Flags out for national day. 

Newly renovated Jardin considered rather sterile by some. 

"Well, are we going or not??" 

rather large butterfly calls my patio "home" 

and the john is installed 

but the shower works just fine 

some finishing to do 

Viva Mexico!!!

Well, I did say that the fiestas started in earnest in September. The smoke is just clearing at noon on this Mexican national day of independence. Flags, bunting, sound makers and what could well be mistaken for Xmas décor in some other countries, (in part because the national colors are red, white and green), started appearing two weeks ago. The culmination of the preparations occurred last night in every Zoloco in the country (and many others around the world)with national music, dancing and the famous “grito” at eleven o’clock followed by official fireworks that lasted unofficially all night. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato and Delores Hidalgo of course are special in all this as they are the birth place of the revolution. The “grito” is after Father Hidalgo’s “shout” for independence that apparently occurred around 11 o’clock on the 15th of September caused by an overbearing Spanish colonial rule. Since no one really knows what Hidalgo actually said politicians take great liberties with the “grito” which is lead by the president. It has therefore ranged all the way from “Viva Mexico” through “Viva la independencia” to “Viva la democracia”. Mayor Villarreal led the shout from the Allende Museum balcony last night before a newly renovated Jardin full to overflowing with thousands of happy Mexican families. They take their fiestas seriously here and their love of country is very evident. Although there were lots of tourists out to observe, one did feel at times a bit like an interloper at a private party.

Last week, they opened the newly renovated and rather sterile looking Jardin with the crowning of the new queen of the local festivals (the daughter of a former mayor, incidentally). The current Mayor posted a long list of fiestas that would be celebrated locally through November in SMA. They new queen has a full agenda.

Today, once the Mexicans get up, there will be a parade and a number of other events related to Independence Day, including of course another fireworks display in el Jardin tonight. Yesterday a large fireworks plant blew up in Mexico City. This did not seem to dampen any local spirits and certainly will not affect the firework displays in el Jardin nor the use of firecrackers in the back yards and around the churches and squares throughout the city. Mexicans believe that if there are no fireworks there really is no party. Incidentally, it is a regulation that official fireworks must be lit by the same person that sets up the display. There are other regs wrt fireworks but this one struck me as just. As I said before, Greg and I are now vaccinated, so we simply roll onto the best ear and catch some more shut-eye.

On this National Day I will try to make some more progress on the bathroom. I have been taking nice hot showers now for over a week and I have to say it is great and my overhead rain shower works like a charm. But I still have a fair amount of finishing to do including some cupboards, mirrors, and sink.