The "Best" of the Bench

When I'm "out of sorts" and feeling slightly grumpy, for one reason or the other, a trip to "the bench" seems to make everything right in the World.

I managed to get there yesterday!  It is not that easy anymore as they have closed the streets around the jardin so it is about a three block walk, with cane in hand, always looking down to avoid holes and tilted cobblestones.   But, I got there!

It was a National Holiday and so it was apparent there would be lotsa people there to celebrate the birthday of Benito Juarez.  I was not disappointed.

Along with visitors, however, there were the regular "benchinistas" such as, Bella the dog, who was stretching out and laying sprawled so all that saw her had to walk around her.  It is such a treat just to observe all the comments, photos, petting and other things people do when they see Bella.

Many, many Asian tourists in town yesterday.  One was a young woman who with her beautiful camera was taking many photos of Bella.  We started talking.  She is from China but a student in the USA at John Hopkins University.  She is here for Spring Break.  Her English was so perfect that if she had not told me that she is from China, I would have assumed that she was from the USA.  What a lovely person.

After she left a couple sat down next to me.  The man went over to rub Bella's ears and her stomach.
I've never, in all these years. seen Bella that excited.  After all she is a Bassett Hound and not prone to displays of excitement.  Usually rather droll.  Well, the belly rub really, really thrilled her.

I figured if that man was that gentle and kind to Bella that it might be nice to talk to he and his wife.
Indeed it was.  They are from Ottawa and come each year for close to two months.  They do indeed
love Mexico and San Miguel.  We covered a huge range of subjects.  Some of which made the three of us laugh out loud.  It is always very interesting to me to talk with Canadians.  They have a wider world view, IMHO.  Their perception and sadness of what is going on in the USA is eye opening.

These people along with many Canadians that I have talked with in the last year or so tell me that they arrange their flights here and home so that they fly OVER the USA and do not have to deal with US Customs in the USA due, often, to their rudeness.  Wow, what a sad commentary.............Often the rudeness is not directed at them, but Mexican people on the same flight that have to go through Customs.  A viewpoint through another person's eyes.

After about an hour of conversation this couple moved on to things they needed to do and then my great and old time friend Angie sat down.  Angie and I have known each other since I moved here.
She came here from Haiti over twenty years ago.  A fantastic artist and lover of life along with all things that have to do with cats.  She even painted a cat on the front of her house!  We caught up with each other's news and then parted ways.

Reluctantly, I had things that I needed to do or I could have sat and watched the panorama of people for hours.  It is NEVER a dull moment in the jardin.  It is one of the beautiful things about Mexico.  Parks are used.  Benches are used and one need never be lonely.  Walk to the jardin and it is like you are in a National Geographic Special. 

I certainly needed that yesterday..............Viva Mexico!