Top end of Times Square, looking North
No indeed. Back in the Big Apple. Much the same as San Miguel except for the tacos. Constant activity, good food, and great friends.
That’s not the Jardin
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Lights out
Templo de la Tercera Orden, and Templo de San Francisco, San Miguel
Yesterday evening, as happens from time to time in San Miguel, the lights went out in our part of El Centro (on the right side of this picture). So we upped and crashed with friends who live up on the hill on Garita where we could look down on everyone else enjoying the benefits of electricity on a beautiful balmy evening. We also sorted out all of the USAs political problems over a couple of margaritas. Part of this however involves handing Texas back to the Mexicans. That is if they still want it.
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All this for five pesos?
Guitarist on Route 8 bus in San Miguel
OK, seven pesos with a donation for the music. We have extolled the benefits of traveling by bus in SMA before, but we forgot to mention that apart from being frequent, fun, and very cheap, you also get in-flight entertainment. On the way back from the Tianguis this week, Juan, one of the regular musicians who hop on and off on route 8, hopped on.
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At last, a Mexican driving license
Mexican driving license
Only slightly more complicated to get than a US green card. After endless hours trolling around getting medical certificates and stuff, I was one of the lucky few to get to use the new written test in what was purported to be English, but which must have been translated using some widget on a PC, the results of which Her Majesty would not recognize. (my desktop translator came up with “Bristle the step” when I was trying to find out what “Ceda el paso” meant, – the message on Mexican yield signs). At least when you’re finished you get quite a cool laminated card. It even has my fingerprint covering most of the map of the State of Guanajuato – what a sense of power. I will show this next time I get hauled over for speeding on the New York State Thruway.
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Pop goes the cactus again
Latest cactus flower in our roof garden
Another wonderful cactus flower. I suppose we should know the latin names for all these things. Had cactus originated in England like I was, I am sure they would have been given wonderful folksy names like “Old Man’s Floggle” or “Queen Mary’s Gobbet” or something we would at least remember. What kind of name is Astrophytum prismaticum? (Now I discover that after being a smartass about it, this cactus is acutally commonly known as the Bishop’s Cap Cactus.)
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Mexico export stamps 1975
Mexico export stamps for cattle and meat, bicycles, shoes, and denim
For those whose sensitivities are offended by most stamp designs, and who appreciate decent graphics, this series of stamps promoting Mexican exports, issued originally in 1975 and continuing into the mid 1990’s, should appeal. For a look at the complete series, check out Somestamps.
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Exhibition to benefit the Village of Las Clavellinas
Las Clavellinas, settled about 1,000 years ago, is one of the oldest villages around San Miguel. Despite sporadic water and electricity supplies, a group of Village women, otherwise without work, have formed a family garden and sewing workshop to improve their economic conditions. To help them, the artist Honore Kaplan has created a series of collage and oil pastel portraits of significant San Miguel women involved in community projects. These are now on show at the Gerry Hill Gallery at Reloj 46. A significant percentage of the proceeds will be donated to help the women of Las Clavellinas in their venture, which Mayor Lucy Núñez hopes will become a model for other similar programs.
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Hedwig and the Angry Inch in SMA
Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Santa Ana Theater in SMA
Today, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (the real deal) managed to draw a packed crowd from the aging rocker gringos in San Miguel, plus a respectable showing of some younger and more local faces which was a nice change. The Teatro Santa Ana in the Bibliotecta provided an intimate venue and very responsive audience, to the obvious delight of Hedwig and crew.
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Cactus that yells at you
Cactus flower
Where we come from, cactus are lumpy objects, won in raffles or bought in Ikea, that sit on shelves gathering dust and wilting until bits fall off. Here in Mexico they jump up and down and surprise you by frequently bursting forth with the most amazing and beautiful flowers. These just popped out in our roof garden.
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The Oaxaca cheese lady
The Oaxaca cheese lady in the Tianguis
Every Tuesday when we can, we visit the Tianguis, or open air market, held at the top of the hill above SMA. One of our favorites here is the best Oaxaca (pronounced Wa-haka) string cheese on the face of the Earth (well, with the possible exception of in Oaxaca). Although it can be obtained anywhere locally, the Tianguis cheese lady’s version, brought in giant balls crammed into spackle buckets and rewound into marketable portions in front of you, is the most buttery and freshest tasting we have ever found. You will recognize her by the line of waiting customers. Also, great chorizo and other goodies.
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