Saturday, December 24, 2011

Much More Of the Same

Once again we are pretty slow on blogs, mostly because there is not much new to write about. Our life is extremely peaceful, getting up, hanging out on line for an hour, then going to the gym for an hour.  We come home, have breakfast and showers and then it is time to go up town for our daily shopping at the market, sit on benches and people watch for a time and then for a capuccino.  Then home for a nap or a movie or read a book.  Beer time and more computor time is at 5:00PM, supper at 6:30 and then at times we go up town again to watch the masses of people in the park in the evening and so we do something so we don't go to bed so early.  We do love it here and will book again soon for next year.

This first photo is of a street seller that sells balloon like toys for the young.  There are many such sellers and they sell many, we think very few of them get home after dragging them down the streets in Tlaqupaque.




 In southern Alberta, men go to the coffee shop to converse and solve the world problems.  Here they sit in the park, play games, read newspapers and share their worlds with each other.
 Much the same as the previous picture but more discussion going on.
 And more of the same.
 Another street seller, this one selling fruit.   She has had this good selling corner ever since we have been coming to Tlaqupaque.
 This is the butcher shop (and it is a very traditional butcher shop) where Nancy buys all her meat.  Whatever you want in pork or beef, be it hamburger, a roast or steaks, they cut it all off the same quarter that is hanging down from the hooks, grind the hambuger right there, and charge the same price for it all.  When they cut it for Mexicans they cut it very thin and there is really no such a thing as a roast so Nancy has to do much explaining with many hand movements to tell them how she wants it cut but it is always correct and very, very tasty.
 This is something new  to Tlaquepaque this year.  You who were here last year can remember the high end walk street with the many expensive shops. These sculptures were done this year to decorate that street and they look quite spectacular.
 These boys keep us safe.  Last year there were just a few of them but this year the center of Tlaqupaque is swarming with them,  Most on bicycles and very helpful if you are looking for help.
 Ths is a dead moth that was in our laundry room.
 In the last post I mentioned that Carolyn Otto had send a new bridle\harness out with us to give to Juan Carlos for his horse that he uses to pull his fancy buggy.  This is that horse, all decked out in the new gear.  Tomorrow, Christmas Day, Juan Carlos is taking his horse and carriage to the coast (Puerto Vallarta) for an event.  They are getting 34000 pesos (about $3000) and it is good money for them.
 Last week at the Parian, where we go to listen to Mariachi Music and watch folk dancing, a very different kind of dance was performed.  These next three photos show that dance.


 Olivia, our landlord is a great entrepreneur.  Besides our apartments and her restaurant across the street, she makes trips to the US to buy used clothing (mostly baby clothes and other things for babies).  This year she was gone for 2.5 weeks and came home with not only a truck load of  merchandise but she bought a trailer in the US and filled that also.  Then she sets up a garage sale format in front of her restaurant for 4 days and sells and sells and sells.

 I am  not sure how this photo go in at this spot but it is a typical Mexican band playing in the market on a Saturday morning.  It was pretty good but very loud.
 Back to Olivias street sale,
 This is Corrina, Olivia's daughter on the left and Violeta, Olivia's daughter in law on the right.  The whole family was involved in the street sale.
 And finally  our son Dennis and his girlfriend Lee.  Dennis came from Australia 3 weeks ago and Lee has been here for a week, also from Australia.  It has been delighful since they have been here and our menu has changed a bit as Lee and Dennis our both great cookers and are using their skills.  Lee is originally from Singapore so much of the food they cook is from that part of the world. Yummy!!!