This is an occasional journal for the benefit of friends (and myself) that may come in bursts or periods of quiet depending on when I can get to it -though I should have no excuses in that department.
LATITUDE ADJUSTMENTS
We are here in Mexico at last !! The anticipated prolonged stay of two months sabbatical has arrived.
We have been here since january 7th and will be in Mexico until March 15th or thereabouts.
"Are we here yet"? was the initial mantra as we pinched ourselves hourly but now really being here has taken root.
We are located in the Central Highlands at 5000 feet above sea level just south of Guadalahara beside Lake Chapala-the largest lake in Mexico which is 75 miles long and about 25 wide. The lake is surrounded by hills and across from us is Mt.Garcia which is almost 10,000 feet above sea level. A string of small towns and villages line the north shore of the lake and the south shore is mostly agricultural production. The hills behind the village keep out the cold winds from the north so it enjoys one of the best climates in the world. The hottest it gets is in the nineties just before the rains and the coolest is around forty in the coldest mornings of winter. These are extremes though and so the average is about 75 high and 60 low. No humidity either
The first people here called this lake the... "Place of creative essence."
It was one of several spots in the country they revered as essential spiritual places as they journeyed from one to the other in yearly cycles. For me it certainly has plenty of creative potential. The climate leads easily to gardening year round and painting pleine air style also year round. My colour palette would certainly shift here from moody grays to vibrant primary colours. "Dreary" or "drab" are not words that springs to mind in describing Mexico. The weeks of leaden gray skies in the Northwest are what I call dreary. Here the sky is bright bright blue almost every day. The flowers are always in bloom year round so its magenta bourganbilla and blue jacaranda trees along with hibiscus and the bird of paradise and among all the foliage are birds in brilliant hues of reds and yellows.
We are now in a rhythm. We awake at first light which is about 7.30 after a very quiet and restful night with just the sounds of the fountain in the courtyard. An abundant hot shower (not always the case in Mexico) and breakfast on the loggia in the warming rays of the morning Sun. A hearty breakfast is served at nine by the resident Mexican cook "Chewy". She is fattening me up I think as plates of huevos and sausage with lots of fruit and juices and breads are kept in front of me. I have to wave her away eventually.
BELOW-Not one of mine but by a local painter.
Two days a week at 11 we walk a few blocks to our Spanish class where Lourdes leads us through the steps. All I can say right now is I know 200% more than I did before I came. Pushing the brain cells does entail some pain -but then no gain etc. We come back and have lunch of avocados (which fall off the trees in the courtyard) home made salsa and a white cheese that is salty and dry.
BELOW-On the days when we don't go to class we hold our own class under the avocado trees questioning each other about who, what, where and when.
Then siesta around the pool reading books, getting hot, and then swimming. Cathy did forty laps today !!. El Sol gets low in the sky about 6.00 (sunset at 6.30 which is 12 hours of sunlight) which is the cue to mix a drink and enjoy the sunset or walk down to the Lake to watch same.
In the shade...
Tonight there were herons searching for dinner in the shallows along with locals throwing their nets in the lake to catch small sardine like fish. In the evenings we tend to eat out as entertainment-especially if there are visitors or
guests here at La La Paloma that we have befriended.
Right now its "winter" which is a dry dormant period. The hills that surround the Lake and the town are brown gray and dusty. Rather like the chapparal of California. Come the wet season, which is June through October however the hills turn bright green and are lush. Apparently in the wet season (summer) each day still dawns bright and clear but as the day progresses giant thunderheads form over the Lake and drench the town but somehow only after midnight! Sounds too good to be true.
What about the sounds? As I sat by the pool today I heard the bells from the two old 16th century churches ringing in the distance, nearby birds chattering in the eucalyptus trees, the odd rooster, a propane (and propane accessories) vendor going by yelling "gaaass", an ice cream truck jingling, workers down the street working on a house renovation chipping away at stone while singing along with their radios, and once in a while the delightful clattering sound of horses hooves on the cobblestone street. Yesterday was a "Holy Day" and when those happen we had loud ordnance going off at all ours (I mean ALL hours) accompanied by a band and a parade. This one moved a statue of the Saint from one locale to another.
Here are some images of the streets. More to come in a few days.
BELOW-This guy's name was Pedro, an ex lawyer from El Norte who has gone "native"-
along with his donkey "Vino Blanco" who has pink painted hoofs.
If one drinks too much of the water I am told this can happen.
