March 2008

March 2008 ...

This is our 10^th. Visit to SMA …exactly four years after our very first trip!

Again, just to appreciate the difference between here in Pittsburgh and West Virginia, Bev took this photo just days before our departure:

In West Virginia, our friends Betty and Ernie Savage - a highly industrious country couple - who among many other country crafts - spend the winter making beautiful quilts - one of which graces our bed in Mexico.

Our first week in SMA was the ‘adjustment’ week! Bev’s arthritis was not good so taking care of herself was a priority. We decided not to take the trip to Laredo during the first week as planned so that Bev could have some ‘healing time’ rather than 1500 miles on the road!

It was Bev’s first opportunity to see how house that had been transformed from white to earth-tone brown…and she loved it!

Casa Tecolote's front entrance at night:

So we lay low for the first week…and prepared for Sue and George’s visit … which we were greatly looking forward to. Their plan was to arrive basically a week after we did.

I started to draw up the plans for the kitchen storage cabinets/computer station and Bev went about setting up the house according to her wishes.

We went to the hot springs during that week in order to give a ‘soak’ in the healing waters.

Sue and George’s visit was fantastic. They are the easiest ‘guests’ one could possibly ask for as they are as perfectly happy to sit around and read as they are taking an adventure of unknown destination … though I must admit we did more of the former than the latter!

They loved walking down and about El Centro (and Sue found the artisan’s market the best place to shop for gifts!), but didn’t relish the idea of the near 45 degree incline back to the house so took the taxi!

Walks in the botanical garden where one of their favorite ventures. Of course, it was necessary to do the ‘Tuesday market’ which they loved.

Naturally we had to take themto the hot springs. Here the major feature are the three pools of water …each progressively more hot that the other. While there are few who linger in the hottest pool for the 30 minutes plus that I do, I had never known anyone to dip a ‘toe’ in to the first pool and say, “no way … this is too hot” … before Sue! So, she we again, perfectly content to sit and read ( as we all did!).

It was a great visit and we hope that they too have many good memories of San Miguel!

One of my greatest joys in scooting all around SMA on the four-wheeler…it gets places fast, is easy to park, and given current gas prices is really cheap! That said, I’m thinking about trading it in for a motorcycle. Somehow, given my retired status, I think I look better on one:

Sue and George, Bev and I, went out to the land that is owned by friends, Lourdes and Victor. Lourdes (you may recall from an earlier blog entry) is a friend who rows and is building a rowing program in neighboring, Queretaro. They are building a beautiful vacation place on the Presa. Their land is on a little bay that during low water reveals a portion of the town that was flooded including the steeple of the church. (That's me rowing near the steeple!)

And here the six of us are enjoying a leisurely comida!

As some of you know, I've been working with a group that I helped to found called, Amigos de la Presa and most recently had been trying to have a meeting with a group of developers that are building a huge housing development on the shore of the Presa. They have aroused some opposition from the community, but during a recent phone call I had with one of the principals, I got the sense that this group may be wanting to do an environmentally sensitive development. We decided that we would approach the developers from a positive point of view and attempt to subscribe their support of the work of Amigos.

I'm pleased to say that I had an excellent meeting with two of the principals who are truly attempting to create a development that is a cut above ... and, most important, they want to work with Amigos ... suggesting that they would like to see a boathouse, boat building facility, and docks. So, we are off to a good start.

Here are two of the principals on the day we did a site visit ... with the Presa in the background.

Stay tuned to the blog for updates. (I recently submitted a concept paper to them on how this whole thing could come together).

As usual, we had many great walks in the Botanical garden. One of our favorite things to do is to invite friends over for breakfast followed by a walk in the garden . Here we are on one such outing with Alan and Flora.

The Easter celebrations in San Miguel are among the most popular festivals (and there are many celebrations in SMA)! I couldn't begin to list the various 'festivals' - most very sacred - that the community celebrates as some are rather obscure and even particular to SMA. (There are some that call for fireworks ALL night! Others will have a procession in the middle of the night!) However, here are a few pictures with explanations under them that will give you a bit of a feel:

Some of you visiting this blog more than likely received Bev's letter, but if you didn't here it is:

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

March 15, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Writing you again from our glorious San Miguel, the place of beautiful vistas, sunshine and fresh breezes, succulent fruits and vegetables, gentle people and a very happy Bev and Mike. We are settling more and more into our house, furnishing it poco a poco with as many lovely bargains as we can find. Rustico is the style, and warm and colorful rustico it is. Golds, oranges reds, greens, yellows and blues are the predominant colors.

We’ve found some old weathered side tables at the Tuesday market, a huge food and flea market that astounds or assaults the senses depending upon your point of view. Mike is making friends with some of the vendors as he shows up regularly looking for “distressed” items. A few more comfortable chairs for bedrooms and outdoor spaces and we are pretty set. Our walls are now displaying works of art by Emily Noelle Lambert, Peter Lambert, Christina Sol, our neighbor, and Santiago Coral, a friend. It is a joy to be surrounded by such beauty and talent in works of art by those we know and love. Even when they are far away, we have a part of them with us.

Sue, Mike’s sister and her husband George have been with us this past week and it has been a comfortable and pleasant time. It is good to experience the house with various people as it is clear there is plenty of space of “alone time” and having people expands the joy of the place. Experiencing the flight of egrets each night and morning, hearing the church awaken us to the new day, watching the colorful hot air balloon pass over, gazing at the twinkling lights of the city and the stars overhead from our roof, all this and so much more is best shared with others. Sue and George have been troupers as we take them the long walk down the steep hill to town and all around, up at 6500 ft. and on cobblestones. At first they were leery, but now they navigate with ease.

Only showed Sue one shopping area. We still have much to explore.

Last night we went to watch Flamenco dance with a troupe of local dancers and musicians. Passionate, colorful, and robust with grace and energy, it was powerful.

A few nights ago we went to hear a jazz trio in the same small local venue of about 120 seats. They had a “francophone” week, so this group played works of Jango Reinhardt and the music of the 30’s in Paris, plus some tango music which they said actually started in France. Last night we went to a fine restaurant where our friend Adrienne is now the head chef, for an outstanding meal. After “having to leave the US of A” he and his darling wife Christie have landed not only on their feet here in SMA, but with bells on them. They have a precious almost one year old son, Temo, who enjoyed the dance concert and dinner with us, charming all with his smile and joyfulness throughout.

Amazingly or not, my health is greatly improved down here. Lots of great food, sunshine, dryness, rest, exercise, beauty, and good times must be the ingredients. Too bad can’t bottle the stuff and take it home with me. I am grateful for this time and opportunity to feel better. I recommend it to everyone.

Hope you all are well and enjoying the beginnings of the beautiful spring season.

We send our love and look forward to seeing you in April or soon after.

Bev and Mike