Sopa de Pato

Scene in the Jardin, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Yesterday evening in the Jardin, with very few people around, a group of Rancheros (or possibly just some locals with enough money to own horses) came past the Parochia, and happened upon a group of Mariachis  who were there and who spontaneously started playing a Ranchera for them. No audience, no money passed hands, just a typical Mexican opportunity for a bit of gaiety to happen.

Hot air balloon over San Miguel

Most mornings early, while the air is still cool, one hears the whoosh of the kerosine burner of a hot air balloon lofting intrepid visitors gently over the rooftops of El Centro. Seen here against the corner of our Palapa, this one roused me from my slumbers at around eight AM. One day I will summon up enough courage to do this although I am not sure my ancient joints will provide the necessary shock absorbance for the landing.

Burros carrying dirt into El Centro

Burros weigh in at around 500 pounds and can comfortably carry about 250 pounds, the weight of the average gringo. But here in San Miguel, they are often seen carrying much greater loads without apparently getting too pissed off about it. Here, underneath our bedroom terrace this morning, a camposino is bringing dirt from down by the Presa to sell to whoever needs it for their plant pots or vegetable patches. These two burros are carrying 26 sacks of dirt between them, each weighing about 50 or 60 pounds – a load of probably around 750 pounds each – about one and a half times their own weight.