11.29.2016

Guanajuato

One of the best things about traveling is finding out about new places to travel. Guanajuato wasn't even on my radar and yet it gained UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1988, has a pedestrian-only city center, a funicular, one of the best universities in all of Mexico and happens to be an hour bus-ride from San Miguel. We fell in love with all the little plazuelas during our three-day stay. Georgia has taken up pigeon-chasing and Xavier played footbal in the streets. I just wanted to stroll, people-watch, drink jugo verde in the cafes and pretend to be a student again.


















11.24.2016

Thanks

Thanks

with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
standing by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
taking our feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
thank you we are saying and waving
dark though it is

~ W.S. Merwin

11.22.2016

Murals of San Miguel de Allende

One of our favorite things to do in San Miguel is finding murals. A few favorites...

At the Bellas Artes:




At the Instituto Allende:






At the Biblioteca Publica (done by the same artist as above, but after he'd been to the coast and tried peyote):





In the Children's Room at the Biblioteca Publica:


Inside the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel:


Outside Fabrica Aurora:


And at the playground at Parque Juarez:



11.02.2016

El Dia De Los Muertos

We arrived in San Miguel de Allende just in time for El Dia de los Muertos. I love how death is viewed here in Mexico and embraced as part of life. What may seem macabre is actually an ancient Aztec ritual melded with Catholic traditions which has evolved into a three day party for people to honor and spend time with their departed loved ones (the Aztecs set aside a whole month for these festivities). Family history is passed down, elaborate altars are made and friends and family are reminded to live life to the fullest. Marigolds, the flowers of the dead, are everywhere and decorate arches for the deceased to pass through to return to this world. Families set out photographs and offer the favorite drinks, foods, sweets and possessions of their dead - these ofrendas are remembering spaces. We saw one ofrenda with a photo of the band Kiss and when we asked about it, the daughters laughed merrily and told us their father loved their music. People dress up as Catrina, Lady Death and her male escort, Catrine and stroll the streets. We've enjoyed the fireworks, mariachi bands, stilt-walkers, sugar skull peddlers and face-painters for the past two days and today, November 2nd, we will go to the cemeteries with everyone else in town.





True Love Never Dies
(For when I'm dead)

Please come play at my grave site,
oh how I love annual parties
and now that I'm dead
this one most of all.
Let's celebrate all the things
we love in this life: family,
friends, romance, toasts, food,
laughter, nostalgia, memories,
everything, everything!
Let's talk about every single moment
I was alive and savor each one.
Bring a picnic and armfuls of flowers,
light candles, sing, chat,
tell stories, read poems,
look through photo albums, see my
many loved ones with me
when I was young and beautiful,
and here when I was old
and elegant, all my
grand babies in my lap.
Bring cold bottles of champagne
and hot chocolate in thermoses.
Laugh until you cry as you take
turns doing impersonations of me.
Snuggle children, hang out,
wrap yourselves in blankets,
be comfortable and happy.
Write in my commonplace book -
may there always be blank pages
for jotting notes, love letters, quotes
to add to our conversation into eternity.
Light more candles,
open more champagne
Stay all night long and please
come again next year.

Enjoy and live life!