OUR FIRST MEXICAN SUMMER

 OUR FIRST MEXICAN SUMMER:

Retired so no more excuses... It is Time to Quilt..... 

 I am bound and determined to finish several quilting projects I brought with me.   My friends Syd and Debra are master quilters and after visiting with them and their husbands (Carl, whose paintings grace our walls and Frank who operates the top notch Flamingo motel in Castlegar) during our trip to BC,  I am excited about unpacking my quilting projects.  My palapa is the Mexican version of the gazebo Debra and the gals in Castlegar often sew in. 

Now that I have publicly declared my intent I expect you all to hold me too it!!!!.  Progress reports will be forthcoming...but of course, not while the weather is beautiful and the pool beckons.  

In the meantime,  you may have heard that Michael Phelps has decided to retire after these Olympics.. We suspect it has to do with Gord having learned to swim this summer.   Here he is in the deep end just about to start his butterfly stroke!

Papadzoles:

While los niños nadan ( the children swim) with their padre/abuelo
(dad/grandpa) Paulino looking on, Minerva taught me to make Papadzoles... 

Can you see the pelota?? ( ball)

MMM so good and on the list of foods to serve our friends and family when you come to visit.  


Common Sites on the Beach

Sunset watching... Lots of cameras every night!!!

Fishing with a line on a reel; baited with a hook and bait ....NO FISHING ROD because, as our neighbour tells us, you must experience feeling the tug of the fish.  Even when fishing from the boats, they seldom use fishing rods.

Vendors selling sweets, sandwiches and cotton candy walk up and down the beach... calling out   Merangue!!!!  The candy man has a triangle to signal his approach. 

Sharing our wonderful Pool. 

 Harold, the boy we sponsor to go to school, with his brother, Fabrizio,  and sister, Hanitzia.

First time playing Scrabble. The children made the words, abuela ( grandmother) helped, and I learned more Spanish!

Our contractor and his family have become good friends... This is the same family who introduced us to the beisbol games we enjoy... so now we can return the favour by inviting the children and their parents for a day in the pool...

All of the children we have come to know are happy, easy going and very pleasant to spend time with.  They are polite and have mucho paciencia ( much patience) with us as they speak only Spanish, speaking slowly and using hand signals to convey their message.  Then when we respond they help us with the pronunciación.

             
 Barco Pirata y el capitán Jack Sparrow

 A 3 hr. sunset cruise out to the ocean....for sure on the list of things to do with friends and family.   We made the ships facebook page!. ( click on the address below)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.318978751531433.66447.100002579328070&type=3 

Chuburna Fiesta : Vaqueria ( pronounced -Backayrea) is a celebration of a time in the past when landowners would organize fiestas to thank their hired hands after the branding of the cattle. The dances, and music are called jaranas. This music is a marvelous combination of Spanish folklore with Mayan music. The music was played by a local band with the clarinet and saxophone as prominent instruments.

Grandè Margaritas....a necessity while sitting along the street waiting for the dancing to begin!

 In the state of Yucatán the "terno" is the name of the female's three-piece vestment. It consists of three embroidered satin pieces: a tunic called "hipil" in Mayan; the embroidered collar called "jubçn"; and the skirt, called "fustán". 

 The local mestiza women wear a rebozo ( thin shawl), use a coral rosary as a necklace and a giant bow on their heads called "cinta colorada".

 The men wear the Caribbean guayabera, a name given to this shirt because of its four pockets big enough to fit several guava fruit in each.

Believe it or not this fiesta started at 11:30 p.m.... dancers came from many of  the pueblos and as you can see, even the children are involved.
Late evening fiestas in the fishing villages are not uncommon and given the fact that, in the past, they would start after the farm work was done, it is easily understood.

An Evening Swim Before Bed.

Buenos Noches amigas....  

Dorothy and Gord