tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80051839098430188702024-03-28T10:20:04.309-04:00A Retired Teacher in Mexico CityRetired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.comBlogger3483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-31781178441879717202024-03-28T10:04:00.001-04:002024-03-28T10:06:43.148-04:00The Threshold of the Abstract<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I wrote yesterday that most of Mexico City's Museum of Modern Art is taken up with special exhibits, and I found only two of the five exhibits to be of any interest. One of them was called "Enrique Echevarría: the Threshold of the Abstract". I had never heard of Echevarría (1923-1972), but he was considered an important Mexican painter of his generation. The exhibit shows how his work during his short lifetime became increasingly abstract.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojBG1XjRA4cT87MsRZ6jh7BCLpK3uLErmOcYWGtEA5ZfGuR0lqn_2Z0KqYvQ6Dp8k912rPGF4mLBR-gnMr8lTVCsbWdN4z6eMGTL3gJRK3ouFM-iwG5i6y80q3JrD8Bg53K4DG6KF7RrY6aJoyrPq-6U-I4NmZHy48G9xPIYX8pgxzICI2mce7e0TH4sO/s1843/097.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1843" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojBG1XjRA4cT87MsRZ6jh7BCLpK3uLErmOcYWGtEA5ZfGuR0lqn_2Z0KqYvQ6Dp8k912rPGF4mLBR-gnMr8lTVCsbWdN4z6eMGTL3gJRK3ouFM-iwG5i6y80q3JrD8Bg53K4DG6KF7RrY6aJoyrPq-6U-I4NmZHy48G9xPIYX8pgxzICI2mce7e0TH4sO/w460-h382/097.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Self Portrait", 1964</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Early in his career he spent a number of years in Spain, and his work is largely figurative... in other words, his subject matter is recognizable.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWaGNq9MD1FJBCZcKP_had9j5qV1-lajykIEh3xkdwdmMIjOq_DqZCWmdD6cUdFSwmJ6uD-3Pder9r8wRM0T2TcioFgRJJ99YUJlfscVKEgxSNjL2Ok04fGOOKxDdOvAGC3i2dxq9yToB8z7lv0F97yLtUciQJUdP29HtoDGmL98yL_JqjWfbpMYMfJ0V/s1241/098.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1076" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWaGNq9MD1FJBCZcKP_had9j5qV1-lajykIEh3xkdwdmMIjOq_DqZCWmdD6cUdFSwmJ6uD-3Pder9r8wRM0T2TcioFgRJJ99YUJlfscVKEgxSNjL2Ok04fGOOKxDdOvAGC3i2dxq9yToB8z7lv0F97yLtUciQJUdP29HtoDGmL98yL_JqjWfbpMYMfJ0V/w408-h460/098.JPG" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The Chair" 1943</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOigEVShRMqbpsXMvK2Gh8vcZXucne5eywFGl5b_A0PEi2YO6tocuSQWSzhykRMXQE0KfoIHGxZ6BIhxU1psiwnDycmeVJKhFkkUpexPadoM_gibIJpvIGESlRAEWP3ymeeyZYwwDeLsdxE0IWhcp7KTqzKj9M50IiRLiA47-aGe6sV4rJd0MRWYc1aFc/s1094/099.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="996" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOigEVShRMqbpsXMvK2Gh8vcZXucne5eywFGl5b_A0PEi2YO6tocuSQWSzhykRMXQE0KfoIHGxZ6BIhxU1psiwnDycmeVJKhFkkUpexPadoM_gibIJpvIGESlRAEWP3ymeeyZYwwDeLsdxE0IWhcp7KTqzKj9M50IiRLiA47-aGe6sV4rJd0MRWYc1aFc/w438-h485/099.JPG" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Pío Baroja" 1953</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Baroja was a famous Spanish author.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiP6cRNw1NR2PPSBDyj-VodHFnYPVJLYo5-YSP8yUjEq6jk2c_YfFNZok2j-ebuMl5pYJllLhgu-lraASpf6uWk1A4ESCdYZNUn-RdcRqQ5ofQAHgabENIxfv70dSU-1bgX-1VqNmXdFvwvcX7JGPi8zhlIVMzY9B9a26U2YDN4MaETPAgGBNIyTY9Hof/s2343/100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="2343" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiP6cRNw1NR2PPSBDyj-VodHFnYPVJLYo5-YSP8yUjEq6jk2c_YfFNZok2j-ebuMl5pYJllLhgu-lraASpf6uWk1A4ESCdYZNUn-RdcRqQ5ofQAHgabENIxfv70dSU-1bgX-1VqNmXdFvwvcX7JGPi8zhlIVMzY9B9a26U2YDN4MaETPAgGBNIyTY9Hof/w457-h290/100.JPG" width="457" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Landscape without Name" 1953</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDehmlnrqyayojQ1FZGD1B8vTz5OiEJ4-98hnuvrArg0ro5hZiEyMXVbCZZ_hUUxRbpx_m5mcSExlA5wm6b09I_BSa8Ut6g4RoceiwXu5AvwxVGztjqjuc6bNFW7tZ1n5eMP8dDDPTHC-AxA-2m7eFhfh5u_pQeJ4k8E8qV_BW2MJicovGS65tQJZPWu3P/s710/101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="579" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDehmlnrqyayojQ1FZGD1B8vTz5OiEJ4-98hnuvrArg0ro5hZiEyMXVbCZZ_hUUxRbpx_m5mcSExlA5wm6b09I_BSa8Ut6g4RoceiwXu5AvwxVGztjqjuc6bNFW7tZ1n5eMP8dDDPTHC-AxA-2m7eFhfh5u_pQeJ4k8E8qV_BW2MJicovGS65tQJZPWu3P/w414-h498/101.JPG" width="414" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Ballerina" 1955</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLYn3PieUiLPe7pxPhncv_HkeDv0m5X99BHJhpquadQAGWKHnuOd6jMUajH3ymlNkOZ62UHYpu-ZWSK96GRpMZz39k422v6DTh_Kc8BcQbJbDaG3tWTbSG1VV1WhkAzEEkuWQJ47fkJZUgdiflOZWhxnGabThna-tD1qw43lcgweOTi9dJeqCVKG2A4PC/s1022/102.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="924" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLYn3PieUiLPe7pxPhncv_HkeDv0m5X99BHJhpquadQAGWKHnuOd6jMUajH3ymlNkOZ62UHYpu-ZWSK96GRpMZz39k422v6DTh_Kc8BcQbJbDaG3tWTbSG1VV1WhkAzEEkuWQJ47fkJZUgdiflOZWhxnGabThna-tD1qw43lcgweOTi9dJeqCVKG2A4PC/w460-h502/102.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Santillana del Mar" 1956</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Santillana del Mar is a town in northern Spain.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBuI5vUDdIcwzNn5rla43JzZPZ-NOkrKvHAio21udp8npfTeXJ4lpXmPcjq1U6QIfg6PvYZZhGxAbCZ7MjyrwCRTZ58_Cqfqy9v0oR4eOWk7q9c-zZUozQ2_q7SbozVuIQu9zn1HkCzi6YvHyHF7zhDSg4xlGD7WbWmesgdk-F7GRX0Y9VUaZlCvrlwDw/s808/103.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="736" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBuI5vUDdIcwzNn5rla43JzZPZ-NOkrKvHAio21udp8npfTeXJ4lpXmPcjq1U6QIfg6PvYZZhGxAbCZ7MjyrwCRTZ58_Cqfqy9v0oR4eOWk7q9c-zZUozQ2_q7SbozVuIQu9zn1HkCzi6YvHyHF7zhDSg4xlGD7WbWmesgdk-F7GRX0Y9VUaZlCvrlwDw/w426-h473/103.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Doña Flor" 1956</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the 1960s his style had become increasingly abstract, although his subject matter was still recognizable.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g9vnfbKzh2xvdgmNe33keebX7QcTPTHbw4I2zDjNhUzpOGA2uRtPsnX68XBmqz0NlnSVUHH3caAEqmZRfYgXZ94Bo7URaZkTh-tC6UNy4J46-bekqfS04a-ycJZ332Q_DR3xdt4LZjHzhYkHmJPQMZ5DzXreeEnR5cuqbOUO2AoZ08mexHv1vXFL1E0d/s1023/104.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1023" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g9vnfbKzh2xvdgmNe33keebX7QcTPTHbw4I2zDjNhUzpOGA2uRtPsnX68XBmqz0NlnSVUHH3caAEqmZRfYgXZ94Bo7URaZkTh-tC6UNy4J46-bekqfS04a-ycJZ332Q_DR3xdt4LZjHzhYkHmJPQMZ5DzXreeEnR5cuqbOUO2AoZ08mexHv1vXFL1E0d/w501-h382/104.JPG" width="501" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Soccer Players" 1962</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTlhfkKrkzdItbmxehYafluCQfczXT8Hw15MTVL3XlTp3NQIAzZQW7mS4YySpVXDdpIbdDDMCqCpJhOFHtymqpsTc4q-oem-PTyG0iwB21kiVoxCI4s34zjiO40qnS4GOLqoAmJOnfyZz53TcuByFeRFytSQOaH5swCRZK_sEapRIO-BxHTsuCJI2g90x/s1423/105.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1423" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTlhfkKrkzdItbmxehYafluCQfczXT8Hw15MTVL3XlTp3NQIAzZQW7mS4YySpVXDdpIbdDDMCqCpJhOFHtymqpsTc4q-oem-PTyG0iwB21kiVoxCI4s34zjiO40qnS4GOLqoAmJOnfyZz53TcuByFeRFytSQOaH5swCRZK_sEapRIO-BxHTsuCJI2g90x/w506-h388/105.JPG" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The Flutist" 1962</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJEE_s6SRtjYAXwdjPdp-DfmS-9q8qvtMjHrbKH-oyq2jGd8JW6frxbBp8dg3n10TWe2Kcwyo3trxCYHq8Pg5A6VOzSGHXdOeFCkkSMbw6lGqrLf1aS9a0om5zTwlvpApI1i2e7Sugjn8IK23D5mmlAcDZuY-oaXBuSY6rOaz4NOMHT3j7uUymjSvqXoT/s1027/106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1027" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJEE_s6SRtjYAXwdjPdp-DfmS-9q8qvtMjHrbKH-oyq2jGd8JW6frxbBp8dg3n10TWe2Kcwyo3trxCYHq8Pg5A6VOzSGHXdOeFCkkSMbw6lGqrLf1aS9a0om5zTwlvpApI1i2e7Sugjn8IK23D5mmlAcDZuY-oaXBuSY6rOaz4NOMHT3j7uUymjSvqXoT/w526-h434/106.JPG" width="526" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Thought" 1964</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lf-NjoNtifZIL3643hcwjZXApijXma5hTwxdlXezQVBcLJcX51RH4LH63HjoLDT78IuE0mt4FYEFUMCncPRlwjmX404FFHu8VsBZe0VXOu8h3MN9ya5P3h-Z9_BUBLYT3ArDbnVIrDPVfAPW1jSeyVSi9Qw87zmRF7hk8l8v1JgsRZlvw8s2E2KUB6f6/s1986/107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1986" data-original-width="1726" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lf-NjoNtifZIL3643hcwjZXApijXma5hTwxdlXezQVBcLJcX51RH4LH63HjoLDT78IuE0mt4FYEFUMCncPRlwjmX404FFHu8VsBZe0VXOu8h3MN9ya5P3h-Z9_BUBLYT3ArDbnVIrDPVfAPW1jSeyVSi9Qw87zmRF7hk8l8v1JgsRZlvw8s2E2KUB6f6/w428-h482/107.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Ester Guitarist" 1965</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(Ester was his wife.)</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">By the late 60s, his work had become completely abstract and largely non-representational.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Twr9EoxXYj2CHUazoNhhNMSK1E1_5Lyi1a4SJcLSM4lyU2_DlGVtBxf2VflUxkhcG8e6GmEIgDhzJKYe1Io3gKqKlqsRkwo4IK3qju7tI-elMfk4UkZBTP8_aFrxfD14ELeCqBpEFBcg_5ms7R1hyvWhbeRVQyrjChh6XYa262PUJXppEi4NsBT2qpq3/s1767/108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1767" data-original-width="1279" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Twr9EoxXYj2CHUazoNhhNMSK1E1_5Lyi1a4SJcLSM4lyU2_DlGVtBxf2VflUxkhcG8e6GmEIgDhzJKYe1Io3gKqKlqsRkwo4IK3qju7tI-elMfk4UkZBTP8_aFrxfD14ELeCqBpEFBcg_5ms7R1hyvWhbeRVQyrjChh6XYa262PUJXppEi4NsBT2qpq3/w390-h512/108.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Offering No. 1" 1968</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxLMImIZCxlbuHzVfwIL9jx6wyqA2prcz50J4xCkFg7TekG9WcyTSpH70BfZs5FKW5srz1u-5my-Lfcpk5kNkHpVKb9tks5goxAOF_8t4-sj14eZxR7eQOwE4o9oQEMsniw8W-STkRI6qi6i-4z_iKQ-DKD_jhF0xN2B-bmjKiNMAkzAZ3cMaWfVvK8sY/s1339/109.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1339" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxLMImIZCxlbuHzVfwIL9jx6wyqA2prcz50J4xCkFg7TekG9WcyTSpH70BfZs5FKW5srz1u-5my-Lfcpk5kNkHpVKb9tks5goxAOF_8t4-sj14eZxR7eQOwE4o9oQEMsniw8W-STkRI6qi6i-4z_iKQ-DKD_jhF0xN2B-bmjKiNMAkzAZ3cMaWfVvK8sY/w501-h361/109.JPG" width="501" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Reminisces of Landscape" 1968</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz8093gEurGRL9ZYGPaPS-yK0754CPCaR9BNKmKq9PLgeMK6RHpfNALDoq4utXi-EY6v3tG4YzIJPYdR-mKGT5cfxMOysCOq-qWkGbbWT1bwWatWNnJHeo52Aqe6rtb7PoatYUMgtaKH0QaAUxUgHfXkP5c2ELKRJF3E35pMfvlGhJozKKir9z_ZRXID1/s2057/110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="1155" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz8093gEurGRL9ZYGPaPS-yK0754CPCaR9BNKmKq9PLgeMK6RHpfNALDoq4utXi-EY6v3tG4YzIJPYdR-mKGT5cfxMOysCOq-qWkGbbWT1bwWatWNnJHeo52Aqe6rtb7PoatYUMgtaKH0QaAUxUgHfXkP5c2ELKRJF3E35pMfvlGhJozKKir9z_ZRXID1/w336-h524/110.JPG" width="336" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Astronaut" 1968</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Readers of this blog know that my artistic taste tends to be rather old fashioned, so it should come as no surprise that I much prefer his earlier works. However, it was interesting to observe how his style evolved over the years.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-31087786142491158682024-03-27T09:25:00.001-04:002024-03-27T09:26:41.233-04:00A Disappointing Museum<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Years ago, when I went to Mexico City's Museum of Modern Art in Chapultepec Park, I found it very disappointing. For a country which produced so many famous artists in the 20th century, I thought that the number of works from its permanent collection that were on display was paltry. (Like most museums, only a fraction of the permanent collection is on display at any given time.) After being closed for renovations, the museum reopened recently. Last week I decided to return and see what changes had been made. I found the museum even more disappointing than before. There were five temporary exhibitions on going on. One was of 20th century Italian art, another of photographs of "brutalist" architecture. Only two of the five did I find at all interesting. (I will write about them separately.) There was only ONE small gallery, with perhaps 20 pieces from its permanent collection on display... just 20 pieces to represent the entirety of 20th century art. There was </span><span style="font-family: arial;">nothing at all by the "big three" of Mexican muralism, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and José Clemente. Pathetic!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are a few of the very few works from the museum's collection on display...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieoOykquWcVBRgmHu4ytf9VRGbFvEz2RHbSCqIFUW7-AGjXUb2SXJBYfG66myWK4HTQUT8ag8Juq0Ot2AZLFvgFj-YvckJJm5_rCqK7euy38bLFCz5AF5MmDoy4DpxhzD7Qcr4cvCyzEs6VSJhDTXlJrYEW__kdlgWhVu6EU9Z6V2Ztpkw2pMPv8k9H0n/s794/093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="794" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieoOykquWcVBRgmHu4ytf9VRGbFvEz2RHbSCqIFUW7-AGjXUb2SXJBYfG66myWK4HTQUT8ag8Juq0Ot2AZLFvgFj-YvckJJm5_rCqK7euy38bLFCz5AF5MmDoy4DpxhzD7Qcr4cvCyzEs6VSJhDTXlJrYEW__kdlgWhVu6EU9Z6V2Ztpkw2pMPv8k9H0n/w492-h405/093.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Still Life" by María Izquierdo, 1928</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Izquierdo was one of the first important woman painters in Mexico. This is one of her early works, and I don't consider it one of her better paintings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFd6kZR0-V7Hy2sc6Whsetcs8MG4bTwKd6Y98xZ8o16MJSkRIO3DzJ7zcpchyphenhyphenuRebXMLW57FDD10GRFq8K9AsLM5cBsHt5x7ZLPqeSNksQuXkyLAE6Fu2let8GRvbxEQxPYIH8IosyQZlIqL0YJ_pzmkCuX-kRI02NLiJQ5OLhQABdii4H9v2UM9o03ng/s1200/094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFd6kZR0-V7Hy2sc6Whsetcs8MG4bTwKd6Y98xZ8o16MJSkRIO3DzJ7zcpchyphenhyphenuRebXMLW57FDD10GRFq8K9AsLM5cBsHt5x7ZLPqeSNksQuXkyLAE6Fu2let8GRvbxEQxPYIH8IosyQZlIqL0YJ_pzmkCuX-kRI02NLiJQ5OLhQABdii4H9v2UM9o03ng/w494-h640/094.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Multiple Self Portrait" by Juan O'Gorman, 1950</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">An interesting work by O'Gorman who is best known for having created the mosaic murals covering all four sides of the library of the National University of Mexico.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38fL2wS78CxCDJmNx2jCHIKRMHHsMFUX1Ajnathi0T7NCeITbcVfmsm5BvUqKc-kZw5tJrxjDLaE-AV_NLq-e7wk-eBoY-9CGqROQ_hlxVgjM5E3ajYyExlgmkOLYQS02MLX0BDBOHyl_adDN8NPwosI711nehLZ2jC9UB4dj-nPXRyk9MQW6HyaJuwDE/s1152/095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="930" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38fL2wS78CxCDJmNx2jCHIKRMHHsMFUX1Ajnathi0T7NCeITbcVfmsm5BvUqKc-kZw5tJrxjDLaE-AV_NLq-e7wk-eBoY-9CGqROQ_hlxVgjM5E3ajYyExlgmkOLYQS02MLX0BDBOHyl_adDN8NPwosI711nehLZ2jC9UB4dj-nPXRyk9MQW6HyaJuwDE/w516-h640/095.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Homage to the Indian Race" by Rufino Tamayo, 1952</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Although he is not really a favorite of mine, Tamayo is considered one of Mexico's greatest abstract painters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6EJRO8HH4MXznKhDA7Bh1SAd_8JjabDRZOFqn3gfUlgm-7VOX95hyphenhyphenqRILAVfMify6Y_RQBH7_Gi3oRnv1Z2115oC7AECwaUA8Z9UwBpU3mA-qM6OqUBwpEFZbx_55ETJ_jzK2XpNn2up0nt9IOZnXQ0kntFeDNO7p0PXW36TGAB6qLhM-mIdSTnrJfA/s1253/096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1043" height="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6EJRO8HH4MXznKhDA7Bh1SAd_8JjabDRZOFqn3gfUlgm-7VOX95hyphenhyphenqRILAVfMify6Y_RQBH7_Gi3oRnv1Z2115oC7AECwaUA8Z9UwBpU3mA-qM6OqUBwpEFZbx_55ETJ_jzK2XpNn2up0nt9IOZnXQ0kntFeDNO7p0PXW36TGAB6qLhM-mIdSTnrJfA/w511-h617/096.JPG" width="511" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The Two Fridas" by Frida Kahlo, 1939</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is arguably the most famous work in the museum's collection. I'm sure that Frida fans would have a fit if it were not on display.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you want to see an overview of Mexican art, I suggest that you go to the Natonal Museum of Art downtown which includes a fairly sizeable gallery of 20th century works.</span></div><br /></div></div>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-47135506806574730152024-03-26T10:28:00.001-04:002024-03-26T10:28:53.323-04:00Construction in the Park<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The principal entrance into Chapultepec Park is a walkway known as "la Avenida Juventud Heroica"... Heroic Youth Avenue. It leads from the Paseo de la Reforma to "el Monumento a los Niños Héroes"... the Monument to the Boy Heroes. Behind the monument is a hill crowned by Chapultepec Castle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I visited the park last week, the area around the monument was closed off by a barricade. The sign said that the monument was undergoing "rehabilitation". To visit the attractions of the park, such as the castle or the zoo, you need to circle around the construction area.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTje7bQQXYTVIUuraJ5suywaY58vDtPsoZ_gvj8VJlU-653mRHl1tEGtQQSRfDVhnpy2XSOMxAIyzTukntnKU4JBEhZtEgRwffW5QBguTUp45rhFpK7KC_rgmf1d68ChvwLNFcGGxJ-nQ6TTVmEF3BDCbdoK0ERw56C_Bj1Ga7jmXga0NdEjlrcz30Ifm-/s1641/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTje7bQQXYTVIUuraJ5suywaY58vDtPsoZ_gvj8VJlU-653mRHl1tEGtQQSRfDVhnpy2XSOMxAIyzTukntnKU4JBEhZtEgRwffW5QBguTUp45rhFpK7KC_rgmf1d68ChvwLNFcGGxJ-nQ6TTVmEF3BDCbdoK0ERw56C_Bj1Ga7jmXga0NdEjlrcz30Ifm-/w523-h370/091.JPG" width="523" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">At that time, I need not see any work being done on the monument itself, but workers were replacing the marble paving stones on the plaza in front of it.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Vg_J8RF52HBuNZzhSbxheAaCe1IQvQ3UbiCgCmjhcZUKi-l2m8l3SFCHIxvEc9mQ_1pMtPfvRjQeswbnzah_5YBDvAVryezqEPkzVRXTUyDYXk8CbEvtSj4_XlorYomywB-9ZJRM5l77VO0NGQIlpmF5p-F0LcLymTdyWRuMzsa39NCd7yzqPPn4JeA/s1331/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1331" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Vg_J8RF52HBuNZzhSbxheAaCe1IQvQ3UbiCgCmjhcZUKi-l2m8l3SFCHIxvEc9mQ_1pMtPfvRjQeswbnzah_5YBDvAVryezqEPkzVRXTUyDYXk8CbEvtSj4_XlorYomywB-9ZJRM5l77VO0NGQIlpmF5p-F0LcLymTdyWRuMzsa39NCd7yzqPPn4JeA/w513-h427/092.JPG" width="513" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The monument honors the six teenaged cadets who died in the Battle of Chapultepec when the United States invaded Mexico City in 1847 at the end of the Mexican American War. Chapultepec Castle was at that time the site of the "Colegio Militar" (the Mexican equivalent of West Point in the U.S.). In those days the castle was on the outskirts of the city, and the Battle of Chapultepec was the Mexican army's final, desperate defense of the capital. Although the young cadets had been ordered to leave the castle, many of them refused and continued to fight in the battle. Six of them, between the ages of 13 and 19 died. According to popular legend, one of them, Juan Escutia, wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and jumped to his death from the castle rather than let the flag fall into enemy hands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-27284327267912747842024-03-25T09:50:00.001-04:002024-03-25T09:53:40.288-04:00In Tamaulipas<p><span style="font-family: arial;">No, I did not travel to the northern Mexican state located along the Gulf of Mexico and which extends all the way to the U.S. border. In fact, I have never been to Tamaulipas. However, to honor the bicentennial of Tamaulipas as a state, there was an outdoor photographic exhibit at the entrance to Chapultepec Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are a few of the pictures on display...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YL0FJqRJirygn-qKWD21XAPxmTmpkK8r5J_S7dd1xuOXKD_wxpD15r_9o22VWTiWh3LA4Z3PkhikP-YvegAT3hd2q2hXk_V9Pmo3-G4tjPxcMquYyRy7zllvugZjNlFsV4o6hcyBfL8IQsgZH6p6vAx4tiZQl9Wky-04lub2Mspu3LjPsrCBtKzFHT1Y/s1718/081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1718" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YL0FJqRJirygn-qKWD21XAPxmTmpkK8r5J_S7dd1xuOXKD_wxpD15r_9o22VWTiWh3LA4Z3PkhikP-YvegAT3hd2q2hXk_V9Pmo3-G4tjPxcMquYyRy7zllvugZjNlFsV4o6hcyBfL8IQsgZH6p6vAx4tiZQl9Wky-04lub2Mspu3LjPsrCBtKzFHT1Y/w524-h368/081.JPG" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mountainous Sierra Madre region</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnqlfLwK8yd6FdCPmq-XZlMxabasrrW28STAqod6HHt2d7Gz7SnMc3SCwfpSuKsfalf6FuddNXS9dJ_AYf1LZtjA7ykOZSl52KnbWfeIaJms0aaCWImnlN95or5jlE2vSj9oFAJB0CdvF3NifwQhTvUEkVOITuy4Dg3n6QX9g2yMD2Cm9ouXyXo7fRb-/s1736/082.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1736" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVnqlfLwK8yd6FdCPmq-XZlMxabasrrW28STAqod6HHt2d7Gz7SnMc3SCwfpSuKsfalf6FuddNXS9dJ_AYf1LZtjA7ykOZSl52KnbWfeIaJms0aaCWImnlN95or5jlE2vSj9oFAJB0CdvF3NifwQhTvUEkVOITuy4Dg3n6QX9g2yMD2Cm9ouXyXo7fRb-/w520-h344/082.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Viewing dawn from a lookout in the Sierra Madre</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy9DUdmT_tOmRuc_9wi2HGcqWcB2JZhI3q2YY84Cvk6b7KZsSgI0ofgpr8Se-ZQtxhxer4eHPZEsE8kqWWkLuMMK1LdjhO1141BUKrwmlOjHrF0aPkodh5lZETUgt3fcOlwfzwAeqr6KFa0P0NQrg71mokJawXQWdeTuc9gh4OaDnZxbOrjdI9HnjPd9R/s1456/083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1456" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy9DUdmT_tOmRuc_9wi2HGcqWcB2JZhI3q2YY84Cvk6b7KZsSgI0ofgpr8Se-ZQtxhxer4eHPZEsE8kqWWkLuMMK1LdjhO1141BUKrwmlOjHrF0aPkodh5lZETUgt3fcOlwfzwAeqr6KFa0P0NQrg71mokJawXQWdeTuc9gh4OaDnZxbOrjdI9HnjPd9R/w508-h332/083.JPG" width="508" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A field of sunflowers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tamaulipas is a major producer of sunflowers which are used for oil, livestock feed and the production of soaps and cosmetics.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioOXx3taWh6rYNHsvWZ6rmzuaTELanQ7VKgJRsVzArnk3nZDIrYS8pBG2qCidheubbEO_H02A4f9ulGLYIG8MTyqiI45SAjuxQYE6eds1etB451DJ5BYaPkOP3ntDZYrbfbDJlgOhs1fnE9x-g5QlTCzFzDr2wEM-cXj26Z8UBqRhubRY4FgfgtvLTllw/s1577/084.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1577" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgioOXx3taWh6rYNHsvWZ6rmzuaTELanQ7VKgJRsVzArnk3nZDIrYS8pBG2qCidheubbEO_H02A4f9ulGLYIG8MTyqiI45SAjuxQYE6eds1etB451DJ5BYaPkOP3ntDZYrbfbDJlgOhs1fnE9x-g5QlTCzFzDr2wEM-cXj26Z8UBqRhubRY4FgfgtvLTllw/w501-h364/084.JPG" width="501" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dancers celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of the Snows in the village of Palmillas.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIgV5mutI4VAh5b2tF-773taJZnSvkgJ-yIrD_h6zARRa-TKyewIuMjf2MIF4XvWGYf0Bfxyv8UZyrdic6C0Y9qOebjyP7q04IjdQvt83Pv_5Cd1rj-sKoYUjdv4M-Zkqig238GiRR7qQdn_ui9jTZDzahOsW17KdGUMfSQIByvr1DPNlGljqvISpMgzG/s1333/085.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1333" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIgV5mutI4VAh5b2tF-773taJZnSvkgJ-yIrD_h6zARRa-TKyewIuMjf2MIF4XvWGYf0Bfxyv8UZyrdic6C0Y9qOebjyP7q04IjdQvt83Pv_5Cd1rj-sKoYUjdv4M-Zkqig238GiRR7qQdn_ui9jTZDzahOsW17KdGUMfSQIByvr1DPNlGljqvISpMgzG/w494-h356/085.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A trio performing in front of the bandstand on the main plaza of Tampico, the state's capital</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrbJHIVv2caSR6P5ZSFzdj5sSRfqTMwHDgtTH0ZQ-y0VpujPUz7PxYH2Deq8tvu38PcjhEWK6WtnlobbKQJJd_q7AbsyXwYFc8XL1DbG8hma64gRTqZEZsJN2kehaHu6ewZoVnagiZi9NJO5XgaYXQ15asklnpUnuvL2IKrADLh1cWwSbWJ-5FiB1wKPd/s1270/086.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1270" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrbJHIVv2caSR6P5ZSFzdj5sSRfqTMwHDgtTH0ZQ-y0VpujPUz7PxYH2Deq8tvu38PcjhEWK6WtnlobbKQJJd_q7AbsyXwYFc8XL1DbG8hma64gRTqZEZsJN2kehaHu6ewZoVnagiZi9NJO5XgaYXQ15asklnpUnuvL2IKrADLh1cWwSbWJ-5FiB1wKPd/w493-h377/086.JPG" width="493" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Fishermen with their catch of shrimp, which is sometimes referred to as the state's "pink gold"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XT20E2rCdr4CwJD9XWKrvfVK5pZDvoju8yj4Yjqv_8Qt2hzI4hBcpnOzIrv2-bRZf5Dwy-myd_vwvdprjMbyela2FcqLUodwZp3tGrzgrUfSRFVdQZ_0xJYifZHjlmFOKWHb9kGLBvqAm1kFX8BQfxvIR05OZ2fPQjz7fBbdhnVEpdOkkZormDZuJqNb/s1345/087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1345" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XT20E2rCdr4CwJD9XWKrvfVK5pZDvoju8yj4Yjqv_8Qt2hzI4hBcpnOzIrv2-bRZf5Dwy-myd_vwvdprjMbyela2FcqLUodwZp3tGrzgrUfSRFVdQZ_0xJYifZHjlmFOKWHb9kGLBvqAm1kFX8BQfxvIR05OZ2fPQjz7fBbdhnVEpdOkkZormDZuJqNb/w487-h332/087.JPG" width="487" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">On the terrace of an old hacienda house</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNpXc5RFNnVL7ERmLUrE1JS-DMeQRJEWoKidFXlRmhwymbwKdbzuVTy4g1VnU8pltWm4unLgTPPT3_YoSoeBEJB6SfUZuvXEMb_hmxOBB5XibhLuiQWFDRlrM5r67ufFXiYx1nBni2wmhNZjS7_Aiv1KinC27zF3PfM0h6NH3Mkr58a1AS05bK8bzsVBB/s1189/088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNpXc5RFNnVL7ERmLUrE1JS-DMeQRJEWoKidFXlRmhwymbwKdbzuVTy4g1VnU8pltWm4unLgTPPT3_YoSoeBEJB6SfUZuvXEMb_hmxOBB5XibhLuiQWFDRlrM5r67ufFXiYx1nBni2wmhNZjS7_Aiv1KinC27zF3PfM0h6NH3Mkr58a1AS05bK8bzsVBB/w432-h640/088.JPG" width="432" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The endangered Tamaulipas parrot</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUgUYNyYrDbWYBdez9cYES4t1OmtZ1Tsc2E9G4f5xaCUFGgqW5lE76lC7zfDRV4Gtn_BHJ3HDILej053dfxp6o4Ndl3C5IjIEXCZ7g5DYODJakKNaCv42qVJpZrP3d7izCsGk6tNqEKMZpr9tepK_4fAxq2DsDboZX5HOcEvLXkY_x52T5UvCBLLoNe44/s1373/089.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUgUYNyYrDbWYBdez9cYES4t1OmtZ1Tsc2E9G4f5xaCUFGgqW5lE76lC7zfDRV4Gtn_BHJ3HDILej053dfxp6o4Ndl3C5IjIEXCZ7g5DYODJakKNaCv42qVJpZrP3d7izCsGk6tNqEKMZpr9tepK_4fAxq2DsDboZX5HOcEvLXkY_x52T5UvCBLLoNe44/w482-h320/089.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Agave plants cultivated for the production of mezcal</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA-ZcEWMpVwBinTouD6PUWfOoYJj6KchUyP4_gcgzmkQoNGIMic3fDK7nsgxODQfegpcmgBDuGJ-1wn7jzYV_q9pmMzytgH3wxDPChvmM1wsNyZoWbXEEwo_MTBKgNinhnvsOQGHDRCTxMcHaSHBVq8UASgW320eOyhpjeaIaiNiB7Eu1L8qQdxLf0arY/s1079/090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="1079" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA-ZcEWMpVwBinTouD6PUWfOoYJj6KchUyP4_gcgzmkQoNGIMic3fDK7nsgxODQfegpcmgBDuGJ-1wn7jzYV_q9pmMzytgH3wxDPChvmM1wsNyZoWbXEEwo_MTBKgNinhnvsOQGHDRCTxMcHaSHBVq8UASgW320eOyhpjeaIaiNiB7Eu1L8qQdxLf0arY/w506-h416/090.JPG" width="506" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Laguna la Escondida" in an urban park in the border city of Reynosa</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-24420917703280042002024-03-24T09:35:00.000-04:002024-03-24T09:35:53.354-04:00Orchid<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last weekend Alejandro and I were at Home Depot to pick up a few things for the apartment. They had a large selection of orchids which were on sale. I have never had an orchid before, but a friend of mine back in Ohio says that they are easy to grow. After some hesitation, I went ahead and bought one. It is in front of the living room window where it gets bright sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46UmDzkfMP2PQ5lmQQFHXb8ECyPHH9cfEhjljXS8bOKjQi4y0csbWHWDGAgFi3D4tknjQ_HQLlGLuwMaaFbyGy5rbSdI8r8nhkG4nLv3QJKjHMJG1ykeIf5b8OigS4y59AgqCWs32abP843qa5YZngt4RCVFYJ5z1EMjKjR3Rh3cJr-EmScWPCewo6LfG/s1052/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="645" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46UmDzkfMP2PQ5lmQQFHXb8ECyPHH9cfEhjljXS8bOKjQi4y0csbWHWDGAgFi3D4tknjQ_HQLlGLuwMaaFbyGy5rbSdI8r8nhkG4nLv3QJKjHMJG1ykeIf5b8OigS4y59AgqCWs32abP843qa5YZngt4RCVFYJ5z1EMjKjR3Rh3cJr-EmScWPCewo6LfG/w392-h640/080.JPG" width="392" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The plant is in a plastic container filled with bark. The directions say to water it every 10 to 12 days, although I know that my friend waters it by placing ice cubes in the container. I am sure that when she reads this, she will give me some advice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I set it in a small Mexican dish, but today we are going to the "tianguis (outdoor market) that is held every Sunday around the corner from the apartment. I'll see if I can find an attractive pot in which to place it.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-56974525162044058762024-03-23T09:54:00.001-04:002024-03-23T09:54:30.108-04:00As Night Falls<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last Saturday we left "Los Girasoles" Restaurant at dusk. Here are some pictures that we took.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSd3W6FvBCzpHZHGevApcKQqO2R2Hi7s4xXb7_4xhHMpWlZJvXENn1vi-4HQudra43A7DKxcnJ-5qRjpeO6nklzGenDGAIuX5yIdHrH0VNJBbQY2M1gzMtV21BoROTqu3tgFALipXMK5P4RB4FBk5e69tf3RkTU3rA74t7I1qzYs2GXQpkDny2p0UanwL/s3710/076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3710" data-original-width="3022" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSd3W6FvBCzpHZHGevApcKQqO2R2Hi7s4xXb7_4xhHMpWlZJvXENn1vi-4HQudra43A7DKxcnJ-5qRjpeO6nklzGenDGAIuX5yIdHrH0VNJBbQY2M1gzMtV21BoROTqu3tgFALipXMK5P4RB4FBk5e69tf3RkTU3rA74t7I1qzYs2GXQpkDny2p0UanwL/w437-h534/076.JPG" width="437" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The statue of King Charles IV is silhouetted against the early evening sky. Created by architect and sculptor Manuel Tolsá, it is considered one of finest equestrian statues in the world. Because of anti-Spanish sentiment when Mexico won its independence, it came to be nicknamed "El Caballito" (The Little Horse) as if the King weren't even there.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLhFGXainCvvkA5E0n4i7xwAvyWYPorQR7pOV9BY5nS4ApgqJcCEpfdmEl6K3PswEjdbCOB-OeVIobU91l3bOiAHuMySLIjG_c4cOCwPgR_DWp7oY8eiRR32EpXqCIf4rDjLW9A-MfH93_EZSxNMK-hNLxYSTmlNj1WEDmWU0EEvwFkXVIsE5OggGiU0y/s3091/077.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="3091" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLhFGXainCvvkA5E0n4i7xwAvyWYPorQR7pOV9BY5nS4ApgqJcCEpfdmEl6K3PswEjdbCOB-OeVIobU91l3bOiAHuMySLIjG_c4cOCwPgR_DWp7oY8eiRR32EpXqCIf4rDjLW9A-MfH93_EZSxNMK-hNLxYSTmlNj1WEDmWU0EEvwFkXVIsE5OggGiU0y/w523-h331/077.jpg" width="523" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Alejandro took this photo of busy HIdalgo Avenue with the belltowers and domes of the churches of San Juan de Dios and Santa Veracruz.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso0p5ZvRyyZTTqK17d2gxJC5BgeJ5hfYbPOesmTZZbpD8AXDD8MewH91Y8XvdEcgv9zyZF5ltZEHVBIttGchnghVVhZStEifBuSBQVjMddF23nmGoOCTROneN8X6oIVzbaFvjk1T-JI9XAiiALqD9Xl-obSkex4CBl7YUSmvQAmxlUAXKrf6cJr7tnSsK/s1474/078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="943" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso0p5ZvRyyZTTqK17d2gxJC5BgeJ5hfYbPOesmTZZbpD8AXDD8MewH91Y8XvdEcgv9zyZF5ltZEHVBIttGchnghVVhZStEifBuSBQVjMddF23nmGoOCTROneN8X6oIVzbaFvjk1T-JI9XAiiALqD9Xl-obSkex4CBl7YUSmvQAmxlUAXKrf6cJr7tnSsK/w410-h640/078.JPG" width="410" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The Latin American Tower, one of the city's most iconic skyscrapers and the downtown flagship Sears building.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgd6qC5OQZSw4JR94ELjIARim8BdiJRvITnOfff505VUrzXet4Rs8bkDZTy1ze_DVpPdmA8Umoyw1vwgIIGjI0qV5d7gvyfZrFkgY6p4iXMpGe2t9JhR4o7480g871_Gn4uAjy5JiUKpYOnw5jP6Z08A6XvtJNf-gVaQN-pRIYmGPIImlhFbfXpUcF-aO/s1589/079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1589" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgd6qC5OQZSw4JR94ELjIARim8BdiJRvITnOfff505VUrzXet4Rs8bkDZTy1ze_DVpPdmA8Umoyw1vwgIIGjI0qV5d7gvyfZrFkgY6p4iXMpGe2t9JhR4o7480g871_Gn4uAjy5JiUKpYOnw5jP6Z08A6XvtJNf-gVaQN-pRIYmGPIImlhFbfXpUcF-aO/w555-h442/079.JPG" width="555" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The Palace of Fine Arts is illuminated at night. In the tents next to it a book fair was being held. Other vendors had spread their wares on the sidewalk. Downtown may be quiet on weeknights, but on weekends it is thronged with people until quite late.</span><p></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-56001230925119339672024-03-22T09:15:00.000-04:002024-03-22T09:15:34.622-04:00Dinner at "Los Girasoles"<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Because I had done some cooking, we ate in the apartment more than usual last weekend. However, after visiting the handicraft exhibit on Saturday, I suggested that we eat out. We went to a place that we had not visited in quite a while... a restaurant called "Los Girasoles" (The Sunflowers). It is located on Plaza Tolsá in the Centro Histórico. It's a somewhat expensive restaurant although the prices are not ridiculously outrageous.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOFB44lRlX3_6VmD7VLLIKoW59aQ6PUWVzf5wW9iQpLvG9zPTK5qJZqTbn3MtNG3KaL1qO3XltH_5y9NXnP35gnVTUfW4Tr-02cAharcEf49nlBl_NlMRW596dn8NOfj3wJ6U2B2x5JjypQJ0dtGD_3cWxSJwAuN72ILj0Wi9YK-YaiSH0HyHI1cPv2Jn/s1421/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1421" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOFB44lRlX3_6VmD7VLLIKoW59aQ6PUWVzf5wW9iQpLvG9zPTK5qJZqTbn3MtNG3KaL1qO3XltH_5y9NXnP35gnVTUfW4Tr-02cAharcEf49nlBl_NlMRW596dn8NOfj3wJ6U2B2x5JjypQJ0dtGD_3cWxSJwAuN72ILj0Wi9YK-YaiSH0HyHI1cPv2Jn/w479-h350/069.JPG" width="479" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(I actually took this photo after our dinner in the early evening.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We both ordered the same thing. We began with pistachio soup.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZUt0MFmOSr4M8r8-mUQXjxs4rcJjUHkKwP4-iVMeeBAEfyymHvrYRq9dmtAf5QptLH0X7_riyIv1bSi0YlSmva6lQ6FNG-zdGzqJZ2_FeUik-a6mcBaWZ1zEpHkjTv5HrNDptvA1NUGzllya-zf6DNPNVGcGKqdAiDpEb4O1vXqn0LYCiids7i-CNqJO/s1540/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZUt0MFmOSr4M8r8-mUQXjxs4rcJjUHkKwP4-iVMeeBAEfyymHvrYRq9dmtAf5QptLH0X7_riyIv1bSi0YlSmva6lQ6FNG-zdGzqJZ2_FeUik-a6mcBaWZ1zEpHkjTv5HrNDptvA1NUGzllya-zf6DNPNVGcGKqdAiDpEb4O1vXqn0LYCiids7i-CNqJO/w454-h640/070.JPG" width="454" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The presentation was very pretty. That's an "obleo" (like a communion wafer) floating in the soup. It is decorated with the restaurant's name and a picture of sunflowers.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDja-T7FI5pjOGjKtdhlAiRcbn-IOOmWZmyRNTCnSnsmOulZ-ybFS9-5zAA3T4ZQvN8ujkxt68dEgadgt0KNxnlOHV8s2kLyMZy2UXxYgo9JaOJF43XLOZ3FkC4XbClmUPgL4GCK3SN4vRj0x1BMv3eALuUCu-qvnxur7WLFoA2R0itRIwCaJr-DeZTnT/s1468/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1468" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDja-T7FI5pjOGjKtdhlAiRcbn-IOOmWZmyRNTCnSnsmOulZ-ybFS9-5zAA3T4ZQvN8ujkxt68dEgadgt0KNxnlOHV8s2kLyMZy2UXxYgo9JaOJF43XLOZ3FkC4XbClmUPgL4GCK3SN4vRj0x1BMv3eALuUCu-qvnxur7WLFoA2R0itRIwCaJr-DeZTnT/w532-h391/071.JPG" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For our main course, we both ordered chicken in peanut sauce. So, I guess you could say that we had a very "nutty", but tasty dinner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvFGajdxpx0W4d2alm8Z4s5JcDZEsSqzGXK3iBVImnmSSLQWK-nS7uk7eXPsoy-iYbKJYAcSxBzkbhhSoUkICIHXyVl3mIhaiVCnD6lVbQ0oVu1gBtBFR7lrMeafF4ZJFqoQjUe9Cli5LSemMflH8DtFdKmx5uGrIwiZy5VS12NDpQ9seSsK_cA2u_Tbl/s1200/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="958" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvFGajdxpx0W4d2alm8Z4s5JcDZEsSqzGXK3iBVImnmSSLQWK-nS7uk7eXPsoy-iYbKJYAcSxBzkbhhSoUkICIHXyVl3mIhaiVCnD6lVbQ0oVu1gBtBFR7lrMeafF4ZJFqoQjUe9Cli5LSemMflH8DtFdKmx5uGrIwiZy5VS12NDpQ9seSsK_cA2u_Tbl/w510-h640/072.JPG" width="510" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaP5aSF4fZh_fjQXbmuhU4E4oFValQSpmff6-TpJ9D5B-3L62T_rB0S7MAYvogj8DigCy8-bXgujKZT8zYFOFICRO_9agEdJszMYpeFSrwKW4bgo4uU7ZGtpcXfVBOj2QvMB0wFx9fzkrtFFwLvvnLUmeKjzdQnlB_wdt_bzUOoEHr_UniyHCyehqj0nR/s1537/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1537" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaP5aSF4fZh_fjQXbmuhU4E4oFValQSpmff6-TpJ9D5B-3L62T_rB0S7MAYvogj8DigCy8-bXgujKZT8zYFOFICRO_9agEdJszMYpeFSrwKW4bgo4uU7ZGtpcXfVBOj2QvMB0wFx9fzkrtFFwLvvnLUmeKjzdQnlB_wdt_bzUOoEHr_UniyHCyehqj0nR/w501-h279/073.JPG" width="501" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Since we were seated on the upper floor of the restaurant, we had a nice view of the Plaza Tolsá below us. The building to the right is the National Museum of Art, and to the left is a late 18th century colonial building that was the School of Mining and which now belongs to the School of Engineering of the National University of Mexico. In the center of the plaza is the equestrian statue of King Charles IV of Spain, commonly known as "El Caballito" (The Little Horse). It was done in 1803 by the Spanish-born sculptor and architect Manuel Tolsá.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD68VzcZN9O-8AP34kjVYQVL_NzXnQty8waxrojG0P4GTHEjHXfCMRiRJrBf2Y2qWMEqVYrfaL4r86YQl7nHQ0dj_-VM78RZWc4avXl0yXbDdt5wgSuRk29agNZN1c18wSxvUWDs8R1uEztTaprKmlkjMVylbRYVEjHDsvjwCyk9gwFfSaoJbY3oLZLYfW/s1595/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1595" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD68VzcZN9O-8AP34kjVYQVL_NzXnQty8waxrojG0P4GTHEjHXfCMRiRJrBf2Y2qWMEqVYrfaL4r86YQl7nHQ0dj_-VM78RZWc4avXl0yXbDdt5wgSuRk29agNZN1c18wSxvUWDs8R1uEztTaprKmlkjMVylbRYVEjHDsvjwCyk9gwFfSaoJbY3oLZLYfW/w527-h378/074.JPG" width="527" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />From a different window, you can see the side of the old School of Mining and poking up above it, the 20th century Latin American Tower.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWdXj1mD4cKemWH-LFzPTIqepQzAx5hu8mvkbJU9wViprmGvSExridF0I5YSVNu0MfmqOEw-VwYc35IgYsH2-TaAtrsWMjE9AaRdpzNuBjtVXKqWqf1Zdijl2X_wD3UwfVVJ13yChHVPCzY-ywffAW1fjNsfEgB4WOA1CRemVWQoUmRmF0T1HO3zOGr-J/s1641/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWdXj1mD4cKemWH-LFzPTIqepQzAx5hu8mvkbJU9wViprmGvSExridF0I5YSVNu0MfmqOEw-VwYc35IgYsH2-TaAtrsWMjE9AaRdpzNuBjtVXKqWqf1Zdijl2X_wD3UwfVVJ13yChHVPCzY-ywffAW1fjNsfEgB4WOA1CRemVWQoUmRmF0T1HO3zOGr-J/w396-h640/075.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-69485712282723127172024-03-21T10:00:00.000-04:002024-03-21T10:00:23.559-04:00Handicrafts!<p><span style="font-family: arial;">If you have read this blog for any length of time, you know that I am a sucker for Mexican handicrafts. When I made the move from Ohio to Mexico, I brought down many of my favorite pieces, and I continue to buy more down here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My friend and fellow-blogger, Barbara from San Miguel de Allende, e-mailed me and told me that there was going to be an exposition and sale of works by Mexico City artisans at the Franz Mayer Museum last weekend. Franz Mayer was a German immigrant who came to Mexico in the early 20th century. He had a passion for Mexican decorative arts, and when he died, he donated his collection of more than 9000 pieces to create a museum, which is housed in a 16th century colonial hospital.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Saturday, we went downtown to the museum for the exposition.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Alejandro and I pose by large images of the traditional "María" and "Juan" rag dolls that have become an iconic symbol of Mexico and its handicrafts.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-88u93UWNrLc64IzPhDTtsM4gOZiMgM7KMn9RZy4KCoBGM5w0UBadhWfEr-sdAng64Tuu6lOv57imynvOMZALcDY5aApTvED8qbClpCL7C2CqicXpsXJfCvLC_liuwh13IwXpe07Bwb_E6uMDyGqIkfOzdULtF5oBQeTPx_E0C_zoLEoc9TOaR1ziZpf/s1641/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-88u93UWNrLc64IzPhDTtsM4gOZiMgM7KMn9RZy4KCoBGM5w0UBadhWfEr-sdAng64Tuu6lOv57imynvOMZALcDY5aApTvED8qbClpCL7C2CqicXpsXJfCvLC_liuwh13IwXpe07Bwb_E6uMDyGqIkfOzdULtF5oBQeTPx_E0C_zoLEoc9TOaR1ziZpf/w426-h640/056.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJoreaE20PHcUgMPNo22lgSNsz1oE9DJFtjVZvJ9nABVYEhF7pMmzwGl_HyhtmV3hNmECRnXRWWGmo2YLVJJ4zeBL_fdomiUcSSS7DCSBT5EXXksa2kB2rKiH_ncOZjwdBeQ5vHVBSzI1CEnI8OkYki0NrDKK6AdtGapqq9nctsxn-q9gjSwG9MkdwZhE/s1451/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJoreaE20PHcUgMPNo22lgSNsz1oE9DJFtjVZvJ9nABVYEhF7pMmzwGl_HyhtmV3hNmECRnXRWWGmo2YLVJJ4zeBL_fdomiUcSSS7DCSBT5EXXksa2kB2rKiH_ncOZjwdBeQ5vHVBSzI1CEnI8OkYki0NrDKK6AdtGapqq9nctsxn-q9gjSwG9MkdwZhE/w376-h640/057.JPG" width="376" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The show was small, with only about thirty artisans displaying their work. However, their work was top quality, and I ending up buying a lot of beautiful merchandise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This fellow creates objects out of papier mâché. I bought a small jaguar head to add to the collection that I have hanging on the wall of my apartment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFYu1TJJLqOLRREcLzqEDFLiyn3lz6jh6Q8jsPwjnGY_vfAFuKNuPmEFv0e9Ah0TFKiaIwiwwmeQGMrn27n7RV5-wPUSfWkn1eSEJbvP06x9DMaqa7j7kG_whX0j113OqzwLFST4HH5Yzh3O9rUB49PMvupNRW9_YFuXV0K7JruHd1sQ4FcU-AY4lD0zz/s1339/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1339" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFYu1TJJLqOLRREcLzqEDFLiyn3lz6jh6Q8jsPwjnGY_vfAFuKNuPmEFv0e9Ah0TFKiaIwiwwmeQGMrn27n7RV5-wPUSfWkn1eSEJbvP06x9DMaqa7j7kG_whX0j113OqzwLFST4HH5Yzh3O9rUB49PMvupNRW9_YFuXV0K7JruHd1sQ4FcU-AY4lD0zz/w476-h398/058.JPG" width="476" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwUDbQPldCo-9Vvz_lyzTMjM8cKTSfaeWcUKdgrwiW4iZeGBZuK2L3N-93bgvWNjZycCEF4pbRU78ddSbhgdPByGs2QwAK7VK22DMYttXQ7PBuJK0Y49814daSUCm5kkmScmgL6Me-OtHI4Cum9Uvhm_gi82l1NFM2DSUDGwxMbaum5h1mojO_fb_QMa4/s1131/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1131" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwUDbQPldCo-9Vvz_lyzTMjM8cKTSfaeWcUKdgrwiW4iZeGBZuK2L3N-93bgvWNjZycCEF4pbRU78ddSbhgdPByGs2QwAK7VK22DMYttXQ7PBuJK0Y49814daSUCm5kkmScmgL6Me-OtHI4Cum9Uvhm_gi82l1NFM2DSUDGwxMbaum5h1mojO_fb_QMa4/w493-h462/059.JPG" width="493" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This lady creates objects of "papel picado", the cut paper that is used as holiday banners. I bought a small, framed piece of "papel picado" to add to my Day of the Dead "ofrenda".</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh9lk44dhNdouaUiWsyBw_zOjXKrMpe1OmuTsqdmGAn_AmP5vXZGcZ2fyQ3Zde5A2dthMO5gKHkdlYWPO-J2K4Pn_5RwuMps7kyMEqNgz8Q_epHSysgKWSsWjBouKie5KdzpetFDdJZ0n2UtYPPeWUnI0n7hVQtSIahsKClnhIk6DRrR-drVrI-lqN3Yj/s1460/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh9lk44dhNdouaUiWsyBw_zOjXKrMpe1OmuTsqdmGAn_AmP5vXZGcZ2fyQ3Zde5A2dthMO5gKHkdlYWPO-J2K4Pn_5RwuMps7kyMEqNgz8Q_epHSysgKWSsWjBouKie5KdzpetFDdJZ0n2UtYPPeWUnI0n7hVQtSIahsKClnhIk6DRrR-drVrI-lqN3Yj/w480-h640/060.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This artisan creates jewelry by encasing real orchid blossoms in plexiglass. I bought a small pendant to give to Alejandro's sister for her birthday.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxqwf39Kx0QoK0OHJmO6dhyphenhyphen-qEkvejKXAyYXAcK-sRictG46VyJuEfuslD5A5JgbuCFsgu0J_morXNAc43cNg65nnhW3gcm7SQ_CHIpXhirWJB4etgHZR2Q-DWSIprKZaGLeGRFcyALprX8NnvT7GAxOleDzAuCPZPa3-ZKnkUxksT_XojBI3eGuNInJE/s1641/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxqwf39Kx0QoK0OHJmO6dhyphenhyphen-qEkvejKXAyYXAcK-sRictG46VyJuEfuslD5A5JgbuCFsgu0J_morXNAc43cNg65nnhW3gcm7SQ_CHIpXhirWJB4etgHZR2Q-DWSIprKZaGLeGRFcyALprX8NnvT7GAxOleDzAuCPZPa3-ZKnkUxksT_XojBI3eGuNInJE/w426-h640/061.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDStDWrJDQLylyXRWyYUNt2hKinmovghedzBJWl-wMGjFly5vJO701wSPBeznL6WhJqhLC2X70JYA3ocDzgugxwAFIWyG4Hq0D9hnyZj4JTIcJol9mVkEz8RXajFOINGgGswTZhrnHTKMrUdZ-x2sbyYbymD2hziC4SNGch4L8-uOfufcGG0S9etGrWw3H/s1608/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1608" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDStDWrJDQLylyXRWyYUNt2hKinmovghedzBJWl-wMGjFly5vJO701wSPBeznL6WhJqhLC2X70JYA3ocDzgugxwAFIWyG4Hq0D9hnyZj4JTIcJol9mVkEz8RXajFOINGgGswTZhrnHTKMrUdZ-x2sbyYbymD2hziC4SNGch4L8-uOfufcGG0S9etGrWw3H/w470-h295/062.JPG" width="470" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This lady does decorative pieces in stained glass. I bought a picture of a boatman on the canals of Xochimilco that I already have hanging in my guest bathroom.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yWpES1KZ-a7_Motuup1aBRpgv3CiIV0QOzY4q-5jC7ca9_z6YztdJnMZj1fSxkWJTcVtbjwHv1gCVs_djfRpCfXtIa0-MyRMGtoY7ZWj5DDgvwKYQHM8GA6qPmMNM9neH1QSYAovVLsQNkrJLM7h0Q54xLJEnZ3nT-KicvPlzuvVHR7VwUiOoj6-jfYk/s1641/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yWpES1KZ-a7_Motuup1aBRpgv3CiIV0QOzY4q-5jC7ca9_z6YztdJnMZj1fSxkWJTcVtbjwHv1gCVs_djfRpCfXtIa0-MyRMGtoY7ZWj5DDgvwKYQHM8GA6qPmMNM9neH1QSYAovVLsQNkrJLM7h0Q54xLJEnZ3nT-KicvPlzuvVHR7VwUiOoj6-jfYk/w426-h640/063.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIOwEcrjHvilQ09u3f3xM-ah7I6ZwNHG3Z-nm8eQiTIZ9hXcdKcWtJBRdZXEIdA0iBgH5NqMyPosOBfpgNBHhMh0BaH6cSFpPkyGA8HOqCNEFYU1LSCGNVte8c6xBSbKsnKIrKIC1ulJTlIPcJi3yolqxcRWrcbYMrL-Sw1IiSaXTyWtrr2iWrHe9YE7i/s1102/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1102" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIOwEcrjHvilQ09u3f3xM-ah7I6ZwNHG3Z-nm8eQiTIZ9hXcdKcWtJBRdZXEIdA0iBgH5NqMyPosOBfpgNBHhMh0BaH6cSFpPkyGA8HOqCNEFYU1LSCGNVte8c6xBSbKsnKIrKIC1ulJTlIPcJi3yolqxcRWrcbYMrL-Sw1IiSaXTyWtrr2iWrHe9YE7i/w474-h424/064.JPG" width="474" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally, this gentleman creates absolutely amazing pictures out of "popotillo". "Popotillo" is an art form that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. The straw-like fibers of the "zacatón" plant are used to create works of art.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9odQD-hR00VMvd8e9rck3RtvynE7wPFDseTj22xbl57Ly5zAu02e49OD-I2pRK9jrfNYYaF-VNOJE9H_dbkamzHkKe7qiCgoanUYMhW08GRfKX-eJ78e10XpDrGrTp3QiGTHl2BDpSVYu0dB8An3-JvjwCie7IYefVl2fVUpIW2ac71HfSLif3SStljJk/s1641/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9odQD-hR00VMvd8e9rck3RtvynE7wPFDseTj22xbl57Ly5zAu02e49OD-I2pRK9jrfNYYaF-VNOJE9H_dbkamzHkKe7qiCgoanUYMhW08GRfKX-eJ78e10XpDrGrTp3QiGTHl2BDpSVYu0dB8An3-JvjwCie7IYefVl2fVUpIW2ac71HfSLif3SStljJk/w426-h640/065.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtU8jJUPvooMoZpAUHUn6pDIL6ROhCBmV9ppkZrYK0wq_xoJRYEDRlSraLiJT8ENccg8lEJ2Ye4wfMM638CbLMUObHt-N1lXOXj-jLXeAnuJv4TK_H19mbfDZxYejek53HegEHyQvkP9H2NnDRzCo2uYFd2_V6T-S5rSvUcmT2s41EFPNpK7SEcICHYfk/s1641/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtU8jJUPvooMoZpAUHUn6pDIL6ROhCBmV9ppkZrYK0wq_xoJRYEDRlSraLiJT8ENccg8lEJ2Ye4wfMM638CbLMUObHt-N1lXOXj-jLXeAnuJv4TK_H19mbfDZxYejek53HegEHyQvkP9H2NnDRzCo2uYFd2_V6T-S5rSvUcmT2s41EFPNpK7SEcICHYfk/w426-h640/066.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I have seen plenty of "popotillo" in handicraft markets, but I have never seen such beautiful, detailed work such as this man does. I ended up buying two of his pieces... a bouquet of flowers, and a Mexican street scene. The street scene is already framed and under glass. I will have to have the other one framed with glass.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpKfBypmxNvgTNI2F5aKo8VnKMV72mJ3a1hlSq9CW1XKqZ1ZA68XYjUI9EtHpO36V6RkLGBZ0SYQEyRVBkJRV3CSatddLpHW40VCLkr9BHdV6HN1p0fG-DRd1phb17wpaQBl0Kf-KTGOH3IKegUnDw-FMx8a3A3fh3_EmRd7EU7fFAJncIyAQX64uaBQL/s1698/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="1091" height="708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpKfBypmxNvgTNI2F5aKo8VnKMV72mJ3a1hlSq9CW1XKqZ1ZA68XYjUI9EtHpO36V6RkLGBZ0SYQEyRVBkJRV3CSatddLpHW40VCLkr9BHdV6HN1p0fG-DRd1phb17wpaQBl0Kf-KTGOH3IKegUnDw-FMx8a3A3fh3_EmRd7EU7fFAJncIyAQX64uaBQL/w476-h708/067.JPG" width="476" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4jpC1rtId8iRrpyRCLtQ-QzoYMndC4_ZPOTktuGmuPRcahLsXoMNR2aAbrOpu-yO9P8hCqUyDJ7pnvFhufEkl4OVwn3K2OTDtqJPoVX5O2SoNiaIqG3SzPLwKI0L3iD7Tl4yXLjB4M-Jm34rHC4ujD32jFXyhhHCaV_eV1PCynTECpfPqS5i6k1klEJB/s1748/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1337" height="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4jpC1rtId8iRrpyRCLtQ-QzoYMndC4_ZPOTktuGmuPRcahLsXoMNR2aAbrOpu-yO9P8hCqUyDJ7pnvFhufEkl4OVwn3K2OTDtqJPoVX5O2SoNiaIqG3SzPLwKI0L3iD7Tl4yXLjB4M-Jm34rHC4ujD32jFXyhhHCaV_eV1PCynTECpfPqS5i6k1klEJB/w529-h739/068.JPG" width="529" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I went away from the show very happy with my wonderful treasures!</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-5238584992544416842024-03-20T10:06:00.000-04:002024-03-20T10:06:25.782-04:00Back to Cooking<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I mentioned last week that Alejandro and I had pulled out the stove so that we could turn on the gas. Previously when I was by myself in the apartment, I would simply make something that did not require cooking, or which could be heated up in the microwave. When Alejandro was with me, we would simply go out to eat.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Now I am back to cooking. Last week, besides the home-made salsa that I wrote about, I made something that I used to make frequently back in Ohio... black beans and rice. I would always use Minute Rice brown rice, a can of Mexican-style chopped tomatoes, and a can of low-sodium beans, as well as sauteed onion, garlic and bell pepper. They don't sell Minute Rice here, but I did find envelopes of pre-cooked "arroz integral" (brown rice in Spanish) that you prepare just like Minute Rice. I bought a small carton of ground tomatoes, but mostly used fresh Roma tomatoes that I bought at the market. Alejandro would always tease me that canned beans are "fake frijoles". So, I bought dried beans, sorted through them to pick out any stones (the beans were very clean... no stones) and soaked them overnight. I then cooked them on the stove for over an hour. I spiced the dish up a bit with some of my home-made salsa.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I still had some beans left over, and I had a kettle of the bean broth. So, I decided to make some black bean soup. I added chicken broth and some spices. It was a bit bland... next time I will add some fried chorizo... but with some salsa and a dollop of "crema", it was not bad. Alejandro had a second serving.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnUxdGo_Sy55X__HZ1UXEtXq5sYgtDvTloQmkCRxQUTpHh38zr5DTD8GJaOSpBglI1QOw2PvIFws2oGCqqKpNEqVrLQGwqjHQrU9KHyiVe487CDHv0XdZwPpEi9XoFLq_0M2tfd_6wW1StI0WZxUBKZXDE78KzIa-pRbAkVIqamEhMiNmglZxsVF16b3I/s1295/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="874" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnUxdGo_Sy55X__HZ1UXEtXq5sYgtDvTloQmkCRxQUTpHh38zr5DTD8GJaOSpBglI1QOw2PvIFws2oGCqqKpNEqVrLQGwqjHQrU9KHyiVe487CDHv0XdZwPpEi9XoFLq_0M2tfd_6wW1StI0WZxUBKZXDE78KzIa-pRbAkVIqamEhMiNmglZxsVF16b3I/w432-h640/052.JPG" width="432" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Since it's been so hot here, I thought that a cold chicken and macaroni salad would be good. I need to watch my triglycerides, so ordinary pasta is not the best thing for me. In the supermarket, I found a bag of elbow macaroni made from brown rice. I cooked up the macaroni, carefully following the directions, and it came out inedible. Not only was it all clumped together in a mushy mess, but it had a rather bitter aftertaste. So, I went back to the supermarket and found a bag of whole wheat spiral pasta. That came out very well. I don't have a recipe for this salad... I added fresh broccoli that I had steamed, chopped onion and bell pepper and shredded chicken. I made a dressing from mayonnaise and "crema".</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-YEkavuojCfSuf3Z_e67lYyj_2n2DfteQ6tUZ4E3LblRZXE7uMzKoGymhYdchXUDFmmjqwRxHSdUd5qfcO3wUG1oabb8swKMaVymxX1vMqgaSf321qYUg8T66jOCYA69O-jMOw1HQ86gscbfHnMk-NRsuvrbayDXu19ek4abeMkisw7sdzs4Gz0er-rb/s1020/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1020" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-YEkavuojCfSuf3Z_e67lYyj_2n2DfteQ6tUZ4E3LblRZXE7uMzKoGymhYdchXUDFmmjqwRxHSdUd5qfcO3wUG1oabb8swKMaVymxX1vMqgaSf321qYUg8T66jOCYA69O-jMOw1HQ86gscbfHnMk-NRsuvrbayDXu19ek4abeMkisw7sdzs4Gz0er-rb/w498-h349/053.JPG" width="498" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There was enough for two meals for the two of us... so this weekend we ate in instead of going out.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmf7Xk4WU-4rohzO8OL_pm8-zs8fqxoFWkqYmXUChzY_6l2IIogMg7fGEB6zI-AhtpOgNjw62eUr5ApAYoxlO7Ep_kyT-kqZ8O7CjAk5sedQhyphenhyphenVrZKwN9zntSFUcfWOs8Vl-j9XwKkXMwGxL2Iki9ZyziKPZ7iy07WmetqVBOrbSri69jEYle19XDS3U/s1460/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkmf7Xk4WU-4rohzO8OL_pm8-zs8fqxoFWkqYmXUChzY_6l2IIogMg7fGEB6zI-AhtpOgNjw62eUr5ApAYoxlO7Ep_kyT-kqZ8O7CjAk5sedQhyphenhyphenVrZKwN9zntSFUcfWOs8Vl-j9XwKkXMwGxL2Iki9ZyziKPZ7iy07WmetqVBOrbSri69jEYle19XDS3U/w408-h640/054.JPG" width="408" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I think that this coming weekend, I might make my recipe for "encacahuatado de pollo"... chicken in peanut sauce.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-11539334932511051452024-03-19T17:04:00.000-04:002024-03-19T17:04:41.774-04:00So-so Oaxacan<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In my previous post I mentioned that I had seen a Oaxacan restaurant called "La Bella Lulá" on my long walk down Revolución Avenue. On the way back I stopped there for dinner. Oaxaca is considered one of the culinary capitals of Mexico, and it is famous for its variety of "moles". I had high hopes for this restaurant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I started with black bean and noodle soup. It was good.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQANFZ8CHlcx5J-ogJtVZZo0ut0nE5N-v8D8ytWpJtgaJKJDAo2I20y95uIc3Zpxto7RkcBDgzn9zSp3JS_VjatZsl_l4lXHMgHQtCHBuiYfKEYmnUW7x5ERuspL542YDkp3EJfBDG-kRlU_bY3piHwUE9wfJ5QFhLYFWxQJuFr8GquJXMEqCwPmCnmW1U/s2529/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2260" data-original-width="2529" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQANFZ8CHlcx5J-ogJtVZZo0ut0nE5N-v8D8ytWpJtgaJKJDAo2I20y95uIc3Zpxto7RkcBDgzn9zSp3JS_VjatZsl_l4lXHMgHQtCHBuiYfKEYmnUW7x5ERuspL542YDkp3EJfBDG-kRlU_bY3piHwUE9wfJ5QFhLYFWxQJuFr8GquJXMEqCwPmCnmW1U/w495-h458/050.JPG" width="495" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For my main course I had chicken breast covered in almond "mole". The chicken was rather dry, and I thought that the "mole" was bland. It certainly was not as good as what I have had in Oaxaca.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfeEoSVSZ78xI-kGH5ELpmqBbbTWS-Zw_EztvgzqwB8QDVMfjQ0E5n9hOjo6FoBzdV-HFtZD_dndOXVuNFvF3SmWwWF8YEm5rUr6yJQCLMae4PjS-nhxLr7EgYnUnBeXj1DbOHhBO4f_ImcG69kErC6_apYC9tZO6JvUBKiMVPaQKkSRiRjiUiW7aqYOL/s1209/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1209" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfeEoSVSZ78xI-kGH5ELpmqBbbTWS-Zw_EztvgzqwB8QDVMfjQ0E5n9hOjo6FoBzdV-HFtZD_dndOXVuNFvF3SmWwWF8YEm5rUr6yJQCLMae4PjS-nhxLr7EgYnUnBeXj1DbOHhBO4f_ImcG69kErC6_apYC9tZO6JvUBKiMVPaQKkSRiRjiUiW7aqYOL/w519-h440/051.JPG" width="519" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After I returned to the apartment I took a look at the reviews for the place. I was surprised to see so many glowing reviews. However, there were a number of people who shared my opinion that the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything special either. One person summed it up saying that if you have never had Oaxacan food, you might think that the restaurant is great. If you have been to Oaxaca, you know that the food here is not outstanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Needless to say, I am not going to make the trek to "La Bella Lulá" again.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-82037248883387100322024-03-19T09:26:00.000-04:002024-03-19T09:26:11.391-04:00South Down "Revolución"<p><span style="font-family: arial;">You may remember a post that I wrote last month in which I described a long walk that I took down Revolución Avenue. After walking for an hour, I reached a subway stop called Barranca del Muerto. Although I had never traveled on the Metro to that stop, I knew the name because it is the end of the line for a route that I sometimes take.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday is my cleaning lady's day to clean the apartment, so I needed to get out of there. I had several hours to kill, so I decided to jump on the subway, go to Barranca del Muerto, and take up where I had left off on my walk down Revolución. Once again, I gave myself one hour. In that hour, would I have time to pass through the historic district of San Angel and make it all the way to the avenue's end by the stadium of the National University?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Barranca del Muerto subway station had some interesting decorations. The ceilings and walls as I ascended by escalator were painted with designs reminiscent of the embroidery work of the Otomí tribe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1akMpfbrpUZZ-fHN7a4aum8ml1barEUg4u_bfJp0rfsnCI7vNqNXIZ6rIdwb23AvbOt4plap5Kgl8-33OWjveePYG10clDNVTiTp80uutyyKq3Qk4zSK0wH_CHZTBH4svr1JSetUxh-LZwiKLPvXcz4i_e-UQG260pHiFyLeiW6Z693YunyyzaIjx3_v/s1641/026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1akMpfbrpUZZ-fHN7a4aum8ml1barEUg4u_bfJp0rfsnCI7vNqNXIZ6rIdwb23AvbOt4plap5Kgl8-33OWjveePYG10clDNVTiTp80uutyyKq3Qk4zSK0wH_CHZTBH4svr1JSetUxh-LZwiKLPvXcz4i_e-UQG260pHiFyLeiW6Z693YunyyzaIjx3_v/w426-h640/026.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAfGSEvf9eOPSr8iJoVuhZ4nPUeuKPyA5TkY3ou0CI4lSUWo4W-pI5h5fVFLdkHS8i6IdTBiSGg0acO2M384g1Jw93h8AHSOQlFmvdfgEJvd2Aj7GF8QWFAUkOBre5NAh_stzcpc9XDKboCtUpWHBdW1je4Z4x5S3iZ_2BHxNkIVWFHBj5VsBWbnAdcsp/s1641/027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAfGSEvf9eOPSr8iJoVuhZ4nPUeuKPyA5TkY3ou0CI4lSUWo4W-pI5h5fVFLdkHS8i6IdTBiSGg0acO2M384g1Jw93h8AHSOQlFmvdfgEJvd2Aj7GF8QWFAUkOBre5NAh_stzcpc9XDKboCtUpWHBdW1je4Z4x5S3iZ_2BHxNkIVWFHBj5VsBWbnAdcsp/w512-h375/027.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By the exit there were mosaics and stone sculptures that were clearly inspired by pre-HIspanic art.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLj6ZzbeRjz6VMrWrmByJHWXCcF-eozZ-kRkA3YSTWB3HAa7Ps-_K66GpQzENW_B6ZvVHoiEf_NaGB5upzhUYzbQ_SszTVrG0NZ22iXfsZgg53QSiOGjYX0jVtgEWX7FhKswEwjbPZIsjWtBxlZrNOlK9sTpOOhxUV2hvyWTOOwXqAHo1wcb7r3pTFMDR/s1641/028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1641" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLj6ZzbeRjz6VMrWrmByJHWXCcF-eozZ-kRkA3YSTWB3HAa7Ps-_K66GpQzENW_B6ZvVHoiEf_NaGB5upzhUYzbQ_SszTVrG0NZ22iXfsZgg53QSiOGjYX0jVtgEWX7FhKswEwjbPZIsjWtBxlZrNOlK9sTpOOhxUV2hvyWTOOwXqAHo1wcb7r3pTFMDR/w491-h354/028.JPG" width="491" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I emerged from the subway station onto busy Revolución Avenue near another high-rise building under construction.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFRAjA2a1PgB1GVCPTM-ES4zt_uRWanXtLCl7HvNK5QCBeeIT8vYscIRAjpU29_p3x-r1a2uq0IZNZ9ZOqUaUUzS09MGpsHsihTuFEnV3DP-uunEdrpIMW43dTBLOpaWx9LrWBjo6YdWVyndImRM5Rkwie3eXq_aVuBfpCyX6tHaNjTDzt1WTcbARNQBS/s1458/028a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="970" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFRAjA2a1PgB1GVCPTM-ES4zt_uRWanXtLCl7HvNK5QCBeeIT8vYscIRAjpU29_p3x-r1a2uq0IZNZ9ZOqUaUUzS09MGpsHsihTuFEnV3DP-uunEdrpIMW43dTBLOpaWx9LrWBjo6YdWVyndImRM5Rkwie3eXq_aVuBfpCyX6tHaNjTDzt1WTcbARNQBS/w426-h640/028a.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Just beyond the subway station was the shopping mall "Portal San Angel" which was as far as I had walked on my previous hike.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wcu5TcZ7m2McMBd0FwSpI5NLS3lbp6UewkvbxViuxVhmtMIn9QAvadI32ejYkwR96p3FNr8H5TuECSOLq3fLR6tC9337DCzjvPzfSjSbwCbh4p8TtU6L2yXOhJmheJvrUHyaGV4u2Pq8KbMV1lQUd15xgJcFEK3Gf448mkbeJIVMPZEO5b9FlVV5FcH9/s1592/029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1592" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wcu5TcZ7m2McMBd0FwSpI5NLS3lbp6UewkvbxViuxVhmtMIn9QAvadI32ejYkwR96p3FNr8H5TuECSOLq3fLR6tC9337DCzjvPzfSjSbwCbh4p8TtU6L2yXOhJmheJvrUHyaGV4u2Pq8KbMV1lQUd15xgJcFEK3Gf448mkbeJIVMPZEO5b9FlVV5FcH9/w501-h348/029.JPG" width="501" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was now in territory that was new to me. In spite of the name of the shopping mall, I was not yet in San Angel, but in a neighborhood called Guadalupe Inn. This area was developed in the 1950s on land which used to be the Hacienda de Guadalupe.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1JogW0ioxdujnz2ievMMv_YQDLq1a7E7RlddGFlax1nPhUmIWHebRVpZtolyx6ObMzMzeKWTfO-OATEQFO-Z8LZ74UU5QuWgGzoRVAyjBpzJQ1gulaJOXFNJNF3Pa7Wh1mR4ZqISv4WfbFI4_WMxGjoCZkIpTGG8fXpKmVrHMOGvfL5w8qPPDAysCwsm/s1319/030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1094" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1JogW0ioxdujnz2ievMMv_YQDLq1a7E7RlddGFlax1nPhUmIWHebRVpZtolyx6ObMzMzeKWTfO-OATEQFO-Z8LZ74UU5QuWgGzoRVAyjBpzJQ1gulaJOXFNJNF3Pa7Wh1mR4ZqISv4WfbFI4_WMxGjoCZkIpTGG8fXpKmVrHMOGvfL5w8qPPDAysCwsm/w413-h489/030.JPG" width="413" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">High-rise apartment buildings</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpA6DCWi2Y5-BJDvdfoa9GIPN1DLbynZ65KgF0pJQTArSs1s3Lj62ELf7Rrdb0w5qS5tBHvRlpdyw8hIhsYLmcFWpE3haGB_ctLzUIhOtqUoYxD7HRphT_M8zs4iVF9ZiDQnqGGmZ1DE8R1zMG9PpFFCBCEpJZbYMBRn-_vTmJsIYivQ8XgJBbDoyzr4d/s1597/031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1597" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpA6DCWi2Y5-BJDvdfoa9GIPN1DLbynZ65KgF0pJQTArSs1s3Lj62ELf7Rrdb0w5qS5tBHvRlpdyw8hIhsYLmcFWpE3haGB_ctLzUIhOtqUoYxD7HRphT_M8zs4iVF9ZiDQnqGGmZ1DE8R1zMG9PpFFCBCEpJZbYMBRn-_vTmJsIYivQ8XgJBbDoyzr4d/w469-h344/031.JPG" width="469" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Across the street I see a restaurant called "La Bella Lulá", a place which serves Oaxacan food. It might be a good place to stop and eat on my way back.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were lots of campaign posters for Santiago Taboada, candidate for chief of the city government. They outnumbered those of his opponent (and likely winner) Clara Brugada.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxqwSaEADwox2i4158ZS5nUVaBa02hVP9TEUTmUatUkkGexjkAIRwPreZQVJeIz9610tEv6BIe5GXEtHd2vUdIdFCgd5wmN8ZRUeo2fCZZEeDs_hhVdP7AbqYp0q0Vv7Q3Ynf-EnEsfM3btPzlPyenkfleZRRhVpqC8_wMPfraOI6FfdCLgYswBe0h1Uu/s1414/032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="972" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxqwSaEADwox2i4158ZS5nUVaBa02hVP9TEUTmUatUkkGexjkAIRwPreZQVJeIz9610tEv6BIe5GXEtHd2vUdIdFCgd5wmN8ZRUeo2fCZZEeDs_hhVdP7AbqYp0q0Vv7Q3Ynf-EnEsfM3btPzlPyenkfleZRRhVpqC8_wMPfraOI6FfdCLgYswBe0h1Uu/w325-h459/032.JPG" width="325" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Obviously there are some people in the neighborhood who don't like Clara Brugada, since quite a few of her posters had been torn down.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Ifg_0ll_SyJnCZyyyjFTs7sCyOk7APD7TtLo0AOVXp3lAy4bd1oZEx9Xf8KqVdKtdIV3xByaKGKFoZ2YJ6kqqum5rQ3FuZLRXfhGhSk2EskxGla9Nutlf3BBiy3I9Bz5UneGopkCl0ctjnc8GwZ9Gpi2HCiWzWUUTu8R4BmHVsupTQn_PROYgOdfo-R/s1641/033.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2Ifg_0ll_SyJnCZyyyjFTs7sCyOk7APD7TtLo0AOVXp3lAy4bd1oZEx9Xf8KqVdKtdIV3xByaKGKFoZ2YJ6kqqum5rQ3FuZLRXfhGhSk2EskxGla9Nutlf3BBiy3I9Bz5UneGopkCl0ctjnc8GwZ9Gpi2HCiWzWUUTu8R4BmHVsupTQn_PROYgOdfo-R/w350-h471/033.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I passed a cultural center where plays and concerts are presented. It's called the "Centro Cultural Helénico". </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9obJRKSdIfALc_vB1mMhR5-mpSTekchWkiXoAtZICb0U0VZ19yZxcM2Bbu0i7gN-fjw2h9lBZtoinDT5FbhxxWyVtD_QCyEJuCYmOwjfv9GSyxTqoE7TNMa8wrLa6mOa5zkgoHTgbqKdb1Wj_n2AfyGAbd0EQRdCQ6hpJK33cAdSEplLCQp1V0qSW6cY/s1452/034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1452" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9obJRKSdIfALc_vB1mMhR5-mpSTekchWkiXoAtZICb0U0VZ19yZxcM2Bbu0i7gN-fjw2h9lBZtoinDT5FbhxxWyVtD_QCyEJuCYmOwjfv9GSyxTqoE7TNMa8wrLa6mOa5zkgoHTgbqKdb1Wj_n2AfyGAbd0EQRdCQ6hpJK33cAdSEplLCQp1V0qSW6cY/w477-h375/034.JPG" width="477" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the name (Hellenic is an adjective for Greek) I would think that it is somehow associated with the Greek community in Mexico City. After doing some research I finally found out that it was founded in 1973 by a Greek Orthodox bishop and professor of classical Greek at the National University of Mexico. However, the programs advertised did not have anything to do with Greek culture. One play being presented that weekend was called "Cyrano Unleashed", an adaptation it would seem of the classic French play "Cyrano de Bergerac".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JMyTTWUXdyy-HCaAF2XxgKlr3G4jUhCbx5-f8KxsZRKhjLCwjI43CU3eA6QcsuPsvnSD712ou1SLyEm2MgnB_A6BXxeUJwM8YgjpRxSQ_fnloE_YhM2ulviBbVlsfL5dswjBHYsgeRfZzbekRb5AS3mUlna7yI-OcbYBLulc3QzMdm8eWZCNghvFysKn/s1570/035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1094" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JMyTTWUXdyy-HCaAF2XxgKlr3G4jUhCbx5-f8KxsZRKhjLCwjI43CU3eA6QcsuPsvnSD712ou1SLyEm2MgnB_A6BXxeUJwM8YgjpRxSQ_fnloE_YhM2ulviBbVlsfL5dswjBHYsgeRfZzbekRb5AS3mUlna7yI-OcbYBLulc3QzMdm8eWZCNghvFysKn/w327-h508/035.JPG" width="327" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On a side street by the cultural center, I saw this building which looked very old.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Sqz3XZT3douxvO_fjtJqAJ3W3UwBKnqhUphwEOlRjs9GVm9Lch76tU8RhCq8I0RVbzFyE00eTZNmTCDA23gQ6z3-HG0Ats9wtXVim3iGKtbZhjqXPP4uD1JK8D5gwxXetN25oDSMioG5dg5J1M0i1Bem254rR_3U8FlEuleWZwxXdQOuLBb4IfQpVEC/s1641/036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4Sqz3XZT3douxvO_fjtJqAJ3W3UwBKnqhUphwEOlRjs9GVm9Lch76tU8RhCq8I0RVbzFyE00eTZNmTCDA23gQ6z3-HG0Ats9wtXVim3iGKtbZhjqXPP4uD1JK8D5gwxXetN25oDSMioG5dg5J1M0i1Bem254rR_3U8FlEuleWZwxXdQOuLBb4IfQpVEC/w426-h640/036.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />It is indeed much older than I imagined. Between Google Maps and Wikipedia, I was able to learn that the structure consists of a 14th century Gothic chapel and a 12th century Romanesque cloister that were part of a monastery in Avila, Spain. The building was purchased by William Randolph Hearst, disassembled, boxed and shipped to New York. The stones were never removed from their boxes. They were acquired in 1952 by a Mexican businessman, and the building was reassembled in Mexico City. It is one of only two medieval Spanish structures in the Americas. (The other one, part of a monastery from Segovia which was also purchased by Hearst, is in Miami, Florida.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The chapel and cloister were donated to the "Centro Cultural Helénico" in 1973. Concerts, plays, workshops and conferences are held here now. I will have to inquire whether or not it is open to the general public since I would love to see the interior.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A few blocks down the street I reached the Carrillo Gil Art Museum.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytA0cHMkrjvbHiOtNF8gQ3h0nG9TN08KROB9JoWBamqzYHSq0P71yorT0zF8gU2jQadACZgq9i39q4XT95sknn35YAgcS_NFYuu4DZDdCksFdeExce6Sa8G0F78jQp1dWV4aA2VDmfSbfEveeJ5V_lfXkTjaAhnIGKO7jikoxT71anu-1uTFcZhCJfG-Q/s1641/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytA0cHMkrjvbHiOtNF8gQ3h0nG9TN08KROB9JoWBamqzYHSq0P71yorT0zF8gU2jQadACZgq9i39q4XT95sknn35YAgcS_NFYuu4DZDdCksFdeExce6Sa8G0F78jQp1dWV4aA2VDmfSbfEveeJ5V_lfXkTjaAhnIGKO7jikoxT71anu-1uTFcZhCJfG-Q/w426-h640/037.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The museum houses the art collection of Alvar Carrillo Gil, and hosts special exhibits of contemporary art. I have never been to the museum, but I suppose that someday I will visit, even though contemporary art is not my cup of tea.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At this point I looked at the street sign and realized that I was now in San Angel.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ftua6wKpkYdHbCP7kiLyP1Db_PV3xIG_js1IsWVSyJY73SJVs1fAMQLsaOHeKm_z5i_eYjh2ji0PGw9iGNBK-B1cZTVFCC9fBrIuMA1SqnYwSiYqv9ErAER-oJ4S83WHZbZ2kG1e2j1303WHPO5NUKQzprAWFWtf79vG0pdyMyKlkb85lXHR6ilKPTAV/s1519/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1519" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ftua6wKpkYdHbCP7kiLyP1Db_PV3xIG_js1IsWVSyJY73SJVs1fAMQLsaOHeKm_z5i_eYjh2ji0PGw9iGNBK-B1cZTVFCC9fBrIuMA1SqnYwSiYqv9ErAER-oJ4S83WHZbZ2kG1e2j1303WHPO5NUKQzprAWFWtf79vG0pdyMyKlkb85lXHR6ilKPTAV/w528-h412/038.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">San Angel was a rural town to the south of Mexico City until it was absorbed by the growing metropolis in the 20th century. It is one of the city's most picturesque neighborhoods, although you would not know it from busy, commercialized Revolución Avenue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been to San Angel a number of times, and it was only a couple of blocks before I was in familiar territory. I soon reached the colorful San Angel Flower Market.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6lA0hfE087_K5JqG7RhT_N6WZUSMs26Er60NqAAXkPV07fjK7aQ9-3GnQrs_MxfpTvXj1d_grSGiVnLSdwtOfkQccx4o_XhdiXgP1CCWS7Wo_uT4O0BxMDnFCkHpJkL11LqzJ51YfCIEFCxSagJ999VW5X0Z95pO08tKLmRNJKtHIBbq6Q-cIMdHqKtS/s1641/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6lA0hfE087_K5JqG7RhT_N6WZUSMs26Er60NqAAXkPV07fjK7aQ9-3GnQrs_MxfpTvXj1d_grSGiVnLSdwtOfkQccx4o_XhdiXgP1CCWS7Wo_uT4O0BxMDnFCkHpJkL11LqzJ51YfCIEFCxSagJ999VW5X0Z95pO08tKLmRNJKtHIBbq6Q-cIMdHqKtS/w528-h360/039.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF1RBESsO7AM3QdR3hgfGGFbpSYi-tHO8aeGKZ8aWQcXpzyZ9IohhX5AmwydSyfRFe5FY9GoEhlVOtQZO3zR7OuAQxBfWE_ZopMvgwCqg-jkFezOEW2_uLhx668ERcAOvSad4GSKF82crN92Od3wndGgrQU-lwTvX6q4RmUO0ovvD0mAEbB24weHSK2m8/s1641/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF1RBESsO7AM3QdR3hgfGGFbpSYi-tHO8aeGKZ8aWQcXpzyZ9IohhX5AmwydSyfRFe5FY9GoEhlVOtQZO3zR7OuAQxBfWE_ZopMvgwCqg-jkFezOEW2_uLhx668ERcAOvSad4GSKF82crN92Od3wndGgrQU-lwTvX6q4RmUO0ovvD0mAEbB24weHSK2m8/w526-h389/040.JPG" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBj1Vrprzo0rbkKq30-qmq29G60Fo5kjBtaVNhqt_s4d107Jxq6uvdOJBgWnXG_SkaBP-V-QH3nsJOiFodPp8OIH1tsyWSi-7ecyO8hyMiWZXGZ4gh9Tf5e8sAqYDSQ817b_snW00NeQz2xDiurA1iaq1gtg4_NbKX3-Vg03CUNJyzcP_wesrwWpfxYB/s1641/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kBj1Vrprzo0rbkKq30-qmq29G60Fo5kjBtaVNhqt_s4d107Jxq6uvdOJBgWnXG_SkaBP-V-QH3nsJOiFodPp8OIH1tsyWSi-7ecyO8hyMiWZXGZ4gh9Tf5e8sAqYDSQ817b_snW00NeQz2xDiurA1iaq1gtg4_NbKX3-Vg03CUNJyzcP_wesrwWpfxYB/w529-h380/041.JPG" width="529" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A mural on the wall of the flower market</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think that the famous painter Diego Rivera is portrayed in the center drinking "pulque" (notice the paint brushes in his pocket) and above him is his wife Frida Kahlo. The couple owned a home in San Angel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAqXa6FIAKS5vNdpSl22lBqj-jtsyoWzL4rZIBX9bWSjjejgFONEXnZlkd-FEacyv1wLpin8ieKBc1-mzXcFzK2L9hF83T-aNmaawo8GmmCy_LaHS8j529WdtV-kBIOapUycneb4Fu048iNkvfIqVYQghVjBBbwW9gPvmx_fphP-jpYmFjTJMBOJEfqE0/s1412/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1412" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAqXa6FIAKS5vNdpSl22lBqj-jtsyoWzL4rZIBX9bWSjjejgFONEXnZlkd-FEacyv1wLpin8ieKBc1-mzXcFzK2L9hF83T-aNmaawo8GmmCy_LaHS8j529WdtV-kBIOapUycneb4Fu048iNkvfIqVYQghVjBBbwW9gPvmx_fphP-jpYmFjTJMBOJEfqE0/w529-h412/042.JPG" width="529" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Continuing down the avenue I came to the gate of one of the most important colonial buildings of San Angel, the church and convent of El Carmen.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dIlHanxXx8dw4jzn5VzVPuqLj_Tz_IHwpzHM4U-FgMnPKOT7IB0_XuGxmHlIBlj974KlwDiLmumEN6gKJzwy_j_-n2WFHkZEBOaMZNOPXw_dUmXUNzAB2JaPANKnkSf_0qzT9runafVqoQtI68ihfUH9m8Xks_63S94JsW3k75TezrRMCksSRu03D0g7/s1561/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1041" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dIlHanxXx8dw4jzn5VzVPuqLj_Tz_IHwpzHM4U-FgMnPKOT7IB0_XuGxmHlIBlj974KlwDiLmumEN6gKJzwy_j_-n2WFHkZEBOaMZNOPXw_dUmXUNzAB2JaPANKnkSf_0qzT9runafVqoQtI68ihfUH9m8Xks_63S94JsW3k75TezrRMCksSRu03D0g7/w426-h640/043.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The church and convent were built between 1615 and 1625. The convent is now a museum which I have visited a couple of times.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I entered the atrium of the church, a respite from the noise and traffic along the avenue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPQ7mk9H3GfqFUyWAXI2wgtCVI5mFDkOpbD47cikQdmbIcEtsgayu3KjJ61YENlcobJPe1D-p4rLVEPbOllUfxxMxg0Wh6f0AV44c8sGNdZQ32ckQC7a23_HtN7wc0r8zpCY5m1Sqb82qmyQPbXO_Sp2UFQxIAyr9lZBsMhyphenhyphen1cP9wJOwiRK4_5L4ZaAkK/s1587/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1587" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPQ7mk9H3GfqFUyWAXI2wgtCVI5mFDkOpbD47cikQdmbIcEtsgayu3KjJ61YENlcobJPe1D-p4rLVEPbOllUfxxMxg0Wh6f0AV44c8sGNdZQ32ckQC7a23_HtN7wc0r8zpCY5m1Sqb82qmyQPbXO_Sp2UFQxIAyr9lZBsMhyphenhyphen1cP9wJOwiRK4_5L4ZaAkK/w495-h331/044.JPG" width="495" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bougainvillea and a jacaranda blooming in the atrium</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNClYLY6VsqAO1nkv_afqc52ZtQXm5BLGZ2O3Vafjt0vuGF7Y_xcCXxrSkKDBUe1fVjE9vrQpNNZkJhYs1aLok6Sd79cCM84n0LEImWVgSZn5sMkRNNDr0nQMo5TLyxkSGxK3BN_r3M-OovsBMBFGiFGhtGgnttoLvT3yfIVwbh3Yk2SFEXlDrZ1UXuj1I/s1641/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNClYLY6VsqAO1nkv_afqc52ZtQXm5BLGZ2O3Vafjt0vuGF7Y_xcCXxrSkKDBUe1fVjE9vrQpNNZkJhYs1aLok6Sd79cCM84n0LEImWVgSZn5sMkRNNDr0nQMo5TLyxkSGxK3BN_r3M-OovsBMBFGiFGhtGgnttoLvT3yfIVwbh3Yk2SFEXlDrZ1UXuj1I/w426-h640/045.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The tiled domes of the church</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c4Rauc-kn-5FV3F9cQvApZnjzCsLU4d70M9LfEXp5EVPBV519-dU1u0Pb4Cl-OlI8b12HHp-bKJJ1emcDL8E80kK_EaKqGRcR96XM5offG_2y8hIfnrfVwI9VMS3L95lPp27vsUJ-HVC6J9Agah378dMp2UwWtvDGyTVwhbLM1nNYloH-xafTYVQOUrN/s1566/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1566" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c4Rauc-kn-5FV3F9cQvApZnjzCsLU4d70M9LfEXp5EVPBV519-dU1u0Pb4Cl-OlI8b12HHp-bKJJ1emcDL8E80kK_EaKqGRcR96XM5offG_2y8hIfnrfVwI9VMS3L95lPp27vsUJ-HVC6J9Agah378dMp2UwWtvDGyTVwhbLM1nNYloH-xafTYVQOUrN/w490-h365/046.JPG" width="490" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The interior of the church with its baroque altarpiece</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwyIVxZzPlfGzmnUnDKlQR7l29SS_4S3eIALb-ObYA_wGRfaK9c0bY21413wcB8leXfEhqT9kmZylkSUa50eR0lmP7Z4ncec644WQCLA31V2LWhNBOjeHglXdsJ4PdUcR8Wx2ME15F09n2XTiBdlcAY9xxP4JbAvncPNBzsRzQKM5jbmPV0SJKVPBUyVD/s1608/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwyIVxZzPlfGzmnUnDKlQR7l29SS_4S3eIALb-ObYA_wGRfaK9c0bY21413wcB8leXfEhqT9kmZylkSUa50eR0lmP7Z4ncec644WQCLA31V2LWhNBOjeHglXdsJ4PdUcR8Wx2ME15F09n2XTiBdlcAY9xxP4JbAvncPNBzsRzQKM5jbmPV0SJKVPBUyVD/w426-h640/047.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I could have deviated from my route at this point and wandered the cobblestone streets of the center of San Angel. However, my goal had been to see if I could reach the end of Revolución Avenue in the time I had allotted. I had been walking for nearly an hour, so I forged on. I was still in San Angel, but definitely not in its colonial heart.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNxmn3IoskhrD5jxM02XelyXJ8MKiXu_JTvKTTqftTGkQHCQ_VsI1muKkpII_YgBvAC1YJJ0ar_UpXDbpFbJ1Ne6ksbb-fjH_pI2NvS5H8uj7Obet01laHuaKTfzmHD7Xo4mYpWuR-cjxq3Vo_-91ojFK-9Cj40H9OhsUc6xm2e42P6DtFLula0hSSUE3/s1641/048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNxmn3IoskhrD5jxM02XelyXJ8MKiXu_JTvKTTqftTGkQHCQ_VsI1muKkpII_YgBvAC1YJJ0ar_UpXDbpFbJ1Ne6ksbb-fjH_pI2NvS5H8uj7Obet01laHuaKTfzmHD7Xo4mYpWuR-cjxq3Vo_-91ojFK-9Cj40H9OhsUc6xm2e42P6DtFLula0hSSUE3/w426-h640/048.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just as I had reached the one-hour mark of my hike, I came to the avenue's end. In front of me was the Olympic University Stadium... built for the Summer Olympics of 1968 and now the home of the National University's soccer team, the Pumas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpi9wa6L7ddk3qwIk0hFmMjI6MEevQDtIi2AJWQc7zg_ETPYqS4_UGbA7An01nGemtlF4ZXS-Xc77pvszHZ74KG5A3GeFUkHEFDNs2fDMy0rjOFMntEVA93Y7ThyphenhyphenoeFwpgK4Bj507nuj1wF_msbt4EZmtAf8MflyAR7dOzXQ5XcmmeIW32mdj0A5o2l7D/s1115/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1115" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpi9wa6L7ddk3qwIk0hFmMjI6MEevQDtIi2AJWQc7zg_ETPYqS4_UGbA7An01nGemtlF4ZXS-Xc77pvszHZ74KG5A3GeFUkHEFDNs2fDMy0rjOFMntEVA93Y7ThyphenhyphenoeFwpgK4Bj507nuj1wF_msbt4EZmtAf8MflyAR7dOzXQ5XcmmeIW32mdj0A5o2l7D/w517-h490/049.JPG" width="517" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had achieved my goal, and now it was time to head back.</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-79834969988146482112024-03-18T10:05:00.000-04:002024-03-18T10:05:20.677-04:00Benito's Birthday<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">Today is a national holiday in Mexico honoring the birthday of President Benito Juárez.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpzwFkrG1vS3yn6uwrlBGZiVq8sQjyxMSn6vYOOwY6WiGoh5pJNScoIrX82vE29Udm9r6YGjhFsulgR4cymODn40yaByg3hoogg7UvlLCvLAJCbcGKABDPCSZAiHWKL1Z7bWR5VDypNtVW4Hheeo0MfK0jT-aktIz9UXwiGNy2s0Tr2EyATCIWsr1gwn2/s1973/025b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="1700" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpzwFkrG1vS3yn6uwrlBGZiVq8sQjyxMSn6vYOOwY6WiGoh5pJNScoIrX82vE29Udm9r6YGjhFsulgR4cymODn40yaByg3hoogg7UvlLCvLAJCbcGKABDPCSZAiHWKL1Z7bWR5VDypNtVW4Hheeo0MfK0jT-aktIz9UXwiGNy2s0Tr2EyATCIWsr1gwn2/w431-h485/025b.JPG" width="431" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Juárez Monument in downtown Mexico City at night</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Juárez was actually born on March 21st, 1806, but his birthday is commemorated each year on the third Monday of March in order to create a three-day weekend or "puente" (bridge) as it is known in Mexico.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Benito Juárez is the most revered President in Mexico's history. Throughout the country there are cities, schools and institutions named after him. There is hardly a Mexican city that does not have a Juárez Avenue.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Juárez was a key figure in the passage of the liberal laws known as La Reforma which eliminated the power and privileges of the Catholic Church. A civil war between liberals and conservatives ensued in 1858. Juárez, who was the chief justice of the Supreme Court assumed the Presidency under constitutional rules of succession when the sitting President left the country amidst the conflict. Although the conservatives took control of Mexico City, and Juárez fled to the port city of Veracruz, the liberals achieved victory by 1860.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Elections were held in 1861, and Juárez won easily. However, in 1862 he faced another crisis... invasion of the country by the French forces of Napoleon III. Again, Juárez fled Mexico City and escaped to the northern border. He established his capital at El Paso del Norte... across the river from El Paso, Texas. The city is now known as Ciudad Juárez. The French set up a puppet government headed by the Austrian prince Maximilian von Hapsburg. Guerilla activity against the invaders plagued the French army, and they were never able to effectively control the entire nation. When the United States, emerging from its own civil war, pressured Napoleon III, the French forces were withdrawn. Maximilian's army crumbled without French support. The Austrian who had ruled as Emperor of Mexico for three short years was captured and executed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1867 Juárez returned triumphally again to Mexico City. Elections were held later that year, and Juárez was reelected. In 1871 he won another term, but that election was controversial, and some claimed that it involved fraud. He died in office the following year at the age of 66.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After his death, Juárez attained cult-like stature as the hero who saved Mexican constitutional democracy from internal and foreign enemies. However, there are historians who have reassessed the Juárez presidency. Although he is celebrated for being a full-blooded Zapotec Indian, Juárez rejected his indigenous roots. He viewed the indigenous people as primitives that needed to be assimilated into society. His</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> reform laws confiscated the Church´s vast holdings of property. However, native peasants were better off when they were working on Church land than when that property was bought up by wealthy and avaricious investors. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Even among his liberal colleagues he was accused of abuses, infractions of the Constitution, the excessive use of emergency powers, and relying on local allies to assure the desired results in elections.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regardless of what the man may have been like in real life, there is no denying that he has assumed a mythic quality similar to Abraham Lincoln in the United States. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-34498018839601797652024-03-17T10:21:00.000-04:002024-03-17T10:21:12.113-04:00No, It's Not Halloween<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This weekend the streets near the World Trade Center were filled with people in bizarre costumes. For example, this fellow was having something to eat at a street food stand across the street from convention center.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUEC_AFt3gCv-74WS935CrYUpib-DjroVoCI-M_mtqvIm4YS8D0xV8Io1YWAbe7tc04v2Rdt2mIgLukUdJDy8j5dSUGJawLuXBfJ1ug_97C8S0Ol1Bhi31uStY1KKwnUs3ZXToe34tQMts1SdOjGvpySKTBpBBE-vSyVRRWLfCOUFkZfm-t9FGWk60flz/s1378/025a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="879" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUEC_AFt3gCv-74WS935CrYUpib-DjroVoCI-M_mtqvIm4YS8D0xV8Io1YWAbe7tc04v2Rdt2mIgLukUdJDy8j5dSUGJawLuXBfJ1ug_97C8S0Ol1Bhi31uStY1KKwnUs3ZXToe34tQMts1SdOjGvpySKTBpBBE-vSyVRRWLfCOUFkZfm-t9FGWk60flz/w408-h640/025a.JPG" width="408" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">No, it's not Halloween in March, but rather the weekend for an event called "La Mole" Convention. It's something like Comic-Con in the United States, and it describes itself as Latin America's largest convention of comics, fantasy and pop culture.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Alejandro was passing by the World Trade Center yesterday morning. There was a father and his young son (dressed in Superman pajamas) waiting in the long line to enter. When the dad realized that he didn't have enough money for the admission, the little boy was heartbroken. The people around them started chipping in to make up the difference. The little boy was literally jumping up and down with joy and shaking the hand of everyone who contributed. Very sweet story.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-36702011052116124482024-03-16T10:52:00.001-04:002024-03-16T10:52:26.897-04:00Still Blooming<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Nearly three months have passed since Christmas, but I still have a bit of the holiday season in my apartment. The poinsettia that I bought in December is still blooming. It has lost very few leaves, and at this rate it will still be blooming for Easter.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLiAQttnoBOahiPwgM4iBg3ymwZgUTUgQltozlzy8nQToAKO9oYry9iKUTaIOc8NEO76Mq9EOEcxE32TSsKqKrvgIArMI_lbTjptPfe9U3mm3foE5XW8yZx6h4nTi1JwnOwlG4n29INATDFCsAnxii6doUthay-89h5RhIR4o-R9QipzcE8xs7hr_fuYR/s2803/025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2803" data-original-width="2439" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLiAQttnoBOahiPwgM4iBg3ymwZgUTUgQltozlzy8nQToAKO9oYry9iKUTaIOc8NEO76Mq9EOEcxE32TSsKqKrvgIArMI_lbTjptPfe9U3mm3foE5XW8yZx6h4nTi1JwnOwlG4n29INATDFCsAnxii6doUthay-89h5RhIR4o-R9QipzcE8xs7hr_fuYR/w421-h518/025.JPG" width="421" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It seems to be very happy in its location with bright light filtered through the sheer curtains of the living room window.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Eventually I will cut it back, and let it sprout new growth. It is in a very small pot, so I will need to repot it also. We will see if I have any luck in getting it to bloom again next Christmas.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-65417904052420164262024-03-15T10:42:00.002-04:002024-03-15T10:44:24.190-04:00Making Salsa<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I have not been doing any cooking here in the apartment other than making salads or heating something up in the microwave. The valve to turn on the gas for the stove is inconveniently located behind it. When I was renting the apartment and going back and forth between Mexico City and Ohio, it became a bother to pull out the stove to turn the gas on and off every time I arrived and left. Well, now that I am living here permanently, I decided it was time to start using my kitchen. Last weekend Alejandro and I finally pulled out the stove, and he reached behind to turn on the gas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The first thing I prepared, now that I am cooking with gas, was homemade "salsa de molcajete". A "molcajete" is a Mexican mortar and pestle made from volcanic stone. Years ago, I bought a "molcajete", and it has been sitting on the kitchen counter. I had only used it once.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZcl34SUJiQSlrId19ZpDiBOAA_SGknYx44vPRHQZI92SdMptnsRDNdAxxt36gFttzu1cM1ymsNDMBDQOmQRGWVZWKEyDhS6l0n1TMDTuYT48cq_uAOXsKtZzru1WHxPwQFwFDs_j-4zkFI7oqfWSbgcop3yNih8QS8t0nX5hlDtLdbUFfi28NE0nqfJ_/s1022/019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1022" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZcl34SUJiQSlrId19ZpDiBOAA_SGknYx44vPRHQZI92SdMptnsRDNdAxxt36gFttzu1cM1ymsNDMBDQOmQRGWVZWKEyDhS6l0n1TMDTuYT48cq_uAOXsKtZzru1WHxPwQFwFDs_j-4zkFI7oqfWSbgcop3yNih8QS8t0nX5hlDtLdbUFfi28NE0nqfJ_/w493-h385/019.JPG" width="493" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> This week I went to the market and bought the produce that I would need to make my salsa.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The stovetop, like most Mexican stoves, has a "comal" or griddle in the center for heating tortillas, or for roasting vegetables. I covered the "comal" with aluminum foil. I put four cloves of peeled garlic and a sliced, medium onion on the griddle and roasted them until they were well charred.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq6cgGj-rRrc2O8Esq-M_WFvdvjgrVA95GbON7JDV7KT5QXZSfwQRaGYGzmUVnNTkbvG1O7md0kcDiZ2TZjf-C4wEygU9CWRcNzzTt9tmT4_ZDUfqLpi1rSalVNnqGnFL1oSyc3EESCIxYVaEiOO1ZNPt7O3b1eR_m2n4lUsT5i304JCKRmCrSCPxbLGm/s1641/020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq6cgGj-rRrc2O8Esq-M_WFvdvjgrVA95GbON7JDV7KT5QXZSfwQRaGYGzmUVnNTkbvG1O7md0kcDiZ2TZjf-C4wEygU9CWRcNzzTt9tmT4_ZDUfqLpi1rSalVNnqGnFL1oSyc3EESCIxYVaEiOO1ZNPt7O3b1eR_m2n4lUsT5i304JCKRmCrSCPxbLGm/w426-h640/020.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I took the roasted garlic and ground it up in the "molcajete". Then I added the onion and ground it up with the garlic.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QbUbhP5VD2MJiMfHgVRzgMP2XAb7PuMTbdMjkAV5fpU9ydieG8NYTZ4Gm5YR7d5wKgXuLBC6_9pWRkryh8zgu-_b9pu3FuCyAqXIgTyYvjzg9C8CjAepNpI727VCp8QDdr4rgOg9GXixmupG-gzLayDDbyQNEVnzWsslJkNQlh7yQQQZlMMp8-vlEQy4/s4546/021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4546" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QbUbhP5VD2MJiMfHgVRzgMP2XAb7PuMTbdMjkAV5fpU9ydieG8NYTZ4Gm5YR7d5wKgXuLBC6_9pWRkryh8zgu-_b9pu3FuCyAqXIgTyYvjzg9C8CjAepNpI727VCp8QDdr4rgOg9GXixmupG-gzLayDDbyQNEVnzWsslJkNQlh7yQQQZlMMp8-vlEQy4/w468-h401/021.JPG" width="468" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Next, I roasted two serrano peppers until charred. The recipe called for three peppers, but the last time I made this salsa, it was very fiery. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdUo5DMb0x-j3hxaZ95nxzvX7A_RCRhQ3vaERF_aQk3D8gZuhDI1Vr1EMWbF9et76MftTgKUo_3dx6_oGzgDJ8JsREismuoXK14bzYTb-KDTylimVOnryD5e2wLknAqDZgOa5D5aCBMtes9NmUJC4RoLEuFl2J2qlx6khhyphenhyphenqysyIgGpldMzPQi-g5sCfI/s1298/022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1094" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdUo5DMb0x-j3hxaZ95nxzvX7A_RCRhQ3vaERF_aQk3D8gZuhDI1Vr1EMWbF9et76MftTgKUo_3dx6_oGzgDJ8JsREismuoXK14bzYTb-KDTylimVOnryD5e2wLknAqDZgOa5D5aCBMtes9NmUJC4RoLEuFl2J2qlx6khhyphenhyphenqysyIgGpldMzPQi-g5sCfI/w412-h462/022.JPG" width="412" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">(You can see why I covered the griddle with aluminum foil.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The peppers are then ground up with the onions and garlic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally, I roasted five Roma tomatoes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSe4_Fprbxkb0SInjHxQrg1-eFxB-Z0rYeXSchb4_6cP4qtjPSvxTU_5y9jk-jhJLeTh0CPIRrQ-2nLrUMclqZQxmrxiORixiOqnIIpElqclT_7Fg0Vllt0vcTs7rSG_HDOlncW6sm0_fvds8t6oLVZ-bAsdgCcB6V3oW7AGLc6A-2vlwSB741Q9uf0KA/s1276/023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1094" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSe4_Fprbxkb0SInjHxQrg1-eFxB-Z0rYeXSchb4_6cP4qtjPSvxTU_5y9jk-jhJLeTh0CPIRrQ-2nLrUMclqZQxmrxiORixiOqnIIpElqclT_7Fg0Vllt0vcTs7rSG_HDOlncW6sm0_fvds8t6oLVZ-bAsdgCcB6V3oW7AGLc6A-2vlwSB741Q9uf0KA/w417-h493/023.JPG" width="417" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The tomatoes are then ground up with the rest of the mixture, and voila, the salsa is complete!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSak8K1I622aQzO9geu4ZoV0nK3LmdlpWIlwyDYMeJaunWWuO2z_S_HkZbmE2-xJH4k-o69gpoD7dWus4yHPooHQYzOwa5BpaLsdClaI6fuEpRCuhG0W_s3W7qmwaMVyld3-y68y3TIqsucPczVVO080wJpTPZoipT8ShldSskcvs9kBrCBtf8c-nkTUX/s951/024.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="951" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSak8K1I622aQzO9geu4ZoV0nK3LmdlpWIlwyDYMeJaunWWuO2z_S_HkZbmE2-xJH4k-o69gpoD7dWus4yHPooHQYzOwa5BpaLsdClaI6fuEpRCuhG0W_s3W7qmwaMVyld3-y68y3TIqsucPczVVO080wJpTPZoipT8ShldSskcvs9kBrCBtf8c-nkTUX/w470-h438/024.JPG" width="470" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Even though I only used two serrano peppers, it was still quite spicy. If you don't have a "molcajete", you could, I suppose, use a blender. But don't over process it. The salsa should be chunky.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-88182350765006998152024-03-14T09:24:00.002-04:002024-03-14T09:24:50.107-04:00Politicking<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the June 2 election in Mexico, voters will not only select a new President, but also both houses of the legislature, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. On the local level there are many races for state legislatures and eight state governorships. Voters will also select the head of government for Mexico City. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1997 Mexico City, which used to be the Districto Federal (analogous to the District of Columbia in the U.S.) was given autonomy. It gained a status akin to a state, although technically, according to the Mexican constitution, the capital cannot be a state. So, the head of government for Mexico City, is more like a "governor" than a mayor. Campaign posters for the two major candidates suddenly proliferated this past week along the streets of Mexico City.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As I was walking along Patriotismo Avenue, the thoroughfare was lined with posters for Santiago Taboada. His slogan is "El cambio viene" (The change is coming).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFthmaw7qtEyn08Tc6Q4IFpLnRlpucC1cfzQfl_RduCInOuHbgoGvem2qaicT0jdjRDVYRxLl_mRidvygHX16OVblujl3bwsBtnWMav4Cug_7v5_Z-AYJJ9764nBXyCNmgV9Ffqmr4eJHkyLT-gwWho0hfMIOW6eFPoA5Ti94n7a6hhHuZGViSbRUPrSri/s1641/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFthmaw7qtEyn08Tc6Q4IFpLnRlpucC1cfzQfl_RduCInOuHbgoGvem2qaicT0jdjRDVYRxLl_mRidvygHX16OVblujl3bwsBtnWMav4Cug_7v5_Z-AYJJ9764nBXyCNmgV9Ffqmr4eJHkyLT-gwWho0hfMIOW6eFPoA5Ti94n7a6hhHuZGViSbRUPrSri/w426-h640/016.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW17xy28620TghFvf-ekJr1vG3rJNXlwb_FWVuRIvu27oDyTLZe42XfGHQ0nqgKtAWjz-JWCm4kCH972r_Dn6OxsOPjuqJ8qFkRyEu8baJMEuYZ-lvlRALJK8R1096sdjrVj0aeuSGQPBcfDLw5HtDUFr_fTwYSoRuH6nHqzQJsRKZbIK6BzTN55FHs3ix/s1641/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW17xy28620TghFvf-ekJr1vG3rJNXlwb_FWVuRIvu27oDyTLZe42XfGHQ0nqgKtAWjz-JWCm4kCH972r_Dn6OxsOPjuqJ8qFkRyEu8baJMEuYZ-lvlRALJK8R1096sdjrVj0aeuSGQPBcfDLw5HtDUFr_fTwYSoRuH6nHqzQJsRKZbIK6BzTN55FHs3ix/w426-h640/017.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Taboada served as the chief executive of the "alcaldía" (borough) of Benito Juárez, the borough in which I live. (Just as Mexico City is now similar to a state, the sixteen boroughs are similar to cities within the city, and the heads of the boroughs are called mayors.) He is now running to be the head of Mexico City. Taboada is himself a member of PAN, the conservative party, but he is the candidate for a coalition called "Fuerza y Corazón por México" (Strength and Heart for Mexico) which was formed in opposition to the ruling Morena Party. They say that politics makes strange bedfellows, and that is certainly the case with this coalition. It is composed of PAN (conservative party), PRI (the "revolutionary" party which had an iron grip on Mexican politics from 1929 until 2000) and PDR (a socialist party).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There is nary a poster along the avenue for the populist Morena candidate, Clara Brugada. Although Taboada will most likely carry his home borough of Benito Juárez, Brugada is expected to easily win the election. In Alejandro's working-class neighborhood, Clara's image is plastered all over the place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KOwXIE3kDZ9u9X2PkBDyYed7M6lkLkFhiCBVEXrrwNFEmqGhKdAS6ORj5FygGy_ffhDbhnB_4M3U6h-MkfHHeQWRgW8TcTmQHkJyn52p216MPrIAJeTd6X-OM881bI44JWBSmiXd_uguphfWzSSJTTkF1PO1pQkNAYOd3SyL0dwsvlnDiYc1jlpGqRvx/s1641/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KOwXIE3kDZ9u9X2PkBDyYed7M6lkLkFhiCBVEXrrwNFEmqGhKdAS6ORj5FygGy_ffhDbhnB_4M3U6h-MkfHHeQWRgW8TcTmQHkJyn52p216MPrIAJeTd6X-OM881bI44JWBSmiXd_uguphfWzSSJTTkF1PO1pQkNAYOd3SyL0dwsvlnDiYc1jlpGqRvx/w426-h640/018.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-21457346794924595562024-03-13T09:07:00.000-04:002024-03-13T09:07:01.505-04:00Construction<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">As I have mentioned a number of times, Mexico City continues to experience a building boom. New office towers, shopping malls, and apartment buildings are under construction all over the city, including the neighborhood where I live.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Down the street from me, an older house on a large piece of property was demolished, and a new structure, most likely an apartment building, is going up. I was able to peek through the barricade and see the work being done. From the depth of the excavation, I would guess that the new building will be several stories high.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSuaV6q3LoW_kJZDtXQX15hULdbHm4QZmwXJXJJp0Gpud3_u2pWxkumW8Dgoz6VpNnniLUwa1Zy0Z__d-R9shbXUIUHDPjW2chxRqq7L0znvhyphenhyphenMVjB4FEcqFiD81jzREA2ZderzGOLwb0_EvHhW35fHSEzT4hYcoVBk8wYcOH9RyI3Co9SQyhtNqguxSd/s1499/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSuaV6q3LoW_kJZDtXQX15hULdbHm4QZmwXJXJJp0Gpud3_u2pWxkumW8Dgoz6VpNnniLUwa1Zy0Z__d-R9shbXUIUHDPjW2chxRqq7L0znvhyphenhyphenMVjB4FEcqFiD81jzREA2ZderzGOLwb0_EvHhW35fHSEzT4hYcoVBk8wYcOH9RyI3Co9SQyhtNqguxSd/w404-h640/011.JPG" width="404" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Across the street a new apartment complex is nearing completion. It consists of three buildings with a total of 48 apartments. The project is called "Blendhaus". (I have no idea where they come up with the names for some of these buildings.)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCZeNPw2vCFwvprfjJUG054uEvTz1D2sKy2zoWPRZvZWY_RnglyWYpkCC1_jdh3nzHubbFoSKAGItMNBcDjRIQAifYoZkwQsVY-JitIeINH4Ihcc1_i9zs9rD7GtKL5zusnb3ywuZZGlvv8z0TlS5ZBt2zcNcKqVMEHpcaox8jvvIjYr-P4w62M-1e8X0/s1641/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCZeNPw2vCFwvprfjJUG054uEvTz1D2sKy2zoWPRZvZWY_RnglyWYpkCC1_jdh3nzHubbFoSKAGItMNBcDjRIQAifYoZkwQsVY-JitIeINH4Ihcc1_i9zs9rD7GtKL5zusnb3ywuZZGlvv8z0TlS5ZBt2zcNcKqVMEHpcaox8jvvIjYr-P4w62M-1e8X0/w426-h640/012.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the three buildings is actually on the next street over. It appears that it will soon be ready for occupancy. I could see workers inside painting the walls.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJhX-DohUsgwJTLjNfwXy5wk4zfndTv8GePMeZMo_MeFrcLJyRhpm7Ay7wK2PpdjK2guGqc6e4K14actTyhf5OyHd1EJ5JFe0NZkIqpNd4aWIlJYi1JbODDSXitRumtOhHRsnJYYvNZbEy2RRlq3ZOnvMJKIPaNHgDB8jFpDToWyNI1uPzOmRXQwUTiWe/s1641/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJhX-DohUsgwJTLjNfwXy5wk4zfndTv8GePMeZMo_MeFrcLJyRhpm7Ay7wK2PpdjK2guGqc6e4K14actTyhf5OyHd1EJ5JFe0NZkIqpNd4aWIlJYi1JbODDSXitRumtOhHRsnJYYvNZbEy2RRlq3ZOnvMJKIPaNHgDB8jFpDToWyNI1uPzOmRXQwUTiWe/w426-h640/013.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Almost next door is another brand-new apartment building called "Viewpoint". Apartments are now ready for occupancy.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJC2X5rksW1ZGqwC61UJJf3H86DwYInKzXdNz7qFOZR0Vm9MCqAnN31BaToCPnG7ymoefZF0glxLKlmj8ij92ELPWnfh6evyZWGA3g7ZJlhoiHQC2lbZLkEVsz4RpLcAV6cse0zaT3p0We0yQgA1p0rKzU_VGGl6REblhSkF50zoNOshdxk532RHqZMAM/s1641/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJC2X5rksW1ZGqwC61UJJf3H86DwYInKzXdNz7qFOZR0Vm9MCqAnN31BaToCPnG7ymoefZF0glxLKlmj8ij92ELPWnfh6evyZWGA3g7ZJlhoiHQC2lbZLkEVsz4RpLcAV6cse0zaT3p0We0yQgA1p0rKzU_VGGl6REblhSkF50zoNOshdxk532RHqZMAM/w426-h640/014.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The two-bedroom apartments (which are smaller than the one I have) START at 5.3 million pesos (over 315,000 U.S. dollars). </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T3vhf81cwwjP5tJt-bg6J1W-L_8Hh6rXD1-PsJVs1_14awjfeQo4YYdDaP_nxAgbgc3Ot0uC0U25oZ4v2ns0_qoVOKEI0xqVQUxOl1HKhwFzVSU1k52JJ9-B5KZzXy3H2gFGDRZ3m8-OP267OgKxgRhJYG4ixNXuvrOZ_BVEDmnuqcmfI0Tw5MswzyK_/s1641/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T3vhf81cwwjP5tJt-bg6J1W-L_8Hh6rXD1-PsJVs1_14awjfeQo4YYdDaP_nxAgbgc3Ot0uC0U25oZ4v2ns0_qoVOKEI0xqVQUxOl1HKhwFzVSU1k52JJ9-B5KZzXy3H2gFGDRZ3m8-OP267OgKxgRhJYG4ixNXuvrOZ_BVEDmnuqcmfI0Tw5MswzyK_/w426-h640/015.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although the cost of living is generally lower in Mexico City than in Ohio, real estate is expensive. I suppose that if you compare the prices with someplace like Manhattan, they are affordable, but for someone coming from Cleveland they seem high. I am in an older building that doesn't have amenities such as a roof garden or gymnasium, but I think I got my place for a very good price.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The construction boom concerns me. I can't figure out who is buying all these expensive apartments or how they are finding tenants for the office buildings. I keep wondering when the bubble is going to burst. Of course, I have been saying that for a number of years, and yet the boom continues. More concerning is the strain that the continuing growth is putting on the city's finite resources. You may have read that Mexico City is facing a water shortage, yet the growth continues unabated. </span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-2950034282563915262024-03-12T09:33:00.000-04:002024-03-12T09:33:56.176-04:00At the Movies<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Since I moved to Mexico last October, Alejandro and I have been to the movie theater a number of times. In fact, I think that this year we saw more of the Oscar nominated films than ever before.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Not long after my arrival, we saw "Oppenheimer". It was an excellent movie. It was quite long, and sometimes I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters, but I was pleased to see it walk away with the most Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Next, we saw "Killers of the Flower Moon" (titled "Asesinos de la Luna" in Spanish). It also was an excellent movie which portrayed the systematic murders of members of the Osage tribe in the 1920s in order to steal the oil discovered on their reservation. However, at well over two and a half hours in running time, it was too long.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We saw "Poor Things", which I thought began promisingly as an eccentric variation on the theme of "Dr. Frankenstein". However, after a while I felt as if I were watching some sort of bizarre porno film. I don't consider myself a prude, but, really, how many times do we need to see a naked Emma Stone bouncing up and down while she has sex? It hit a low point when Stone's character, who is working as a prostitute, has a client who brings his underage sons to watch and take notes. Disgusting!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We also watched a couple of Oscar-nominated films on Netflix. I was looking forward to watching "Maestro", the biopic about the conductor Leonard Bernstein. After about a half hour, I said "Turn it off." I thought it was a totally pretentious piece of crap.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We watched "Society of the Snow", a film from Spain which was nominated as best foreign film. It was a gripping movie which dealt with the 1972 crash in the Andes Mountains of a flight carrying a Uruguayan rugby team. It won 12 prizes at the Goya Awards, Spain's equivalent of the Academy Awards. I wish that it had won the Oscar.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last weekend, we went to the movie theater twice, to see two more nominated films just before Oscar night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Saturday we saw "The Zone of Interest", a British-Polish German language production, that was nominated for Best Picture and for Best Foreign Film</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUSKXR5VeN9UTj1WMIZT7uPCFto_kmjymXM9QpaRoWm2w9zI5IDfEXhZ4ioLLstdr_QqS6iuV6DRDP3_Kf417IJX_mGreA2DjX3MPHNZsM2aTBHBnXRW-GIUJaX6svyNXXNpAmAVjhPCQZ9mmS3AGnX0ZTgp23omZELav5FG8Y4ZQF3HRktgDyk0FnwwK/s2055/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2055" data-original-width="1370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUSKXR5VeN9UTj1WMIZT7uPCFto_kmjymXM9QpaRoWm2w9zI5IDfEXhZ4ioLLstdr_QqS6iuV6DRDP3_Kf417IJX_mGreA2DjX3MPHNZsM2aTBHBnXRW-GIUJaX6svyNXXNpAmAVjhPCQZ9mmS3AGnX0ZTgp23omZELav5FG8Y4ZQF3HRktgDyk0FnwwK/w266-h400/009.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Even though it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, i</span><span style="font-family: arial;">t was without a doubt the most boring film that I have ever seen. It deals with the mundane middle-class life of the Commander of Auschwitz and his family in their pleasant home located next door to the horrors of the concentration camp. I understand that the theme is the "banality of evil", but after a half hour of watching the family going through their daily routine, yeah, "We get it. When is something dramatic going to happen?" I thought that the performances of the actors were wooden. The running time was less than two hours, but it felt interminably longer. As one sarcastic reviewer wrote, the title should have been "The Zone of Disinterest" or "The ZZZZZZone of Interest".</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Sunday we saw "May December" (in Spanish it was titled "Secretos de un Escándalo"). It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_1pna9m5aUfxbXWdAGjcTKVtj-KdTa9WAu-jti8wdtT2q8N6YlKYs5EoOzKwISSSFlbDB9kfJ86N5Rli0FOLF2KMUbbAkvaG6OS6d3vkFUinnbzlIePKANBi_OLZtF-y22VzR5mErXnhVHnhK0827qvrip8qsk-Oz633alrBp2ZMG1K0gttrlGsPkrox/s1920/010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1325" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_1pna9m5aUfxbXWdAGjcTKVtj-KdTa9WAu-jti8wdtT2q8N6YlKYs5EoOzKwISSSFlbDB9kfJ86N5Rli0FOLF2KMUbbAkvaG6OS6d3vkFUinnbzlIePKANBi_OLZtF-y22VzR5mErXnhVHnhK0827qvrip8qsk-Oz633alrBp2ZMG1K0gttrlGsPkrox/w276-h400/010.png" width="276" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In this movie, Natalie Portman plays an actress who is researching a role that she is going to play... a married woman who was imprisoned for her affair with an adolescent. Julianne Moore plays the notorious sex-offender who, after serving her term in prison, marries and has a family with her young lover. Many said that Moore should have received an Oscar nomination, and I agree. We never really figure out the enigma of Moore's character, but it is an engrossing film. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-29012822033098499492024-03-11T08:59:00.001-04:002024-03-11T08:59:28.322-04:00Another New Piece of Furniture<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the office in my apartment where I sit and write my blog every morning (when I am not at Alejandro's family's house). I am usually out of bed shortly after 6 AM, and the first thing I do, even before breakfast, is to turn on the laptop and write an entry.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p1r31sW9T2mm-R61TkkOVKuD5KSsZI18_AtFLvRkYbh3ymQ5RPq3XXAx6xfQX0ADg0ovGdkcArUAr-HbAKFQ7hYhqCTYLxdw9cuuemCmcb8dZTw8hr-NZvv-vdKnInMxDnDLnqnNF_81JTQvbgQ4e87rFpvD0WCv_1cryKqxPad4LUjB6eZ_5TFZzLM9/s1584/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1062" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p1r31sW9T2mm-R61TkkOVKuD5KSsZI18_AtFLvRkYbh3ymQ5RPq3XXAx6xfQX0ADg0ovGdkcArUAr-HbAKFQ7hYhqCTYLxdw9cuuemCmcb8dZTw8hr-NZvv-vdKnInMxDnDLnqnNF_81JTQvbgQ4e87rFpvD0WCv_1cryKqxPad4LUjB6eZ_5TFZzLM9/w430-h640/006.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a black, upholstered office chair in the office, but shortly after I moved down here, one of the armrests broke off. There are trucks that go up and down the streets of Mexico City daily which buy junk. So, just to get the broken chair out of there, I sold it to one of those junk dealers for a whopping twenty pesos. In the closet there was a folding chair, so that is what I have been using since then.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A short time ago, Alejandro bought me a new office chair. He got it on Amazon, a company I rarely patronize (no desire to make one of the world's richest men richer), and it was made in China (probably unavoidable). However, the chair does get very high scores on its reviews. The chair was delivered to the family house, and this weekend, Alejandro brought it to the apartment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, he assembled it, since I don't have a lot of patience for such things.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj9EPD9d_kvv-CQBXvc_ZYHK1_nSVOvyfSlteo2C43aC3gk-XAXRZhQZodgVH7-r2LxykAKXJt4xqSrlSQax-Ojagv-ypM91epesEzT7I0T-l-qxJnlyUAZ3v7vQArAKjCATWV9syUQOHecVoaluWIZupi90Yy8fXbavvrzhBR9t1RuCdrWGUlxQlY0gH/s1641/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj9EPD9d_kvv-CQBXvc_ZYHK1_nSVOvyfSlteo2C43aC3gk-XAXRZhQZodgVH7-r2LxykAKXJt4xqSrlSQax-Ojagv-ypM91epesEzT7I0T-l-qxJnlyUAZ3v7vQArAKjCATWV9syUQOHecVoaluWIZupi90Yy8fXbavvrzhBR9t1RuCdrWGUlxQlY0gH/w426-h640/007.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So, I now have a nice, very comfortable, new office chair.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFI64ZMGcU86lQlleFWeBnavO7Rp4HEqmD2Y8fdt-kLYyYrnJpWR0A_7NbM38JdFZypfwIjGUMfDImfSJ1QCPAGlI3uSW76f3gETvTQr1dw2C30C-gSwzKum31UezSIVkiXK307clm1CtV5Is-_LgtWscS8wZbahfgu6R9BMLVca7abPN_GLkidzyjI6t/s1428/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="989" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFI64ZMGcU86lQlleFWeBnavO7Rp4HEqmD2Y8fdt-kLYyYrnJpWR0A_7NbM38JdFZypfwIjGUMfDImfSJ1QCPAGlI3uSW76f3gETvTQr1dw2C30C-gSwzKum31UezSIVkiXK307clm1CtV5Is-_LgtWscS8wZbahfgu6R9BMLVca7abPN_GLkidzyjI6t/w444-h640/008.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">¡Gracias, Alejandro!</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-12783744543724202472024-03-10T10:18:00.000-04:002024-03-10T10:18:27.441-04:00Still Not a Fan<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Middle Eastern cuisine has never been a favorite of mine, but I gave it another try last Thursday when I went to a place a short walk from my apartment. The restaurant is called "Al Andaluz". Google maps lists it as a Lebanese restaurant, although the sign on the door says it's an Arabic restaurant. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwbw4RlJxehx9ZJ2nPDsP5vFuKBr1EqNK_xPfj4HVEThL6qJAEWUDuqdSkD1boD-tiVfNUqq3mv87CMJFA59XvI9AJBoIwsV2KKcxGQpKhp_50QG6b0E2ENORDDWTY-YVk1wWq4OBpy8QTQTl3N9H-ikrKVj1TcJNd9dgmi5zx8H-2RAhl-EufDoQc6eY/s1641/003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwbw4RlJxehx9ZJ2nPDsP5vFuKBr1EqNK_xPfj4HVEThL6qJAEWUDuqdSkD1boD-tiVfNUqq3mv87CMJFA59XvI9AJBoIwsV2KKcxGQpKhp_50QG6b0E2ENORDDWTY-YVk1wWq4OBpy8QTQTl3N9H-ikrKVj1TcJNd9dgmi5zx8H-2RAhl-EufDoQc6eY/w506-h341/003.JPG" width="506" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The reviews on Google Maps were mostly positive, although when I went inside there was only one other customer. Not a good sign.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As a starter I ordered falafel. I had heard of falafel, though I had never eaten it. I knew that it was made from garbanzos. I like hummus, which is also made from garbanzos, so I figured it would be a good choice.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iazkmIShKD5dwJJnd4d598qaQXfRYPwA5gqQA9jVFbD1N7EzAu0L9SQElbCKle7V3rEQtN6qxYGXRklNrJV9xd5QGy1taOWNw2cdMonEXAN-VzGydgRKjxGTkASg-9qnut2j7Ant0jCeCdcjNijpQpZdlrCH_mXpBZxtBty82lb71Kg-CR_REWCfSeiV/s1350/004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1350" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iazkmIShKD5dwJJnd4d598qaQXfRYPwA5gqQA9jVFbD1N7EzAu0L9SQElbCKle7V3rEQtN6qxYGXRklNrJV9xd5QGy1taOWNw2cdMonEXAN-VzGydgRKjxGTkASg-9qnut2j7Ant0jCeCdcjNijpQpZdlrCH_mXpBZxtBty82lb71Kg-CR_REWCfSeiV/w488-h396/004.JPG" width="488" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The little balls of ground garbanzos were accompanied a tahini (sesame seed) dip. I don't know if the falafel were slightly burnt; they looked very dark in color. They were OK, but they sat in my stomach like cannonballs. I definitely prefer hummus.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">For my main course I ordered chicken shistauk... cubes of marinated chicken served with onions and bell peppers.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP9roCTmz4Jznh6oznwgUNctF8pFJQoVtX7XATb4J97YqHabNFE9ChnlKKpd0xMpxgcTMLuBXdbH3F6VxuPoDnCkYvQMCh9PxEEHGtx8-GRnuJZwpiuFV18CZVZbWp7vjGI1fCFLL5aBoNamPI9vEt9yTQBOIImTZP0AOwliZFaYIqMbTrRumGMnMZuPh/s4007/005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="4007" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP9roCTmz4Jznh6oznwgUNctF8pFJQoVtX7XATb4J97YqHabNFE9ChnlKKpd0xMpxgcTMLuBXdbH3F6VxuPoDnCkYvQMCh9PxEEHGtx8-GRnuJZwpiuFV18CZVZbWp7vjGI1fCFLL5aBoNamPI9vEt9yTQBOIImTZP0AOwliZFaYIqMbTrRumGMnMZuPh/w547-h432/005.JPG" width="547" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There were a lot of onions and peppers and not much chicken. It was very oily, and I didn't think it had that much flavor.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">When I left the restaurant, my opinion of Middle Eastern food had not changed.</span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-85177110681252709702024-03-09T10:57:00.000-05:002024-03-09T10:57:26.011-05:00A New Piece of Furniture<p><span style="font-family: arial;">I told you in an earlier post that I was having a piece of furniture custom made at a workshop not too far from Alejandro's family's house. I'm not sure exactly what you would call it... perhaps a credenza. It was delivered to the house. Fortunately, it was small enough to fit in Alejandro's car, and we were able to take it to the apartment. It fits in perfectly with the black-framed mirror that I had shipped from Ohio, and with the black furniture in that half of the room.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34d8FgyIwwf1Iv7Eat87RtKkI-eILjkFpiAHNCklEV55D4408YwOgVVQ13B3EXEyNXJUGfOzCYW9P_cObrWZ9JNN7b-CXhWbIKsmrrrjtUR5JeTBC-Zsri3qB7ey0uUoVxdedvtoWoYTwpE2jbou0LF2xWS-suzEQht3zyzkyJZfNksXWJmoZ5uyjLkFj/s1094/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="729" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34d8FgyIwwf1Iv7Eat87RtKkI-eILjkFpiAHNCklEV55D4408YwOgVVQ13B3EXEyNXJUGfOzCYW9P_cObrWZ9JNN7b-CXhWbIKsmrrrjtUR5JeTBC-Zsri3qB7ey0uUoVxdedvtoWoYTwpE2jbou0LF2xWS-suzEQht3zyzkyJZfNksXWJmoZ5uyjLkFj/w426-h640/002.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On top of it, I placed the abstract copper vase that I bought at the furniture and home decor exposition at the World Trade Center a while ago. On the shelves I have some decorative plates from Mexico and Spain. The little buildings were something I purchased many years ago on a trip to Rio de Janeiro. They are replicas of actual houses along a colonial street in that city.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I am very pleased with their work, and I intend to order another piece of furniture... a low table for houseplants to put in front of the living room windows. </span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-60590657638454293942024-03-08T07:27:00.001-05:002024-03-08T07:27:25.290-05:00Purple Streets<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In yesterday's post, I talked about the jacaranda trees which are now in bloom. With the hotter temperatures of spring the blossoms fall, and the streets and sidewalks of the city are carpeted with purple flowers. It's only March, but after a couple weeks of days consistently in the 80s Fahrenheit, the blossoms are already falling.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmov45odZvnXSYV3nYG2SPz3gPPKsPAtp9LKxrUMFp2C79jAyNUmd3zFx2UwBD1zaWfvyCH087A7bDkMSOT70tt1OE1U8FoPQpK-QQeNNTo6KzakiQpL1mZubb7TA2YyEYxI58u2MYeom5KdAiqJAmQiysX_Tnst3oPJbEG_-SXXViCz43inzprCJ5xaDj/s1641/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmov45odZvnXSYV3nYG2SPz3gPPKsPAtp9LKxrUMFp2C79jAyNUmd3zFx2UwBD1zaWfvyCH087A7bDkMSOT70tt1OE1U8FoPQpK-QQeNNTo6KzakiQpL1mZubb7TA2YyEYxI58u2MYeom5KdAiqJAmQiysX_Tnst3oPJbEG_-SXXViCz43inzprCJ5xaDj/w499-h351/001.JPG" width="499" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">You don't want to park your car under a jacaranda tree, because the fallen blooms will stain the finish.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-4629357167243656612024-03-07T07:52:00.002-05:002024-03-07T07:52:28.075-05:00The Jacaranda Question<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mexico City is graced with thousands upon thousands of jacarandas. From late winter through early spring these trees bloom, and the city is awash with their violet blossoms. In the past, when I would spend close to two months here in the winter, the first trees would be flowering before my departure at the end of February. When I would return in April for Easter, the flowering season would be drawing to a close.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nuJVdsaqkEJdkoQ3K17oEJfb_poD0WiRUN8-W80nnfUrn38rOLE-bdyqvXzK_tRP_oPi6kMnY8jkqNtcUT4l3-TZ167_t7m-PJ8P-iSLYRXokW8wjnJ6vp1oYdYMuOULLaEe0hIBhPvZAP-kTgBy_HjjB5FHOBHIC_gEFN-ZiDJYLrRsUkzbhdHqqR7/s1641/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2nuJVdsaqkEJdkoQ3K17oEJfb_poD0WiRUN8-W80nnfUrn38rOLE-bdyqvXzK_tRP_oPi6kMnY8jkqNtcUT4l3-TZ167_t7m-PJ8P-iSLYRXokW8wjnJ6vp1oYdYMuOULLaEe0hIBhPvZAP-kTgBy_HjjB5FHOBHIC_gEFN-ZiDJYLrRsUkzbhdHqqR7/w426-h640/299.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some jacarandas are now blooming, but I don't think that it is going to be a very spectacular or long-lived flowering season. The trees are deciduous. They drop their leaves in the winter. After blooming, the trees then sprout new leaves. Last month, I noticed that many of the trees had leaves without ever having blossomed. Now that some of the trees are blooming, I am doubtful as to how long the flowers will last. The flowers usually drop with the heat of April when temperatures rise into the 80s F. However, this year the spring heat has arrived early. For the last two weeks the high temperature has been above 80 degrees every day, and the forecast for the next two weeks is the same. I doubt that there will be any jacaranda flowers left by Easter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-64295182092413443722024-03-06T08:16:00.001-05:002024-03-06T08:16:50.474-05:00A Slip of the Tongue and a Grammar Lesson<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The 2024 Presidential campaign in Mexico began last Friday with a massive rally on the Zócalo for Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate for the ruling Morena party.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pg4ib6h2lKd9s01YCEaDhLcCW6LKrSSf2TfpGQUN2gkFbnIeguoeHfOSPMAe2GbpmOd6tTGkuHK5DLalBU2xQY9MhvqNVS4lBHekTrs7h7Oixz3Qo4t47o2xsA7NYPN2besKF-tqwRrTa0SmaGGDWAM1_lAopT63yrvEpZiLViDStpVDcLyXzmk83c6o/s768/298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Pg4ib6h2lKd9s01YCEaDhLcCW6LKrSSf2TfpGQUN2gkFbnIeguoeHfOSPMAe2GbpmOd6tTGkuHK5DLalBU2xQY9MhvqNVS4lBHekTrs7h7Oixz3Qo4t47o2xsA7NYPN2besKF-tqwRrTa0SmaGGDWAM1_lAopT63yrvEpZiLViDStpVDcLyXzmk83c6o/w514-h379/298.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(image taken from the internet)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">What has drawn the most media attention about her speech was a slip of the tongue. Instead of saying "que siga la transformación" (may the transformation continue), she said "que siga la corrupción" (may the corruption continue). Critics of the Morena party say that it was not just a slip of the tongue... it was a Freudian slip. They say that, in spite of the Morena's stance of moral superiority, it is a party rife with corruption.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sheinbaum is expected to win the election. The opposition candidate, Xóchitl Gálvez, is also a woman. So, regardless of the outcome, Mexico is going to have its first female President. The media, and even the candidates themselves, use the word "Presidenta" to refer to a woman President. We were talking about this choice of words the other day, and Alejandro pointed out that it is grammatically incorrect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Spanish language, all nouns are either masculine or feminine, and many nouns change to reflect the gender. For example, "maestro" is a male teacher, "maestra" is a female teacher... "abogado" a male lawyer, "abogada" a female lawyer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">However, words that end in "nte" do not change their spelling in the feminine form. "Estudiante" is the same whether you are talking about a male student or a female student; "cantante" is the same whether the singer is a man or a woman. Thus, "Presidente" does not change to "Presidenta" when referring to a woman President. However, I doubt if anyone is going to pay any attention to that point of grammar. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005183909843018870.post-6232932321705858032024-03-05T08:46:00.000-05:002024-03-05T08:46:22.573-05:00At the Plant Market<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">After my walk through "Viveros de Coyoacán", the large green area that serves as a government tree nursery, there was another place I wanted to visit. At the northeast corner of "Viveros" and just outside its gate is a place which is called the Permanent Exhibition of Floriculture and Nursery... a pretentiously long name for a plant market. Here a number of Mexico City growers sell a wide variety of live indoor and outdoor plants. Since I eventually want to have some house plants in my apartment, I wanted to check this place out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are several nicely landscaped areas to give homeowners ideas for their outdoor gardens.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ5gGT1Xriu4yhyQ6c5cogFFEGg9mG2TzRrqBUcpGcq5T0GJzQPEnA-4TEmh3UfsMNUDRx_XiRW9y2oh5lubOpISCt51Mi1F09fl75Sjr9thCpBQO9C6t9RaySv3jiHWuxUaqw5eQjdwp6ab7u1Hwid-uvzWZkdvhTBSm51b-8remb05yNdufwNgxLZ3W/s1641/281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ5gGT1Xriu4yhyQ6c5cogFFEGg9mG2TzRrqBUcpGcq5T0GJzQPEnA-4TEmh3UfsMNUDRx_XiRW9y2oh5lubOpISCt51Mi1F09fl75Sjr9thCpBQO9C6t9RaySv3jiHWuxUaqw5eQjdwp6ab7u1Hwid-uvzWZkdvhTBSm51b-8remb05yNdufwNgxLZ3W/w426-h640/281.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2ZvTs_BsZM0b7JRunEN0kfTS2m2j7cxyaawC1pU4OQ-dwNM00XovxI5ctvnL31gHFs31A3cga4lU_pN2i8c8tj26VEsRNue0lKjawwHKxPTW1pXj4UhceMouLvgS5uPlQz4lXiCmW7uagVuyC86KsoMSYHxV1eX8_oVUYPx4ZQjAxrochYVyKZvRB-Wz/s1641/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2ZvTs_BsZM0b7JRunEN0kfTS2m2j7cxyaawC1pU4OQ-dwNM00XovxI5ctvnL31gHFs31A3cga4lU_pN2i8c8tj26VEsRNue0lKjawwHKxPTW1pXj4UhceMouLvgS5uPlQz4lXiCmW7uagVuyC86KsoMSYHxV1eX8_oVUYPx4ZQjAxrochYVyKZvRB-Wz/w508-h372/282.JPG" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqhFaoV-WOK7taj9EcP0fFPy7Xrgm3JbLdVfSuBUSdJ8laUev7hVehSLhm-qXk0TBV4sd-lGpU2t6vfw-J1VsHISz99KNzeslo6jICT4HUxNkIwHVZE2g3vcn3_4qM7z1qNdIFpCz50Dj0n0465CNhLau-2ybOEvO_ztSRubYiCYq7fd1r3lZtTUaGRUr/s1641/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqhFaoV-WOK7taj9EcP0fFPy7Xrgm3JbLdVfSuBUSdJ8laUev7hVehSLhm-qXk0TBV4sd-lGpU2t6vfw-J1VsHISz99KNzeslo6jICT4HUxNkIwHVZE2g3vcn3_4qM7z1qNdIFpCz50Dj0n0465CNhLau-2ybOEvO_ztSRubYiCYq7fd1r3lZtTUaGRUr/w426-h640/283.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There was a beautiful display of azalea bushes in bloom, which, I later read, they have every February. The bushes are all in pots and are available for sale.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mdEc-hUb4G0PXspIdidFUtg9bTSvgV8G023-IC0XWAr3L2Nvlw3OaYycwCCQxCGfT855pCBVHrJsASqL01iLJpviQ3N5-MapGm1Oe9tKY6XFv_RhkfqcZ-ETrFU1mH33mYRhVxycFigQuE6NKYAR-nFHAzzQ6dj4_CVS6jCxnwwkC32ZSA_P61O9WZue/s1641/284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mdEc-hUb4G0PXspIdidFUtg9bTSvgV8G023-IC0XWAr3L2Nvlw3OaYycwCCQxCGfT855pCBVHrJsASqL01iLJpviQ3N5-MapGm1Oe9tKY6XFv_RhkfqcZ-ETrFU1mH33mYRhVxycFigQuE6NKYAR-nFHAzzQ6dj4_CVS6jCxnwwkC32ZSA_P61O9WZue/w556-h434/284.JPG" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojHf51bVoajfBwA912aR9BOmaZCkhyKb-cWpKe0C6nuUrg5O7Ir1KcmqsvJVmE5TofEQ9EkQPvGnS7PhNQxes9LXErrrRpnfX0PNo2sN8ksKSo3L2oBUTP04Z5ZeqCqRYBeQORZaX5SVgxEvII8OOrJG8ZhP1Rdni0Tmvmh0CkmZ3VjHbOpJfEHKYCGq6/s1641/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojHf51bVoajfBwA912aR9BOmaZCkhyKb-cWpKe0C6nuUrg5O7Ir1KcmqsvJVmE5TofEQ9EkQPvGnS7PhNQxes9LXErrrRpnfX0PNo2sN8ksKSo3L2oBUTP04Z5ZeqCqRYBeQORZaX5SVgxEvII8OOrJG8ZhP1Rdni0Tmvmh0CkmZ3VjHbOpJfEHKYCGq6/w554-h387/285.JPG" width="554" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCImI7DoV-dFdaY9dBexd85usVBBeEtZNXnY4355daWkKV4usSFHvbBcHUHHjTbp890lWTItg3k-ivesU_Gi8fwgIyPp4ChlRHOM-T3ZKy9Iulde-oxaU0OgDySg172NS2_j4F3rQYJoX_uxcGNkualrMMbKnUHDVF1Qe78K9M7uCIKjSXQ6NtJQ4DKHo/s1641/286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCImI7DoV-dFdaY9dBexd85usVBBeEtZNXnY4355daWkKV4usSFHvbBcHUHHjTbp890lWTItg3k-ivesU_Gi8fwgIyPp4ChlRHOM-T3ZKy9Iulde-oxaU0OgDySg172NS2_j4F3rQYJoX_uxcGNkualrMMbKnUHDVF1Qe78K9M7uCIKjSXQ6NtJQ4DKHo/w548-h394/286.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2Q2GfFHbZ3zdJGRFqPoswbITKzfmJH7PEb6sCR1EBJyAlXvib6sL6xwotOc7-z2c7eF5sB7xNPOcgYh0RfSsZjJ0ohHm-9iPEZsfSVUKlzoCzqNZ0OE3GH2-AIWMCCzFlRaCHXhqaEcaAmSLlRMrbOuZjrEyL7blglPYd7iiZFBmb7-SHtzUXVrmr1YN/s2139/286a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2139" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2Q2GfFHbZ3zdJGRFqPoswbITKzfmJH7PEb6sCR1EBJyAlXvib6sL6xwotOc7-z2c7eF5sB7xNPOcgYh0RfSsZjJ0ohHm-9iPEZsfSVUKlzoCzqNZ0OE3GH2-AIWMCCzFlRaCHXhqaEcaAmSLlRMrbOuZjrEyL7blglPYd7iiZFBmb7-SHtzUXVrmr1YN/w537-h401/286a.JPG" width="537" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't think that I have ever seen a yellow azalea before.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Although the place is not extremely large, I probably spent at least an hour, wandering around and looking at the enormous assortment of all kinds of plants. I was familiar with many of them, and I had some of them in my house in Ohio. All of the plants here seemed to be of very high quality; they all looked very healthy.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvG0rsT8ejq1c6mXu5wq3ez-njnXxFbiKjvTuC5I_opGtC7JbVmzHXg0YVdUpWzFFDHAKexR1Remedb45BdSdgi6P5Xib3Fv1BCSAqrn_Ud9Nw4LzO1cgtX4u6QfeCB2xEw2Keyveo8QrXi0qGFh6tYKbPAowIJh2XDQH3Zbjq35pcvwAIDhgk_VgkbS1/s1641/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvG0rsT8ejq1c6mXu5wq3ez-njnXxFbiKjvTuC5I_opGtC7JbVmzHXg0YVdUpWzFFDHAKexR1Remedb45BdSdgi6P5Xib3Fv1BCSAqrn_Ud9Nw4LzO1cgtX4u6QfeCB2xEw2Keyveo8QrXi0qGFh6tYKbPAowIJh2XDQH3Zbjq35pcvwAIDhgk_VgkbS1/w426-h640/287.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWWavFPi6zRG7L9ymITCsJeCvTeItlCPrNR_MJYoI9BlpMJm-q5hWy8UqnW89PddoeZUOkTVRvv406QUlMU5fFz2SLivUYt1Bcw_3TgOkMlKV2e03jdRhmuvuJ9bndWYdLVH1n9iFPY6phI-6MUvkfJfmUN_2-TY3RcWpo3RVUq28PS7RReKyKUX6OX_w/s1641/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWWavFPi6zRG7L9ymITCsJeCvTeItlCPrNR_MJYoI9BlpMJm-q5hWy8UqnW89PddoeZUOkTVRvv406QUlMU5fFz2SLivUYt1Bcw_3TgOkMlKV2e03jdRhmuvuJ9bndWYdLVH1n9iFPY6phI-6MUvkfJfmUN_2-TY3RcWpo3RVUq28PS7RReKyKUX6OX_w/w426-h640/288.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHXarUd2TOculOswPtpzL_kiu_ToCt6hINtx5ZMUQ5PVhnvVARi_1ZNxci0eJegaQi-lCkSB9JARgI4jEdkCPHnIoDp7G9uEkLTHicou_EWC2scNYhHfixqiCwm4HZgmpuFimS5a5jZnwlhAXnUl4JKbWp9ZAmMXOgzy8thaWafy6S_822PN4tZmQQOgT/s1641/288a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHXarUd2TOculOswPtpzL_kiu_ToCt6hINtx5ZMUQ5PVhnvVARi_1ZNxci0eJegaQi-lCkSB9JARgI4jEdkCPHnIoDp7G9uEkLTHicou_EWC2scNYhHfixqiCwm4HZgmpuFimS5a5jZnwlhAXnUl4JKbWp9ZAmMXOgzy8thaWafy6S_822PN4tZmQQOgT/w426-h640/288a.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy7Yptu4o4NXWYv0NtW14w_FlXenHNrVh-gfgn_lltHkL9UmhQmwRBsOAtcFTyyRlqCookYGiEy-uq0dmZuhT7BJasoeOHjr0AYVLX56o1tn-iPEO0iosz6vb_7O5cAtkZifBYnde7tqrY9hMvy8UXmVPRQLVjIOZGaBln_f6vjVuJccW2gMN8unTOXV1/s1641/288b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy7Yptu4o4NXWYv0NtW14w_FlXenHNrVh-gfgn_lltHkL9UmhQmwRBsOAtcFTyyRlqCookYGiEy-uq0dmZuhT7BJasoeOHjr0AYVLX56o1tn-iPEO0iosz6vb_7O5cAtkZifBYnde7tqrY9hMvy8UXmVPRQLVjIOZGaBln_f6vjVuJccW2gMN8unTOXV1/w496-h321/288b.JPG" width="496" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These Christmas cacti are like the one I had in Ohio. They don't seem to know what time of year it is. They are ready to bloom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwb1UKpjaLhmcgk08F_nANJkgarPpjOAlLKgNFmEwOP60H23fo6fwttZ0LQih-GYzeNlr5NGFlDzIfSc58q8z2bZuXkGtPoXhdtiz7xIg7udZb42h-KzFQW6Z7BWCrXrOlDE9e_w1oDBzmcAh2zJYR6evTVRxyUl86Qxmj7wNTr_V-jvhBC-SLyn-qz2Dx/s1339/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1339" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwb1UKpjaLhmcgk08F_nANJkgarPpjOAlLKgNFmEwOP60H23fo6fwttZ0LQih-GYzeNlr5NGFlDzIfSc58q8z2bZuXkGtPoXhdtiz7xIg7udZb42h-KzFQW6Z7BWCrXrOlDE9e_w1oDBzmcAh2zJYR6evTVRxyUl86Qxmj7wNTr_V-jvhBC-SLyn-qz2Dx/w490-h421/289.JPG" width="490" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A variety of herbs... rosemary, basil, and, obviously, oregano.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskeIkVdf-o7qYG3HoxwYOwhd-TyKxm9W-5Y7UBOU62eOWxgqBhebLVl2nMjzljFCdYR9yv2T2AisX3c57RgohPc4dHZdtBYbHDv5Tho9PFLZfkJWGe6BwDY5SrsgB9L8ljhHcnpkQw-oC0soqx_s54yZHiVj37jYB4KEW-I5nsLCpbOFDEg-cAATmZMoM/s1488/290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1488" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskeIkVdf-o7qYG3HoxwYOwhd-TyKxm9W-5Y7UBOU62eOWxgqBhebLVl2nMjzljFCdYR9yv2T2AisX3c57RgohPc4dHZdtBYbHDv5Tho9PFLZfkJWGe6BwDY5SrsgB9L8ljhHcnpkQw-oC0soqx_s54yZHiVj37jYB4KEW-I5nsLCpbOFDEg-cAATmZMoM/w486-h376/290.JPG" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A spectacular orchid</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6TXdyxRhYEnAOlLSsCciFv-4-Ja8dbDlr6yZ8KolmR7Cr7tMA2BtCCnmGe_BlvLcfa9aAzxDghTaqC_sXEVMRh-dHbFIAhnOhRd67GL8tVojTGyC0Z4JZ6O1dlPJbkmYy42_5OLjmyJ_ebz1eCU-J7zwSxOFBrBoRgBiYkAECpNqZuGQAkwosTNC_opG/s1641/291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6TXdyxRhYEnAOlLSsCciFv-4-Ja8dbDlr6yZ8KolmR7Cr7tMA2BtCCnmGe_BlvLcfa9aAzxDghTaqC_sXEVMRh-dHbFIAhnOhRd67GL8tVojTGyC0Z4JZ6O1dlPJbkmYy42_5OLjmyJ_ebz1eCU-J7zwSxOFBrBoRgBiYkAECpNqZuGQAkwosTNC_opG/w426-h640/291.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have never tried to grow orchids before, but I am tempted to give it a try.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn_OXz0yUp1dvWJdwUzlXGwICY4H3Vp1GsJgp9fiDIM5AMO1GHSclnyPjHOAOaPOmPQs8Lfgen2DIxFxKEEAjzN9IqVSimxlN1Y0NvonLqB6VxPlfAgY_bLe758KPpsKhcPJFHO4swlnBYOULWjirZsmc9wxU8KyKZoS_DpzYFZHBopq6bialnXPQu_1i/s1641/292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn_OXz0yUp1dvWJdwUzlXGwICY4H3Vp1GsJgp9fiDIM5AMO1GHSclnyPjHOAOaPOmPQs8Lfgen2DIxFxKEEAjzN9IqVSimxlN1Y0NvonLqB6VxPlfAgY_bLe758KPpsKhcPJFHO4swlnBYOULWjirZsmc9wxU8KyKZoS_DpzYFZHBopq6bialnXPQu_1i/w504-h371/292.JPG" width="504" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bonsai trees</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsZxpLoNRCLFAYfwxMxg2Jo2BjgQ4OqfOAyZGGYpBfRdfj1C5V2FvZC5xxtHNbYU8lq-eci6XVcq92WQdvNVMI7eV52XojF9v-9MgvKgMnN1bBqiF2XPAihWCp-l0j45gv634q0Lu823VuOIpD91rRnHtC1BQSH3HE57Ap7pcL3G9AC35kEym2Pgb9Mqj/s1641/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsZxpLoNRCLFAYfwxMxg2Jo2BjgQ4OqfOAyZGGYpBfRdfj1C5V2FvZC5xxtHNbYU8lq-eci6XVcq92WQdvNVMI7eV52XojF9v-9MgvKgMnN1bBqiF2XPAihWCp-l0j45gv634q0Lu823VuOIpD91rRnHtC1BQSH3HE57Ap7pcL3G9AC35kEym2Pgb9Mqj/w504-h361/293.JPG" width="504" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Cyclamens</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjcNtjFNlp1JinMif38dbswR5gr-luiy09wbTY1wkyS0dwD_gf36P9Y4aGd7vMdQV3vR78gaoAuk4oRWbmFJzpcfwwVi2YHacAn3Y4PLvGb_Hn0zLImbrS77rs_axVLji_j0DcBpY054A0cF13t-zXaItam3q7Z0IArzfVsn91b2pIDkyWr8CVvJw6iLo/s1641/294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjcNtjFNlp1JinMif38dbswR5gr-luiy09wbTY1wkyS0dwD_gf36P9Y4aGd7vMdQV3vR78gaoAuk4oRWbmFJzpcfwwVi2YHacAn3Y4PLvGb_Hn0zLImbrS77rs_axVLji_j0DcBpY054A0cF13t-zXaItam3q7Z0IArzfVsn91b2pIDkyWr8CVvJw6iLo/w505-h400/294.JPG" width="505" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A bromeliad</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczAKhWtt8aM7iezlYnCPU7CcSJrQ9VnHdRkSQlyc9Q34YCugGhFsz9s6nhD96jcEFYm-bAZ2-PbKBtkxIw1E5MwU1c2LnTbfgGel1d8cuhe724WO3O-2nIS213PmaylpMW5dDGSRetpuZvewXu4B7eXPPEc4ZW2VSxBeiSlelxhkHiqhnDRP-UzunFL4k/s1641/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczAKhWtt8aM7iezlYnCPU7CcSJrQ9VnHdRkSQlyc9Q34YCugGhFsz9s6nhD96jcEFYm-bAZ2-PbKBtkxIw1E5MwU1c2LnTbfgGel1d8cuhe724WO3O-2nIS213PmaylpMW5dDGSRetpuZvewXu4B7eXPPEc4ZW2VSxBeiSlelxhkHiqhnDRP-UzunFL4k/w426-h640/295.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">You might remember the monster rubber tree plant that I had in Ohio. Well, I have no intention of having one in the limited space of my apartment!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59x0QUQ2cLJ4nsxTXLKjrdZI6mxhLS0O0B5w4-cuRlzjP3-PG6_alfQpxJ5vWeHF5_WMGy8NdPzUKLjV537XlZevLhRfswyOuUHKtVilhCp78BerFF2wotJ_GRSRS_uMq_rVypbvWJmxONaSpBuoWDcG1TVcM91_THCLgFh5XOVH7scDKRBK7wCw8Wa_i/s1641/296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59x0QUQ2cLJ4nsxTXLKjrdZI6mxhLS0O0B5w4-cuRlzjP3-PG6_alfQpxJ5vWeHF5_WMGy8NdPzUKLjV537XlZevLhRfswyOuUHKtVilhCp78BerFF2wotJ_GRSRS_uMq_rVypbvWJmxONaSpBuoWDcG1TVcM91_THCLgFh5XOVH7scDKRBK7wCw8Wa_i/w426-h640/296.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIXqVNl6asf9jqamxCSEMRGJNgsodXwoZEukxMIKpLLt3NdPRQ4m5XEdQ8_yJZkR39zv6VLAigAe0gvaW8qNLj6RW2lG4qxx5MLtIMXNWQ5mrq8EmjrqFAdeNpVi5e0QVJBbnO1v5uSrYiL-KnuqfWbIu_RdeRz7YZUMD3T0DKJfJRpkgeLlk1SiAYFBu/s1641/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1641" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIXqVNl6asf9jqamxCSEMRGJNgsodXwoZEukxMIKpLLt3NdPRQ4m5XEdQ8_yJZkR39zv6VLAigAe0gvaW8qNLj6RW2lG4qxx5MLtIMXNWQ5mrq8EmjrqFAdeNpVi5e0QVJBbnO1v5uSrYiL-KnuqfWbIu_RdeRz7YZUMD3T0DKJfJRpkgeLlk1SiAYFBu/w503-h383/297.JPG" width="503" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was sorely tempted to buy a small plant or two, but I had a long walk back to the apartment. Perhaps one weekend Alejandro and I can drive there, and I can begin my indoor garden.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Retired Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03697897155105288077noreply@blogger.com2