More than one hundred dancers dressed in pre Hispanic costumes fill the Jardin this weekend to honour one of the city's most venerated religious figures, Our Lord of the Conquest. Religious traditions take place in the Parroquia, and then they go out to dance in the streets for hours on end to the beat of tradtional drum rhythms. The dancers come from all over the country and the costumes are very colourful and intricately decorated often with beading. Many wear massive feather headdresses....
Our little neighbourhood has turned up some neat surprises which partially compensates for the noise!! We old ladies measure everything by the steepness of the hills..big criteria in renting a property. We count steps too.
At the corner(about 40 steps) is a little tiende(very tiny convenience stores)They sell mainly junky stuff but occasionally they bake or cook a little specialty on the side, and our Senora makes delicious tortillas. We went to get some water and saw the big machine and put two and two together. She has a warming container and just reaches in and pulls out a handful, throws them on a scale and says 10 pesos(less than a dollar.)!! She also had some green tomatillo salsa, so tomorrows breakfast will be scrambled eggs wrapped in fresh tortillas, liberally doused with salsa.
Around the corner and down a block or so is a cafe with an attached bakery.(see photo)
It is just far enough away from the madding crowd down at the Jardin. In fact,almost everything you need is down that little calle. Every street holds a surprise. Doors open and inside are beautiful courtyards leading to hotels or B and B's.. The residents are friendly and impeccably polite. Children are very beautiful and are carried by their parents until they can walk..no strollers..sidewalks too narrow. You would never have room to pass and the curbs can be very high. There is a strict directional protocol as to who steps off the curb to let who pass. (That is my friend walking down the street. I was right behind photographing door knockers)
The weekly Bibliotecca's House and Garden tour is tomorrow. This funds educational projects and scholarships for local children. It is fifteen dollars and the city provides buses and drivers (did I say buses??they are small,about 21 seats))You visit two homes,generously made available by local residents. I always attend and have not been to the same house twice. Fascinating..such wonderful abodes. It is carefully supervised of course and you have a volunteer guide to do the local commentary. Most people turn up at the Bibliotecca at ten when the Mariachi bands entertain until the tours start at 11:30. Weather continues to be hot and sunny. Sorry!! As our friend and guide Daniel says , the last thing people worry about in San Miguel is the weather. His eyes pop when we lay on the winter snow and temperature stories.
No comments:
Post a Comment