I Love Zumba

I guess you've heard me say that before but I thought I'd post a few photos of a Zumba fundraiser for breast cancer education in the center square tonight so you can see why. It was a cool evening and about 200 men and women joined everyone's heartthrob, Cezar, in "Zumbaing." The audience was at least as large as they sat around the square watching us workout.

































Here is a website that provides free mammograms when you click through to low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited.

The Celebration Continues

We went down for our usual Sunday breakfast this morning and ran into these guys who were really into getting their photo taken. You know me, always ready to oblige.

This is the last day of parades and dancing which closes the celebration of St. Michael Arcangel. The drumming and fireworks will continue into the night.

Speaking of celebrations into the night, our neighbor celebrated her 15th birthday (la Quinceanera or Quince (XV) Años) in a traditional manner recognizing her journey from childhood to maturity. The celebration highlights God, family, friends, music, food, and dance which includes disco balls flashing and speakers blaring into the night. We left at dusk but the dancing continued until after midnight.

The family asked if Yoli and I would please take photos which we will print and give as a gift. I was very pleased to see that this celebration didn't follow the over-the-top tradition we have seen in the past which includes an elaborate white dress for the birthday girl and a court of 14 young people in formal clothing. This one had a simple service at the local church, the food was tasty homemade chicken mole and rice and the party continued in their compound.

Here she is with some of her guests and here is the beautiful 15 year old birthday girl.

San Miguel Arcangel

As always, this was an exciting week in celebration of the patron Saint of the city. The highlight is, of course, La Alborada (in English, the Dawn) which starts at 4am on Saturday morning and continues for an hour until the Devils have been vanquished in their attack on the Parroquia. By 3:30 the main square was standing room only.

I wrote about this last year here and I really like that slide show but I wanted to add this video to give you a sense of the incredible hour of noise and energy. This video is about 11 seconds and if your volume is up you will get the idea of what the hour sounded like. You can hear the church bells as well. Bryan says he will bring his ear plugs next time.

Forever 54

In the US we have the shop Forever 21 but here in San Miguel we, apparently, aspire to remain the magical age of 54. Thought you would enjoy.

The Birthday Girl

I woke up this morning to some wonderful birthday greetings from friends and family. Thank you all so much for sending good wishes and your love this way. Here is the birthday girl getting ready to share her mocha cake with Bryan, sitting on the 3rd floor terrace of a pastry shop we love. I don't even know the name of the place but it overlooks the street that runs into the Jardin, Calle San Francisco. Below us we could hear the ankle bells and drums of the Indian dancers who were celebrating in front of the Parroquia.

My birthday is special because it coincides with the celebration of the city's patron saint, San Miguel, which includes plenty of fireworks, parades and other festivities over the next week. With this in mind, I would like to share this beautiful video, San Miguel de Allende: The Heart of Mexico, which I just saw today. It is the one presented earlier this year to UNESCO, along with tons of documentation, to secure World Heritage status for San Miguel de Allende. www.terrazassanmiguel.com/heart_of_mexico.html Enjoy.

Obama -- Si Se Puede

Obama has come to San Miguel, at least his paper image has. (That is some random woman posing with him.)

About 450 San Miguel Democrats convened at a beautiful hacienda to fundraise and console each other about the state of the economy. It was very impressive.


There was a silent auction, a raffle, and you could get your photo taken with him for one Obama buck (worth 20 pesos or about $2 each). And of course any function wouldn't be complete without mariachis.

















We were newly returned so we ran into lots of friends. Here is Jo looking etherial as usual in her Obama button and beautiful necklace and shawl.





















And here are Yoli and Victor in front of a painting being auctioned as part of the silent auction.














It feels good to be back in San Miguel. As I write this, fireworks are exploding somewhere out there in the night and preparations are being made for the fiestas for the city's patron saint, San Miguel, next weekend. Stay tuned...

Back in San Miguel!

We're back in San Miguel after a stopover in San Diego for Melissa's wedding shower on Sunday. Here we are with Beza and Dennis.

When I am away I forget the lovely sounds that surround us here: the jaunty tune played over and over by the propane tank delivery truck, the old man across the street who chips rocks starting early in the morning and is building a lovely new wall, the tin worker whose workbench touches the back wall of our house and clanks on tin all day, and of course the chickens and dogs contribute.
Here is the view of the new, almost competed wall from our 3rd floor. For some reason his pile of building rocks in front has grown since we left.













Our first order of business was to get hooked up to the internet so Monday afternoon we went into their office and signed up for another 6 months. The installers arrived in their cheerful car which is still flying the national flag from the Independence Day celebration last week. Unfortunately our old modem was faulty but we finally got everything working this morning.

















Here they are stringing line from our third floor balcony to the pole across the street.

















This afternoon we made our first foray into town and had a first class hamburger at the recently opened Oliver's Hamburguesas.














Then we checked out (from the outside) the new Starbucks on the center square. and the place where you can now rent Segways. Much has changed in 6 months but that is ok.

One last photo of our dining area with the placemats we bought in Cambodia and the calla lillies from my sister Joyce. It makes me smile.