Going Cellular in Mexico (2011 - February 25)

I need to begin this essay by saying that Rick and I are not the most sophisticated people when it comes to being cellularly wired. Our Michigan home is in the woods and due to the hilliness and the beautiful trees (which I wouldn't trade for the world), we would have to stand in odd places (like the window in our bathroom) in order to get cell reception. As a result, we both have very simple track phones that we use for our convenience when we're out and about, but at home we depend on our land line.

And so here we are in San Miguel, with a similar situation. We actually have 2 land line phones - a Vonage line (with an Indiana area code) that we can make and receive calls from the States on, and a Mexican land line that we can make and receive area calls on.

But it's always good to have a cell you can use when you're out and about. Especially if you're directionally challenged and get lost easily (I confess - guilty as charged), or if you want to meet somewhere for lunch when you're both out and about at different places.

We didn't have cell phones here last year - simply because I didn't know how to go about getting one - but this year I decided that I was on a mission to obtain a cell phone.

I knew there was a "TelCel" store at Mega, the supermarket we shop at. But what I didn't know was whether they sold phones that used minutes only - without a contract. What I also didn't know was whether I had enough Spanish language to be able to make my needs known to the clerk who didn't speak English.

I actually succeeded in purchasing the cheapest phone they had (hey, we're only here for 6 weeks, and it's just for my convenience). It cost 199 pesos, which is approximately $16.50. What a deal!!! And so I now had a cell that worked. Mission accomplished!!! It didn't matter so much (at the time) that the sales clerk and I couldn't communicate well enough for me to figure out how many minutes I had.

Hearing about my great deal, Rick went over and got himself an identical phone. Wonderful. Now when we're both out and about (at separate places), we can get in touch with one another. I was impressed when Rick figured out how to download English instructions

"Baby, It's Cold Inside" (2014, January 6)

Carlos the Mexidoodle #1

"Baby, It's Cold Inside"

January 6, 2014

Dear Friends and Family:

Well here we are in San Miguel de Allende, MX. Now I know that some of you, stuck in cold climates, are thinking "What lucky dogs" (pardon the pun).  But...let me tell you about our situation. It isn't quite as perfect as you might think.

For you see, although the temperature this afternoon had supposedly hit 61 degrees ( in the sun), it's rapidly falling and is supposed to go down to 34 tonight. Do you have any idea what it's like to be in a cement casa, with no central heat, when it's 34 degrees? Now we do have one space heater, and it's situated right in front of my bed. So that helps a lot. But sitting downstairs in the evenings and early mornings, it's downright frigid. Mom takes care of me though. This is me this morning, bundled up in a blanket, on the couch, wearing my sweater.  And Mom and Dad both had their jackets on. Baby...it IS cold inside. 

But that doesn't take away our enjoyment of being in San Miguel. Dad's been taking me for nice long walks every day, and we have a favorite place where we stop so he can throw the ball for me to chase. We're good for about 15 to 20 throws, then we're back on the trail again. Until we reach the duck pond, where we take a break and watch the duckies swim around. I love my Dad, and really appreciate our father/son time together. We weren't able to do much of that when the snow and ice hit in Leelanau County back home, and it's really a good thing for both of us. We think we might take something with us to feed to the ducks tomorrow.

Unfortunately Mom's not able to join us. She's developed a bad case of plantar fasciitis, and is out of commission as far as long walks go. At least for a while. Being basically homebound (which is unusual for Mom), she's become a real little "Maxwell House wife". Yesterday she made a delicious (or so I hear) gluten-free spaghetti, this morning she made grain free muffins, and right now our casa is permeating with the aroma of chicken baking and potatoes boiling. Although I don't get to eat any of it (I'm not fed from the table), I'm still proud of her efforts. Because these are 2 of the only "real meals" that she's ever prepared during the 7 years that she and Dad have come to San Miguel. Usually it's restaurants, carryouts or (last year) a personal chef who came in a couple of times a week. I wonder how long this will last. (She also prepared and froze 6 Kong treats, filled with peanut butter, yogurt, apple and cheerios, for me. I can hardly wait.)

I did have a bit of an unsettling experience this afternoon that I'd like to tell you about. I was sitting outside, in the enclosed courtyard outside our front door, trying to warm up with the sun. When suddenly a gust of wind blew the door shut with the biggest BANG I'd ever heard. Mom and Dad were so busy working on their computers that I guess they didn't realize I was outdoors. So there I was...stuck out there, all by myself, with a big door blocking me from them, and not knowing what to do. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.

I tried making some noises to get their attention, but apparently the thick cement walls and heavy wooden door prevented them from hearing me. It seemed like I was out there forever, wondering why they weren't trying to find me.

Finally I let out the loudest bark I could muster. Mom threw open the door and quickly let me in, talking to me in baby talk (which I secretly love) and telling me how sorry she was that that had happened. It was good to be back in the casa, and I'll probably think twice before I venture into that courtyard again. Here's a photo of me out there with the door to the casa closed behind me. I graciously posed for it after that disturbing event.

So now here I sit, in the comfort of our casa, watching Dad work while Mom does finishing touches on their meal. I know I look like a pampered pooch and the truth is - I am. I'm definitely a lucky dog and I'm quite happy to be me. 

Your furry friend,

Carlos the Mexidoodle

Dear Friends 4 (2008, February)

Dear friends:

At daybreak yesterday morning, my iPod and I took off for a 45 minute walk. It was delightful. Although I saw people on the streets, they were going off to work of to school, and the atmosphere was much quieter than it is during the day or in the evening. The Paroqquia, the main church in the Jardin (town square), was touched by the morning light, which made it appear pinkish. I wished I had had my camera, because the effect was absolutely gorgeous!!!

We live on the north fringe of the area called El Centro. El Centro is an old historic district with many shops, restaurants and churches. Only a small part, the Jardin, is closed to traffic. But we've been told that there's a movement underfoot to close off the entire El Centro to traffic. That would be terrific.

The nearest grocery store is perhaps a 15 minute walk from here. We've been there twice now, and we're getting a little more used to it. But it can be a challenge to 1) find the particular item we're interested in and 2) figure out which of the items in that category to buy (ex: margarine) because we're not able to read the packaging very well. I had developed a lengthy shopping list yesterday, wanting to buy all the ingredients for several meals I found in one of the cookbooks here. It turned out that accomplishing this task without falling over with nervous exhaustion was nearly impossible. After a number of sharp words between us, Rick and I decided to just purchase the basics and go home. The fact is that we've only been here 4 days. I'm sure things will get easier.

I had my first Spanish lesson in San Miguel yesterday. When I arrived, I was stunned to be handed a 6 page exam, in Spanish, to be answered in Spanish. In retrospect, it was an effective way for them to assess where each student was at. I'm proud to say that I was able to get through the first 3-1/2 pages fairly well. It got progressively more difficult (verb tenses are NOT my strong point), and I finally cried "Uncle". I was complemented by the Maesto (instructor) on how much I completed, and was put in a class with Roger, who coincidentally grew up in Pontiac, MI. Roger and his wife live somewhere in Mexico now. He is a businessman who deals with Americans, and hasn't had to learn much Spanish. Like myself, he's interested in a more intensive language experience. He's probably in his late 60's or so.

Anyway, we're the only two in our class. There are many small classes.Our Maestro's name is Mario, and he's quite good. He presented two models of learning yesterday - one was a verb tenses learning tool, and the other was a rapid speaking tool. I'd been exposed to the later, but it was good to get back to it. I think this is going to be a really good experience for me. Thursday afternoon there's a Mexican cooking class at the school that I get to go to for free. Rick needs to pay, but we get two hours of instruction, then we get to eat what we cook. A pretty good deal, I think.

Well, our internet was down this morning, so I got a late start on this. Need to leave for class in 40 minutes, so I'd better get showering and dressed. Will report more at another time.

Love,   Judhit

Dear Friends 3 (2008, February)

Dear friends and family:

It's only 4:15 a.m. (5:15 at home), and here I am, in front of my computer, ready to report on yesterday's adventures. I've been waking up extremely early each day, unable to go back to sleep. I get so excited about what the day is going to bring that I can hardly stand it. So rather than lie there, bursting with energy, here I am. Trying to summarize what's been going on the past 24 hours.

On the way to Mass yesterday morning, we passed the language school. The door happened to be opened so we went in. Long story short, I'm signed up for 2-hour-a-day Spanish classes this week, starting this morning. I'm impressed with Sara, the director, and hope this is the opportunity I've been looking for - a chance to get really comfortable speaking the language. I only signed up for a week, wanting to try it out to see if it fits for me. If not, there's a multitude of other options, including private tutors. If so, then I'll continue for as long as I'm getting something out of it. 

Yesterday we went to Mass at the San Francisco Church. Built in 1779 and taking 20 years to complete, construction was with donations from wealthy local families and funds from bullfights. I'm told it's a fashionable place to be buried, and has numerous plaques to that affect. The interior is a spacious neoclassical design. Very old with a very holy feel.

The Mass, of course, was in Spanish. But I picked up a Mass guide in the back of the church, and we were pleased to be able to be appropriately part of the responses.

It was heartwarming during the handshake of peace to watch the children go up on the altar to shake the priest's hand. He seemed to enjoy the experience as much as they were. After Mass kids up to age 12 or so and their families gathered around the priest for perhaps 10 minutes while he gave them a simple lesson. Although I couldn't understand most of what he said, the non-verbals indicated that this was a gentle man who loved children, and that they loved him very much.

One of the things that I love about the Mexican culture is their piousness, and how seriously they take their religion. I'm also touched by the family values that I observe each and every day...young people carefully assisting an elderly grandparent, parents lovingly playing with their children, siblings who seem to take great enjoyment in playing together, grandparents openly expressing love for their grandchildren. This is a good country, with good people.

The highlight of the day was sitting in the Jardin after Mass, and watching the children play out their ritual of breaking eggs filled with confetti over one another's head. I took a ton of photos of this joyful game.

Rick and I really wanted to examine one of the eggs close up, so I approached a family with a number of children, holding out a dollar and asking if I could buy an egg from them. The oldest boy (maybe 11?) quickly got the message, snatched my dollar and gave me an egg. I took it back to the bench where we were sitting to examine it. A couple minutes later the boy, whose mother had said something to him, came along and gave me a second egg. So Rick and I are sitting on this bench with our two eggs, enjoying the frivolity, when suddenly Rick reaches out and smashes his egg on my head. I was taken totally by surprise, and screeched so loud that everyone around us turned around and smiled. A moment later, I got my revenge. So there we both sat, our heads covered with egg shells and confetti. A few minutes later a little girl (maybe 8?) who had been watching us came up to me and smashed an egg on my head. I loved it, and had Rick take a picture of she and I together. Before she walked back to her family, she gave me another egg, which I promptly smashed over her head. What a joyful, playful time that was. Although we know that this tradition has something to do with the coming of Lent, we don't really understand the meaning. But we know that it's great fun for all ages, whether participating in the smashing or just watching. This was one of the most delightful things I've ever seen. Oh...neither Rick nor I removed the debri from our heads for the rest of the day. We wore it proudly, wanting to let the people know that we proudly participated in their charming ritual.

In addition to being the weekend preceding Ash Wednesday, it's the weekend when the locals buy their plants and flowers for the planting season. We walked over to Benito Juarez Parque, where there were thousands upon thousands of beautiful plants, flowers and pots for sale. The entire area was stunningly beautiful and alive, and I took several photos.

We had a simple lunch at a small, off-the-beaten-track cafe. We've become adventurous in our food choices, wanting to sample as much of the local cuisine as possible. And we've not been disappointed. We find that people around here are extremely friendly. We conversed with an older couple from Oregon who have been coming here for 6 or 7 years. They gave us a few tips, and told us how much we're going to love it here. I told Rick that it feels like we're retired American expatriates in training.

San Miguel is a historic town that was founded in 1542 by a Franciscan Monk. It was an important stopover on the Antiguo Camino Real, part of the silver route from Zacatecas. It's about 7,000 feet above sea level, and surrounded by mountains. The population of the large area it covers is 139,297. It's an attractive tourist destination for wealthy Mexican City residents (many of whom are here this long holiday weekend), and has a large American and Canadian expatriate community, primarily comprised of retirees. The town manages to be very tourist friendly, without compromising it's Mexican flavor. The people are friendly but not at all pushy, like many tourist areas we've been to. That's refreshing.

Oh, by the way. In one of my letters I talked about all the levels and steps in our casa. Well, I finally counted the steps inside and out - 57 in total!!! It's a good thing that we're used to climbing stairs in our home in Michigan, because there's no avoiding them here. It's definitely not an disabilities-friendly setting. But that's o.k. - it works for us.

We spent last evening at the casa of some friends of ours from Traverse City (Christie and Bob). This is their 3rd or 4th time here, they're staying for 3 months this time, and they're in the process of looking for a place to buy. They drove here with their two dogs, Gus and Phoebe. Christie gave me a lot of info about the area, and I'm looking forward to following up on many of the things we talked about. She served us a delightful array of local foods, including Jicama with lime, homemade guacamole with chips, hibiscus tea, and hibiscus quesidillas with an interesting hot pepper sauce. All very yummy and exotic tasting. 

Well, I've been composing for the better part of an hour so I'd better go. My plan is to take a long walk as soon as daybreak hits. Our 3-day- a-week maid, whom we've not met yet, will arrive at 9 a.m., then my Spanish class begins at 11 (I'm both excited and scared with anticipation). Beyond that - who knows. After rising at 4 a.m., I'm certain there will be a little afternoon siesta.

Take care. "Talk" to you tomorrow.

Love,    Judhit

Dear Friends 2 (2008, February)

Dear family and friends:

Although many of you have requested travel adventure reports from me, some of you have not. I put my sending list together based on those I thought might be interested as well as those who have expressed interested. So if you don't care to read impressions of our travels, that's fine. I promise that you won't be tested on what I've written. This is really as much a record for myself as it is a report for others. 

Anyway, yesterday was our first full day in San Miguel de Allende. We began our day by looking for someplace to have breakfast. We found a little place a few blocks away called Bagel Cafe. I was in my glory to have a bowl of yogurt with fresh fruit (papaya - my favorite, melon, bananas, etc) topped with granola. Rick had a scrambled egg, cheese and bacon bagel sandwich. We shared a homemade cinnamon-raisin bagel. The food, which took a long time to come, was obviously prepared from scratch. And delicious. It was somewhat costly - $16 (including tip) for this simple breakfast. However, the cafe was near the tourist-y historic district, and I've since learned that the prices from restaurant to restaurant are pretty much standard. It was certainly worth it.

After breakfast I went out to explore. Luckily I had my little map with me. For those of you who don't know, I'm extremely directionally challenged. And of course I got lost. Several times. But that was part of the adventure as far as I was concerned. And wonderful exercise with all those hills (puff puff). Logging 10,000 steps a day on my step counter isn't going to be a problem here at all.

Speaking of hills...we're at an altitiude of about 7,000 feet above sea level. It's going to take awhile to get used to this thin air, combined with the hills. Not only are we going to have quads of steel when we leave here, but lungs of iron.

Checked out the language school just a few blocks from our casa. Spoke with Sara, the director and owner. Although I didn't sign up at the time, I've decided to start classes on Monday. My plan is to try 2 hours a day, M-F for a week. If I like it, I'll continue for the 4 weeks that we're here. I'm pretty excited about the opportunity, because being able to speak the language fairly comfortably has been a long term goal of mine for a long time.

Also checked out the swimming pool, a few blocks up a VERY steep hill from here. Although Rick and I were able to get into the building, we couldn't find anyone to talk to about joining. It's a 25 yard lap pool, which is a good thing. And it looked like it was in the process of being cleaned, which is also a good thing because it was needed. But the fact that it seemed deserted on a Saturday afternoon...well I just don't know. Brought my fins, cap and goggles with me, had planned to swim, but we shall see...It didn't look particularly promising.

This happens to be a holiday weekend, and it seems like many of the well-to-do locals who have 2nd homes here are in town. It's also the weekend before Ash Wednesday. Mexicans are very religious - usually Catholic - people. They also love to celebrate, and there's many celebrations going on. The big one is something called "Carnival", which is reminiscent of Mardi Gras. Last evening we walked down to the town square where we watched musical performances by different amateur groups (some of them very good) under the gazebo. There was also a clown performing and he drew quite a crowd. His show was very audience-interactive. 

There's an interesting tradition among the young people here, from about the ages of 8 to 16. They were carrying around baggies full of eggs full of confetti and smashing them on the heads of their friends and family. We sat down to watch a couple of groups doing this, and they were having a ball. We don't understand how they got the confetti into the eggshells. I would have liked to have asked one of them to let me look at their egg. But I was afraid I might have gotten it smashed onto my head so I didn't. Anyway, it was great fun to watch. 

Another observation: The women and girls were carrying around baskets with ornately dressed dolls inside. I think perhaps they were taking them to church to be blessed. I was told that this is a "fertility" weekend and that is one of the customs. Apparently it's also the weekend where the people buy their plants for planting. I'm told that there's a park full of plants and flowers to sell this weekend. Rick and I will walk over there after church to check it out.

As we sat outside of the beautiful gothic Cathedral last night, we saw lots of Mexicans, many of them very old, approaching the Cathedral steps as if they were on a pilgrimage. We surmised that perhaps they were from out of the area on this long holiday weekend, and it was, for them, a real pilgrimage of sorts. The religiousness of the people here is touching.

We discovered a natural foods restaurant yesterday where we had supper. Rick had an eggplant burger, and I had a tofu burger. They were both on whole wheat buns, with lettuce, tomato and avocado on top. Along with mustard and ketchup on the side, there were small dishes of sauces we couldn't identify but that were delicious nonetheless. Our side dish was potato slices prepared in vinegar. Everything was delicious. We've had 3 meals since we've arrived here, and they've all been great.

We also found a little grocery store where we stocked up on some basics. We had to be careful about buying too much, because we had to carry everything quite a distance home. At least we have the makings of a simple breakfast this morning before we go to church. 

Speaking of church...I'd better sign off. It's already 6:40 a.m., I hear a rooster crowing, and I need to start getting ready. I'll write more later or tomorrow.

Hasta la vista,    Judhit

Dear Friends 1 (2008, February)

Dear friends:

Although we were concerned we'd be delayed because of the big snow storm in Detroit this morning, we're now in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. For those of you who might not know, San Miguel is in the mountains, between Mexico City and Guadalajara. We flew into a town called Leon and everything seemed to go like clockwork until we realized that both my bags had arrived...and neither of Rick's had. Luckily he packed a change of clothing in his carryon, and we've been told that his things should come with the next flight from Dallas and be delivered in the morning. He's being a trooper about this...much more than I would have been under the circumstances. Please keep your fingers crossed that they arrive safely and intact. I'll keep you posted.

Antonio, a driver prearranged by our rental agent, met us at the airport. He helped us find where we (along with a number of others on our flight) needed to file a claim for lost luggage. The 3 of us then set out on the 90 minute ride from Leon to San Miguel.

Antonio was a sweetie, and patiently listened (and helped us out) while we did our best to communicate in Spanish. It was obvious that he was enjoying himself, and we all laughed a lot. He told us that not all tourists are willing to even try to speak Spanish, which surprised me. He complimented me on the volume of words I know and said he could tell I've been a Spanish student for quite some time. I'm confident that by the time we leave here, Rick and I both will notice a HUGE difference in our ability to effectively speak the language, as well as in our confidence level.

The casa we rented is multi-leveled and cute, in a Mexican, thick-cement-walls, stone-floors, brightly colored sort of way. Rick says he thinks there's 5 levels, but I'm counting 6. Some of those levels, like the foyer, the 1/2 bath off the living room, and the living room itself are nothing more then one room on that level. But there's literally stairs leading everywhere.

I'm sitting at a desk in the living room right now. The level several steps down lead to the large dining room and charming kitchen. And several steps down from that is a good sized foyer coming through the front door. Outside the kitchen and dining room is a washer/dryer combo in a closet with outdoor stairs that lead up to a level with a covered patio and a guest bedroom suite. Then a winding staircase goes up to the top floor - a rooftop patio overlooking the town - and our bedroom suite. This is a place we could easily get lost not because it's so big, but because of all the floors. I certainly hope neither of us sleepwalk while we're here. 

This evening we walked several blocks to a 4-table corner Mexican corner cafe where we had authentic Enchiladas Verdes. They were extremely spicy (our mouths burned for quite some time afterwards), but SOOOOO yummy. Rick had a couple of Veronica (?) beers, and I had a hand-squeezed lemonade and a bottle of water. The middle-aged Mexican lady who waited on us was sweet, the menu simple, and the food prepared to order. We will definitely go back there again. I want to try everything on the menu (all of about 8 things).

Afterwards we checked out a beautiful old church (there are a ton of Catholic churches in this town), as well as the "jardin" (town square). It's a ritual in Mexican towns for people of all ages from old to young to gather in this traditional area on Friday and Saturday nights, just to "hang out". Although our driver had strongly encouraged us to go to a bullfight being held tonight (apparently the torreador is famous, the ring is only a few blocks away, and it was an opportunity that doesn't come along often), we decided that we couldn't stomach the thought of watching a bull - much less 4 or 5 of them - being tormented and slain. So we didn't go and don't regret our decision. 

The jardin, like all jardins in Mexico, is the center of town. Since this is a mountainous area, the road back to our casa (and all the roads leading from the jardin) are up VERY steep hills. We certainly got our exercise walking home this evening. Between the stairs in the casa and the steep hills we're necessarily going to have to walk, I expect that we'll have "quads of steel" by the time we come home. 

Oh...the weather. Simply beautiful. When we arrived about 4 p.m., I was slightly warm in my light sweater and lightweight long pants. It was probably 80-ish. But by the time we finished dinner and walked down to the town square however, there was a definite chill in the air and I wished I had a light vest or jacket on as well. I'm told the evenings, at least right now, get down to about 50 degrees.  

So now we're back at our place. It's 8:40 p.m. (9:40 in Michigan), and we've been up since 4 a.m. It's been a looooooong day. Rick's up in bed reading already, and I need to wind down and call it a night.  Will write more tomorrow.

Love,     Judhit  (pronounced "who-deet", which is Judith in Spanish) 

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.

*****

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.

***

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.)

.*****

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. 

*****

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?

*****

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. 

*****

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.

***

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. 

*****

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

¿Quién Es Mi Persona? (2011 - March 29)

Our third (and last) assignment in our Spanish Storytelling class is to write a story about a famous person whose name we drew out of a jar. 


Tomorrow we will present our stories to the class, and they will guess who our person is, based on the information we give them.


Following is my story - first in Spanish, and then in English. See if you can guess who my person is.

¿Quién Es Mi Persona?

Aunque mi persona nació en 1899, él nombre es conocido y respetado por gente en mi generación tambien.

La cara de esta persona se pueden encontrar, con las caras de otras personas famosas, en la cubierta de álbum de los Beatles, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Esta persona fue mencioné de Madonna en su canción "Vogue", y esta persona esta refería a en la canción "Puedo Bailar" de Leo Sayer. 

Esta persona fue número cinco en una lista del cincuenta más famosas estrellas de cine, hizo por Instituto de Cine Americano.

Ricardo puede recordar viendo esta persona por el primer vez, en una película cuando él tenía diez años. El nombre de la película fue "Daddy Long Legs". Ricardo fue feliz cuando descrubió que la película fue no acerca de una araña. El disfruté el bailando mucho.

Esta persona empezaba bailando a la edad de quatro, con su hermana mayor. Ellos entretenían juntos en Vaudeville.

Aunque esta persona fue muy talentoso solo, él continuaba bailar con compañeras femeninas. Su más famosa compañera fue Ginger Rogers.

¿Quién es mi persona?

*****

Who Is My Person?

Although my person was born in 1899, his name is known and respected by people in my generation as well.

The face of this person can be found, along with the faces of other famous people, on the cover of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.


This person was mentioned by Madonna in her song "Vogue", and this person was referred to in the song "Long Tall Glasses" ("I Can Dance") by Leo Sayer.


This person was number 5 on a list of the 50 most famous movie stars, put out by the American Film Institute.

Rick can remember seeing this person for the first time in a movie, when he was 10 years old. The movie was "Daddy Long Legs". Rick was happy when he discovered that the movie was not about a spider, and enjoyed the dancing a lot.


This person began dancing at the age of 4 with his older sister. They entertained together in Vaudeville.


Although this person was very talented on his own, he continued to dance with feminine partners. His most famous partner was Ginger Rogers.


Who was my person?   (scroll down to see the answer)

Those Kodak Moments Just Don't Quit... (2011 - March 26)

It seems like almost every time we walk out our door, there's more Kodak moments just waiting to happen.

Today we were on our way to Norma's Pizza for one of Norma and Carol's delicious grilled delights. We were approaching San Antonio Church when...lo and behold...we discovered tons of people - including a bride - preparing for a wedding. Naturally I pulled out my trusty old point-and-shoot, and took a quick picture of the bride getting ready for her big day. 

As we continued down the street, Rick recognized an opportunity for another great photo. I was actually part of it but didn't like how I looked, so I cropped myself out. It's much prettier now. See the cobblestone street, the colorful buildings, the church steeples, and the mountain backdrop.

Rick and I, finally at Norma's, waiting for our food. Norma and Carol are both originally from the Detroit area, and opened their darling, colorful little restaurant just weeks ago. Last week we had their spinach and sausage pizza, and yesterday their traditional, loaded with lots of yummy items. Their pizzas have thin crusts, and are cooked on a Weber grill. What a taste treat!!  (BTW...This is the only photo I have of Rick and I together, in the entire 6 weeks we've been here. Thanks for taking it, Norma.) 

What a thrill to discover on our way home that the happy couple was just leaving the church. And that they had a mariachi band following them, playing joyful tunes!!! Whip out that camera again, Judhit...snap a quick shot...

 ...then run as fast as you can to the other side of the square so you can get a better view of this cool happening, with the church in the background (as Rick unobtrusively shrinks into the shadows of the trees).

The flowered limo was waiting, and as the groom helped his bride arrange her long train so she could get in, the children watched and the mariachis played. This event was like frosting on the cake for me!!! How lucky can one gal be?

This little boy, dressed in a cute little tuxedo, was probably the ring bearer. I couldn't resist asking him, and then his family, if I could take a picture. He doesn't look overjoyed, but he was cooperative.

Then I noticed a little girl, perhaps his sister, watching from the sidelines. She obviously wanted to be included in the photo taking, and I was happy to oblige. She even smiled for me!!! But then I noticed the very small form on the bottom left of this photo...

...yet another child, wanting to get into the picture. I was starting to feel like the pied piper of Kodak land. The kids loved seeing their pictures on the screen, and I think their parents were amused by their cooperation and enthusiasm.  What fun. Children are definitely the best subjects!!

We finally were able to tear ourselves away from the wedding festivities and began walking home. And suddenly...there was the limo carrying the bride and groom, driving down our street, right past our casa...

Adios, amigos. Have a great life together. And thanks for the wonderful photo ops that your special occasion provided for all of us. 

***

Well you would think this would be plenty of San Miguel excitement for one day, wouldn't you? But In the evening Rick and I walked back to the church to attend Mass, and discovered a group baby Baptism!  I counted 22 little ones, decked out in their best christening whites, receiving the Catholic rite of Baptism while their adoring parents, godparents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins looked on. We just stayed in the background watching the happenings, but it was really special to be there. I felt blessed to witness two very special, joyful, family-oriented, church-centered events in one day.  

***

And so I wonder what treats are still in store for us? We leave early Thursday morning and though we're sad to go, we miss our wonderful lives, friends, family, house and dog back home. And it helps to know that instead of saying goodbye to San Miguel, we'll be saying "hasta el año próximo" (until next year). That's a good thing.

"Those were the days, my friend" (2011 - March 25)

O.K. you guys. Following is the second story I've written in Spanish. Our teacher wanted us to write something about ourselves, so I titled it "About Me". Once again, I challenge you to see if you can translate it yourself, before you read the English version.  (Go Kathy, go!!!)

Acerca de Mi

Yo tenía diecinueve años, y estuve una secretaria en Detroit centro, cuando Ricardo y yo 

conociamos. 

Estuve en un restaurante drive-in con mi amiga, bailando a la música de Motown, en el cofre de un coche cuando Ricardo manejó pasada. El pensó que estuve loca pero interesante, y pidió una amiga común a nos presentar. Pensé que estuvo muy guapo, y yo estaba impresionado que él estuvo en la universidad. Yo estuve muy contenta cuando él me pidió una fecha.

Quince meses despúes, Ricardo y yo casíamos. Por suerte, no sabíamos los dificiles retos delante. Pero...somos juntos despúes de casi cuarenta y cinco años, y todavia divertimos juntos. 

About Me

I was 19 years old and a secretary in downtown Detroit when Rick and I met.

I was at a drive in restaurant with my girlfriend, dancing to the Motown sound on the hood of a car, when Rick passed by. He thought that I was crazy, but he was interested...and asked a mutual friend to introduce us. I thought that he was very handsome, and I was impressed that he was in college. I was very happy when he asked me for a date.

15 months later, Rick and I were married. Luckily, we didn't know the difficult challenges that were ahead. But. we are still together after 45 years, and we still we have fun together.

****

"Those were the days my friend,

We thought they'd never end...

We'd sing and dance, forever and a day...

We'd live the life we'd choose, 

We'd fight and never lose..

Those were the days...oh yes those were the days!"

My First Spanish-written Story (2011 - March 25)

Dear Friends and Family:


As you may (or may not) know, I am currently in a Spanish class called "Storytelling". We've been studying both the preterite and copreterite verb conjugations, and now we're "off and running" with our stories (or at least trying, anyway). 


Following is the first story I wrote. It's entitled "Mi Primer Viaje", which translates to "My First Trip". If you're interested in the story but not interested in trying to read it in Spanish, please scroll down the page and you'll find it in English. But it's a simple story...maybe you could try to challenge yourself. It was quite a challenge...and achievement...for me.

Mi Primer Viaje

Yo tenía veintiocho años la primer vez que viajé in un avión.

Mi esposo y yo estaban ir a Jamaica con nuestros amigos, mientras nuestras padres estaban cuidando a nuestros niños.

El vuelo estaba muy turbulento, y yo tenía mieda. Mi amiga estaba tan molesta que ella vomitó en la bolsa para enfermo de avión. ¡El no estaba el foto bonito! Eramos felices cuando el avión finalmente aterrizó en Jamaica.

Jamaica era muy hermosa, y nuestros vacaciones eran maravillosos. El vuelo volver a Detroit estaba muy tranquilo. ¡Gracias a Dios!

Translation:

My First Trip

I was 28 years old the first time I flew in an airplane.

My husband and I went to Jamaica with our friends, while our parents took care of the children.

The flight was very turbulent, and I was scared. My friend was so upset that she vomited in the airsick bag. It was not a pretty picture! We were happy when the airplane finally landed in Jamaica.

Jamaica was very beautiful and our vacations were marvelous. The flight home to Detroit was very calm. Thank God!!

***

As they say in my Spanish class:

"poco a poco" 

or

"little by little"

tu amiga, Judhit

Visiting Guanajuato (2011 - 03/24)

On Tuesday Rick and I decided to get on a bus and go to Guanajuato, a town approximately an hour and fifteen minutes from San Miguel de Allende. We'd stayed there for 3 nights in 2009, had fond memories of that time, and were interested in going back. But more importantly, we wanted to experience what they call "luxury" or first class bus travel in México.

Per instructions from some gals in my yoga class, we went to a travel agency in el Centro to purchase tickets. This was important because the young woman at the agency spoke fairly good English, and was able to help us with schedules and in choosing a bus company to travel with. Primera Plus, rated #1 along with ETN, had the most scheduling flexibility, so we went with them.

There was a bus leaving at 1 p.m. and since we had an hour to get to Centro de Autobuses, we hopped on a city bus. 5 pesos apiece (about 80 cents), got us there. Now traveling by city bus is cheap and, for us, was a novelty. But...the seats are small, the buses are very hot (especially if you end up on the sunny side, like we did), and it's an almost constant stop and go. By the time we arrived at the bus station, we decided that we'd definitely be taking a taxi home at the end of our adventure. 

Our bus to Guanajuato was very nice. The seats, which tilted back, had footrests. Each seat had a set of headphones we could use to listen to music, or to hear the movie which was playing on small screens throughout the cabin. Rick chose to watch Bruce Willis, and I was as happy as a clam checking out the mountains and countryside and drinking my complimentary Pepsi Light, while dialing through 6 channels of música Méxicana.

Guanajuato is a really cool town, and I'd love to tell you about it's history and uniqueness. However, I simply don't have the time. Instead, I've included photos I took while there, with simple explanations beneath each. If you have an interest in learning more, you can always google Guanajuato. There's lot of information online about this fascinating town. 

Although the above photo looks forbidding, it's not as scary as it seems. Below the city is a series of tunnels built for flooding many years before a dam was constructed. Since flooding is no longer an issue, the tunnels are now used for traffic and for pedestrians. We (and many others) got off the bus in this tunnel, headed for the main area, or "el centro".

We followed the crowd up the stairs towards "el centro", but not before I shot this 

photo of the tunnel we had just emerged from.

Rick was quickly able to acclimate himself, and soon we were in front of Teatro Juaréz
one of the jewels found in el centro. It's an historically famous opera house where Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor, once sang. Rick and I toured it two years ago, and it's absolutely gorgeous inside. You can see that the steps have many people on it. Guanajuato is a 
college town, and there are always students congregating on these steps.

A photo of Rick sitting in the lovely restaurant where we had lunch. It was actually 
one of the most fabulous meals we've had this trip, which is saying a lot. We chose arrachero (skirt steak) tacos, which came with frijoles, guacamole, cebollos (onions), pico de galla y dos salsas (2 sauces). It was all really yummy, and we left feeling pleasantly full!!!

The main church in the center of town. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name, but I
guess it doesn't really matter.  As you can see on the left, there is a 
manicured park with benches to sit on.
 At the end of the street that you see on the right, is Teatro Juaréz, the opera house.

Guanajuato is a lively, energetic town full of college students. It is a tradition for the young people to parade down the streets on the weekend evenings, singing joyful, lively tunes. 
I had the pleasure of experiencing this from our balcony when we stayed in Guanajuato two years ago (Rick was already in bed). I loved it, and would have joined them if I was braver.

Ricardo is at the bottom of the steps of one of the university buildings. Wouldn't it be 

interesting to know how many steps there are? It doesn't look architecturally accessible,
but it sure is pretty. 

The streets of Guanajuato remind us of Italy. Although this photo doesn't do it justice,
I like it anyway. You can see the narrow cobblestone streets with the flagstone sidewalks, 

and the beautiful church at the end of the road. 

I took this photo simply because I was amused at the name above the door - 
the "Ha! Ha! Cafeteria". These young men may have been amused as well.

The churches in this part of México have life sized, clothed statues and,  
at first glance, often appear real. 

Above is a photo of a (not-quite-life-sized) statue in a glass case, 
depicting the passion of Christ.

This old, old, old, huge, huge, huge Cathedral in Guanajuato is one of 

the most beautiful churches I've ever visited in my entire life. And I've been to a lot!!!
The Spanish apparently spared no cost in converting México to Catholicism.

Rick and I were heavily involved in the Marriage Encounter movement back
in the 80's,  and thus have a special place in our hearts for 
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza,  from "Man of La Mancha" .

Above you can see statues of these characters, about 3-4 times the size of life.

(as a size reference, notice the two strangers who happen to be standing between the figures)

A very picturesque photo of a street in Guanajuato, complete with a 

beautiful tree in bloom,  and brightly colored houses on the hillside beyond. 
They are so pretty that they almost don't look real. This town is very European-like.

Teatro Cervantes, a beautiful stone theater located next to the area where

the statues of  Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are located. This 
theater is obviously dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes
the author of  the 17th century masterpiece, "Don Quixote".

Well, it's back to the bus station and time to go home after a wonderful few hours. The bus to San Miguel isn't in yet, but above is a photo of two buses from the same line. Pretty snazzy!
...and a great time was had by all...¡Hasta luego!