Globo Fest 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiestas Patronales de Ixtlahuacan

 

 

Fiestas Patronales de Ixtlahuacan - 2013



We arrive hungry....what a surprise!

 

This year we were invited to the Fiestas Patronales in Ixtlahuacan by Santiago, Mari and their family.

 

The fiestas revolve around the feast of St. James the Apostle.

 

(from Lake Chapala Review)



Santiago (the Apostle known as St. James the Greater) is the patron saint of the nearby village of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos. The nine days of patron fiestas begin July 16 when the people of the neighboring village of Buena Vista arrive carrying a statue of Santiago — riding a horse in Spanish finery and a canteen and Ixtlahuacan’s signature fruit — membrillos (quinces).

 

 

 

 Ivan entertains himself in the church plaza.

 

Awaiting the arrival of Santiago

 

How did James, the apostle become patron saint of Spain and is depicted as an upper class Spanish knight? A dozen legends tell various ways of how the remains of James (who was beheaded in 44 A.D.) were interred in Santiago de Compostela. It became a popular early Middle Ages pilgrimage destination called the Way of St. James. Later legends tell that St. James the Greater miraculously helped the Spanish triumph over the Moors and was nicknamed Matamoros or moor slayer.

 

 

Santiago Arrives at the church

 

 

With cheers, confetti and music, thousands of Ixtlahuacan residents await the arrival of the image of their patron to join in a procession with skyrockets, chants, and prayers and church bells to accompany their saint, St. James, Santiago, the Matamoros, to the church in the center of town.

 

Nine days of fiesta continue — ending on July 25, the feast day of Santiago. During the fiesta, townspeople greet the pilgrimages of the faithful from other area villages including Riberas del Pilar and San Antonio Tlayacapan. As in other towns, the fiesta includes early morning and evening processions to the church, and time for townspeople to gather in the plaza where the children enjoy the carnival rides, the teens dance to the music of the day’s band and the older set catch up with friends and family members. Each evening ends with fireworks — the beautiful towering fixed piece called the castillo or castle.

 

 

 Ivan studying the Castillo

 

 

Building the Castillo

 

 

 Musicos awaiting customers

 

 

Castillo details

 

2 guys festejando

 

Beautiful gift basket of local treasures for Santiago

 

 My guys

 

 Esme y Fco.

 

 

Iglesia de Ixtlahuacan

 

Sistas

 

 Anticipation

As fate would have it, Ivan wanted to take in the carnival rides and asked me to join him.  I noticed no one else volunteered to ride the Ferris wheel with Ivan.....hum?  Once we were locked into our seats the fun began.  Ivan found it amusing to swing our chairs and test their limits.  This also tested my wits....but exhilarating it was!
  

Rueda de la Fortuna

 

 Goin' up!
 

 Castillo at night

  

Watchin' the Castillo

 

  Goodnight.

 

 

 

...And so it goes...

A year + now in Mexico. April was our 1 year anniversary here. Hard to believe a year has flown by. The swallows frequent our pool at sunset, dipping so skillfully, to quench their thirst in the aqua marine waters. I float in the afternoons on my green raft, after the workday is done, anxious to watch my Mexican hummingbirds, the Amazilia violiceps or Violet Crowned hummingbirds dipping themselves entirely in the waters, not just taking a sip. Our Cave Swallows follow suit. They do 2 fly-bys....usually the second fly-by successful in netting them a billfull of water. Then we explode Shubert from the terraza and the bats Pallas’s Long-Tongued Bat (Glossophaga soricina), dance to this eternal music, dipping to and fro. As the sun sets and the clouds build with Tlaloc's angry clashing of shields, the lighting and thunder show starts...always a thrill. This never gets old. The winds follow and then the rain engulfs us entirely, drenching us heart and soul. This is Mexico in the rainy season....so welcome....so wanted....so comforting.

  

 

 Efren Gonzalez's Frida flanks our entry vestibule.

 

 

 

Our bodega (warehouse) with newly installed molino (grinder)...ready to rumble. My guys, the Hernandez brothers, painting info signs. We start with a vision of a greener Mexico, believing in the truth of logic. These guys are golden, and we could not have created what we have without them.



Propietario outside of his bodega.

 

A dream come true.   A green business in Mexico, embraced and encircled by the community, the people, the environment.  Now if the trash truck collectors take us into their confidence, we are set.

 

 

One of the many amazing creatures I encounter on the way to work everyday.  This ferocious-looking creature is actually quite gentle and harmless.  It is called the "Zulu Shield Bug" for lack of a better name. The Zulu Shield Bug is fairly large, about 10.2 centimeters (4 in.) from tail to antenna tip. The colorful "shield" on the back is actually a set of wings. Pick one up and it will peacefully explore its way around the palm of your hand before spreading its wings and buzzing noisily away.



Our farmer friend Santiago and his family visited the other day, to take in the pool and its cooling waters.  As is the case with most Mexicans, they gifted us with their worldly treasures when they came to visit.  One of them was a home grown sponge, which we heartly accepted.  You see both Brad and I wear huaraches most everyday, and this traditional footwear is hard on the soles of your feet, so the lufa or natural sponge is a wonderful exfoliator....something we both appreciate.  That this sponge is grown by our friend Santiago's family is an added plus!

Santiago's Santa Cruz Farm

Samy and Ivan....such amazing beings.

 

Santiago's Family

 

Does it reallly get any better than this?

 

 

 

I arrived home after a short day at the Recycling Warehouse (bodega) and am greeted with this lovely creature, literally grazing at my door.  I asked her if she preferred I come back another time, and she seemed truly neutral....so I bid her a good day and went on by.  I don't think she minded in the least.

  

 

Spring has sprung...and one of the many wonders one wanders by is/are the new arrivals.  This sweet, brown colt was born at the local horse wranglers' place on Camino Real recently.  I ride by often watching this lil' guy's growth.  Mom is always carefully watching over him.

 

 

Down lakeside I also watch this family of horses grazing lazily along the lake's shore.  The little guy jumps, runs, races all around its parents....and suddenly drops and lays still.  At first I think there might be something wrong with the youngster...but then realize that he is plumb tuckered out!  He just drops where he is and sleeps for about 5 minutes....with Mom circling around him in protection.  Then just as suddenly the lil' guy bounces up and starts his playing again.

 

 

 

Freshly awake,  he still struggles to stand on new, long legs.

 

Don't we all?

The Flow



Fco. at Corrida Opening Festivities

 

It's been a while since our last blog....since December 2012.  The reason...we've been a bit busy with new projects, new businesses, setting up a new home and just enjoying life where we can.

 

Brad has been busy teaching Natural Dyeing and Recycled Paper making classes at The Adobe Studio here in Riberas del Pilar.  The Adobe Studio is owned and operated by Jan Steinbright, a relocated

Alaskan and Basketry teacher.  She and Brad have been spreading local arts and crafts throughout the area...which just goes to show you that even in this land of rich artistic history there is room for something different and new.

 

Charis y Brad, Ajijic Society of Arts exhibition and sale, Ajijic Plaza

 

Student indigo dyeing samples, Adobe Studios, Riberas del Pilar

 

Brad has also started his own line of fiber products, which he is selling here lakeside.  He has found a wealth of new, natural dyeing material locally and has been experimenting.

 

 

 

 

I've been busy setting up the first Recycling and Collection Center here in the lakeside area.  My partner and I are bringing new jobs, new ecological, recycling opportunities to the community of Chapala and environs.  We've rented and are renovating an old madereria or furniture workshop which we will make into La Recicladora de la Ribera de Chapala, or RRC.

 

 

Bodega Exterior

Bodega Interior

 

I've also been busy sustainably renovating a 200 year old, hacienda style home in Ajijic.

Fco. overseeing delivery and placement of Efren Gonzalez's Frida

The Ajijic home now has a salt water jacuzzi and pool.....and....a new Frida.  I attended the Castellanos Art Street Festival a few weeks back and saw 2 beautifully large, painted Fridas serving as festival entryways.  I learned that our local painter and teacher, Efren Gonzalez had painted them.  When I inquired as to what he planned for the Fridas after the festival he answered he was going to use the Fridas as headboards for his bed.  I asked him if they might be for sale, and now here one sits in my client's Ajijic house.

Fco's Frida

 

The other Frida sits in the entry room area of our new home.

 

I tell my business partner and friend, Craig, that when you find yourself on your life path, the appropriate one for you, it's as if you are flowing on a beautiful river.  Craig says all he is familiar with is 'swimming up stream'.  I tell him to get used to flowing with the current.

 

 

Iglesia, Jocotepec

 

 Brad finds fiber samples

  

 Huichol Vendor

   

 

 Blessing of the animals, Ajijic

 

 

Vino Blanco Portrait