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

December 07/January 08 - A Winter Visit ... to paint the house!

To fully appreciate this winter trip to sunny Mexico, one needs to know what we left behind:
Crossing Creeks, West Virginia ... in the winter!!



On Christmas Day, Bev leaves Crossing Creeks and heads for home in Pittsburgh and an afternoon of work at the hospital. I head to Friendsville to spend the night at Mike and Aggie's Riverside Hotel and to prepare for our flight to Mexico. And thus begins our month-long separation ...

Mike in the hotel kitchen figuring the total weight of five people and luggage and how best to distribute it in the plane.

And, checking out the plane in its Cumberland, Maryland on the 26th. of December.
Our 'chariot' to our Mexican adventure:

1974 Piper Astec ...November Lima 100 November ... in excellent shape!

For some 11 great shots from the plane and all of us on board ... click here!

Landing at San Miguel de Allende International Airport, while a quiet concern of mine, seemed hardly a concern for our excellent pilots: Mike and Aggie. First, a flyover ...


... and upon sighting people ON the field ...

... and upon recognizing the shirt-waving people as none other than

Matt and Emily, Alan and Santiago ...


Mike took NL100L in for a perfect landing ...

Wheels down in San Miguel!


.... and Alan et al greeting us!


It was great to be welcomed by family and friends. Matt and Emily had only arrived by bus from Mexico City. Alan picked them up at the bus station and drove immediately to the air strip. They looked great!

And, Gracie, who is the most socialized 3 1/2 year older one could meet, wasted no time bonding with Emily!

To know Mike, is to know (yet another Mike) with ADD! As he asserted before leaving Maryland, "... I can't just sit around ... don't you have anything I can do while I'm there?"

Who could pass up such an offer? "Well, how about painting the outside of the house?"

"No problem" says Mike, "I love to paint!" So, not only did Mike put in a couple weeks painting, but he mastered the 'art' of mixing the colors (traditional paint in Mexico is 'cal' - a mixture of powdered pigment, calcium, water, and an adhesive) and leading the crew which variously included: Daniel and Marcos, Matt and Emily, me, Aggie and, yes, Gracie! Check out the ten shots of the paint job and painters!



Everyone worked hard, but we still had a lot of fun: daily hikes into town and the botanical garden, shopping for just about anything at Tuesday market (including the best fruits and veggies), eating out at restaurants, doing yoga, several visits to the hot springs, going to the always fun, "Family Feistas" at Alan and Flora's where you never know what to expect, visits from Emily and Matt's close friends from NYC (Emma, Poric, and Sophie), and a visit from an old friend from Pittsburgh (Alan Hunninen, daughter Kathryn, son-in-law Jose, and grand-daughter, Hannah). For a flavor, check these nine pictures out!


One of the REAL TREATS was to have taken one of Emily's fantastic paintings down on the plane, having it stretched, and hung is a special spot in the dinning room ... (no small painting at 60" x 86")!


See more of her work at: http://emilynoellelambert.net/splash.html

During the month, I did some work with Amigos de la Presa including having a couple meetings, attending a new citizen-based advococy group called, Va Por San Miguel, and most interesting, meeting Lourdes and Victor Garay who live in Queretaro (where they make toothbrushes - including for Oral B) and are building a vacation place on the Presa. Lourdes returned to rowing after taking a few days of sculling lessons at Craftsbury, Vt. and has helped to start a program on a small presa in Queretaro. Their land on the Presa in San Miguel is beautiful and their location is near a town that was flooded to build the Presa years ago. Check these pictures out including the top of the church steeple where Victor is sailing! (Four pictures - Click here!)

After a wonderful time, we left San Miguel and flew to the east coast visiting a fancy resort in Tampico on the Gulf of Mexico. Though it was technically 'off season', the resort was in high gear prep for the season. So, the 20 guests there (we were 5!) were treated like royalty at the 1000 guest resort! Another great trip to Mexico!


Sunrise in Tampico, Mexico!

Rainbow behind our house, over the botanical jardin

November 2007

Here is a link to some great photos -click here) (there are 65 pretty fantastic pictures) that Peter (Veilleux - my nephew) took while he was here in November. Peter came to help us plan and develop our front yard garden. Peter's knowledge and love of the local flora was truly mind-boggling. He assured that we used all native species in the yard. He also took a rather minimalist approach - removing almost all of the plants we had put in the garden because he felt it to be overcrowded- and we moved in three giant rocks and laha stone pavers. Check it out (click here)!


Once again, we found ourselves working on various of the unfinished parts of the house moving it ever closer to completion.

We had railings for the front terraces designed and built.




We very happily added a couple wonderful paintings to the dinning room and living room - both painted on tin by our talented and delightful neighbor, Christina Sol.


We were also the extremely appreciative beneficiaries of a gift from Alan and Flora: a painting by our good friend, Santiago Corral! And of course, some beautiful iron work by son, Peter!




Our month-long visit to San Miguel during the month of December was super enjoyable as always. Here is Bev gazing toward our house across the canyon during one of many hikes in the Botanical Garden!
And, of course, we had a little time to put a boat into the Presa Allende!


Here is a picture of the house!


Here is a fun shot that we (Santiago and I) took from an ultralite while flying over the house. You'll see the canyon and the Botanical Garden in the top of the photo. The house is on the cul-de-sac in the middle!


We hope you will want to visit us in beautiful San Miguel de Allende soon!

August 17

BACK IN PITTSBURGH
The below (August 17) is just now being posted (September 9!!) because I’ve been trying to figure out how to either place pictures in the blog or link to our Picassa album. Since I’d don’t seem to have any luck doing either, I’ll just go ahead and post … for now.
This is a ‘speaking of …’ blog!
It has been some time since my last blog update which is evidence that when Bev is around there seems to be more going on and I’m less inclined to squirrel away to update the blog … though it only takes a few minutes!

Speaking of time (it is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted), a few days after Bev arrived I went to my first bullfight! Yes, it is true the pacifist and non-meat part of me gave way to the curiosity of the bullfight. This coupled with the tremendous description of the ‘meaning’ of the bullfight as described in Michner’s Mexico prompted me to go along with Remy. We bought seats En Sol (in the sun) with the rest of the Mexicans and cheapskate foreigners! Too, seating in the sun was part of my effort to not be overly self-indulgent with what I knew was going to be a display of gruesome animal killing. (Sorry, but I just couldn’t get my favorite principle of the UU’s out of my mind: “…the interdependent web of life of which we are all part”.)

With this introduction I suppose you can figure out already that I found the whole experience of the bullfight rather stupid entertainment and mostly a waste of time. There was the very occasional moment of the heroic display of the matador, but for the most part it was so heavily favored toward the six or seven men and two horses engaged in each ‘fight’ and the mostly confused bulls were made so tired as part of the early stage of the ‘fight’ that the whole thing could hardly be described as a ‘fair fight’. So what exactly is the point of seeing six bulls killed and unceremoniously dragged out of the ring by a team of horses? I’d compare it to the stupidity of ‘professional’ wrestling. And, I suppose the audience that gets a kick out of it would also fill the arena to watch the wrestling jerks in the ring throw each other around!

Whew, now let me tell you how I really feel about bullfighting! Unfortunately, a still photograph hides the fact that the bull has most likely taken about four or five steps and turned around for another four or five steps. In other words, he is too worn out to get up a full head of steam and charge the matador. It is sort of like watching boxers forever tangled in the clinch!) Bullfighting won’t be on my ‘things to do in SMA list’!

This takes nerve!

Hiking will be on the list. We (Erica, Bev, our neighbor, Myron, and me) hiked the Picachos again for what was another tremendous opportunity at some fairly strenuous hiking with spectacular views. Part of the hike was on the rim of this canyon with a big waterfall. I’ve posted a couple pictures from this hike and the canyon. To give some sense of dimension, if you look carefully at the photo you’ll see a couple people swimming in the pool beneath the falls!

Speaking of tremendous views, I took my first flight in an ultra light last week and have posted a couple pictures of our house and the "neighborhood" during the fly-over. Juan Corral (Santiago’s brother) was the pilot and an excellent one! Though when I arrived expecting to go up with Santiago he was already up with a student and Juan was about to take-off. Juan offered to take me up and, having only met him once before (he’s visiting from LA) I must admit that I had a momentary hesitation. We flew in Santiago’s ultra light (a French built ‘Cosmos’) which he describes as “the Volkswagen of ultra lights”. There is not much to it: an aluminum extruded frame forming a ‘tricycle’ with a Bombardier built 45 hsp. Air cooled four cylinder 2 cycle engine with a three blade prop behind and about a 20 liter gas tank below. Above is basically a hang glider wing arrangement pivoting on a central pole and controlled by a horizontal pole held onto as in hang gliding. The pilot controls the throttle with one foot and has a brake on the other foot (for use on the ground!). The front assembly is turned with two feet for steering on the ground. This model has a simple altimeter and not much else, but what a blast!

We done helmets, strap in (waist belt only), and takeoff with the two of us (both weighing 215 lbs.) within the 500 lb. limit of the craft. A total thrill! Yet, Juan is an extremely cautious and capable pilot - he used to test pilot ultra lights for Cosmos in France – who maintains the attitude that “I’d rather be down on the ground wishing I was flying than be flying and wishing I was on the ground”. He’s been flying since he was 12 years old (hang gliders) and has enough close calls to know the constant potential for danger (some very close … one when his camera flew out of his hand into the prop necessitating an emergency landing!). After the all too brief flight, I find myself wanting to do this more often. I could easily get hooked into this sport, but at this stage in my life I realize that I’ll likely not be able to do all the things that I’d like to do! That said, Santiago has offered to take me up anytime (he’ll use any excuse to fly). And, of course, I’ll teach Santiago to row … decidedly more safe!

Zoom in on the above pictures and see if you can find Casa Tecolote!!

Speaking of rowing, I’ve been a couple more times and am looking forward to rowing this weekend.

Two weekends ago friends, Paco and Ana (they own tons of land along the Presa) and Eric, Wendy, and daughter Sabina went out rowing. The occasion was to ‘christen’ Paco and Ana’s new little rowboat (sort of a floating ‘Big Wheel’). Remarkably, Eric’s first time rowing was pretty unusual! After his very brief ‘lesson’ we went out and was on the water for a half hour doing quite well. He’s a natural! I think he’s hooked on rowing! (Now all I need to do is persuade him to be my business partner importing and selling boats down here … maybe something along the line of the Maas Aero would be most appropriate for the conditions on the Presa when one ventures out of the wind-protected ‘bays’)

Speaking of Paco and Ana, they along with Gayle (one of the new members of Amigos de la Presa as a result of the article I wrote on rowing for the local paper) were the only ones that showed up for our meeting! Admittedly, there was a pretty big rain storm that began shortly before the meeting, but out of a possible 20 or so people it was a bit of a disappointment to have only five of us including Bev and I!

Still, the meeting was a good one with Ana (the consummate voice of wisdom) pointing out some of the ‘realities’ of the Mexican way. One of the conclusions was the we need to be long on action and short on meetings and that even with this as a modus operandi we shouldn’t expect huge turnouts until things ‘catch on’. So, last Sunday, we’ve invited everyone to the Presa for a 10:00 AM, Sunday row/paddle. A half dozen folks showed up which was a pleasant surprise. A couple pictures of the event including a space that we cleaned up are below! I remain very optimistic about the possibilities and my desire to increase the benign recreational use of the Presa while raising visibility and working on water quality issues. We’ll see.

Saul checking out the Presa ...his first paddle there even though he's been in SMA for 3 years!
Note all the 'junk' along the shore BEFORE we did a clean-up!

A 'cleaned up' shore line looks a lot better!

Saul and Jesse (in my boat)

Speaking of Sunday, last Sunday, we are having our first comida … a really big (17 – 20 people) gathering of friends for a mid-afternoon meal! Heretofore, we have enjoyed these comidas at Alan and Flora’s (they often refer to them as, FF’s or Family Fiestas!). This will be our first big gathering and, if the weather isn’t too hot, we’ll have it on the roof! Guadalupe (or current housekeeper) is coming to help Bev with the cooking, etc. The menu: chicken with vegetables, ‘green’ rice, salad ….bread, cheese, wine, and beer! (I have this idea of building a ‘dumb waiter’ – from the back door of the kitchen to the roof -out of a garage door opener, but it wasn’t ready for the weekend so I got the call!) A couple pictures also show are new rooftop structures! The meeting was held at Casa Tecolote in Riconada de Los Balcones ...our house!

And, speaking of Alan and Flora they are now very happily, Mr. and Mrs. Grishman proving that true love can happen anytime, anywhere, with anyone and a life lived without love is a life lost. We went to the civil ceremony held in el Centro which was an interesting display of the complexities of the Mexican beaurcracy and one of the few examples of third world operations! That said, it was made happy by the almost 20 of us who crammed into the second floor office!

A couple days later (last Sunday – August 12 – exactly one year after Alan and Flora ‘fell in love’), there was a big celebration at Alan and Flora’s with about 50 guests. Great food, music, dancing capped off Alan and Flora’s celebration! (They will continue the celebration by some upcoming travel including a trip with Bev and I to the cabin in a couple weeks followed by … a month in Paris!)

Speaking of dancing, Bev and I have had the opportunity to view arguably some of the best flamenco dancing in Mexico featuring our friend, Angela (Santiago’s partner) and the beautiful Christina and her incredible dancer/singer husband, Antonio! Powerful. Passionate. Rhythmic! See a couple photos at: We invited our neighbor’s Russy and John to go with us and it turns out that John has a full recording ‘studio’ in his house and as offered to help Antonio to make a much-needed CD of his signing. John, a retired graphic designer from Texas will do the liner notes for the CD including, hopefully the words in English (John and Russy said that if Bush was elected they were leaving the states and thus they live fulltime here in SMA across the street from us).

Speaking of dancing, Bev took her first flamenco dance lesson … with Christina … last week. Bev said, “…there is nothing like looking in the mirror and seeing a bow-legged flamenco dancer somehow subtracts from the elegance of it!” Bev, is being too hard on herself, and enjoying a good workout, will take another lesson before we head for our northern home!

Speaking of dancing, Bev and I took our first lesson with Christy! Christy (of Adrian and Temo) is so happy in their new house (just down the street from Alan and Flora) as it has a great dance space on the second floor. She’s a great teacher and it is easy to see how she and Adrian are champion salsa dancers! Christy is sure to enjoy a successful career as a dance instructor here in SMA. As for our first lesson, we learned some basic steps of the Foxtrot, Salsa, Swing, and Meringue! (I guess I’ll need to make the transition from just moving around to the beat to actually knowing what I supposed to do … not an easy change …) Bev, of course, has no problem with any of it! Anyway, it will be fun practicing here and when we get up north (Christy gave us a ‘cheat sheet’ and a CD of selected songs that she made).

Here are some shots from inside the house taken the day we left.





This is the outside front wall ...!

Living and dining room.