Wednesday, February 15, 2012

House and Garden Tour Descriptions, 2/14/12

The House and Garden Tour is conducted by volunteers of the Biblioteca Publica de San Miguel de Allende, and the homes are generously donated for the use of the library as a civic contribution.  The Biblioteca raises money in this way to help the local children.  Ex-pats in the town are frequently involved in this kind of aid work.  So many we have met come here, fall in love with the town and especially the people, and feel obligated to give back to help as much as they can.  They give of their time selflessly and very much enjoy doing it.

This was a special tour for Valentine's Day and the two houses we visited were both wonderful but so very different.  The first house was about 40 minutes' drive in the bus from SMA, a 20-acre ranch named for the 17th century chapel on the grounds.  (Photos of the interior showing wall drawings etc.).  The new ranch house was designed by a local designer in the old style, and the kitchen has polished cement in the Mexican fashion with only burners on the counter top.  The rooms were open to the elements in most cases.

Here we met two people from Bristol, UK (Mike's birthplace and where I grew up).  Elizabeth, who was born in Southmead Hospital as was Mike, but who was whisked away to Canada as a young child, and Roger, also from Bristol, who lived about three-quarters of a mile from Mike!  It's a small world.  Both Elizabeth and Roger volunteer regularly for the Biblioteca's tours. 

Then we were driven back to SMA to visit the house of Toller Cranston, Canadian figure skating champion and Olympic bronze medallist, not to mention an artist extraordinaire and collector of all things Mexican - pottery, furniture, clothes, toys, objet d'art whatever.  You name it, he's got it if it ever saw the light of day in Mexico.  Color abounds.  It is a riot for the eyes.  His fantastical paintings are everywhere and his studio is a sight for an artist's sore eyes.  Light, light and more light.  Plus telephone numbers jotted down on the walls!  Imagine, over 20 years of love, attention and money poured into a house by an artist consumed by color.  It is completely overwhelming and unique.  We will never forget it.

Mr. Cranston appears in a photograph wearing a pink shirt and orange sweater being besieged by adoring fans.  Besides Mike resting in a chair, I also photographed joyful Jill who was a delight and  the lovely lady in the red poncho, whose name I did not get.

What a day!

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