Monthly Archives: November 2023

Nov29

Whirlwind Weekend

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Whirlwind Weekend

I had an amazing weekend with my family in Culiacan. It’s almost a year since I last saw them and I’m determined to see them one more time this winter before I head back to Washington. I hadn’t realized just how large a country Mexico is until I started doing some serious traveling. And Aguascalientes is twelve hours away from Culiacan.

The whole family picked me up at the bus station Saturday morning bright and early. We were all excited to see each other and I marveled at how much the kids had grown since I last saw them. How can they possibly have grown so big? Juan Carlos is 14, Jose Agustin is 11, Angel is 9 and Christien is 4.

We drove out to La Limita Restaurante for breakfast. The food was wonderful and we had a fabulous time visiting and catching up. And of course this abuelita was overwhelmed by all her nietos vying for her attention. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

After breakfast we went to the mall for a while. After a short break at home we were off to a park to watch Juan play basketball. We came home for dinner and this was followed by a most interesting game of Super Mario Monopoly (in Spanish). Most unusual rules in this game and I’m not quite sure that I even now understand them.

On Sunday we went to the mass at church and one of my grandsons did a reading. We came home for lunch and then we were off to another basketball game. This was held at Universidad Autonoma De Sinaloa and was an all-star game. This was the most exciting basketball game I’ve ever seen in my life and the tie-breaker came with a sensational shot with a mere three seconds left in the game.

After the game we came home for a very late dinner. Then the boys were off to bed early as they leave for school at 6:30 am. Classes start at 7. This abuelita was still asleep and didn’t hear them leave the next morning.

We did spend time together when they came home from school. After dinner Juan took me back to the bus station on his way to another basketball game. Somehow it was Monday night and I was heading back to Aguascalientes.

Lucila is pregnant and I’m expecting grandson number five in January. I predict another whirlwind weekend in Culiacan in a couple of months.

Nov21

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the reasons I live where I do here in Mexico is because I want to totally immerse myself in the Mexican lifestyle rather than in the gringo visiting Mexico lifestyle. In my neighborhood very little English is spoken so I have the opportunity to really focus on speaking Spanish. I don’t care what language you speak but it is customary to speak faster in your own native language. I often find myself saying to Mexicans the expression “mas despacio, por favor.”

I also practice speaking Spanish to my Uber drivers. But today I had a very different experience. My Uber driver was Mexican and spoke fluent English. Why? Because he lived in Seattle for sixteen years. Not often that I find a Washingtonian around here. He told me he used to go to Leavenworth and Wenatchee often. He misses Seattle but came back here to Aguascalientes to care for his parents during Covid. He hopes to someday return to Seattle.

I am helping a cafe owner with English. He is a musician and teaches here in Aguascalientes. However he also played with a group on a cruise ship for two months. He has once again been offered a job on another cruise ship so he really wants to practice his English. His wife speaks very little English and I will be doing inter-cambio with her. I really look forward to that because we will both have the opportunity to practice talking with native speakers.

Thursday is American Thanksgiving. I have fond memories of spending this holiday in Mazatlan and in Guadalajara with friends. This year I will be eating at Country Break with my Mexican friends. Hamburgers are on the menu rather than turkey. And that’s okay. I was talking to one of my Wenatchee friends on the phone and we decided we’re going to do a turkey dinner when I get back in the spring.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. When we look around at all the chaos in the world today, we need to count our blessings for all that we have. And we definitely have a lot to be thankful for. Actually, every single day of our lives should be a day of Thanksgiving. And if you are celebrating the holiday with family, you are even more blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov17

Revolution Day

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Revolution Day

I doubt that I’ll be alive thirty years from now but it sure would be interesting to read all the history books at that time. I always found American history far more interesting than Canadian history. And now that I spend so much time here in Mexico, I have become more familiar with this country’s history.

November 20th is an official government holiday and is known as Dia de la Revolucion or Revolution Day. It commemorates the beginning of the Mexican Revolution back in 1910.

Diaz was an army general who served as president from 1876-1911. That’s a thirty-five year term. It’s not surprising that Mexicans felt that they needed a change. Madero, a wealthy landowner, ran against Diaz in the 1910 presidential election. However Diaz jailed Madero.

Madero escaped from jail and on October 6, 1910 he issued the Plan of San Luis Potosi, declaring the results of the 1910 election fraudulent and nullified them. He declared himself the provisional president and encouraged Mexicans to rise up against Diaz on November 20, 1910.

One of the results from the Mexican Revolution was that many Mexicans came up north to live in the United States as legal immigrants. Over one million Mexicans, some undocumented, made their way across the border. It wasn’t until four years later that a border patrol was created.

In 1917, a new constitution put limits on the number of terms politicians could serve. It also introduced new labor laws that included abolishing child labor.

Yes, Mexico has its own colorful history.

Nov9

Reborujado

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Reborujado

This morning I took an Uber over to the Barrio de Salud where my friend Gloria lives. I first met Gloria three years ago. She is Mexican and had a small cafe where she sold Argentinian empanadas and it was only a 15 minute walk from where I lived. Last year she lived in Tulum and I never did get around to visiting her there. But Gloria is back in Aguascalientes and recently opened a small cafe called Reborujado.

First off, Gloria has an amazing professional coffee machine and makes lattes, cappuccinos and the best black coffee in Aguascalientes. For breakfast we feasted on tzatziki… a toasted bolillo with avocado and smothered in the best tzatziki I’ve eaten anywhere.

Gloria makes homemade pasta which I can hardly wait to try another time. Items such as molletes, avocado toast, empanadas, paninis, tortas as well as a variety of teas and smoothies are also available. I adore her empanadas and took some home with me to enjoy later.

If you live in Aguascalientes or are visiting here, I highly recommend that you visit Gloria at Reborujado. The address is La Luna 224 in Barrio de Salud. My feature photo is my friend Gloria and her daughter Romina.

Nov5

Read Listen Watch

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Read Listen Watch

It’s been an interesting week. The war is raging on in the Middle East and there’s lots of coverage in American politics, especially when it comes to Trump. Needless to say I’ve been reading, viewing videos and listening to podcasts.

Yesterday I took a break from all this and went on to YouTube to get my mind off all the craziness in our world. I found a delightful movie that brought back treasured childhood memories.

The movie was Heidi. It was the original film produced in 1937. It was also in black and white and starred Shirley Temple.

For a magical 90 minutes I was transported back in time. Back when children were children. When a snow globe was more fascinating than a videogame. When girls treasured porcelain dolls instead of hyped Barbies.

I admit that I do prefer jeans to dresses but I do remember a time when my mom and I would go downtown on a Saturday and dresses were obligatory. And I remember wearing dresses to school. But Heidi looked so adorable in all those cute little dresses!

It was heartwarming to see the relationship Heidi had with her grandfather and how he was completely transformed by her mere presence. I would have loved to have attended that church with them too.

And now back to reality. Adriana and I went out for a delicious lunch today. And yes it was birria. But I think I need a long walk now followed by some time with Duolingo.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Nov3

Day of the Dead 2023

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Day of the Dead 2023

Today Facebook reminded me that on this date in 2008 I taught my first deep water aquafit class. I’d been teaching shallow water for a while but the workout is very different. Fifteen years ago I’d never even heard of Day of the Dead. But it has become one of my favorite celebrations in Mexico.

Throughout the years I’ve gone to cemeteries in different cities and built alters with students. I’ve eaten pan de muerto and seen many parades. I’ve taken hundreds of photos and videos and have incredible memories of spending time with people from all around the world, not only local Mexicans.

Last night I decided to attend the parade here in Aguascalientes for the first time. I braved the crowds of thousands and secured a perfect viewing spot on Madero near the Plaza in Centro. I’ve been to parades in Mazatlan, Culiacan, Rosarito, Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara and Zapotlanejo. This is the first time I saw people climbing trees or sitting on awnings and rooftops, adults and children alike. There’s nothing like watching a parade up close rather than on TV.

The obligatory police escorts and marchers signaled the beginning of the parade. I admit it was a little daunting at first watching tanks roll by. But they were tanks with friendly faces very different from the ones I’ve seen on newscasts from the Middle East. There were also an amazing number of police doing crowd control.

The floats were awesome! Colorful catrinas and catrins were the highlights. Musicians and dancers entertained the crowds. The costumes were sensational. Children and adults alike vied to catch the treats being thrown out to onlookers.

I’m a people watcher and saw many a face-painted person on the streets that night. The costumes were also interesting and worn by adults as well as children. Hawkers walked by selling all kinds of treats. I have to tell you, the amount of sugar being consumed around me was staggering.

After the parade, spectacular fireworks lit up the sky, a perfect ending to this Mexican celebration.