Last day hugs (03/30/11)

Today is our last full day in San Miguel de Allende. Although we're sad to leave, we have great memories, we know we're coming back next  year, and we're returning to a life in Leelanau County that we enjoy. But to wrap things up, here's more miscellaneous photos of some of the things that went on while we were here.

Above is a picture of Rick in the Jardín, with a gal who had just hugged him. Apparently she's part of a group who, the first Monday of each month, wear signs around their necks advertising "free hugs". I'd love to join that friendly group, and will check it out next year.

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Rick and I have a lot of restaurants that we really like in San Miguel, and Café Monét is one of them. This is an especially cool painting that they have hanging on the side of their bar.

This restaurant is run by a Canadian man, and the entire place is decorated beautifully, with incredible, eclectic paintings and art pieces. If it weren't done so tastefully, it could look gaudy. But it doesn't.

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When I'm walking home from class at noon, I often buy a "gordita" from these ladies for 15 pesos (just over a dollar). "Gorditas" look like fat pancakes, but they are tortillas filled with some sort of delicious, spicy filling. They puff up when cooked over a hot grill. (Note: The word "gordo" is Spanish for fat which, I suppose, I could become if I ate too many of them.)

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Manuel is the gardener who tends the flowers at our casa. He's extremely friendly and animated. In this photo he's in the dining area, telling us stories about bull runs and fights...with two horned bull heads on the mantel behind him. 

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Life can be hard for many San Miguelians. Below is a photo of the old man who, along with his two cats, lives next door to us. The "cane" you see in his left hand is actually a pick axe, covered with fabric. I wonder if it's a tool that he used in his profession in his younger years?

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Difficult lives touch many, from young to old, in SMA. As Rick and I were leaving our casa one afternoon, a mother and her two children were just outside our door. The mom asked us for money to buy food for her kids. As Rick got out his wallet, I ran back into the house, picked up my camera and a cold bottle of pop for the kids (it was really hot out and I thought they might need to be hydrated). The little boy smiled quite naturally, but his big sister just didn't seem to be able to come up with a smile on that particular day. 

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Now this young man, an after school helper at his mother's cheese shop, might have a brighter future and thus more reason to smile. He is studying English, and we were able to have a nice conversation, each of us using the language that we are trying to learn.

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Rick and I attended an out-of-town festival one afternoon. We were told that there was a pyramid somewhere on the mountain (as seen in the background). But it was really hot out, and we didn't feel like climbing a mountain in the hot sun. So we sat in the shade and watched as the young people from all over the area put on a variety show.

These girls did a traditional folk dance that showed off the beautifully colored full dresses they were wearing.

There were many brave young people who got up, either as small groups or individually, and sang for the crowd. But this young man stole the show at the end, doing a modern Spanish "rap" song. He was so good that I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up on a CD some day. 

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And so unless I come across more photos that I'm inspired by, this is the official end of my "San Miguel, 2011" blog. I hope you've enjoyed reading about our experiences here, and that now you have a sense of what it's like in San Miguel. 

Until our flight leaves at 8:30 tomorrow morning I remain,   Judhit