Posted in Buen Pastor, GTO on February 28, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Somehow, I spaced yesterday’s Mole Festival outside the Alhondiga! It was on my calendar… but after a morning of delivering a basketball, watching people dance in one of the parks to live music, and buying produce at Embajadoras, I forgot.
The photo above was taken in the dining room at Buen Pastor. I was waiting for Madre Lourdes to get off the phone by taking random photos of sun spots, chair legs, and table clothes.
Posted in Buen Pastor on February 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in GTO on February 24, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Once a week, a young couple—he is sitting on the bench, she’s on the curb and they’re both reading to a child—fills a suitcase full of books are rolls it out to the plaza in Mexiamora. They set the books out and children come to read the books, some with their parents. In a Country where wages are low and book prices are high, books are a luxury. Especially children’s books. I think it’s incredibly forward-thinking for this couple to create their own book mobile and dedicate an afternoon every week to give their neighbors the satisfaction of reading and being read to.
The plazas that fill Guanajuato unite neighbors and create friends. Every evening, this one is filled with people sitting and talking, kids playing, and sometimes, impromptu dog parks. Farley has made four friends here, and come to think of it, so have I. How wonderful that these spaces can become homes to portable libraries as well.
Posted in GTO on February 22, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Saturday, January 29th, I noticed a card withdrawal noted on my HSBC bank statement for earlier that morning. I didn’t make the withdrawal. Later I learned from the SMA Civil listserv, that many accounts had been hit over that weekend. In many cases, the banks returned the money.
I went to the HSBC the same day I noticed the withdrawal to tell them about it. They had me call a representative in D.F. to file a report. This took 30+ minutes. I received a new card and PIN and got rid of the old card. HSBC (in GTO) told me the central office would do a 22 day investigation to see if there was some kind of error/theft, and would return the money if it was. If not, I have to pay $300 pesos for the “investigation” .
On the 22nd day, I called to ask about the status of the investigation. They told me they were closing the case and would not be returning my money. They would also charge me $300 pesos for the investigation. Nobody ever called or emailed me.
This morning, I went to talk to Sonia at HSBC in person. In between calls and working on something else that took her away from her desk, she told me that if I want to file a complaint and/or further try to get the money back, I need to go do so in person at Leon.
I don’t know when I can go to Leon. Everyone passes the buck here; nobody assumes responsibility. You have to wonder how much time you can invest in something when you just don’t believe in the service. Other banks with better customer service have refunded their clients. Sadly, not HSBC.
Posted in GTO on February 22, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Posted in GTO on February 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
There was a mariachi band playing beneath me as I watched the full moon rise up from behind the mountain where I live. I was at Zilch, standing in the window. It was Friday night at the jardin and this space was filled with music and people. I thought that in a couple of hours, I’ll would be walking back to where the moon was right then.
Posted in GTO on February 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
This is Farley’s new friend, Chicha. Her family rescued her as a puppy from living her life of a roof. She now lives in Berkeley and visits Guanajuato frequently. She outweighs and outsizes Farley significantly, but lets him chase her. It’s fun to watch them play.
Posted in GTO on February 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in GTO on February 15, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Farley and I have found a new walk we both like. It’s the dirt path that leads from the Panoramica to the Presa. The Presa lies beyond the mountain and the cross that separates our neighborhood from hills, dirt, horses, cows, and sky. I like it here. Farley does too. There’s usually nobody on the path but bikers putting in their miles on their way to Santa Rosa.
Last Sunday, we were walking back from the Presa when we crossed paths with an old man. He was hunched over, brown like the mountains and wrinkled liked them too. His clothes were dusty and well worn. He carried a large walking stick and his hand looked like a knot that had grown out of the stick. We stopped to talk to one another. He asked me how far I had walked, and I told him. Meanwhile, Farley stood behind me and cried, completely spooked by the old man. The old man started talking to Farley, asking him why he was crying, calling him Chillion, and told him he wasn’t going to hurt him. Farley’s cries became louder, as if he was arguing with the man. This prompted the man to tell Farley to act like a man, not a girl puppy…. “You’re a boy! Why are you crying like a little girl?!”
At this point, I started to laugh. The old man asked if Farley was afraid of everything. I told him that he wasn’t and that I didn’t know why he was behaving this way. Farley was now tucking his face into the back of my knees and whimpering. The old man told me he had five dogs at his place if Farley ever wants to play and if I would like to share a cafecito with him. I thought about it.
Then yesterday, as the sun was setting, I saw the old man again. I observed him from the top of a hill as he fed his horses, two of his dogs following him around. Farley stood with me and watched as well. Maybe one of these days, we’ll stop by for coffee.
Posted in Zacatecas on February 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
These steps lead up to an important mine, Mina Del Eden, which has become a major tourist destination. There’s a disco club located inside the mine down a shaft, open Thursday-Saturday. We didn’t have chance to see it.
Posted in Zacatecas on February 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Zacatecas, tagged Vignette on February 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Bill kept having a recurring dream where his wings were running in circles but he stayed in the same place. He couldn’t move. Then he would wake up, and it would happen in real life too.
Posted in Zacatecas on February 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
As Marly and I admired this fountain, we were approached by a persistent Herbalife representative who really wanted us to spend some time listening to the wonderful opportunities he could offer us.
Posted in GTO on February 8, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Posted in Zacatecas on February 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Zacatecas on February 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
If you click on the image above, you can view the standard font that most businesses use in Zacatecas, although there were a few that did not. The color palette within Centro Historico consisted of creams, yellow, pinks, and reds. This City was very clean… no street dogs, trash, or graffiti, until you left the center for the orilla, or outlying areas.
Posted in Zacatecas on February 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Downtown Zacatecas. This was right before Marly bought four SONY batteries for her digital camera. The batteries lasted for an hour-thirty-minutes and then died. We took them back in hopes of a refund or exchange, but the counter person at Sanborns told us that those SONY batteries were low quality and we couldn’t expect them to last any longer than an hour in a digital camera. We left. There’s no such thing as a refund in Mexico.
Posted in Zacatecas on February 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Marly and I briefly visited Jerez, the Pueblo Mágico of Zacatecas. Magical Towns are chosen for a number of reasons: historical significance, convey a sense of beauty and tranquility, are close to a major City, and/or highlight the fiestas and traditions of Mexico. Jerez, with it’s winding streets, ancient architecture, and slow pace, gives you the feeling of being back in time. The historical center dates back to 1536 when the City was founded.
What we liked:
Posted in Zacatecas on February 3, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Mausoleum of famous people of Zacatecas including musicians, poets, dramatists, composers and leaders. It’s located on the main crest of the Cerro de La Bufa.
Posted in GTO, SMA on February 1, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Re: THE DOG BOARDER IN LOS FRAILLES:
Tue Feb 1, 2011 11:19 am (PST)I LOVED boarding my dog with P. He gave me total peace of mind about my ‘baby’… and it is worth noting that L, my very energetic and very bonded-to-me standard poodle was never cringey or miserable when I left her with him.
P really ‘gets’ dogginess. He doesn’t put them all in kennels with only occasional outings; rather, he has them as guests in his home, which he divvies-up with baby-gates in order to accommodate the various compatibilities and dynamics between whatever dogs he has at the time. He walks them several times a day. He is constantly observing the dynamics in the group and adjusting. If I emailed him while away he would answer with specific updates on behavioural or health issues. His rates are extremely reasonable. When my dog died (young–it was a terrible shock) he brought me flowers and then when I ran into him in Mega a dissolved, he gave me the most beautiful understanding hug whilst I sniveled and smeared mascara on his sweater. I have huge respect and appreciation for him, and would recommend him without hesitation.
I don’t know why I find this post so amusing, especially since I would love to board Farley with “P” should I ever need to. I wonder what doggie dynamics and baby-gate compatibility Farley would require? He is past the “humping everything” stage.
The photo above is me taking a giant bite from what Marly and I called “bowling nachos”. They were so bad. And we were so hungry.
