A quiet day today but once again we had surprising meetings with people we either knew or had connections to.
We started in our den with the fireplace and coffee and then walked down to town. Taking a new way down, we went past a magnificent house and stopped to admire it. The owner, Roger, came out and we later learned he is the husband of Rosanna who we've met many times at La Organica restaurant, one of our favorite eating spots. (Gabriella is his young daughter whose photograph appears on one of my earlier blogs.) There is a website at www.casaangelitos.com.
Roger was on his way out but invited us to roam around and see the house interior. Casa Angelitos is a bed and breakfast and is another lovely home, full of amazing artifact: whimsical and magical. We met Lulu there from Zomorra, and Edward eating his breakfast on one of the many terraces. This has to be one of the friendliest places on the earth!
We left the house and then bumped into Tony from Montreal who helped us find a camera shop yesterday, so I had to take a photo of him too!
Stopping at Johfrej, a Mexican chocolate shop, we bought very yummy chocolates.
Finally, back in Atascadero, we went to the buffet at El Pueblecito, a boutique hotel near our new villa. More friendly people, especially Antonio our waiter, and then Anita from Leamington Spa selling her lovely jewelry and silk coats. So lovely to meet a fellow Brit at any time, but Anita is very special and her wares are beautiful. She makes the jewelry and the silk coats are made in Shanghai, unique and special. The photos do not do the jewelry justice. Alexa had purchased one of the coats and she appears in it in an earlier blog.
The fun never ends here and I am beginning to feel like I belong here! Oh no!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Batch 8 Descriptions
More scenes around SMA - a picture everywhere you turn! Pretty girl at the bazaar at the library.
Mike and Gil waiting for the girls. Aurelie and Alexa together, wonderful sisters and a joy to be with.
La Parroquia is the most prominent landmark in town. It looms over the Jardin, the center and heart of San Migel and can be seen from miles away. The name denotes a parish church and its construction was started in 1683. However, the facade was installed in 1880 by a local stone mason and builder, Ceferino Gutierrez, who reportedly took his inspiration from postcard images of European churches. Pink and tan-colored stone was used and the light can change the color from light tan to rosy pink. It is a beautiful sight at night when lit on special occasions which seems to be on most days!
The church (St. Michael the Archangel) contains murals and a crypt in the basement where former President Bustamante is buried.
Friday, February 24, we dined at Hecho en Mexico with Peter and Marissa where we'd hoped to enjoy local musicians, but unfortunately they suffered a very bad accident and were unable to perform. Luckily, they are not seriously hurt. We'll hope to enjoy their music at a later date.
Saturday, February 25, was moving day for Aurelie and Ron and they were helped by Nikolasa and her son Guillermo. Nikolasa was our lovely maid at the former casita and we miss her very much.
We are also going to miss Alexa and Gil who returned to California today. They have been such fun to be with and greatly added to our enjoyment. We hope to see them again soon.
Mike and Gil waiting for the girls. Aurelie and Alexa together, wonderful sisters and a joy to be with.
La Parroquia is the most prominent landmark in town. It looms over the Jardin, the center and heart of San Migel and can be seen from miles away. The name denotes a parish church and its construction was started in 1683. However, the facade was installed in 1880 by a local stone mason and builder, Ceferino Gutierrez, who reportedly took his inspiration from postcard images of European churches. Pink and tan-colored stone was used and the light can change the color from light tan to rosy pink. It is a beautiful sight at night when lit on special occasions which seems to be on most days!
The church (St. Michael the Archangel) contains murals and a crypt in the basement where former President Bustamante is buried.
Friday, February 24, we dined at Hecho en Mexico with Peter and Marissa where we'd hoped to enjoy local musicians, but unfortunately they suffered a very bad accident and were unable to perform. Luckily, they are not seriously hurt. We'll hope to enjoy their music at a later date.
Saturday, February 25, was moving day for Aurelie and Ron and they were helped by Nikolasa and her son Guillermo. Nikolasa was our lovely maid at the former casita and we miss her very much.
We are also going to miss Alexa and Gil who returned to California today. They have been such fun to be with and greatly added to our enjoyment. We hope to see them again soon.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Batch 7 Descriptions
Settled in our Roman Villa at Agua 8, Atascadero, we had a toga party but only one person turned up appropriately dressed. Gil looked magnificently romanesque in his sheet and graciously posed for me.
After dinner we played CLAG, introducing Alexa and Gil to the game. Ron continued his losing streak and it showed! We broke off to eat some of the delicious pastries from La Cumpanio on Correo.
The next day we were off to the hot springs, stopping first at Atotonilco (Indian word for place of hot waters) just North of San Miguel on the road to Dolores Hidalgo. "This is a very important religious and historical site in Mexico. The Church was built in the mid-eighteenth century by Father Alfaro and was dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth. Inside one will see the many poems and frescos painted on the walls and ceilings of the shrine and its chapels. In 1810, it was the site where Father Hildago stopped during his march to San Miguel to pick up the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, the place where Ignacio Allende was married. Atotonilco attracts thousands of pilgrims annually. It was listed as a World Heritage site by the United Nations." This quotation is an extract from The Insider's Guide to San Miguel, by Riccado Alessandro Simeone, which we are finding extremely useful.
The Church is huge for such a small place and is well worth a visit.
From there, we walked to the hot springs, Escondido Place Balneario. I have photographed the grounds (lovely pond with water lilies) and a view of the swimming pool which we swam in after our time in the three hot pools of varying temperature. These are enclosed and concreted throughout, connected by steps. Water gushes down on the bathers from above. There are changing cubicles available with lockers, and showers.
It was a very refreshing and wonderfully relaxing diversion from our schedule. Once again, we bumped into Tim and Diana from the San Juans (you constantly meet fellow tourists wherever you go). We were now famished and walked to La Burger, an outside restaurant ruled by the chef working the grill where he produced great hamburgers, veggie burgers and steak. The young men who served us were a delight and very cheeky. (You may see a few very large photos at this point - I have no idea how this happened!)
After dinner we played CLAG, introducing Alexa and Gil to the game. Ron continued his losing streak and it showed! We broke off to eat some of the delicious pastries from La Cumpanio on Correo.
The next day we were off to the hot springs, stopping first at Atotonilco (Indian word for place of hot waters) just North of San Miguel on the road to Dolores Hidalgo. "This is a very important religious and historical site in Mexico. The Church was built in the mid-eighteenth century by Father Alfaro and was dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth. Inside one will see the many poems and frescos painted on the walls and ceilings of the shrine and its chapels. In 1810, it was the site where Father Hildago stopped during his march to San Miguel to pick up the Standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, the place where Ignacio Allende was married. Atotonilco attracts thousands of pilgrims annually. It was listed as a World Heritage site by the United Nations." This quotation is an extract from The Insider's Guide to San Miguel, by Riccado Alessandro Simeone, which we are finding extremely useful.
The Church is huge for such a small place and is well worth a visit.
From there, we walked to the hot springs, Escondido Place Balneario. I have photographed the grounds (lovely pond with water lilies) and a view of the swimming pool which we swam in after our time in the three hot pools of varying temperature. These are enclosed and concreted throughout, connected by steps. Water gushes down on the bathers from above. There are changing cubicles available with lockers, and showers.
It was a very refreshing and wonderfully relaxing diversion from our schedule. Once again, we bumped into Tim and Diana from the San Juans (you constantly meet fellow tourists wherever you go). We were now famished and walked to La Burger, an outside restaurant ruled by the chef working the grill where he produced great hamburgers, veggie burgers and steak. The young men who served us were a delight and very cheeky. (You may see a few very large photos at this point - I have no idea how this happened!)
Friday, February 24, 2012
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