Guanajuato, MX for October 2019

Templo in La Valenciana

It has been a very long time since I have written. I like to review all the details of our "travel" life in this blog, rather than our day to day "normal" activities. We did spend over 2 months in the US this year and caught up with nearly everyone we know during that time. I am always grateful to have time to see you all and our only regret is that we don't have more time. The good news is that when we are not with you, we are with someone else and we are blessed to have wonderful friends and family all over the globe.

Plaza Mexiamora

Getting ready for
Cervantino

We were very happy to return to Mexico and this October we spent the month in the city of Guanajuato (about 1+ hour from San Miguel and the capitol of the state of Guanajuato). It is a place that we enjoy and will return to again. We rented a small casita right in Plaza Mexiamora which is very central to all the activity in town. October is the month of the Cervantino Festival and this was the 47th year. It is a festival of culture - music, dance, theater and takes place at all hours of day and night in all the venues in town. It was our first time and we attended events in various theaters and other venues (such as an ex-hacienda and the golden church right next to the silver mines of Valenciana.

Teatro Juarez

"Estudiantes"

Guanajuato is a University city (Univ. of Guanajuato UG) so it is youthful and lively all the time. We have nightly serenades of the "Estudiantes" - groups of young people who sing and walk all the narrow city streets in group, drinking tequila and enjoying the night life. We have a few friends here but not as many as other places which for us is a good thing - we have time with each other and time to catch up on reading and watching our Netflix series. We are now watching "Reina del Flow" about Reggaeton music and taking place in Colombia where we were earlier this year. It is a soap opera in Spanish (we do read the English subtitles) which is keeping us entertained every night.

off Plaza Baratillo

We also returned to Escuela Falcon for continued Spanish classes - always trying to improve a bit. I must admit that I have seemed to reach a point and don't see any changes in my ability to communicate. I can be understood and I mostly understand but continue to make errors which the Mexican's are SO kind to forgive. We do meet nice folks at school and it was just around the corner from our casita.

Walking the steps of UG

We are beginning to get in shape for our big upcoming trip in 2020 which will include lots of walking. We are daily walking up the long steps to UG either 1, 2 or 3 times/day. I continue to find something to draw everyday, especially in this colorful city.

A view of the Pipila from our casita

time to juggle

Fandango music and dance

The little star of the show

favorite gordita spot

Flowers in Plaza Baratillo

For the information of those who did not know - I broke my wrist in July and just want you all to know that I am healing well and nearly back to all range of motion, including downward facing dog in yoga so for that, I am grateful. I have a plate and 5 screws which I believe will stay in forever. 

That is it for now as we head off to San Miguel de Allende for several months. The big news is that our annual "Big Read" for Libros para Todos is happening in November. If you are in the area, please join us for various activities. Francisco Jimenez will be at Bellas Artes on Sat. Nov 9 at 11am (Spanish) and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of SMA on Sunday, Nov 10 at 10:30 (English). These events are open to the public.