Sunday 31st January 2010….adventure day.

This watching television in the morning is addictive…this morning it was the Men’s final of the Australian open with a British opponent for Roger Federer.  Andy Murray was trying to become the first British man in 74 years to win a Grand Slam tennis event.

Alas Federer was much too good and he won in straight sets to claim his world record 16th Grand Slam title.

After the tennis I packed up and went on my mystery tour.

This is taken from the Wikipedia…

 

José Alfredo Jiménez (January 9, 1926 in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato – November 23, 1973 in Mexico City, Mexico) was a Mexican singer-songwriter in the ranchera style.

His songs are considered an integral part of the Mexican musical heritage and are comparable, for instance, to Woody Guthrie's influence on American folk music.

He had no musical training—according to the singer Miguel Aceves Mejía, Jiménez didn't play an instrument and didn't even know the Spanish terms for "waltz" and "key". Nonetheless he composed more than 1000 songs. Among the most famous are "Ella", "Paloma querida", "Media vuelta", "El Rey", "Sin Sangre en las venas", "El jinete", "Si nos dejan", "Amanecí en tus brazos", "Llegando a ti", "Tu recuerdo y yo", El hijo del pueblo", "Cuando el destino", "El caballo blanco", "Llegó borracho el borracho" and "Que te vaya bonito", as well as "Camino de Guanajuato", where he sang about his home state of Guanajuato.

 

 

José Alfredo Jiménez' tomb in Dolores Hidalgo, Gto. has become a tourist attraction

In addition to his own hit recordings, many of his songs have been recorded successfully by renowned recording artists from around the Spanish-speaking world, most notably by Miguel Aceves Mejía, Pedro Infante, Rocío Durcal, Javier Solís, Pedro Fernández, Jorge Negrete, Vikki Carr, Luis Miguel, Lola Beltrán, Alejandro Fernandez, Chavela Vargas, Maná, Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernández, Julio Iglesias, Joaquín Sabina, Manolo García, Los Tigres del Norte, and Gualberto Castro.

Jiménez, like others of his contemporaries (Jorge Negrete,Pedro Infante and Javier Solís, the so-called "Three Mexican Roosters", or Tres Gallos Mexicanos), died young. He was struck-down by hepatitis at age 47 and is regarded, along with Agustín Lara and Juan Gabriel, as one of the best songwriters that Mexico has ever produced. He was certainly one of the most prolific composers in the history of popular music, world-wide.

Shortly before his death, he wrote and recorded his last song, "Gracias", thanking the public for all of the affection they had shown him. His tomb has become a place of pilgrimage for serious music fans from around the Spanish-speaking world.

 

I had heard about his tomb and decided today was the day to find it.

I went to Dolores Hidalgo which is famous for the many pottery artists and stopped and bought a few little samples…

After getting about three different sets of directions I located the cemetery on the edge of town.

This was a huge place but again with more directions I located

and the tomb!!

It was really a remarkable sight this huge Sombrero and serape and all his songs were entered on the serape, quite a sight!!!

I then headed out to another small town about 40 minutes away called 

This is another tiny village noted for its pottery.

I was more interested to see the great church that was located in this valley.

The drive down into the valley was on a very narrow dirt road which ended at the church through this tiny entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good job I was the only vehicle on the road.

The inside of the church was interesting.

This was taken on the dirt road on the way back.

I decided to follow the loop road through to Guanajuato and on the way saw this..

If you look very closely right underneath the b in below that is the statute of Christ where we went on January 6th for the cowboys pilgrimage.

It was an uneventful drive back to SMA and I got back around 6pm and about 30 minutes later the heavens opened and it rained so hard and thundered with lightening strikes.  I don’t think I have seen rain like that since I was in Costa Rica.

Anybody seen this lady around?

Let me know if you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday 30th January 2010…one of the times I wish I had a better camera…

I really like and enjoy my little Cannon camera, it is so small it fits in the palm of my hand and it is easy to use and perfect for my travels…BUT……last night I do wish I had a better camera.

Now I cannot take credit for this I borrowed it from the world wide web….BUT…I saw the most amazing sight I have seen for years last night….imagination is needed for this.

I went outside about 11.30pm last night and it was the biggest and brightest full moon of 2010 and I saw the above image except now try to imagine a complete and perfect halo around the moon.  On the above photo with the size imagine a circle around the moon maybe one inch away in diameter and that is what I saw…it was so incredible it really was!!!

This morning I got up at 8am to watch the live broadcast of the women’s tennis final from Melbourne and I saw and enjoyed the last set.  To my amazement I also saw that the same station was broadcasting a live soccer game from England…..yes I am a bit of a fan…it was a good way to start my day.

 

At 11.30am I went to Casa Hogar as I had arranged to pick up the girls for the afternoon and I still have the car so that will be fun.

Our first stop was the library where they were showing kids cartoons, the girls enjoyed this.

Paola took this photo as we were driving in town..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We then went to the grounds of a lovely hotel where they were having entertainment and a chilli cook off contest.

This buying popcorn is a serious issue…

There lots of people in attendance and there was entertainment

In the rodeo ring…

These girls were so colourful and talented.

Father and son.

The girls spent about half an hour jumping!!!

Needs no explanation!!

Took the girls back in time for them to attend church.  I know I say it often but they are always so happy and polite when ever I introduce them to people I know they always put out their hand to shake and say hello, so sweet!!

Sara sent me these two photos taken in the fall of kids she was taking out for a ride in her boat at work!!

So where did January go??   Hope you have a great weekend, blessings Les

Friday 29th January 2010……LUPITA!!!!!!!

This is a rarity for me …..I woke up at 5.30am this morning…Gail and Larry were leaving on the 7.30am bus and they wanted me to wake them up at 6.30am…..but I woke much to early and couldn’t get back to sleep so got up!!!

After seeing my amigos off,  came home and did some laundry and cleaned up some as the maid is coming tomorrow!!!!

Then this afternoon went down town to do some chores..

I wonder what stories these doors could tell!!

This is how to paint in triplicate!!

Just could not pass up this opportunity..

I then went to Casa Hogar to do my regular school run……at this point I want you to sit back and try to imagine this story!!!!!

Normally in the afternoon one of the Madres comes with me but today no one seemed to be around and the Madre asked me to go on my own.  I was happy to do this until Lupita came on the scene and she wanted to drive with me and the Madre said this was OK.

So she is dressed like a movie star and looks adorable….so off we go.  Lupita never stopped talking the whole time and it is amazing how two people who do not speak each other’s language can actually understand each other.

First she wanted me to put the electric window down, then she wanted musica!!!!!  She is chattering away and smiling. 

The first problem arose when I got to the bus stop where I pick up the first set of kids.  There were no other parents there and no bus!!!  Obviously some mis communication so I opted to stay in the area and wait till the 3.00pm bus came with the other kids.  I noticed that Lupita kept saying something about pantaloons and I eventually understood her jeans were too big and falling off her hips, she was smiling the whole time.

So I decided we had about 40 minutes to wait so we drove to my casa where I found one of Linda’s belts and double looped it around her jeans, she loved this!!

Then it was time to raid the fridge…I found an almost empty bag of M & M’s, a juice and some fruit.

We then decided to call Sara and imagine her surprise when Lupita was saying, “hola Sara, hola Sara”

Back into the van

and back to the pick up area for the girls.  Here is parked an old Caboose and Lupita wanted to climb…

The belt looks good..

Then she wanted to drive

There is no way to explain the above photo…she was making all the train noises she could think of and smiling like crazy she had me doubled over with laughter!!!!!

Her hair style today..

Eventually the school bus came and my four kids got off and we all piled into the van for the drive home and the first thing Lupita did was share her candy and her juice and they all sang “If your happy and you know it” all the way back.

This was probably the most complete unadulterated and incredible afternoon I have had for years and all because of a 5 year old!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend I know I am…Sara there will be a special call to you tomorrow!!!

Thursday 28th January 2010…a spa day!!

My friends were treated to the now world famous Pearson scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning and even though I say it myself the breakfast was good!!!

We then went to the next small town to visit the UNISEF site of this beautiful church.  When Sara and I were here last month there were major renovations taking place but today they were complete.

All the ceilings are covered in these incredible murals.

Then it was time for…

some relaxation!!!

This is indeed a beautiful setting…

Gruta means cave and at the end of this hot pool

is this entrance

and tunnel

that leads to a beautiful cave with  hot, hot water and a water spout that was invigorating…

This is the view coming out of the cave.

We spent a delightful afternoon here and then went to Casa Hogar.  I wanted my friends to meet my girls and see the home.

At 4pm we met Robin who took the time to show my friends the lovely home and this little rascal

insisted that I carry her around the whole time!!!!

Gail and Larry got to meet Paola and Daniela and about another 20 beautiful girls, we all enjoyed the visit.

For Gail and Larry’s last night they treated me again to dinner in a lovely little down town restaurant close to the main square, thank you.

It has been great again to have friends with me and it makes me realize how lucky I am.  Now ask me that at 6.30am tomorrow morning when I have to get up to take them to the bus terminal!!!!

Yet another great day!!