Recruedos de San Miguel

Michoacán

This past week we were invited to share a trip to Michoacán with our friend and landlady, Maria Luisa, and her daughter, Monika, and grandson, Gonzalo.  What a fun adventure.  It was so much exploring a new part of Mexico while getting to know them better.

Morelia is the capital of the State of Michoacán.  It is a lovely colonial city, once known as Valladolid, it was renamed in honor of the Mexican Independence leader, Jose Morelos. The city is centered around the magnificent baroque cathedral and adjacent park. A treasure for residents and visitors alike. In the spring time, the old Jacaranda trees add vibrant color as well as shade. Ice cream vendors and bucksters mingle with the crowds.

Another of the city's treasures is the Museum of Michoacán History, where we spent a delightful couple of hours learning about Michoacán and its people, not always a happy story.

On another day we visited the small city of Uruapan, famous for its National Park and the Artesanal Fair that takes place during Semana Santa.

The national park in Uruapan features a lot of water features, making for a tranquil atmosphere and a pleasant visit.

A great way to see Morelia is on the Turi-bus; on our tour, there were not many more than 10 of us--and we were the only ones from the US.  In fact, we saw very few other gringos in Michoacán.

This photo was taken from our terrace on the Friday night before Easter--a full moon and a cloudy sky.

These two photos show some scenes from one of the processions during Semana Santa, Holy Week.

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