Mexico, SM Week 3

January is flying by, and why not! There are many choices each day for things to do, so we decided to get started and enjoy the offerings of this cultural town. This week the town celebrated the birthday of Ignacio  Allende, born in San Miguel on January 21, 1769, who was a captain in the Spanish army who switched sides and fought for independence. Tonight we can hear the fireworks exploding in celebration ending a week of parades, parties and events in the central park in San Miguel.

Monday morning we had our 3rd Spanish class with our teacher Paco and Susan. 

Monday afternoon it was off to dance lessons with instructors Sandra and Fernando. Bill is showing off his moves doing the Cumbria, an introduction to Salsa. We were back again on Friday.

The billboard at the market is filled with the weeks upcoming entertainment. 

St. Paul's Church

Three Amigos! Rick and Rafael from Buenos Aires. We met at a Playhouse theatre on Friday night and met up again on Sunday. They came to our casita on Thursday evening and we had a lovely time with our landlady Carrie, sharing stories of travel adventures over a bottle (or 2)of wine. They told us of their 30 day walk on the Way of Saint James/Camino de Santiago. May be our next adventure! Or Buenos Aires! Did you know they have glaziers in Argentina?

Phyllis and Lee from Philadelphia. Don't you love Lee's shoes! We met this fun couple at the library and joined them one day for lunch and again for jazz. Again, 2 great travellers with stories to match. On Sunday we listened to a concert at St.Paul's Anglican Church featuring a duet of violin and piano performing Mozart and composers from the 19th century. On Thursday we switched over to Jazz at a night club with them. We listened to a great quartet that included Richie Cole on sax (Manhattan Transfer, Buddy Rich, Doc Severinsen) and Luis Gasca on trumpet (Janis Joplin, Santana, Van Morrison, Count Basie, Herbie Hancock). The cost for entrance, 2 drinks, all the popcorn, carmelcorn, peanuts and pretzels you can eat = $12Can.

Don't laugh! We are very proud of our results from the art class we took on Wednesday following another Spanish class. I couldn't believe it was possible for me to sketch a lime I could actually recognize as such. And Bill drew garlic and a study of a wine opener! It was great fun.

Friday evening found us once again at the San Miguel Playhouse with our Spanish classmate Susan and her husband. Susan's friend from New York was performing a Cabernet show with 3 other female vocalists. Songs by Rogers&Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin as well as a number each from Elton John and Billy Joel. The talent was amazing. Susan's friend was a voice major at Julliard who at the age of 17 (in 1961, do the math) was selected for the first national tour of the Sound of Music. She played Liesl Von Trapp. Also showcasing their talent was a Canadian, born in Alberta and who performed with the Calgary Opera, an actor singer who played on the New York stage, and the fourth lady is a former member of the Chicago Symphony. I only tell you this to announce the quality of performers we've seen are professional and accomplished in their fields and now retiried in San Miguel.

Ah, Saturday the 21st. Even SM held a peaceful Women's Solidarity Walk and Rally. And as was seen in major cities in the world, it was not only for human rights but very political in expressing their feelings of mistrust for the new POTUS, chanting "keep your hands off my pants!" The top right picture is Bill and our landlady Carrie, with the red scarf. Participants were asked to wear red and white so an excellent day for me to wear my HBC red jacket with CANADA in large white letters. This week we could have sold all our "I am Canadian" pins and shirts over and over to Americans. Makes you even more proud of the Maple Leaf! 

Hasta la vista!  

Written by Susanne, edited by Guillermo, photos by both!