Tes Heranas say Hasta La Vista to San Miguel

It was a fun week with the sisters, but our time was spent and it was time to say Hasta to San Miguel. Who knows what our next adventure may be?!?! Until then, I'll see you all on facebook. :-) Thank for sharing my journey.

Much love,

~ Nancy

More Burros

We all love the adorable burros that we see every day on the street. This time of year they haul potting spoil. In the winter it's wood the carry.

Tres Hermanas en Guanejuato

We took a day trip over to Guanejuato today to see where Diago Rivera was born and, hopefully, find a piece of art for Pam's living room. We didn't find any art, but we did see a beautiful city - very colorful! It is hot, hot, HOT down here right now though and we nearly melted before we finially got home tonight.

Corn on a Stick?

Joyce didn't go through with getting a corn-on-a-stick from the street vendor at the fireworks. Probably a good idea.

A Basket of Lily

Pam brought her new puppy with her to San Miguel. She's adorable and really attracts a lot of attention on the street....even when she isn't in a basket!

Tres Hermanas

When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~ Pam Brown

Los Locos

Nancy makes friends with the locos

Los Locos

Los Locos - It means 'The Crazies" and that is certainly what it was - three hours of parade before we sisters finially melted away and returned to our casita!

At Bellas Artes

Here's Joyce on the steps at the Arte School called Belles Artes. The building was originally a convent back in the 1800's and is now a school that offers every form of art you can imagine.

Tres Hermanas - Tres Baskets

We spent most of the day shopping and then in the evening found wonderful baskets from a street vendor that we just had to have as well.

We are sisters. We will always be sisters.
Our differences will never go away, but neither, for me, will our song. ~ Elizabeth Fishel

Corpus Christi Tradition in San Miguel

Traditional red velvet banners adorn the streets of the historic center this week for the Day of Corpus Christi -- one of the four most important religious celebrations of the city. The celebration marks the end of Easter and is a precursor to the infamous Los Locos parade. Now what one has to do with the other, I don't understand but that's the way the do it down here. I was so happy to follow along with the procession tonight as it left the Parroquia and the people traveled enmass to alter after alter around town chanting. I've been feeling lately that San Miguel had become a bit 'tarnished' and didn't have the "glow for me that it used to, however, this evening as I took part in this local tradition I was reminded what it is about San Miguel de Allende that I love. Now I can't wait for the Los Locos to begin!!

When You Can't Find a Changing Table

Then you find a corner. More importantly though check out how the baby is dressed. It's 90 degrees HOT down here right now, but they dress their babies like it's winter. And, for pete's sakes you just gotta keep their little heads covered....otherwise the Mal Aire might get them!

Nina

This little cutie was helping her mother sell handmade dolls and hair clips. How could I resist those dark eyes?! The Mexican children are beautiful. This little pumpkin is only four years old. She'll be a 'looker' someday! Me? I'm now the owner of about my 12th handmade doll from Mexico.

No Photo Touch- Up

Absolutely no photo retouch, no Picasa, no anything - just pure morning light in San Miguel on the Parroquia and the rest of downtown. I hope to get out and do some serious picture taking this coming week between when Sultan goes back to his owner on Monday and when my sisters arrive on Thursday.

At Fabrica Aurorica

Sultan and I tromped down to the edge of town this morning to meet a friend (Penny) at Fabrica Aurorica -- a wonderful old mill that now houses a lot of art galleries and some Mexican antique stores. This picture is of the original loom where clothe used to be woven. The pooch and I are only in the perspective to give you an idea of the size of the loom and this picture only shows about a third of it!

Hasta Luego Jacque !

JACQUELINE ---------- PENNY ---------- NANCY

Three strong & beautiful ladies celebrated women and friendships at the Hacienda Resteraunt just outside of town last night as we said, not "good-bye," just merely, "Hasta Luego!" to Jacque. J is an amazing young woman. We are sure going to miss her.

Poverty in San Miguel

You don't see a lot of evidence of poverty in San Miguel - not in comparison to many of the cities and towns in this country. What you do see are the ancianas - the old people. Years ago when I studied Spanish down here my teacher, Socorro, told me this: "When I see the old women on the street begging I always give them a few coins because they they have no family to care for them." Ever since she told me that I try to do the same......Just as an aside Los Milagros means - The Miracles. I bet this old woman could use one in her life.

Hanging Out with Sultan

Nancy and I have been spending lots of time together in the office working on her book, Beyond Borders -- so much time that she thinks we are starting to look alike. I don't think so. what do you thank?

signed,

The cutest dog in the whole wide world - ~ SULTAN

Machismo in Mexico

Among the young women I see signs that they are beginning to assert themselves and stand up to the men, but in the older generation....it is always the women who carry the water.

The Virgin Of Guadalupe

The patron saint of Mexico is the Virgin ofGuadalupe. It is said that she miraculously appeared in theyear 1531 in Guadalupe to a poor Indian man named Juan Diego. Her message is of love and compassion to protect all mankind. The Virgin asked Juan Diego if he would ask the bishop to build a church at the hill at Tepeyac in her honor for all to worship, especially the Indians. Juan Diego went to the bishop just as he had promised the Virgin. At first the bishop did not believe Juan Diego's story, but after several appearances, Mary told Juan Diego she would give him a sign to take to the bishop so that he would believe. She told Juan Diego to climb to the top of the hill where he would see beautiful roses blooming among the cactus. He carried the roses in his tilma (a poor quality cactus-cloth) as instructed by the Virgin and did not show them to anyone. When he arrived at the door of the bishop's house, the guards refused to allow him to enter without opening the tilma. As Juan Diego opened his tilma slightly to show the roses, the roses became a part of the fabric. The guards let Juan Diego inside to see the Bishop. When the tilma was opened, everyone including the bishop fell to their knees in awe to see such a lovely picture of the Virgin in the fabric.

Maíz-en-un-palo -------- Corn-on-a-Stick

Everyday in the jardin stands set up that sell everything from bubbles for the children to corn-on-a-stick smeared with manonaise (that sits in the sun all day) and sprinkled with shredded cheese. I've always been tempted to try one , not just plain corn, but the mayo-cheese version......maybe on my last day in Mexico.

El Mercado in the Morning

Sultan and I went to the market early this morning for vegetables to make soup. I bought two pieces of cacti from this little old lady. If I understood her correctly, she said it was very fresh because her son cut it this morning. Pretty amazing because it was only 7:30AM. He must have been out on the desert in the dark!

La Igesia

Just another of the beautiful sights on an early morning walk with Sultan that helps me to understand why the artists come here from all over the world to paint in San Miguel's perfect light.

Jackie's Ensalada

Even a simple salad seems glamerous when served in beautiful Mexican crockery. This is Jackie's salad from our potluck dinner last night. I've got to look for a flat bowl like this in the market!

The Dollmakers

I can never resist buying at least one of these dolls. I don't know why - I have a ton of them, but the doll-makers seem so sweet and hardworking....I just can't resist them. This one gave me a 'special price, Senora,' AND let me take her photo. What a deal!

A Chilly Day in San Miguel

The weather's taken a turn and it's almost cold here today. Sultan is snuggled in for the afternoon. Me? I'm wishing I hadn't sent my sweater home with Norm! We'll go for a walk soon though and it will be warm out in the sun.
con mucho carina,
~ Nancy