January 11 - end of week 1 in San Miguel
Never would either of us have believed that we could get so much out of just the first week of our Spanish lessons! Warren Hardy and his cadre of assistants are wonderful teachers. Warren understands the learning process and is pushing us just hard enough to keep our noses to the grindstone while being sure we enjoy it as well. It has already made a huge difference in our enjoyment of SMA.
And speaking of SMA, the more familiar we become with all the different neighborhoods and the variety of lifestyles in SMA, the more we enjoy being here. There are definitely two economies interacting and we experience each as we walk each day from our house to downtown (El Centro). One day we finally decided we were ready to try eating at one of the small establishments that line the outer perimeter of the Mercado. On the counter (at which we, and all other patrons, sat to eat) were 4 very large bowls containing: meat balls in red chili salsa, pork fat in a mixed red and green salsa, pork ribs in salsa verde, and another red salsa with beef. Platters of chili releno and other offerings were also available. Pat selected chili releno and was offered her choice of any of the four salsas as gravy. She opted for the salsa verde which more than lived up to up to her expectations. Pete went for pork ribs which he enjoyed — but only while longingly eyeing Pat's cheese stuffed poblano! The “comida” for two, with accompanying fried tortillas, salsa picante and two cokes cost less than $7.
On our day “off” we took a local bus to a neighboring town, Dolores Hildago. DH is known as the center for Mexican pottery, especially the famous Talavera. There is a street lined with factory stores and the prices, if you are in the market to buy, are truly amazing. For example, those beautiful hand painted sinks you might envy in the kitchen/bath stores are less than $7!! We purchased a ceramic Aztec mask for our backyard wall for less than $2. The cost of shipping would be multiples of the price of any thing you purchased, eliminating any advantage of buying quantities of it. DH is also known for its weird flavors of ice cream. The town centro jardin is ringed with vendors serving every imaginable flavor, from tequila, cactus, garlic, and chili, to exotic fruits and standards. Pat had Baso de Angel which was peach and date and who knows what – delicious! DH is the town where the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla delivered his famous speech calling for independence from Spain in 1810 on the steps of the parish church, before marching on to San Miguel to carry forward the message.
One morning last week, we left for class a few minutes later than usual and were treated to our neighborhood moving into action for the day. There was an elderly man leading his donkey up the street ladened with large metal urns of milk for sale. The water truck was yelling for attention (we only drink water from the 10 gallon dispenser in the kitchen) and the kids were out to collect your trash and take it to the truck for you – very enterprising! The children, all in uniforms, were being led down the street to school by their mothers. And the dogs were begging – as always!
And speaking of SMA, the more familiar we become with all the different neighborhoods and the variety of lifestyles in SMA, the more we enjoy being here. There are definitely two economies interacting and we experience each as we walk each day from our house to downtown (El Centro). One day we finally decided we were ready to try eating at one of the small establishments that line the outer perimeter of the Mercado. On the counter (at which we, and all other patrons, sat to eat) were 4 very large bowls containing: meat balls in red chili salsa, pork fat in a mixed red and green salsa, pork ribs in salsa verde, and another red salsa with beef. Platters of chili releno and other offerings were also available. Pat selected chili releno and was offered her choice of any of the four salsas as gravy. She opted for the salsa verde which more than lived up to up to her expectations. Pete went for pork ribs which he enjoyed — but only while longingly eyeing Pat's cheese stuffed poblano! The “comida” for two, with accompanying fried tortillas, salsa picante and two cokes cost less than $7.
On our day “off” we took a local bus to a neighboring town, Dolores Hildago. DH is known as the center for Mexican pottery, especially the famous Talavera. There is a street lined with factory stores and the prices, if you are in the market to buy, are truly amazing. For example, those beautiful hand painted sinks you might envy in the kitchen/bath stores are less than $7!! We purchased a ceramic Aztec mask for our backyard wall for less than $2. The cost of shipping would be multiples of the price of any thing you purchased, eliminating any advantage of buying quantities of it. DH is also known for its weird flavors of ice cream. The town centro jardin is ringed with vendors serving every imaginable flavor, from tequila, cactus, garlic, and chili, to exotic fruits and standards. Pat had Baso de Angel which was peach and date and who knows what – delicious! DH is the town where the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla delivered his famous speech calling for independence from Spain in 1810 on the steps of the parish church, before marching on to San Miguel to carry forward the message.
One morning last week, we left for class a few minutes later than usual and were treated to our neighborhood moving into action for the day. There was an elderly man leading his donkey up the street ladened with large metal urns of milk for sale. The water truck was yelling for attention (we only drink water from the 10 gallon dispenser in the kitchen) and the kids were out to collect your trash and take it to the truck for you – very enterprising! The children, all in uniforms, were being led down the street to school by their mothers. And the dogs were begging – as always!
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