. WHICH do you prefer?
We've been spending more time at the Jardin at night. Last night there were operatic performances that were splendid. No one cared that kids were playing, screaming, people were laughing, wandering and the performance continued. Bravo!