A Quick Update

We (at least I) are enjoying the quiet in the house. No guests for two weeks!! The next round will start at the end of June when Bill and Mary from Atlanta will come for a couple of days. I am really looking forward to seeing them, and hope they don’t change their minds. They will drop by to see us before working at a community development volunteer project in Michoacan. Maybe they should join the Peace Corps, I can put in a good word to Byron.

It has been HOT. Since a week or two before the Famille Française came, it has been in the low 30s celsius, 90s in fahrenheit, and we keep hoping the rainy season will start. Last night, we had a really good storm and the lights went out, so maybe we are finally going to change to the other season. But with low humidity, it is always bearable in the shade, and the nights get into the 10s celsius, 60s fahrenheit.

During a break in the storm we walked down 5 de Mayo 2 or 3 blocks to the Galeria D’rte for a vernisage, I don’t know the word for the introduction of a new musical CD, and the galeria is for paintings anyway, by Carlos Sanchez of a new CD of popular music. Carlos is really a great baritone with an incredible voice and well known in Mexico and especially Querétaro. His previous CDs were opera and bel canto. We ran into Niels and Grace, and Ramon (Elvira was visiting near Acambaro or something). We also ran into Renatta who owns the really neat furniture and artesanias store next door to the galeria. Chris, her husband, was home taking care of the baby. I finally got to see their new house a week or so ago. They are fixing up an old house in the historic district, and the living, dining, kitchen will be a spectacular place to have parties.

I was very impressed with all the politicians who attended the vernisage, former mayors and governors, only one of whom had we met, a former governor, at Sol’s house in Jurica at another of her daughter’s rights of passage celebrations. Renatta was NOT impressed by the politicians, however.

Niels ended up talking to an ex-violinist in the Querétaro symphony whose wife is first cellist. So I finally got to meet this guy who is head of a very good quartet made up entirely of Russian ex-patriots. Turns out he is now working in Morelia and only comes home on weekends, which answered my question about why we no longer see him in the Querétaro symphony. Niels wanted to speak Russian with him, of course; and then he wanted to speak Russian to me. We cut off his wine at that point! ;-)

When the rain stopped again, we walked home. Wow, Querétaro is great.

My brother Bill is having his 50th today, May 10. My brother-in-law, Jacques, in France is having his birthday today too. He is a little more than 50, but with a recent triple bypass, he is feeling younger.

Michel (Miguel to all the Mexicans) decided his house in Provence was a little plain after visiting us, and has now bought flowers in pots for his terrace. Nice to be an inspiration.

Watercolors are coming along. I have posted some new ones with a somewhat looser style, hope my art teacher, Jorge, likes them.

Pierre and Sophie who, with Antoine, were our last visitors, have decided to buy a house in Querétaro in the historic district, and more specifically on Sangremal hill, the only hill in the district and where we live. Laura A. has been helping me by calling people with houses for sale with her real Mexican accent to make sure we get a non-gringo price. We saw a really nice one about a block from our house that is ready to move in to, but Pierre and Sophie will probably want to make some changes eventually. I can hear the groans about a new house saga, but I hope they go for it.

And life goes on in Querétaro. If you want to know what C is up to, send her an e-mail and ask her to start her own blog.

Happy Mother’s Day.