2013 is drawing to a close. Even though it wasn't the greatest year for the world in general, it was a good year for me. I took three trips to Mexico during the course of the year, and last summer my friend Alejandro came up to the United States for a visit.
In January I went to Mérida with a dear friend and former teaching colleague and showed her the sights of the Yucatán for 10 days.
volcanoes
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Los Amigos de las Américas
I mentioned in an earlier post about buying handicrafts which I donate to an auction to benefit an organization called "Los Amigos de las Américas". One of the blogs which I follow regularly is "An Alaskan in Yucatan" (you will find a link to it under my blog list). Today, its author, Marc Olson, published a post on his experience as a volunteer with "Los Amigos" when he was in high school. Marc is a much better writer than I, and I recommend that you read his description of how his work as a volunteer changed his life.
I know that I am being a copycat, but this is such a worthwhile group, that I felt compelled to mention "Los Amigos" again. More people should know about this organization and the work that they are doing.
"Los Amigos" is a non-religious, non-governmental, non-profit group which sends high school and college students to Latin America each summer to work as volunteers. The students live with a host family for six to eight weeks and participate in health and environmental projects in poor communities. Back when I was in high school, I had never heard of "Los Amigos". (Although the organization began in 1965, the chapter in Ohio probably was not yet in existence back in those days.) As I explained previously, one of my Spanish students became involved with "Los Amigos". He spent the summer before his junior year of high school teaching dental hygiene to children in Costa Rica. It was a great experience for him.
For the past several years I have been donating to the annual auction of the local chapter. In addition to bringing back handicrafts, each year I have painted a landscape to put up for auction. Here is the painting that I did for the 2013 event, a view of the archaeological site of Cantona in Mexico.
As soon as I return from my winter trip, I will begin work on another painting for the 2014 auction in April.
Once again, I will give you the link to the "Amigos" website...
www.amigoslink.org
Frankly, I cannot think of a more deserving organization... not only for its work among the poor of Latin America, but for its impact upon hundreds of young Americans.
I know that I am being a copycat, but this is such a worthwhile group, that I felt compelled to mention "Los Amigos" again. More people should know about this organization and the work that they are doing.
"Los Amigos" is a non-religious, non-governmental, non-profit group which sends high school and college students to Latin America each summer to work as volunteers. The students live with a host family for six to eight weeks and participate in health and environmental projects in poor communities. Back when I was in high school, I had never heard of "Los Amigos". (Although the organization began in 1965, the chapter in Ohio probably was not yet in existence back in those days.) As I explained previously, one of my Spanish students became involved with "Los Amigos". He spent the summer before his junior year of high school teaching dental hygiene to children in Costa Rica. It was a great experience for him.
For the past several years I have been donating to the annual auction of the local chapter. In addition to bringing back handicrafts, each year I have painted a landscape to put up for auction. Here is the painting that I did for the 2013 event, a view of the archaeological site of Cantona in Mexico.
As soon as I return from my winter trip, I will begin work on another painting for the 2014 auction in April.
Once again, I will give you the link to the "Amigos" website...
www.amigoslink.org
Frankly, I cannot think of a more deserving organization... not only for its work among the poor of Latin America, but for its impact upon hundreds of young Americans.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Peregrina
When I go to the Yucatán next month it is quite likely that somewhere I will hear my favorite Yucatecan song, a song that is still dear to the hearts of the people of Yucatán even though it was written 90 years ago... "Peregrina".
This beautiful ballad is even more poignant because of the history behind it. In my last post I mentioned the Yucatecan governor Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the reformer who sought to improve the lives of the downtrodden Mayan people. Carrillo Puerto is also at the center of one of the most famous love stories in Mexican history. The object of his love was an American journalist named Alma Reed. Alma Reed worked for a newspaper in San Francisco. Her articles frequently exposed injustices committed against the Mexican immigrants in California. Her work drew the attention of Mexican President Alvaro Obregón, and in 1922 he invited her to visit Mexico. As a part of her tour, she traveled to the state of Yucatán where she met the new governor, Carrillo Puerto. He escorted her throughout the state, and the two quickly fell in love. He proposed marriage, and as an engagement present he had the lyricist Luis Vega and the composer Ricardo Palmerín write a love song in her honor. Thus was born "Peregrina"
This beautiful ballad is even more poignant because of the history behind it. In my last post I mentioned the Yucatecan governor Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the reformer who sought to improve the lives of the downtrodden Mayan people. Carrillo Puerto is also at the center of one of the most famous love stories in Mexican history. The object of his love was an American journalist named Alma Reed. Alma Reed worked for a newspaper in San Francisco. Her articles frequently exposed injustices committed against the Mexican immigrants in California. Her work drew the attention of Mexican President Alvaro Obregón, and in 1922 he invited her to visit Mexico. As a part of her tour, she traveled to the state of Yucatán where she met the new governor, Carrillo Puerto. He escorted her throughout the state, and the two quickly fell in love. He proposed marriage, and as an engagement present he had the lyricist Luis Vega and the composer Ricardo Palmerín write a love song in her honor. Thus was born "Peregrina"
(image from the web) Governor Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Alma Reed The two of them traveled to San Francisco to meet Alma's parents, and they gave their blessing to the marriage. Felipe returned to the Yucatán, and Alma was to return in three weeks for the wedding. They were never to see each other again. The wealthy landowners who opposed the governor's land reforms instigated his assassination. Alma continued her work as a journalist, and was also a noted patron of the arts. She brought the famous Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco to the attention of art lovers in the United States. She eventually returned to Mexico to live. She died in Mexico City in 1966 and was buried near her beloved Felipe in a cemetery in Mérida, Yucatán. Here are the lyrics of the song with my translation (my apologies for being less poetic and for taking liberties with some of the more obscure words.). Peregrina, de ojos claros y divinos y mejillas encendida de arrebol, mujercita de los labios purpurinos y radiante cabellera como el sol. (Pilgrim, of light colored, divine eyes and cheeks enflamed with a red glow, little woman of scarlet lips and radiant tresses like the sun.) Peregrina, que dejaste tus lugares los abetos y la nieve, y la nieve virginal, y viniste a refugiarte en mis palmares bajo el cielo de mi tierra, de mi tierra tropical. (Pilgrim, who left behind her places, the fir trees and the snow, the virginal snow, and came to take refuge in my palm groves under the sky of my land, my tropical land.) Las canoras, avecillas de mis prados, por cantarte dan sus trinos si te ven, y las flores de nectarios perfumados te acarician y te besan en los labios y en la sien. (The songbirds, little birds of my meadows, if they see you give their trills to sing to you, and the flowers of perfumed nectar caress you and kiss you on the lips and the temple.) Cuando dejes mis palmares y mi sierra, Peregrina de semblante encantador, no te olvides, no te olvides de mi tierra, no te olvides, no te olvides de mi amor. (When you leave behind my palm groves and my mountains, Pilgrim of enchanting face, do not forget, do not forget my land, do not forget, do not forget my love.) I searched YouTube for a good performance of the song. The best was sung by Plácido Domingo at an outdoor concert given in 2008 at the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá. If you would like to listen to this beautiful song, here is the link... La Peregrina sung by Plácido Domingo |
Thursday, December 26, 2013
A Short History of Yucatán
Yucatán is one of the 31 states which make up Mexico. Originally the state of Yucatán covered the entire Yucatán Peninsula, but eventually the area was divided, and two other states, Campeche (on the Gulf coast) and Quintana Roo (on the Caribbean coast) were created.
When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500's, the Mayan civilization was still very much alive. There were numerous Mayan cities across the peninsula, although they could not compare in grandeur to the great cities that had flourished in earlier centuries. Among the Mayan cities that were populated at the time at the Spanish Conquest were Tulum, Izamal, T'ho, and Dzibilchaltún.
Francisco de Montejo the Elder was an officer in the army of Hernán Cortés (known to us as Cortez) and participated in the conquest of the mighty Aztec Empire of central Mexico. In 1527, six years after the fall of the Aztecs, Montejo organized an expedition to subdue the Mayas of the Yucatán. The Mayas offered fierce resistance, and Montejo had to withdraw. He led a second expedition in 1531, but that too ended in failure. In 1540, his son, Francisco de Montejo the Younger led another expedition. By playing upon rivalries between different Mayan tribes, the son succeeded in subjugating the western half of the peninsula. On January 6, 1542, the younger Montejo founded the city of Mérida as his administrative capital. He chose the site of the Mayan city of T'ho. The pyramids and other buildings of T'ho were razed to the ground, and the stones were used to build his colonial city. A short time later, a cousin of Montejo (who was also named Francisco!) pushed into the eastern part of the peninsula (although much of the remote jungle remained outside of Spanish control).
When the Spanish arrived in the early 1500's, the Mayan civilization was still very much alive. There were numerous Mayan cities across the peninsula, although they could not compare in grandeur to the great cities that had flourished in earlier centuries. Among the Mayan cities that were populated at the time at the Spanish Conquest were Tulum, Izamal, T'ho, and Dzibilchaltún.
Francisco de Montejo the Elder was an officer in the army of Hernán Cortés (known to us as Cortez) and participated in the conquest of the mighty Aztec Empire of central Mexico. In 1527, six years after the fall of the Aztecs, Montejo organized an expedition to subdue the Mayas of the Yucatán. The Mayas offered fierce resistance, and Montejo had to withdraw. He led a second expedition in 1531, but that too ended in failure. In 1540, his son, Francisco de Montejo the Younger led another expedition. By playing upon rivalries between different Mayan tribes, the son succeeded in subjugating the western half of the peninsula. On January 6, 1542, the younger Montejo founded the city of Mérida as his administrative capital. He chose the site of the Mayan city of T'ho. The pyramids and other buildings of T'ho were razed to the ground, and the stones were used to build his colonial city. A short time later, a cousin of Montejo (who was also named Francisco!) pushed into the eastern part of the peninsula (although much of the remote jungle remained outside of Spanish control).
Saturday, December 21, 2013
A Brief History of the Mayas
Since I will soon be traveling to the Yucatán peninsula, the land of the Mayas, I thought that I would give you a little background information on that civilization. The history of the Mayas is very complex, and although we know more about them than many other civilizations of Mexico (thanks in part to the recent decipherment of the Mayan hieroglyphs), there are still many unanswered questions and conflicting theories. I have tried here to write a very simplified overview of this fascinating culture.
The Mayan civilization flourished in what are now the countries of Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, and in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico and in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The earliest Mayan settlements date back to 1800 B.C.
The civilization reached its peak during what archaeologists call the Classic Period (A.D. 250 - 900). During that period there were scores of Mayan cities. There never was a Mayan Empire. Similar to ancient Greece, the Mayan world was divided into numerous city states. There were cities throughout the Mayan territory, but during the Classic Period the most magnificent and powerful cities were located in the tropical rainforests that stretch from southeastern Mexico, across northern Guatemala, and into Belize and Honduras. A few of the most famous Classic Period cities were Palenque and Calakmul in Mexico, Tikal in Guatemala, and Copán in Honduras.
The Mayan civilization flourished in what are now the countries of Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, and in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico and in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The earliest Mayan settlements date back to 1800 B.C.
The civilization reached its peak during what archaeologists call the Classic Period (A.D. 250 - 900). During that period there were scores of Mayan cities. There never was a Mayan Empire. Similar to ancient Greece, the Mayan world was divided into numerous city states. There were cities throughout the Mayan territory, but during the Classic Period the most magnificent and powerful cities were located in the tropical rainforests that stretch from southeastern Mexico, across northern Guatemala, and into Belize and Honduras. A few of the most famous Classic Period cities were Palenque and Calakmul in Mexico, Tikal in Guatemala, and Copán in Honduras.
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Next Trip
The next couple weeks are going to be very busy for me. Once the Christmas celebration is over, I have to get ready for my next big trip. On January 3rd I am leaving for one of my favorite cities in Mexico, Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatán.
(image from the web) |
This is going to be the longest trip that I have taken since way back in 1973 when I studied for a quarter at the University of the Americas in Cholula, Mexico. I won't return until February 12th, so that means that I will be gone for almost six weeks. I'll be missing a big chunk of Ohio winter!
This trip is also, in a way, a four part trip. On the first part of the trip I will be accompanied by a former teaching colleague, Nancy, and her husband Fred. We will be staying at one of my favorite hotels in the world, Luz en Yucatán. I will play tour guide with them for ten days. This will be the fourth time that I have taken friends to Mérida. Nancy asked me, "Don't you get tired of going to the same place?", and I told her, "No, because with each friend, it's an entirely new experience."
After they return to Ohio, I have rented a 2 bedroom house in the colonial heart of Mérida. I wanted to see what it's like to live in Mérida. I have toyed with the idea of moving there and buying a house, but I think that in the future, I might just spend a part of my winters there. While I am in the house, another former colleague, Jane, will be spending some time with me. Jane taught Spanish with me for many years, and we are good friends. This will be Jane's second trip to Mérida. Many years ago we took a group of our students on a tour of the Yucatán, and we spent a few nights there.
For the third portion of the trip, I will be returning to Hotel Luz en Yucatán. My friend Alejandro will fly in from Mexico City, and spend a long weekend there with me. He spent some time in Mérida years ago working for an uncle, but he has never seen the city as a tourist. So I get to play tour guide once again.
For the final portion of the trip, I will fly back to Mexico City. I have rented an apartment there (not the same one that I rented on the last trip), and I will spend a couple more weeks there. On the weekends Alejandro and I will most likely take a few more excursions to places I have not seen outside of the city.
Those are my exciting plans. Be sure to check the blog for my travel adventures!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Season's Greetings
I mentioned in an earlier post that I make my own Christmas cards. Each year I do a small painting, usually based on a photo of someplace that I have visited during the past year. When appropriate, I change it into a winter scene.
This is this year's Christmas card. It is of the monastery at Desierto de los Leones in Mexico. It was a retreat of the Carmelite order of monks built in the 18th century high in the mountains above Mexico City.
This is this year's Christmas card. It is of the monastery at Desierto de los Leones in Mexico. It was a retreat of the Carmelite order of monks built in the 18th century high in the mountains above Mexico City.
Last year's card was of Weisstannen, the Swiss village in the Alps which my cousin Werner and I visited during the summer of 2012. (Snow was added for the painting.)
In 2011, I painted a winter scene of the church in the Swiss town of Othmarsingen, where my great-grandmother was born.
The card for 2010 was of the Church of Santo Domingo in Oaxaca, Mexico. I had traveled to Oaxaca in November of that year.
In 2009 I painted a winter picture of the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in the town of Lambourn, England. Some of my English ancestors were baptized in this church.
In the autumn of 2008 I traveled to Spain. One of the places I visited was the medieval city of Segovia. Central Spain can be cold in the winter, and there is snow at times. I found a picture on the internet of Segovia in the winter to use for my painting.
In the summer of 2007, I took a road trip out West. I converted a photo I took at Grand Teton National Park into a winter scene.
The card for 2006 was of All Saints' Church in the village of East Garston, England. In this church my great grandparents from the English branch of my family were married.
I hope that all of my readers have a very joyous holiday season.
¡Feliz Navidad!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland has been maligned as a declining "rust belt" city, and has been the butt of jokes. The city certainly has its share of problems, but Cleveland has much to be proud of.
For a long time the skyline of Cleveland was dominated by the Terminal Tower. When it was completed in the 1930's it was the tallest skyscraper in the world outside of New York City.
On the other side of Public Square from the Terminal Tower, is the city's oldest church. Old Stone Church was built in 1855. Its beautiful interior includes several stained glass windows by Tiffany.
On the lake shore is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, probably the city's most popular tourist attraction. The term "rock and roll" was first used by a radio disc jockey here in Cleveland.
Farther down Euclid Avenue is the University Circle area. It has one of the largest concentrations of cultural, educational and medical institutions in the world. One of the gems of University Circle is the Cleveland Museum of Art. The museum is considered one of the finest in the country, and its collection spans the entire history of art, from ancient Egypt to the 21st century.
The museum has recently finished a complete renovation which includes this enclosed atrium.
Admission to the museum is free.
Near the art museum are the lovely Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
One of the city's greatest treasures is the Cleveland Orchestra. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is considered to be the finest symphony orchestra in the country, and one of the best in the entire world. Concerts are performed in beautiful Severance Hall, next door to the art museum.
A short drive from University Circle brings you to Lakeview Cemetery. Many famous people, including John D. Rockerfeller, and President James Garfield, are buried here. In the cemetery is Wade Chapel. The entire interior of this chapel, including its stained glass window, were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
I could continue, but I think you can see that Cleveland has a lot to offer the visitor!
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