Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Week That Was

There was a lot of scuttlebutt about what was going to happen on November 20th, The Anniversary of the 1910 Revolution.  In view of the missing 43 students, protests were happening in other places.  What would happen here?  On Facebook all kinds of photos of demonstrations were going on, especially in DF.  Other then the marchers that I showed you in the post on the parade, that day, this is what was happening at 5:30PM when the call for the demonstration had been circulated.


A race on two of the busiest streets in San Miguel.  Coming up Mesones and then heading on Nunez.  Major thoroughfares.  Kudos to the police for somehow not having any cars parked on these two streets.  One would assume the whole route was this way.  Amazing sight at 5:30PM on a holiday!

Later that evening there was a peaceful vigil in front of the Parroquia around 8PM with candles and many people.  I wasn't there, hence, no photographs.

About this time last week, the cold weather swooped in.  And I do mean swooped.  About 4:30 that afternoon, the wind was whistling through the trees.  Almost bending them over!  Uh oh, I knew what that meant.  Next morning it was 26F on the downstairs patio!  The following morning it was 28F.

Now Velcro has learned that the heater, as close as possible, is the place to be.  Hence this photo.  It doesn't even matter if its turned on...........if she sees it out in the middle of the room, she's right there.  It makes me laugh if it is off and she still has her paws tucked under it!  It quickly warms my bedroom with the door closed.

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving as all US citizens know - having lunch with friends UP the hill from me overlooking the canyon, I could hardly wait to see what my house looked like from that vantage point.  What really, really surprised me was the fact that you could see the big presa (reservoir) on the other side of town from there.  The one where the ibis fly back and forth to each morning and night.  In the morning, they fly up to the one above this house.  I see and hear them about 8AM every single day.  Then at around 5PM, they head back to the big presa.  The biggest surprise was to realize how small San Miguel really is.

People inaccurately ALL the time say there are 140,000 people in San Miguel.  But, what they are really saying is in San Miguel county (although Mexico doesn't have counties).  The area of that population goes all the way out to HWY 57, the road ultimately that gets me to Texas.  Down to Comonfort and up to Delores Hidalgo (45 minutes away, driving).  There are many, many villages and towns that are in this territory.  They are part of the 140,000 population figure.  In actuality, I would say that the number in the town proper would be somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000.


The first photo shows the presa (reservoir) in the distance.  The second photo shows some of my property.
The area in the middle of the photo with some of the big trees!    Fun to see from this angle.

Then yesterday, Matilda and Sebastian arrived about 9 AM for all of us to go to a big sale at ALMA.
They were dressed for the weather.  I, based on their clothing, had on about four layers myself, including gloves.   All I can say is that I never intended to live somewhere where I needed gloves.
We headed to the sale where there were so many people that we left within ten or fifteen minutes.  Returning here, Grammy (that would be me) fixed pigs in a blanket, chocolate milk and scrambled eggs.  A fun day was had by all............

Great week!


Saturday, November 29, 2014

On the Back Roads of Mexico - Tlalpujahua, Michoacan, Mexico

Several years ago while driving the back roads to Chinqua, one of the nine butterfly sanctuaries, we passed through the village of Tlalpgahua, Mexico.  It's the village that makes bazillions of Christmas ornaments for
export to the USA and beyond.

Stopping briefly, it has always been in the back of my mind that I wanted to go back and take time in the town.

Then a couple of weeks ago, this is the sight that greeted me in the aisles of Bodega Aurrerea, the downscale Walmart in San Miguel.
Loose in this big bin, I knew they had to be from Tlalpujahua.  No, I can't pronounce it.  The only thing I know is that the first T is silent, after that you're on your own.

It brought back that yearning to go there.  In addition to the ornaments, there is one of the two ancient feather artist left working there.  Also cantera is carved and sold there.

Then I remembered that Todd of www.life-in-el-corzon.com  published an article about this village.
Here's the site.  www.life-in-el-corazon.com/2008/08/tlalpgahua-say-that-fast-five-times.html.    He
goes into depth about the town and even places to stay.

The gypsy in me is stirring.  However, in the mean time I think I'm going back to buy some loose ornaments.  All the other stores that sell things have them boxed in beautiful packaging.  I like the idea of buying and touching each one I want......for less then a penny each! 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Margaret and Helen on the Blog roll

I don't know how many of you read the blogs on the blog roll.  But Helen wrote one today that had me laughing so hard that I had to stop reading to wipe the tears out of my eyes.

It's Helen's Thanksgiving Letter to the Family 2014. www.margaretandhelen.com


Everything they write is a delight.

                           Happy Thanksgiving from me............a friend of Margaret and Helen's.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Photographing the People of Mexico

It would be easily possible to do nothing else other then photograph the amazing people of Mexico.  I've take a few pictures over the years - like thousands and thousand.

A few days ago going through boxes of photos from the time before a digital camera, it was delightful to
look at a face and remember the story.  Where I was?  What was the situation?  Did I talk with the person or people?

The photos that bring me the greatest joy are the ones of the indigenous peoples in their native dress.
I always ask..........if it is okay to take the photo.  Often, the answer is no, please don't and I respect that.

Back in the 80's, no one wanted you to take their photo.  Its not as much that way anymore.

Chiapas is a whole other world.  In several villages around San Cristobal there are signs as you enter the town telling you NO FOTOGRAPHIA.    And, they mean it.  I saw similar signs in Guatemala as well.
It's hard to not, but I don't.

Last Thursday while sitting and waiting for the parade, I caught a few people who were also waiting for the parade.  Mostly children.  But the treasure photo is an abuela (grandmother) talking to friends.  Her face just
captured me.

Hope you enjoy these few photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.



Viva Mexico!


Sunday, November 23, 2014

An Unexpected Pleasure

While sitting on the steps at the corner of the jardin on Thursday, two young women and several students in school uniforms were sitting in front of them.

 


We started talking.  Their vivacious personalities reminded me so much of my three granddaughters.
As we talked, I discovered that they are working and teaching at a Christian school out in the campo near
La Paz.

Analyze is 22 years old and from Ohio.  The town where Smucker's jellies and jams are made.  One of four children, she has been in the San Miguel area since July.  She had come down for a visit previously and returned to work for a year doing "mission  work", as she said.  Previously she had spent time doing the same thing in Haiti.  Wow, was I impressed.

Asher was the other young woman.  Responsible, articulate, always watching the kids, I was totally impressed in her maturity.  Asher is from Delaware and here for a year as well.

The stories of how their families have reacted to the independence of these young women to come to Mexico was intriguing.  Their commitment to living in the country and working with the kids in this
school was more then admirable.

Analyze expressed how difficult it has been not to have her car.  But, she explained, she has mastered
the "not very reliable" bus to come into San Miguel. With no phone and hardly internet service, it has to be a labor of love.

I must confess it would never have occurred to me at that age to take on the responsibilities and workload
that they have done.  It would not surprise me to see my granddaughters doing this however.  My oldest granddaughter has worked with my daughter in the summers to rebuild homes for people and all kinds of other projects.

The project is called Mission Mexico.  The name of the ranch that they live at is Rancho Mariposa.

It was such an unexpected pleasure to meet them and some of the students.  It made my day to know
students and young people with such dedication.  I certainly hope to connect with them again, soon.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Marching Along in Mexico on Revolution Day - November 20, 2014

To say that this years parade was different would be an understatement.  No little kids dressed as Pancho Villa and his sidekicks.  Little frivolity.  Kindergarteners add frivolity but only very few, like two, were in this parade this year.

Instead it was marching groups - drill teams, drummers, cheerleaders, senior citizens.............and those that were honoring the 43 students that are missing in the State of Guerrero.

Having arrived early at 10AM to be there for the 11AM parade, the sight of those wearing placards to honor the 43 were the first thing I saw.
Drumming and chanting.  Bystanders watched quietly and respectfully.  They had just walked in front of the Parroquia where banners have been placed on the fence in front at least a week ago, if not more.  You can see those placards in the first photo in the background.

After the group moved down Umuran, I went to look for a good perch where I could sit and watch the little ones come by. 
However, the group that I had seen at 10AM were leading the parade again with the drummers and chanting.
Again, the spectators stood in respectful silence.


Now I know why on any afternoon when I'm home and outside, I can hear drummers practicing, somewhere.  At least twenty drumming groups were in the parade. Of all ages and sizes.  They do love to
drum and march.
Adding to the poignancy of the parade were the special needs children.  Some walking and some in wheelchairs.  It is so touching that they are not forgotten, but get to participate like all the other kids.
Right behind the special needs kids came this truck with a beautiful elderly woman sporting a tiara.  It was lovely as she was followed by older women who were dancing!
Mexican parades are NEVER predictable.  I've never seen this group before in any parade.
In the USA in parades, it is always fancy convertibles.  This just made me laugh out loud.  It carried a precious cargo.
Two little kindergarteners busily eating fresh fruit who could have cared less that they were in the parade!


By now it was almost 1PM and I left.  And so it goes.........when I headed home at 3PM, the parade was still going on.  Women with aprons on were dancing in the street.

Marching in Mexico is for everyone!


Thursday, November 20, 2014

It's NOT Always Paradise in Paradise!

At 7:34 this morning, yes, I looked at the clock, I heard what I thought was a motorcycle revving outside my
bedroom wall.  It went on and on and on.  For once, I had decided I didn't need to fly out of bed at my usual 7:15 to 7:30 routine.

But, I was like the guy in The Christmas Story.  I flew from my bed and tore open the sash, or whatever that sentence is............I DID throw back the curtains.  That's when I saw it!

It wasn't a motorcycle but a guy in the top of the majestic eucalyptus tree on the grounds of the kindergarten going crazy with a chain saw.
Horrified, I grabbed my camera and in my big fuzzy green robe I stepped out onto the downstairs patio to take his photo.

Little "gets my dander up" like someone with a chain saw cutting down an old tree.  Honestly, if I could have knocked him out of it or could have said something to him (I thought of things to say), I would have.

The sound of a chainsaw is bad enough.  They remind me of the times after hurricanes.  After Hurricane Alicia in 1983, when I lived in Nassau Bay, that was the sound for three weeks.  The town had been built on a  former piece of property where pecan orchards had stood along with old, old cypress and oak trees.  It was so sad and discombobulating to hear and see.

The guys are still out there dismembering the stately old tree.  It's been two hours.  I know they are doing it today because the city offices are closed.  I bet money on it that they don't have a permit.  The principal of that school on various Sundays (no municipal office open then either) has managed to have  at least ten huge, old majestic trees toppled.  Aaargh.

Since this area of Mexico has been deforested,  and there are laws to prevent people from removing healthy trees, this makes me absolutely crazy.

And, it's not just in Mexico.  I've always been this way about trees.  I remember an incident when I lived in Houston.  I lived in a townhouse complex.  A resident decided he didn't like the oak leaves falling on his car so he hired some tree trimmers to get rid of this century old tree.  I DID go racing over there and in my best Spanish, stopped them from touching the tree.  I was President of the homeowners association, thankfully.

So, now, you know my weakness.  Take out a tree and you might suffer my wrath.  Ha.

Think I'm going to have to leave the house.  I can feel my blood pressure being elevated.

Adios.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Street Scenes - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

There are always soooooooo many things to photograph here in Mexico.  In fact, I usually try to keep the camera on top of all the stuff in my purse so I can get to it quickly.  Sometimes quickly isn't fast enough.

What comes to mind is the time I was leaving a restaurant and saw a camel centered in the door frame going up Correo!  I fumbled and futzed but couldn't get the camera out fast enough.  Then the elephant came by and I DID get a shot of that.  The circus was in town.  They used to parade the animals through town sans cages.  No more.  Now they go on the periphery of town, sadly, in cages.

Anyway, I digress.  It happened last Monday at the Coffee Klatch group,  I heard horses hooves.  Fumbling to get the camera out, horse with rider, after horse with rider was riding by behind the jardin faster then I could get to the camera.  Darn.  I managed to get the last two riders.  They were heading home from the big gathering near Gunajuato where thousands of riders go this time of year for a gathering and blessing.  Now to get to Guanajuato in a car takes an hour.  Can you imagine how long it would take on a horse?  I'll never find out, trust me.  My horse days are over since the last time I was at the butterfly sanctuary.  One has to ride horses up to the 10,000 overlook.........on wooden saddles.  Never again for me.
Later on that day, as I was getting in the car, I looked up at this lovely sight.  A wall with an opening, but no window.  Yes, the sky is really that beautiful shade of blue.  No industry in San Miguel.  I never tire of the color of the sky.

This shot reminds me of being in a village somewhere in the state of Veracruz once where the entire street of houses had collapsed, but the front walls were still there and the window openings highlighted the jungle
behind.  A scene I've never forgotten.

This wall is on Mesones.  One block from the jardin!  I presume the parking lot I park in was at one time a hacienda and this wall is all that is left of it.  Things are definitely built to last in Mexico, even if its just one wall.

Then on Sunday while working up on the roof terrace I looked over the wall onto the dirt path next to my house.  YES, the piles of rubble are still there.  But, a lovelier sight greeted me on Sunday morning.

It was two boys hitting a ball.  They had a bat, a ball and a mitt.   I checked on them periodically.  What fun they were having.  About two hours later, off they went, home for lunch I presume.

It's fun to watch the kids here play with so little.  Once, sitting in a nearby plaza, I watched two boys with a large empty plastic soft drink bottle play for at least an hour with that bottle.  First it was a soccer ball.  Then they pitched it back and forth.  They spun it and a myriad of other things.  Their creativity was a delight to see.

And, isn't that what its all about?  Seeing and noticing the little things as we traverse this earth.  Each and every one of the above events enhanced my life last week.  What about you?  What did you see?


Monday, November 17, 2014

Touched and Honored by Blog Readers

The day started out to be one way, and by the afternoon it has turned into a whole other plan.  Not unusual, to put it mildly.

Yesterday I was making lists in the evening of all the things that needed to be done.  Josefina and Javier were coming.  All kinds of handyman stuff for Javier and a few things for Josefina still to do in the guest house.

Then at 8:15AM this morning the phone rang.  NEVER a good thing for the phone to ring that early.  Yup, Josefina was ill and not coming.  Ok, no big deal.  I can make the bed and do the dishes in the sink that I left last night.

Javier came and we went over his list, which, to be sure he got all eight things done (which he did), he wrote it over in Spanish.  He tickled me so when I asked him to get the standing water out of the sink upstairs.  No, there is not a plug. That would be too easy.  He said, "Ahh yes, casa de mosquitoes"  Made me laugh.

What could be on the list?  Here's some of it.  Touch up the outside wall where the bulldozer threw rocks up against the rust wall and left white holes.  Knock down a hornet's nest.  NO, I don't want to know how to do that or what Javier did to get rid of it.  Pull some weeds.  Cut off a dead limb on the china berry tree. On and on and on.  He loved that he had a written list and didn't have to remember all those things, he told me.

Then I got a call telling me there was NOT going to be the delightful Revolution Day parade today.   I didn't believe it. Every parent and cab driver I asked last week said it was today.   Knowing it has been a three day holiday, I did something I seldom do, I took the taxi to the centro.  A darn good thing.  EVERY parking lot was full.  You can tell when that has happened.  They close their doors.

Went to the Farmacia Ahorra to pick up meds.  Now many stores have a card that you use and ostensibly it is worth something, but I never knew until today what it was for.  The pharmacist rang up my meds and then told me there was enough credit on that card to get them for free!  Woo hoo.  A gift.

That started this part of the day on a good note.  Happily I headed to meet the coffee klatch group who was hanging on the edge of the cafe as the whole town is and was FULL of tourists.

No parade today.  Bummer.......but I didn't let them dampen my enthusiasm for the next event to come.

At 12:30 the plan was to meet a couple from Santa Monica California who have read the blog for many years.  They have communicated with me via comments and emails.  Today we FINALLY met.  How delightful! 
We only got to spend two hours together, unfortunately, but it could have been two days.   I don't think we would have run out of things to talk about.  I so hope that Rick and Lily return again another time.  It appears they will.

It's been an enchanting time the last month.  I've met two other couples as well.  One couple from near Laguna Beach, California along with two others from Cleveland Ohio and Mexico City.  Again, upon meeting it was as though we had known each other forever.  It's a surreal feeling.

I'm so touched and honored when people take the time to want to meet.  It enriches my life to put a face to all the comments.  A really interesting phenomena.

As always, life is good.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Traveling the Back Roads of Mexico!

Nothing makes my heart sing more then to be on the back roads of Mexico!  To see the horizons, the fertile land with brocolli or maize or whatever that is planted for as far as the eye can see and to see the people. 

The last few days I've been on the road for brief periods.  Over to near Delores Hidalgo for some talavera pots to replace some rusted buckets on the roof terrace.  In the distance were rolling thunderclouds.  The mountains were misty so I knew the rain was imminent.  Indeed, before I got back to San Miguel we had a lovely rain shower for a few hours.

Gratefulness flooded me as it tamped down the dirt that has surrounded the house, me and Velcro's paws.
Yes, there have been little dirt prints in the house lately. 

Then yesterday, I headed over to Celaya for shopping at Walmart, Home Depot and Costco.  A stocking up trip so I can be ready for Christmas baking in a few weeks among other things.  Necessary things like plant food and concrete nails.  A ham for a gathering.  Stuff like that.

The drive was exquisitely beautiful as always with the planted fields everywhere.  In addition, the yellow daisy wildflowers are still blooming.  So tall as to almost be a boundary marker for the fields.  It is interesting how that drive is so relaxing.  No towns to drive through so its all countryside.

One new addition to the drive is a huge vineyard.  All the stock is planted on rolling hillsides.  Quite lovely.
Many vineyards growing in this area now.  Close to ten.  The soil and atmosphere here is perfect for grapes.
Think Napa, or, don't laugh, Texas Hill country, which has won many awards. 

A few weeks ago I was on the back roads around San Miguel.  Get away from centro in the colonias  and there can be all kinds of sights to see.
I was passing through Colonia Obraje when I caught sight of something moving in the distance.  At that time I wasn't quite certain what I was seeing.
By now I could see that it was someone hauling chairs down the cobbled road toward San Miguel and the centro.  Either to a store or a home, but since unpainted or unstained, probably a store.
Six chairs being hauled to market!  So many memories flooded my mind.  IF I were still in business, I would have stopped the man and asked where his taller was, what he made and what were the prices. 

There were times in the past, especially over in Michoacan, when I have followed a truck until it stopped to find out where the beautiful things were coming from.  Many a day was spent meeting these amazing craftsmen and women along with seeing their creations.

One of the most amazing stories goes way back into the late 70's when I met Bustamante in Tlaquepaque selling his surreal work.  He didn't have the fancy shops that he has now but was sitting on a wall with his work spread out around.  We talked for quite a while.  To be truthful, I had never seen anything like his work and was so intrigued.  He asked if I wanted to go to his taller to see more.  Of course I said, "Yes". We rode in his old beat up pickup truck to his taller.  It was like being on another planet.  Surreal work everywhere.

Of course today, I couldn't afford any of his work.  His well designed boutiques are not only in Mexico but I've seen them in the USA as well. 

Then there is the memory of my buying clay pots down in centro in San Miguel.  The owner said he would have his man deliver the six large pots that I purchased to my home.  Of course, I thought he had a truck.
Next thing I see as I look out the window a few hours later is an ancient man coming up the steep cobbled road with the pots on his head!  It was a sight that was hard to believe.

Maybe that is why I'm still so happy to be here.  Just when I think I've seen a lot, something else either surprises me since I"ve never seen it before or something I see brings back sweet memories.

Viva Mexico!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Velcro, The Guard Cat

Velcro has been in rare form for the last three weeks.  She has been checking on the bulldozer, the dirt piles and the workers.  As the dirt piles get larger and larger next to the house, she climbs up on the wall to look down and see how much farther until she will be able to just step off the wall onto the top of the pile.

Here's a photo of her sitting at the gate watching me taking photos of the demise of the formerly beautiful vines and plants on the front of the house.
As you can tell, she doesn't look very happy.  She's not smiling or anything.  Just contemplating the rocks and mess.
Neither do the vines.  This is all that is left of the grass and the vines which were trailed up the wall.  It's hard to believe that one flower is actually blooming with all that concrete along with boulders on top of it.

The neighbors, Velcro and I are all contemplating how many more weeks of this it will take to re cobble the street.  Get the rocks off of our houses and life will return to normalcy.  Wanna bet?
As if the street in front of the house isn't bad enough, now there are piles of rubble.  We are all in great hopes that it will be used to resurface the death defying road on the side of the house.  That is my car where it is now being parked until I can get it back to its proper parking place. 

Yesterday one of the parents got too close to the rubble and a boulder was wedged under the front tire.  The guys couldn't get the boulder out so four of them lifted up the front end of the car and someone else got the boulder out.  An extraordinary sight!

Enough already with all the drama!  Hopefully it won't be long and the tranquility will return.

But to add to all this, my tinaco (water tank) on top of my house burst yesterday.  No, I don't have any photos.  I was too busy trying to get someone here to turn the water off on the tank.  It looked like Niagara Falls was on top of my roof.  Water running off in torrents into the dirt pile.  It's a good thing I had just returned home from lunch.  New tinaco installation on Thursday.  Another adventure.  I can hardly wait.....

As Roseanna Anna  Danna used to say, "It's ALWAYS something"  

Monday, November 10, 2014

Holiday Rental in San Miguel de Allende - Christmas and/or New Years, 2014/2015

A glitch in the system, in other words, the previous tenant in a matter of days, decided that Mexico was not for her.  She has left.  Another tenant has secured the house beginning January 15, 2015.

That leaves it available for rent for both a week at Christmas and a week at New Years!  This has not happened in years!

The free standing house is surrounded by lush landscaping including fruit trees and flowers.  
Inside the gate is this lovely area to sit and enjoy the view or greet Velcro, the cat!
 The suede covered sofa opens into a queen bed for additional guests.  The furnishings are quite comfortable
 The first floor is "open concept" with living, dining and kitchen areas.  Plenty of windows provide a light filled space with views to the many gardens.
Stairs lead to the second floor which provides the master bedroom with adjacent bath.

 The bed is a queen size bed with a very comfortable mattress.  Plenty of windows along with French doors
 again provide lots of natural light and spectacular views of the canyon and hillsides.  Plenty of space to
read a book, check emails or sit out on the balcony to revel in the blissful atmosphere.  The room is 16 ft x 20 ft, which is a very large room.
The bathroom is adjacent to the bedroom with a large shower.

The third floor is the roof terrace which is the size of the entire second floor.  It has views of the mountains in the distance, the gardens below along with the canyon and hillsides.

Rental for the Christmas holidays would be from Sunday, December 21 until Saturday December 27th.
The cost would be $750 USD along with a $300 USD security deposit which is refundable within 30 days.

Rental for the New Years celebrations would be from Sunday December 28 until Saturday, January 3, 2015.
The cost would be $750 USD along with a $300 USD security deposit which would be refundable within 30 days.

I've been told by B&B owners along with hotels that there are no rooms available for either of these holidays  PLUS that is just a room, which is well over $100USD a night, for a room.  This is a house that is a ten minute walk to the jardin or five minute walk to the artesan's market along with the vegetable and fruit market.  In addition, it is very quiet!  A rarity in Mexico.

It's a deal.  If interested, please contact me at babsofsanmiguel@yahoo.com.

Gracias!

Monday, November 03, 2014

Walking the Plank

Leaving the house this morning, "the trench" looked no different then it did last week when all this "whatever" started - one week tomorrow, matter of fact.




Left at 10:15, returned at 2:30PM.  A HUGE pile of dirt in the middle of the street.  The bulldozer driver was resting.  Guess it was his lunch period.  I backed up the street when I realized I better NOT get near the bulldozer but get closer to the corner with the Pathfinder.




Getting out of the car, it was not quite possible to see down by my house because of the curvature of the street.  Walking down the sidewalk, I was so busy watching so I would not trip or something that I didn't look up until I got close to the house.

When what to my wondering eyes appeared a trench at least seven feet deep and two feet wide with NO access to my front entrance!  Hmmmm.

I turned and started back up the hill trying to figure out how it would be possible to get to my door.  The bulldozer driver was watching.

In the most perfect Spanish that I could muster, it was apparent from whatever I said, that I needed help.
Luckily the lady of the house next door to me and her son came out just about then.  She just kept saying, "Oh Senora, cuidado" (be careful).

It didn't appear that there was any way to walk on the very narrow space between the building and the trench since it was strewn with boulders and rocks from the cobbled street.

The young man from next store took my arm and very, very slowly we made our way to my house.  We moved at a snail's pace.

The bulldozer man watched the whole episode.

After thinking about it, and knowing that at 5PM I needed to leave the house again, it was necessary to communicate again with the bulldozer man about how the heck I was going to get over the trench to leave.
I told him I needed to leave.  That I am an abuela (grandmother) and needed to go to the nietos (grandchildren).  Then I gave him some cookies I got at the bakery today.

I'll never know if it was the Grammy thing or the cookies.  Next thing I know, he had found a board.  It was about 8 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick that was placed across the trench when I looked out the gate about thirty minutes later.  It was a solution but not a very safe one. Beggars can't be choosers, however.

Again in my most pitiful Spanish, I let him know my age and that my knee was bad and it would be very dangerous for me to cross that board alone.

Lo and behold, when it was time for me to leave, there were two young men digging seven feet down.  As I approached the board, one got on each side of me to hold my hand to cross the trench........the deep, deep hole without me even asking!  Aaah.

Whew, okay then.  That was navigated.  Off I went to my appointment.  The whole time I was gone my thoughts were on getting back in time for someone to help me BACK across the darn board before they left for the day.

Home I was in about an hour.  It was inconceivable what my eyes saw.  Totally.  NO trench.  NO dirt pile.
I mean NOTHING.  It had all been filled in.  It allowed me to walk right into my house.  In ONE hour they had accomplished all that.
This photo is standing in the garden photographing out to where the trench had been!
Looking left and then right!
Where the dirt is darker is where the trench was located.  The rocks are the former road.  What the heck that blue tubing is is anyone's guess.  I'm sure we'll all find out tomorrow...........or some day.

Shaking my head, I had to go out and photograph this.  It was so amazing and surreal.  It needed to be documented.

Here I was dreading jumping the trench or walking the plank.  Instead I just walked into the gate like a normal person.

No words to describe my disbelief.  I have been chuckling about this now for about thirty minutes.

Mexico continues to be a mystery and delight to me - even after all these years!