San Miguel de Allende, Once Again

We have been in San Miguel de Allende for the last couple of months, arriving on February 1st. Several years ago we stumbled upon a nice little apartment in the heart of the city, for a very reasonable price.  

Jardin (main square) & Parroquia 

The landlady, a charming Mexican woman, Maria Louisa, for some reason seems to like us and has sais that she will only rent to us--that makes coming back to San Miguel so very easy. 

View of our street, Mesones, at sunset

View from our balcony of the nearby San Francisco Church

What can possibly keep one coming back to the same place, year after year  Besides a nice climate, a moderate cost of living, and the lovely Mexican people and culture, there is just so much to see and do.

This time of year, there are a lot of long term visitors from Canada and the US.  Films, plays, and music events are constantly being offered at local restaurants, theaters and the Biblioteca (a library founded more than 50 years ago by expats to provide community for extranjeros and scholarships for local youth). 

The Biblioteca puts out a weekly bi-lingual newspaper called "La Atención" which lists many acitivities going on around town. We spend Fridays, when the paper is published, going thru the calendar of events planning our week ahead.  Often there are conflicting things to do and see, so we have to make a choice.

Larry continues with his daily, one hour Spanish conversation class and has since last year taken up Duplicate Bridge--Sue calls it obsession.

Sue goes to Urban Sketchers, a group that meets at various places throughout the city once a week to draw and encourage others to draw and recently she took a watercolor class that she really enjoyed. The photo below shows her first watercolor done in the class.

We have made friends with people who have chosen to live here full time and with a number of people who come back every year like us. 

One group we have enjoyed getting involved with is the Audubon de Mexico which offers weekly and monthly bird walks that sometimes takes us to the near countryside. The pictures below are from a bird walk along the Laja River, not far from the city.

As Easter approaches, there are many processions in San Miguel, especially on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.  Many, many people participate, some in costume and several groups carrying huge pallets covered in gorgeous flowers beneath statues of the Holy Family.

Fall Follies

Is it Thanksgiving Already?

Time seems to race by so quickly.  We wanted to post these pictures and commentary about what we have been doing these last couple of months--before Christmas is upon us.

Evelyn (l) and Abby (r) Kavinski

Susie's Promotion

After our Greek sailing adventure in August, we stopped in the DC area for a few weeks to see and visit with family and friends.

One of our most important visits was with our niece, Susie Lewis Kavinski and her family.

Susie receiving her promotion

We are so proud of Susie--she has made a wonderful career with the US Navy, as part of the Navy Band's Sea Chanters, a group of incredibly talented and professional singers. And we, of course, think she is the Best!

Recently Susie was promoted to Chief Petty Officer, a great honor and one that she has earned and well deserves, after more than a decade with the Band.

Susie and Jerry Kavinski

Before being promoted, Susie and some other "new chiefs" had to go through an incredibly strenuous six weeks of training, which included a lot of physical challenges and leadership training, but the most stressful part was being away from her family even more than usual.

The Kavinski Family

When she and her husband, Jerry, a hard working and talented musician in his own right, asked us to visit and help out with their two beautiful girls, Abby and Evelyn, we were happy to say yes.

It was a rough time for everyone, but Congratulations to Susie & her family! We were so honored to be a part of  this milestone in their lives.

Maryland Eastern Shore

The Bishop Family

Also while we were in the area, we visited with Sue's Brother and Sister-in-Law, John and Bonnie Roschy, on their farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

During that time they hosted a Bishop (Bonnie's Mother's Family) reunion--the first in more than 30 years.  It was fun to see Bonnie's extended family, some of whom we had never met. The crab feast in the back yard was an added delight.

Back in Denver (Finally)

Getting back to Denver at the beginning of October, Bryn helped us celebrate Sue's birthday at one of our favorite local restaurants, the Vesta Dipping Grill.

It was a gourmet treat and lots of fun being out on the town with Bryn.

More Adventures with Charlie

Kindergarten

First Day Ready

While we were away, we missed Charlie's first day in Kindergarten.  He's in the same school where he attended Pre-K last year, so for him and us, it didn't seem like a "Big Deal." Still, we are astounded that he is now a kindergartener.

Rocky Mountain Adventure

Opa and Charlie getting ready to ride

During the first week in October, we kidnapped Charlie for a Rocky Mountain adventure.

Our first stop was the Georgetown, CO Narrow Gage Railroad, a restored 19th century narrow gage railroad that once hauled silver out of the mountains to Denver and the world beyond.







It was a beautiful Fall day; the short ride is great fun, and as an extra added treat the "Naked Lady" butterflies were migrating.

They were everywhere and one of our fellow train passengers showed us how to attract them so that they would rest on your hand.

Fall in the Rocky Mountains on the Georgetown Train

Charlie holding a toy and a "Naked Lady" butterfly

Charlie and Oma havin' fun on the train

Our next stop was Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, where we stayed the night in our favorite funky "mountain cabin retreat." While there we had the opportunity to do some hiking and "rock climbing."  This was right up Charlie's alley. Fortunately, Opa could keep up (if just barely.) Oma patiently waited for the explorers to return.

Mountain Man

Serious climging

Very serious climbing

Meeting back up with the non-climber

Charlie's love

Returning from Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, we often stop for lunch in the little town of Lyons at Oskar Blues Brewery Restaurant.  This time we had the great fortune to have Annie as our server.  Charlie and she immediately bonded! So much so that on the way home he created a ghost story for her that he dedicated to Annie.

Two weeks later we made a special trip to Lyons, just so he could deliver the story to her.  Their bond continues.

In and Around Denver

New glass tower near  us, The Hines Bldg.

We are really happy with our decision to settle in Denver.  Of course, the fact that Bryn and Charlie are here, is an important part of that.


But Denver has so much to offer.


And it is changing incredibly fast, right before our eyes.

A year and a half ago, they broke ground on what will be the tallest building in Denver--and it is one block from our condo, Brooks Tower.

Myrna and Sue returning from a late night film

We read in the papers and hear on the news that 10,000 people are coming to the Denver area every month. With all of the building and the awful traffic on the Interstates, we believe it.

There's always something to do--the theater, opera, or going out to eat with new friends.

The Cherry Creek Walking & Bike Trail

Along Cherry Creek Trail

Confluence Park, where Cherry Creek meets the Platte River

One of the dams at Confluence Park

One of  our favorite activities is walking and riding on the Cherry Creek Trail.

We have had some beautiful days this fall; this trail is just a block from our house and the B-Cycle Bike sharing docking station is across the street, so why wouldn't you want to hop on a bike?

Oma and Charlie, ready for the show

Last week, Oma and Opa took Charlie to a production of A Snowy Day and Other Stories.

A three person ensemble presented this staging of four of  Ezra Jack Keats's well-known and much loved stories.

Charlie really enjoyed his "first" real live play and wants to go back again.  Since we love the theater so much, we hope this will be the first of many trips to see live performances.

Charlie petting "Willie" in the lobby after seeing "Whistle for Willie" performed


That's our catch-up for the last few months.  We have a lot to be thankful for as we prepare for Thanksgiving, so we wish all who read this (and all who don"t !):

Happy Thanksgiving

Greek Trip, Part II

Larry wrote a blog account and posted some pictures, but I think we was in jet lag...hardly any pictures of Greece itself, so here is another take on the trip:

Adventure was the right term.  Our sailing ship was small and pretty difficult to maneuver, as the sea was very, very rough.  So much so, that our rudder snapped and our sail broke from the mast one day.  Our adroit Skipper got us under control and the Coast Guard followed us safely to a cove.  Rudder was repaired the next day and sail tied to the mast for repair later.  Ten days was a long time.  Most days we got soaked to the skin--it was kind of like being on a carnival ride; very exciting; definitely not smooth and romantic.

The Aegean Sea is a glorious azure blue; the islands are 90 % rock; the little villages are as quaint as you see in travel photos.  Bright, white buildings perched on the cliffs with blue window trim and blue doors; quaint churches here and there painted all white with bright blue domes.  At each port, we disembarked (often a little hazardous), and explored a village.  We walked up a flight of stairs and then wandered through a maze-like bunch of tiny streets.  As we walked, we caught sight of many lovely and picturesque views:  doorways, long views down the cliffs, rows of houses along the narrow streets.  I'll try to select some photos and attach them. Though I am not good at that, it's primarily what I want to do with this addendum.

We stayed in Athens two days before and after the sailing trip.  It is HUGE !  I had no idea.  Many of the streets were almost deserted, as we were told everyone leaves in August and goes to the islands; thus, most islands were very crowded and Athens nearly deserted.  The Acropolis, as Larry pictured, was like an ant hill.  Our favorite trips were to the Archaeological Museum and the Acropolis Museum itself.  Lots of antiquities and the latter is built in the image of the Parthenon containing as many of the original marble sculptures (or portions thereof) as they have recovered.  Fortunately very early on, I believe in the 1600's, an artist produced very exact renderings of how the sculptures looked, so they are able to display parts or all of a slab in the museum. (It was interesting to see how they got all the bird poop off each one--a very tedious undertaking and something you wouldn't really think about until you saw it.)

All in all, we had a wonderful time.  We traveled well with our friends Lois and Martin (who kept us laughing a lot with his silly puns.  Once on a bus he talked about the "Acrapolis" and a Greek lady got really offended, but she just doesn't know Martin; his puns are endless and he means no harm).  Our boat-mate Aussie ladies were very sweet and we learned a lot about Australia from them.  Our Skipper, Jose, whom we called alternately, "Skippa" (a la the ladies), Jefe (he is Spanish), or Maestro (as he tried to teach us something about sailing), because we felt Jose just didn't suit him.  Thank god he was very experienced and could handle an emergency or we all might be at the bottom of the sea.

After a couple days in Alexandria, VA (in Mart & Bob's house which they generously readied for us after their renters left and they themselves left for Chicago), we are beginning to feel human again.  It was a very difficult trip--took a lot of strength and we lost a lot of sleep.  It is something we always wanted to do and we now have some wonderful memories. 

Athens in the distance from the approach to the Acropolis

Archaeological Museum (note contemporary Apollo in the background doorway)

Beautiful ancient pottery

Typical resting spot 

Streetscape (typical of all islands)

View from the top (again, typical of all islands--we didn't keep track of specific  island scenes)

Lovely, eh ?

Another view of Athens

The gorgeous Aegean, at an untypical calm moment

Approaching a port, which we did daily

The churches were ubiquitous and quaint

Coast Guard Rescue

Ruins, not the Acropolis, but on one of the islands

Unfinished carving of Zeus, they think from the 5th Century BC

Pretty typical rocky beach

View of the Acropolis from the Acropolis Museum

A daily view; so lovely

Couldn't swear by it, but think this is Ios (note church on bottom left)

Close up of church with dome contrasting/blending with glorious blue sky (on Ios)

Statues recovered from the Temple to Athena on the Acropolis (in Acropolis Museum)