Another wonderful week. The easiest thing to spend an entire day wandering the streets, watching the people, meeting friends.

Our Western Architecture is finished and I’m waitlisted for another series on the Aztecs. It’s a long walk from our house to the Instituto (mostly uphill) but time for coffees or lunch en route which my knees appreciate. These gardens are at the Instituto.

I’ve been following a blog created by SMA ex-pats where there’s been a heated discussion about what to pay the Hispanics who work in people’s homes. It appears the going rate is roughly 60 pesos an hour which is $3. It’s gotten quite heated as some argue for more generosity while others defend their affordable way of life. There are expats who relocated here with very little and can’t afford more along with those who came to live a more luxurious lifestyle than they can in the states.

The argument is compounded when some argue that the Mexicans live a more modest lifestyle which is affordable on the low incomes they earn. I think it would be a hard choice to make if I lived here full time. We tip 20%+ on service here. Many object as they say it ruins it for them. Very complex.

An enormous stage was set yesterday for performances last night in the Jardin. We missed it as had a jazz concert to attend. Lovely to walk up there later to see so many enjoying themselves. It was apparently performances by a musical school for young musicians. One never knows what will show up in the Jardin so we can easily miss something special. The shoeshine guys work the corners of the Jardin while the mariachis work the restaurants. Always a festive

After searching for a week for a black satchel to carry daily needs and purchases, I discovered the perfect bag (bolsa) at the corner juice bar! Then relaxing time in the Belles Artes gardens…a favorite over the years.

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My wonderful host for the past two years died in the past few months. I have been picking up snippets of information throughout my stay. It appears it is masked in secrecy as are many deaths and disappearances in Mexico. I hope by the time I leave it has been resolved in my mind. He was an exemplary man and I miss him. My guess is he either came to someone’s aid or reported someone to the police. The cartels which are so active in Mexico are not active here so I feel no risk whatsoever yet there is an underground system that one does not want to inadvertently trip over.

Lunch with friends followed by dessert on one of their patios.

Why or why don’t we have this wonderful invention that sits table side in the U.S. for women who dine?

Our corner bakery where we are making way too many (delicious) trips.

This post crashed before I was able to edit or complete. I’m going to try to post it in its incomplete state so as not to have to start over. Sorry !!!

Sharon