My Oyster

Day 14 - Antiquing in Puebla...

I am staying (through Airbnb) with Raul in Oaxaca.  He has a beautiful place in the perfect neighborhood.  It's close to all the touristy stuff - but not right in the middle of it. 

He designed his building which houses his company and he lives on the top floor.  It has a lot of outdoor terrace space surrounding the living space up there.  He wants to get an antique tub to put on the terrace outside the guest room.  A great idea.  Very private.  Watching the sunset while taking a bath.  Nice.

So today we got up early and drove a few hours north to Puebla.  There are lots of antique shops here.  He found a great tub.  We are spending the night and will head back to Oaxaca after breakfast here in Puebla tomorrow morning.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 14 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

On the drive north we saw an amazing cactus forest.

Beauty...

The canyons in this part of Mexico are huge.

Fun...

I watched these two share some nuts or seeds (I think) in the park.

Spirit...

The cathedral on the main square in Puebla.

Just liked it...

I think he wanted me to take this pic.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 13 - Happy Hurt...

Every bit of my body is tired and aching tonight. But in a good way. It is from exploring and doing. Soon I will probably need to throttle back a bit. I don’t think I can sustain this pace much longer. But I will likely try. So much to see and do.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from the first day of my Walkabout...

Nature...

These pups were sleeping in the bed of a pickup in the park.

Beauty...

Caught this sunset from the roof terrace where I am staying.  I get to see it every day.

Fun...

In one of the squares there is music every night. This marimba concert was great.

Spirit...

Finally got to a museum this trip. It focused on the indigenous cultures around Oaxaca.

Just liked it...

This father and son took a break to listen to some music.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 12 - Roam if you want to...

This morning I was out the door by 730am with camera and water.  Ready to roam around the city as it was coming alive.  And I roamed.  For 2.5 hours.  Taking snaps.  People watching.  Chatting a bit. 

I had a few things I wanted to get done - like get some cash at a specific bank (no fee) and see if the one Starbucks here has Oaxaca coffee mugs (it doesn't).  But mostly I just meandered without any real purpose but to observe.

The rest of the day was busy.  And hot.  Spanish class with Manuel.  He is one of the best tutors I have had and he has been pushing me on learning the past tense.  Taking care of some business.  Chatting with my Airbnb host, Raul, over wine.

TIred and sore but still energized and thinking at the very end of the day.  That works.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 11 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

Wandered into a great small market not far from my house.

Beauty...

The colors and textures of this "sign" grabbed me.

Fun...

Late night (for me) in the park near my house.

Spirit...

 

More Guadalupe on a deep blue background.  Across the street from me.

Just liked it...

I watched him get his stall ready at the big city market.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 11 - Three Thumbs Up!

Or Angels in Oaxaca.  Twenty four hours in and I am really digging it here!

My stay here will be even less as a tourist than in San Miguel.  Each day I will be doing a little bit of Spanish lessons (started today with Manuel).  A little bit of work (more on that to come).  A fair amount of photography.  And yes, a little bit of touring around.  But I will save most of that for when I return with Jean.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from Day 11 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

Under the sea and on the wall.  Great murals all over this city.

Beauty...

Sunrise from my terrace.

Fun...

The playfulness and color of the animals and the expression of the artist.  Contrast much?  I asked to take the foto and he agreed.

The church in my neighborhood.  Lots of Guadalupe here.

Just liked it...

Living life around the fountain.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 10 - Moving to Oaxaca from San Miguel...

Even though I had spent 9 days in San Miguel de Allende, I was not ready to pack and leave this morning.  That says something to me.  It is a very special place.

I ended this trip to SMA with a workout in the Juarez park, Mexican breakfast at Café Muro, a stroll and some picture taking.  I also chatted even more with Joyce - the amazing host at the BnB I was at the past two nights.  She is 80 years old and has some great stories from her own travels.

THe pic above is neither San Miguel nor Oaxaca.  It is Mexico City.  Flying right over the best parts!

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from Day 10 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

A mother, her son, and some amazingly vibrant beans.

Beauty...

Flying into Oaxaca.  The countryside was gorgeous.

Fun...

I did a late night walk down to the Zocalo in Oaxaca.  I expected it to be empty.  It wasn't!

Spirit...

A last peek at the steeples and domes of San Miguel's churches before leaving.

Just liked it...

This young man sweeping seems dwarfed by the arches.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 9 - Easter Sunday and Winding Down in SMA...

Time is funny when traveling.  It seems to both fly by and to creep.  I am already finishing up this leg of my Walkabout and I am really happy with it so far.  I am getting what I had hoped for. 

Easter Sunday started with an amazing sunrise that I got to watch from the roof deck of the new house I am at here in SMA.  The sunrise came complete with the moon, hot air balloons, church beels peeling, and roosters crowing.

I went to two masses today.  One Catholic - at the invitation of my Spanish tutor.  The other UU - I was happy to find out that San Miguel is one of the few places with a UU congregation.  I ended a beautiful day, as always, with a tequila at a favorite bar here (pic above) and some dinner.

I am lucky.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from the 9th day of my Walkabout...

Nature...

Sunrise and mist together at 6000 feet.

Beauty...

The sun seemed to be adding a new coat of paint to the churches in the center of town as it was rising.

Fun...

The mariachi bands add so much to the Jardin.

Spirit...

After the Easter service at St. Anthony's of Padua church.

Just liked it...

An old man selling his churros and a young man having a cerveza.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 8 - Moving Around...

Today was the first shift of this walkabout.  Those are always interesting.  Change is good. 

Dane left at 4am this morning to return to Boston and now I am here on my own.  I also moved from our beautiful casa to another spot in town for my last two night here in San Miguel.  The new place is different.  Not as lush.  In a working class neighborhood (they still deliver milk by can each morning) not an exclusive expat one.  Sort of like a BnB with a little bit of hostel thrown in.  Great views and great location.  The owner is a hoot.  She is American but has lived overseas a lot since the Viet Nam war.  During that war, she gave refuge at her place in Greece to American war resistors.

I had my last Spanish lesson with Antonieta.  She has been great and even invited me to an Easter mass tomorrow.  I am a bit hesitant but very interested.  Apparently it is also a memorial service for a youth her in town who died last week.  I will try to get there.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from the first day of my Walkabout...

Nature...

The city is built on hills so not many open spaces, but they find a way for beautiful trees and flowers.

Beauty...

As I came up over some hill on my morning walk, I saw this.

Fun...

Neither the big brother nor the little sister seem to be having a great time, but I thought it was fun.

Spirit...

Tonight, on Easter eve, the main square (Jardin) was like a carnival.  You could feel the energy and excitement for Easter.

Just liked it...

I followed this father and son for quite a while.  They had exactly the same gate - just in different proportions.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 7 - Viernes Santo/Good Friday...

Man,the guide books and websites are not over-selling the pageantry and solemnity of Holy Week/Santa Semana here in San Miguel de Allende.  This is something I wish I could have seen with my mother.  She would have loved it.  Especially the boy in the pic above.  He was concentrating so hard and was the only child in one of yesterday's procession with prayerful hands.

As billed - there were multiple processions today.  I actually ran into one early in the morning on my way to yoga class and then another at lunchtime on my way to my Spanish lesson.  The main one was around 5pm.  The Jardin (main square) was packed but respectful and quiet.  Very moving.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from the 7th day of my Walkabout...

Nature...

Part of my early morning walk.  Beautiful trees.  Welcomed shade.

Beauty...

As we were walking up the hill to our house on Dane's last night here, I saw this strolling couple ahead.

Fun...

Roman soldier. The Sony Cybershot is bit out of character - but that's ok.

Spirit...

The mid-day procession.  I was torn between looking at the Jesus and looking at the people thronging to him and carrying him.

Just liked it...

I am guessing three generations.  In the main, evening procession.  Loved the Abuela's face and expression. 

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 6 - The Little Challenges and the Big Rewards...

Today started out perfectly.  I was up early and took and meandered through the city as it was waking up - observing, taking snaps, experiencing.  Absolute bliss for me.  The beauties in the pic above are from the market as it was opening.

The walk ended up being considerably longer and more "strenuous" than I expected.  I wanted to find the BnB that I am staying in over the weekend here in SMA.  I need to change places so before I arrived I had found a cute spot on AirBnB.  I walked for hours into the outskirts of town and some pretty rough barrios.  Nothing.  The owner was not much help.  I canceled and found another place.

I barely made it to my daily Spanish class and by the time I did, I think the heat, walking, intense allergies, and altitude were catching up with me.  The class was cut short and I hopped a taxi to the ER.  The great thing is that the doctor did not really speak English and we did the whole thing in Spanish.  Yay for me!   

Not the day I had planned but still pretty cool.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from Day 6 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

These herons (?) gather every morning in this tree near my favorite park.

Beauty...

Jacaranda petals in the church courtyard.

Fun...

Someone has a LOT of paint cans in their garage.

Spirit...

Guadalupe is everywhere here.

Just liked it...

Roses floating on water in a metal tub on some stone.  Ahhh.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Day 5 - My Glance into San Miguel

The building in the pic above has the Spanish expression for "glance".  I pass it every day - several times a day.  It is on the stretch of cobblestone between my house and the center of town. I think I am getting a brief or hurried look into the town and the people.  But that is ok.  I will be back.  It is like a teaser.  And for this trip, I am really only looking for an introduction and a little escape.

Today was a mellow but nice one.  Exercise with Dane, leisurely breakfast at a café down the hill, Spanish class, lunch, coffee, some work, some TV at home.  I also hung out in the Benito Juarez park.  It is also near my house.  It is beautiful.  Created in the early 1900s and designed in the French style (benches, big paths, ponds, fountains, trees, bridges, etc.) but with lots of native trees and plants.  It is beautiful - and a nice shady escape from the afternoon sun.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 5 of my Walkabout...

Nature...

Taking over this window and a wonderful combo of colors.

Beauty...

The holes make the reflection look like a puzzle.  I liked how the rough brick and bars are framing it.

Fun...

Clearly some were more into having their picture taken than others.

Spirit...

I lucked out that I am here when the city is awash with these purple Jacaranda trees in full bloom.

Just liked it...

Juarez park is packed with kids in the late afternoon.  A lot of energy.

And more photos here at my flickr account.