I have not done much interesting shooting in the last week. However, I have taken the opportunity to edit and upload some random pictures I have taken over the last month. The photographs of the doors I took on my first day at the Academia. The photograph of the flower I took last night. The other few I am not sure about. But thank you as always for looking. I hope you are having a relaxing and beautiful summer, even if you are really busy. Peace and Love.

On Saturday I came by this amazing sight. I just love it here. You should all come sometime or another. At least to central Mexico. Central Mexico is rich with history of the indigenous peoples, the Christian evangelization (if that is a word) of those peoples, as well as the Mexican cause for independence.

So I just came upon this troupe of dancers participating in a traditional Aztec dance and ceremony. When I say I came upon them I really mean you could hear the drums and dancing from about 5 blocks away and I just happened to have my camera. It was beautiful. I wish I had a digital sound recorder so I could play a sound clip for you all. The dance was fast, colorful, complicated and beautiful. All ages participated in this dance, and it went on for more than an hour. Although it seemed that the women presided over the ceremony. I have concentrated on the costumes that were the most elaborate because they were the most attractive to my photographic eye. I will upload a more extensive gallery onto my flickr account soon if you would like to see more.

Thank you all for looking.

Two views from my current favorite restaurant, Cafe San Francisco. It is one of the only places in the Jardin that is worthwhile. Wonderful Mexican shrimp cocktails and fresh ingredients. Good Margarita's. Fabulous people watching and great view of the Parroquia. Beautiful.

Mas Locos

Mas Locos

Dia De Los Locos

Dia De Los Locos. The biggest and craziest parade I have ever seen.

There are beautiful people all over this city and all over the world. This women was waiting for something. I have no idea what. Her son, food, money. I took this picture across the street from the main church in the square. The life for most Mexicans here is remarkably religious. I am continually amazed at the amount of kindness that is shown between individuals despite many problems between classes. I will hopefully be blessed to show you many more individuals that live a life in the working class similar to this women.

Influence of Mexico

There is a beautiful park on the rich side of town in San Miguel, where there is a high concentration of million dollar homes.  Which was weird for me.  Million dollar homes in Mexico?  I suppose I should have known, especially in San Miguel.  There are a lot of very affluent poeple here and many more moving here.  So there are these artists who sell their art in this park every Saturday and Sunday.  It's just beautiful.   And the prices are good. 

So I had just looked at all this colorful mexican art before I took this picture.  When I got home and edited it I think I had this mexican sensibility to make everything too bright and colorful for anyones tastes, except mexicans I suppose.  So this may be the first in a series of color popin HDR shots of the city....ALL BEWARE.  Nick has been bitten by the Mexican.

I just love some of these views from the street.  It's not the most striking architecture, but I feel it represents the city better.

children in San Miguel

A little HDR for you guys from a beautiful day

The sky was too beautiful to sacrifice, so I merged 3 exposure in photoshop so you can get the full beauty of these churches in San Miguel.

A view of the sky from the patio of the house that Don and Donna Goertz keep in San Miguel.  A beautiful house in a beautiful place with beautiful people.  This is were I stayed on my first night in San Miguel.

First night on the town

The church in El Jardin. (the main square)  Yes this was handheld, who's got skills.

Some students that take spanish with me at the Academia.

Some more...

Great bar on the top floor of Mama Mia's

Happy hour Margaritas at Manolo's!   No afternoon classes on Friday.  A perfect time to fully initiate one's self properly by drinking tequila at lunch time....

Uno mas por favor.

A sunset behind the city.  A snap shot you can't pass up.

This one as well.  A seniorita taking some food home after work on  a friday evening.

Another view with a beautiful sky of Don and Donna's neighbors home.  They are a couple from California that have permanently retired to San Miguel.  There are just a few Americanos here....

A quick snap shot of a gentleman asleep in his car during the 5 0'clock heat of the day.  The temperatures here are about 90-95 at the highest and 60-75 during the evenings.  

A common street view in San Miguel.  You may see quite a few of these. 

Travel Partners

Don Goertz:  A wonderful man to travel with.  He is a scholar and professor of Latin and German as well as being quite proficient in Italian and Spanish.  He has been just about everywhere you would ever want to go in the world several times over.  He also has a wealth of knowledge about all of the cultures to which he travels, which is very helpful.  He alo drove us down here which was totally awesome.

Countess Jean:  A wonderful uppity older women that usually spends 6 months out of the year in San Miguel.  She has been everywhere in Mexico and also has a tremendous wealth of knowledge about the region.  She is also quite fluent in spanish and is wonderful travel company as well as margarita company.

This is the house were I stayed on the first night.  A view from the patio of a house that Don and Donna Goertz keep in San Miguel.  It is a beautiful home, in a beautiful place, with beautiful people. 

Descent sunset on the first night in Mexico.  We stayed at a touristy pink and yellow place.  It was pretty nice.  Right on the highway.