Charros del Sanctuario

Today we had quite an adventure. Eric had a contact from a previous visit to San Miguel (where we have been the last week) and was able to find a real Mexican ranch we could go visit. We had some less than stellar directions and we procured a taxi truck (yes, that says truck). We squeezed nine people into a the taxi and set out. To make a long story short we didn't know where we were going, we got lost, tried to make phone calls and could find no one with a phone to lend us. We ended up nearly 30 KM away near a town called Delores Hidalgo. We finally by luck or chance found the correct turn on our way back to San Miguel. Beto, a very friendly good-natured taxi driver allowed us to uncramp ourselves (we were sitting on top of one another for over and hour) and ride on the back of the truck on the gravel road. It was well worth the journey as we were greeted by Mexican and American transplant Charros (rodeo cowboys) ranging in age from about 14 to 50-ish. The ranch was owned by a Charro named Pancho whose American wife runs a Louisiana Cajun restaurant on the same property. We were able to enjoy some very tasty gumbo, fried chicken and Coke while watching the Charros practice. Cedar was in heaven. Jenni got to ride one of the older horses and Cedar got on with her. He loved it and had to be convinced to finally get off. Eric and Dave and Chris got some fantastic pictures of the Charros and a little 7-year-old Mexican cowboy that I would love to have taken home. So cute. Beto was kind of enough to agree to pick us up about 2 1/2 hours later which was really fortunate as I have no idea how we would have gotten back otherwise. Cedar spent dinner running around the table riding a pretend horse. He said it was his favorite experience in Mexico. I guess that makes up for missing the Pro-Rodeo in Montana this summer!

My life as a Ninja referee and Barmaid

So we had the big opening party for the workshop last night. What an experience. It was truly amazing to see roughly 140 students and 20 instructors come together and get to know each other. We have met some truly amazing people. I was so proud of Eric and happy that he could see all the hard work come to fruition. It was a little crazy with all those people in a small technical college about 1/4 the size or less than Walden. Cedar spent like a full two hours with his little friend Gabi dressing up in the scarves we were selling pretending to be everything from Ninjas to police officers to doctors. Little boys are truly the same everywhere. Gabi speaks Portugese, Spanish and a little English. I'm not sure he understands much Cedar says but most of their communication is non-verbal. They had a fabulous time. They also managed to sell quite a few scarves. Gabi tried to get the priced raised to 100 dollars. He is quite the peddler. I answered questions, maintained Eric
sanity and refereed the ninjas. We have a lot of great "staff" helping us which has taken a lot of pressure off of me. Eric has a little entourage. I spent the latter half of the evening picking up beer bottles. Let me just say that I hate alcohol. I picked up like 400 bottles. All of which stank and I don't understand why people can't finish a bottle. I guess they get tipsy and can't remember which is theirs. My favorite was the cigarette butts in the bottom of the bottle. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Cedar decided to make a bottle cap collection (we had soda bottles too) and so he carried around a beanie full of stinky bottlecaps all evening. I made him wash them as soon we got back to the hotel. I'm a terrible bar-maid I think. Well, cedar wants to play games. I will write more later

More from Mexico

Well we have enjoyed the last couple of days in Mexico. Things are picking up business wise for the workshop and we have met some really cool people. Today we had a little playdate with a photographer, Adrianna and her five-year-old son, Gabriel. We went to the Papolota or Children's Museum. The kids had a great time. They even had a mini interactive Wal-Mart (shameless marketing) that only the kids could go into. I don't think cedar understood everything but he enjoyed it none-the less. We had a great dinner here at the hotel with some of the staff and students of the workshop. Yesterday we enjoyed the Anthropology Museum. TOmorrow I think we will go to a market and stay around here as Eric has a lot to do with all of the instructors flying in. It is great to see all of his hard work in action. He is amazing. I'm so cheesy. Cedar went to sleep before 12am for the first time in severall nights (his schedule is really messed up) and that was very good. Eric is downstairs talking to two photogs (yikes I'm using the ling0) who are really nice and are little older than most of the students and a little more stable. They don't think it's weird that we are married (!). I had a Cuban tamale for lunch that was very interesting. IT tasted a little like corn and cream of chicken soup but not bad. I can hear a police or taxi radio outside. That is somewhat constant. Our hotel is across the street from the British Embassy, two blocks from the US Embassy and 2 blocks from the international consulate building. There seem to be a lot of really important people everywhere. It's kind of fun and feels very safe. The US Embassy is a like a fortress with barracades etc. Last night we ate Japanese Food (well, not me) at a restaurant near the Japanese Embassy. I feel so regal:)

Mexico!

Well we made it safely here on Tuesday night. THe flights were fairly painless. Cedar was pretty good all-in-all and we were greeted at the airport by a private car and driver eric hired for the workshop. Such luxuries I am un-accustomed to! Yesterday we went to the zoo at Chapultepec Park (like Central Park in NYC). Cedar loved it and we were pretty impressed too. It was nicer than Hogle Zoo in many ways and it was gratis (free). Then we rode the metro (a very warm experience) to the Historic Center of the city. We had some snacks went to a shop or two and then went to our favorite Mexico City restaurant, Cafe Popular and I enjoyed some tamales oaxacano (tamales cooked with mole sauce in banana leaves) Yummy. Today Eric is out photographing the Mexico City police. Cedar and I hooked up with our new taxi man, Carlos (a very kind, safe radio taxi driver) and went to the anthropology museum. Cedar loved the lifesize models of indigenous homes and ceremonies. He also loved the pond in the courtyard with frogs, coi and tons of turtles. Well, the child is anxious. Gotta go.

Getting Ready

Okay, so as Becca pointed out it has been a while since my last post. About 2 weeks or more to be not so exact. What a crazy couple of weeks it has been. Eric employed me to create name tags, schedules, gift bags, etc. for Foundry Photojournalism Workshop and then I have my job and Cedar and the list goes on and on. I have reached the point where the list of things to do before we leave for Mexico on Tuesday far exceeds the number of hours left before departure. Some things will go undone. I don't deal well with that reality. I am excited though. Eric will be tied up so Cedar and I will have lots of fun in Mexico City exploring. We will even have a car and driver for a while of it (we are really moving up in the world). We plan to go to Chapultepec Park--where there is a children's museum, zoo, anthropology museum, modern art museum and much more. We have been there before but there is so much to see it could take a couple of days. We also plan to go back to Teotihucan (No idea how to spell that) to see the pyramids. I'm sure there will be a great deal of shopping and treat buying as well:) Then it's off to San Miguel de Allende one of my favorite places in the world. I plan to spend a lot of time in the central square and at the botanical garden and doing quickbooks of course (we don't ever really go on "vacations")! Ahhhhh, it will be amazing.