NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANNA

Pete is enchanted by New Orleans!



One of the many buskers

Now can I continue? Our hotel is right on Bourbon Street, Four Points by Sheraton. We made reservations online the night before. Arrived about 2 hours before our room was ready so checked in and took care of our luggage and car and off we went. Well, I was not doing too well with the walking after all of the sitting and it was probably 88 degrees with 98% humidity. We did go to the Jackson Street Park and saw the paddle wheel take off. Got back, our room was just ready and a very nice one. That evening Pete went out and tried to get me up on my feet to see the crowds on the streets.

We took an excellent City Tour the next day with a wonderful, knowledgeable guide - John. John had the most cajun accent and we all loved it. I appreciated him pointing out different signs left from Katrina and relating his own experiences. We saw several different neighborhoods which are making a come back with people fixing up their homes. Saw lines on signs showing the height of the water also chalk notes on houses. We saw the French Quarter, the Garden District, the French market and, Pete’s favorite the cemetery. It was interesting, of course, all burials are above ground because the water table is so close and if there is a flood or a good rain, the caskets would rise. Most of the “tombs” are elaborate and most, that we saw, are very old. We were told that a tomb has two shelves. The body is put in the upper chamber for 1 year and 1day and then is taken out and the bones and dust is put in an urn leaving the tomb free to be used again. Voila! Resurrection. We weren’t allowed to step on the grass because we might or would get bitten by fire ants.

Yes, we did see the Harry Connick Music Town and the home that Nicolas Cage recently managed to sell. We ate beignets and drank iced coffee and suffered from the heat during the day. The evening was very nice. By the way, there is a definite smell to New Orleans but I did see the city workers using a pressure washer with disinfectant cleaning the inside of the stinky garbage cans which were ever present on the streets.

No, we can’t move on without talking about the food. I have eaten more fried foods on this trip than I have in years and years and it was GOOD. Oysters, fish, shrimp and crab. Yum.

We did go out after dinner and walked Bourbon Street along with many many other people looking at people and those who were asking to be looked at. Buskers painted and posing, playing all sorts of instruments. Hawkers trying to get us in to the Barely Legal night club and live Music inside every establishment competing with one another. Bourbon Street is closed to traffic and people set up shows. In front of our hotel a very popular show with two young men doing break dancing. Drew a big crowd.


We enjoyed our New Orleans adventure and are impressed with the friendliness of the people.
We left early the next morning.

Music and Mexicans

Friday night we went with Helen and Doug to opening night of the Northern Lights 7th annual music festival. What beautiful music! Held in the "auditorio" in Ajijic, the acoustics were perfect, and at about 450 people the event was sold out. Organizers had brought together outstanding musicians from the UK, Canada, US and Mexico to form the best chamber orchestra you ever heard. During a 2 1/2 hour program my favorite was Los Cuatro Estaciones (The Four Seasons) by Astor Piazzolla. As a tribute to Vivaldi there are occasional echos of some of his melodies, but the work is mostly based on a tango/jazz combination that is irrresistable. We'll go back for more this week. Find out more at http://www.northernlightsmusic.ca/ .

This was the first event that we have attended where it seemed that the entire audience was composed of Americans and Canadians. Ajijc is not like a seaside resort. Here the english-speaking community mixes well with the Mexicans. We have only found a few restaurants, loncherias, and fondas where the majority of diners are not Mexican. The same is true in the grocery stores and drug stores. Despite the numbers of Americans and Canadians who have made this area their home this is still a very Mexican town. All of the streets are cobblestone except for the main highway through town. Many of the Mexicans keep horses, and wherever you are you can often see and hear horses on the cobblestone streets. Of course ATVs, smart cars, vans and trucks are more common. There is always music being played, and several times every week there is some traditional activity--never fakey stuff for tourists, but always by and for the Mexican people who live here.

Visitors, More Music, More Art in Ajijic

Our friend, Joan, arrived on Valentines Day, so here is a picture of her driver giving her a box of candy. She was thrilled because she couldn't remember the name of the town. The word, Ajijic is pretty easy to forget. We have tried to show her as much as we know and discover more with her.

We took a home tour (by this time Helen Z and Doug were here) and saw examples of houses in various areas that were for sale. I think we all agreed that only one would fit our needs but we weren't in the market really. We wanted to see different neighborhoods in order to get toknow the area better. We saw Rancho del Oro, The Racquet Club, an in town condo, and a really nice in town home. It was quite a day.

Joan discovered a wonderful b and b and relocated to it after the third night in her original place. She found Casamalcolm on the corner of Donato and 16 de Septembre. Malcolm is a great guy, very outgoing. The BnB has only 3 rooms and they are comfortable and well appointed. The price is reasonable and Joan says the breakfasts are excellent. This is located just up the street from the Hotel Nueva Pasodo where Helen Z is staying.

Helen decided to take a drawing class with me so she is working very hard. The class is taught by Karl Barnhart who insists he can teach anyone to draw. His method is to teach simple techniques whether it is by grid, tracing, or measuring. Then he teaches shading etc. All of this is done with graphite and eraser. Anyway, we are working hard and there are only 6 in the class so all get individual attention.

There was a Mariachi Concert at the Hotel Real in La Floresta which we attended. It was outstanding. A group of four or five violins, two trumpets, one or two guitars and a large bass guitar and each of the men had operatic voices. They were wonderful and really a bit of a surprise, we had no idea what we were getting into. One of the violinists did a solo that sounded like Paganini. Surprisingly beautiful, it way exceeded expectations.

Took a trip to Chapala yesterday with Joan. We had lunch in the Beer Garden Restaurant which has been there since - the beginning. We walked along the malecon and visited some vendors along the way. We saw lots of white pelicans and children swimming. The day was just perfect temperature wise. Almost all days here are perfect.

This is Joan's last day so we will take her to a nice restaurant which is close by our place - Roberto's then we have to get up tomorrow very early to escort her to the airport in Guadalajara.

Music, Art and Canadians

As I said before, we went to a play reading. Well, we have also sampled an offering put on by the Northern Lights Music Festival. There was a wonderful violinist and pianist. They were just great. Now this isn't Mexican music, its international classical. It was very well attended maybe because it was free and so was the food. We met another couple from Canada. I don't know how the country gets along when most of them seem to be traveling all the time. Anyway, a very nice couple as are all of the people we have met. They told us about the gym that is quite close to where we are living.

After the concert, we had dinner at a wonderful restaurant with just the greatest service and ambiance. Armando's. Needless to say, it was dark by the time we were ready to walk home and I thought I might be fearful but I wasn't. Nothing to be frightened of. It was about 8 or 8:30 and on some blocks the families were just setting up food stands. It all looked great and smelled good but we had already eaten. Lots of children out and it is balmy.

On Sunday, we had breakfast at the Chapala Country Club with Steve and Cukie (?). He gave us a tour of the golf course and a look at some of the houses for rent or sale and then we drove to several other areas where expats rent or own just so we will have an inkling of the area if we decide to come again.

Yesterday, we went to a presentation given by an art instructor and of course, I signed up. So, I will be busy learning a little and having lots of fun. He supplies everything. A good deal. I am looking forward to it. Pete will join the gym and meet me after in the square. Such a life!

We have been enchanted by the music and mexican people in the square each evening. Today we may play golf otherwise we will just hang out. Pete may swim in the little lap pool.