Loom

 

The Francisco mentioned above isn't me...but another Francisco that we went to visit today.  Francisco is the stepson of Janice Kimball, a painter, teacher and textile designer living lakeside.

When Brad and I stayed here last year, we rented a casita in Tio Domingo, and Janice's gallery is located just up the street on the carretera in Tio Domingo.  Brad recently went to visit Janice and see her new work.  During the visit Brad mentioned that he was looking for a loom to work on, and one magical thing led to another and next thing you know Brad arrives home announcing that on Tuesday we are to go collect an old loom that Janice was giving him.  The loom was a family heriloom, handed down from family member to family member.

So here it is Tuesday and we decided to invite our friends Craig and Charis to tag along.  Craig is an artisan cabinet maker and was interested in the wood used for the loom....apparently the loom is approximately 200 years old and was made in the style that was popular when the Spanish first arrived in Mexico.

First things first.  One must greet and be greeted by Max Bird, the celebrity avian.  Max wasn't talking much this morning, but did manage to give us a squawk and word or two.

Brad greets Max Bird

Charis and Brad marvel at the beautiful garden

Charis makes fast friends with Princesa

Craig at Francisco's loom

Weavings designed by Janice and executed/woven by Francisco

Kimball designs

Earlier in her career Janice spent time and studied the traditional dances and costumes of Mezcala.  Much of her work incorporates the festivals, traditions and customs of the area.  Her interpretations are both realistic and surreal, always accurate, while at the same time being familiar and enticing.

Kimball designs

Making our way through the weaving design studio we were given a private tour by Janice herself.  She explained the work she and Francisco do, how they create their woven wonders.

Up to the second floor we go....finally arriving at the mirador on the 3rd story where the old loom sits looking out over the beautiful vista of Chapala lake and the surrounding verdant mountains.

Craig and Brad inspect the loom in question

Deconstructing the old loom

Janice magically found some men to help deconstruct the loom, and soon after the pieces were in our family van, packed carefully, ready for the ride home.

But first we must celebrate the victory and our good fortune with a meal at our friend Lupita's restaurant.  Sharing fine food with great friends can't be topped.

And so we await the end of the day and another opportunity to live an amazing lakeside existence, ready to spin new tales. 

Brad is presently in our backyard, re-constructing the loom pieces, inspecting and planning how he will customize this old loom and turn it into his new weaving partner.

Hoping your opportunities are many, wherever you are.

Fco. y Brad

Mezcala

Another Sunday already!  How did that happen?

We awoke and decided to attend a fundraising yard sale in a small development outside of Chapala.  Brad had read about the sale which benefited several children's organizations in the area...a set of good causes and a good excuse to go thrifting.  So off to Vista Del Lago we went and found a great mix of  local and expat people enjoying the morning.  I spoke with members from the local Shriners group and bought a woven pine needle basket from a woman who works with the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyon.

Vista Del Lago was located close to San Nicholas on the road to Mezcala.  I've always had a strong attraction to Mezcala...it is a small, humble fishing village where several indigenous festivals occur throughout the year.  Since we were headed in the same direction, we decided to visit Mezcala.

Most of the inhabitants are indigenas. You see the indigenous in their fiestas, the historia, the costumbres or customs.

Atractivos turísticos

--Iglesia de la Asunción (construida en 1703)
--Isla de Mezcala (El Presidio)
--El Toro y El Comal (mountain excursion sites) with spectacular vistas, wonderful birds and wild orchids in the months from Sept. to Nov.

 

Isla de Mezcala

Mezcala was a place of defense for the pueblos during the Independencia de México; it was the place where a famous battle against Nueva Galicia occured.  It was used as a fort in the years (1812-1816). It was a presidio from 1826 to 1855.  It is the only military architecture in the territory of Jalisco.

Mezcala Island In The Distance

Mezcala Malecon

The local artist's works are primarily hand embroidery and hand weavings.

Festivales:

La Santa Cruz (mayo 3 al 5)
San Antonio (junio 13)
Fiestas Patronales a María de la Asunción (agosto 6 al 17)

Typical Cuisine:

Charales, pozole, birria tatemada preparada con pencas de maguey
Bebidas de horchata, jamaica y tamarindo.

Mezcala is a small pueblo of fishermen ideal for contact with nature.  It has a small, new Malecon which was fillng up quickly with visitors for the day....at which time we decided to head back to Chapala for a late breakfast and to visit a new weaver friend we had met the day before.  He offered to show us his workshop and looms, since Brad is looking to purchase one to refurbish and use here lake side.

Yarns from Guadalajara



Bobbin Winding

Shuttles

Large Loom

Breakfast Repose

So after a full day already, we decided to have a late breakfast and then make our way home, looking forward to some R & R...a full siesta and a lovely sunset walk.

Hope you Sunday was wonderful...here's to a great week!

Fco. y Brad

Puerto Vallarta

The day started out as any other...with a morning ride around the lago...the sun was breaking beautifully, illuminating the boats with a gorgeous golden glow.



As I rode toward Ajijic to have my morning coffee and read my daily newspapers in the plaza, I felt a pang of excitement...because today we were driving from Chapala to Puerto Vallarta to meet my Mother and sisters Cecilia and Sandra for a few days of R & R, Mexico style.

Big Sis Ceci

The drive is a dramatic and beautiful 4.5 hours through countryside, past volcanic mountains, above the town of Tequila, through fecund jungle and then down a 5000 foot, dramatic and winding drop to the ocean.

Arriving at Los Tulles - Look at those Coconuts!

Dining Happy Brad

When one arrives in Puerto Vallarta a must is to visit the new Malecon, which has been refurbished into a pedestrian walkway/mall.  I was happy to see that the businesses were mostly the same and public spaces maintained.

Malecon

Puerto Vallarta Seahorse Boy

Throughout the state of Jalisco and the City of Guadalajara Brad and I have marveled at the sculptures and public work of Aldo Colunga...we were overjoyed to find that the new Malecon contained some of his otherworldly public art.  His sculptures are amazing...and this group exhibited an aquatic theme, so appropo for Puerto Vallarta, which is first and foremost a sleepy fishing village, now on tourism steroids.

Colunga Pulic Art - Puerto Vallarta

After getting our bearings, rooms and beach towels we headed...where else?  To the beach.  My mother loves 2 particular beaches in this area...and the first we visited was Playa Manzanillo at the Piedra Blanca Hotel. 

Don't let the photo fool you.  This IS my mother swimming, but the Valentino-type yacht in the background was only borrowed for the day ;-)

Sister Sandra and Brad - Fish & Camarron Taco Time

Feeding the Gulls with our leftovers...nothing goes to waste in Mexico.

A seafood bounty - what a feast we had on the playa!

Menu:  Super fresh fish ceviche, grilled camarron and veggie brochettas, camarron stuffed aguacate, strawberry margaritas, french fries, cerveza, seafood medley campechanas....yum!

Shrimp Stuffed Avocados

Balladeer

Thankfully my Mother was feeling nostalgic after our most amazing meal, and summoned this strolling musician to sing us a few old world tunes....she happily sang along, which made my heart full.

The Gonzalez Girls....Rebecca & Ceci

Our Favorite Bathing Beauty

Gulls Chowin' Down

Our Hotel - Los Tulles

Room With A View - View From Our Rooms

And so, after a few perfect days of sun, sand, food, family and fun we headed back home.  My mother and sisters headed to the airport en route to Los Angeles, CA....and Brad and I back home to Lake Chapala.  Lake Side is not a bad destination as far as we are concerned.



Fruit Stand

On our drive back to the lake we passed numerous fruit and veggie stands along the highway and stopped at this one, where we purchased Jack Fruit, mangos, coconut and bannana candy and fresh coconut.  Our drive was made more doable thanks to these car trip treats.

Bustamante Serenade

And so we said goodbye to lovely Puerto Vallarta....for now.  Brad liked it so much that we talked about perhaps moving there someday.

I think this is the first of many places he will want to visit and ultimately live in, here in this most amazing, our new country, Mexico.

Hasta Pronto,

Fco. y Brad



Sunday In Mexico



Sunday In The Parque

Sunday in Mexico is a special day.  If you play your cards right, you get to have the entire day off, with nothing in particular to do.  Chances are that you've finished all your chores the day before and you can ask "what do I want to do today?" and actually have the time and space to do whatever you decide.

And so it was for us this morning.  Sunday was upon us.  We knew that quite a few of the snowbirds had or were returning home for springtime and that we would have less tourists to confront in the area.  So we decided to take a ride along the lake to Jocotepec to look up our weaving friend and  maestro, Luis.   On weekends he is usually in the main plaza selling his weavings and sure enough, we found him there.

He remembered us from our last meeting and we asked him about used looms, if there were any?  Also about making our own looms.  And about having looms made for us.  It appears that most weavers here make their own looms to their own specifications.  Luis said that he would ask around to his circle of weaver friends to see what was available.  We are to see each other next weekend at the plaza with updates.

Jocotepec  Main Plaza

Jocotepec Stalls In Front Of Main Plaza

We then happily sat at the plaza having our favorite Frappe concoction.  After that satisfying repose, we decided to visit the Malecon, or lake front walk.  We loved this area for its birding selections and open spaces.  When we arrived we found that the Malecon had been expanded and developed even further.  There were prehispanic sculptures throughout, wonderful fountains and whimsical creatures surprised us at every turn.

When in Rome....we did as the locals do and had ice cream.  Brad's selection of banana and coconut ice creams were superb, as you can tell by the ecstatic and mesmerized look on his face.

We also ran into this character, which we christened the Lake Gnome, for he was made up of sea and lake creatures...from a seahorse topped starfish chapeau to his fish skirt...he was a favorite of all the park goers.

Then driving out of town I knew that spring had sprung.  We happened upon this frisky youngster with his mom.  We watched as he bucked and kicked and played with the older horses...the cutiest thing I've seen in a long time.



And where else can you come upon something like this mural painted on the side of a residence in our new hood?  Most of the houses on this block had something extraordinary on the facade of their homes.

Symbol Of Life

We surge as a flock of sheep

and transform ourselves into men

during which time time occurs

like fish arriving at the same end;

the cycle of life.

Fco. y Brad