Behind Closed Doors

Patzcuaro's Hidden Treasures

This year we will be volunteering again with the Colonial Home Tour, to benefit the Hogar Tata Vasco (foster home/orphanage) and ninos de patzcuaro lunch program for children in need. If you are in the area, this is something not to be missed.

Here are a couple of pictures to wet your appetite. Please click on the pictures for a larger view, the small size does not do them justice!

Remember it's more than just the homes. It's also the courtyards, the gardens, the folkart collections that go back generations!

AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED!

Friday,October 31, 2008
Proceeds to benefit Casa Hogar Tata Vasco (foster home/orphanage) and ninos de patzcuaro lunch program for children in need.
Tour of 7 Colonial Mansions
Tours begin at10.30 a.m. departing every 15 mins.
last tour leaves at 12:00 p.m.
Departs from Museo de artes e Industrias Populares
Approximate time of tour is 1.5 hours
Cost $100 pesos per person.
¡ Don´t miss it! ¡See you there!

A Real Patzcuaro Cutie!

Yesterday was a busy day at Plaza Grande in Patzcuaro.
Artisan packed elbow to elbow under the big tents, tourists and cars milling through the streets. In amongst this controlled chaos we found a new friend.

I Need A Home!

Zipping through car traffic and feet we found a grubby, hungery little kitten. If left we were afraid how long it would be before one of the tires won a race with him. A little clean up and a quick trip to the vet for a clean bill of health, we bring him home. Well, we think it is a him, but it is a little early to tell. Currently he fits in the palm of my hand. The vet thinks he is about 4 weeks old.


With the 3 pets we have already, we really dont think we can handle another. Especially considering that pet #3 is a new rescue this month, that we are still trying to integrate into the household.

If you are in the Patzcuaro area and think that you could take this little kitten please let me know!

Wanna Play?

Déjà Vu All Over Again!

I love the quotes of Yogi Berra, and one of my favourites is..

"It's like déjà vu all over again"

and I think it is the perfect title for todays post.

Those of you who have been following the blog for some time will remember how we ended up with a cat by the name of Diego.

...Creeps in on little cat feet.

Smitten by the Kitten!

And how him and our bunny rabbit, Larry, have become best buds and playmates.

The Cat and Bunny Show

Well it seems we have a new addition to the family. Her name is Bindi and this is her story.

Bindi (because of the dot on her forehead)

It all started when I heard Tao, the boxer next door, barking in an uncharacteristic manner.
Upon investigation I saw he had a kitten frozen with fear in the garden. All Tao knew was someone who wasn't part of his family was in his yard, so he barked at it. He wouldn't hurt it, and had no idea what to do with it so he decided he should just bark louder.

Once I got the dog to settle down, the kitten took off like a shot! While all this is happening I am thinking back to the day before when I saw our new neighbour walking down the street saying "here kitty, kitty, kitty" Ahhh, says I, this must be the wayward cat, and I should try and grab it.

So after some hunting we have found the kitten up a tree. With a little help from our ladder the kitten is rescued. It seems like it is 2 or 3 months old. A quick chat with neighbours reveals that the missing cat from the day before was a full grown black cat that was found almost as quickly as it was lost.

It looks like we have a new kitten.

Stay tuned for the Cat and Bunny Show, Part II

We will see how they all fit together, but so far Larry the rabbit and Bindi get along great.
Bindi and Diego will take some time, I think the term "Hissy fit" would be an appropriate description for that meeting.

Tonight's plan has them both in the den with us while we watch a movie, I have my fingers crossed.

Peña de Bernal

A Big Rock

For todays adventure we are on the road to the village of Bernal.

Bernal's claim to fame is la Peña de Bernal. What's that? Well, it's a big rock. No, I'm serious, its a big rock, a REALLY big rock.

I have no idea why one would want to see something like that. Save a trip and just pick up a small rock and hold it really really close, then it looks likes a big rock. Never the less, we are on the road to see a big rock.
Perhaps you can guess that my expectation were not high. So it was with genuine surprise when we reached our destination and I found myself rather impressed with the rock and accompanying vista.

Clean streets, bright colours.

Shops and Tolley Car.

Lots of little shops. Stores with jewelry made from the opals that the state of Queretaro is famous for and many with rugs and other woven works. We popped into one called "La, Aurora"

They seem to like commas!

As you can see from their sign, they seems to like commas. That's okay, I like exclamation points!! After chatting some time with the proprietress, we were invited back to see the production facilities. All done by hand, even one old giant of a machine, that seemed like it was once attached to a motor, but was no longer used that way.

Motor? We don't need no stinking motor!

It was comida time for the production staff so there was not a great deal of activity in the back but it gave us a great chance to look around.

Light Dancing Upon The Looms

We ended up purchasing a black and white wall hanging. Ironically the scene it depicted seemed more like a scene in the Andes of South America rather than Mexico. It was like a weaving of an old black and white photo.

In Its New Home

Before we left, CJ insisted on posing in front of the peak. Then off for a bite to eat. We dined at Meson La Roca, quite tasty. I think it might be nice to come back and actually go up the rock. About half way up there is a chapel that many people make a pilgramage to. We have also heard tell that on the spring equinox new-agers (is that a word?) come, all dressed in white robes and cirlce the mountian. Hmmmm

Señor Cabeza Jícama