About 9am we walked into town – exercise time. Stopped at the bank, next a bakery for a couple rolls for turkey sandwiches, and lastly at the grocery store and purchased fresh mushrooms and a few tomatoes. Said lots of “buenos dias” as we passed folks along the way. Near home we met Alex, our neighbor of a block away. With him were his sister and her boyfriend. They presently live in Spain, and also speak some english. Again Alex invited us for Xmas day, but he did not give us a time. We do not know the proper etiquette for this situation in this country. Is he just being polite, or are we expected to just show up at any time, and are we supposed to take a casserole for a meal? One some street corners there are displayed a great number of scarecrow-like dummies of old men, for sale for next week's new year's eve celebrations.
Our area night time watchman, Nahu, was here by his usual 11am sunday morning. We gave him some aguinaldo (annual bonus) money and a plate of cookies, plus the usual 15 pesos per week. He was carrying many gifts he had acquired that moring and he left them here with us, saying he'd stop back later for them, rather than lug them about the neighbor hood. He did return later, but only took the homemade cookies we had given him. Nahu never returned for the rest of his goodies 'til the following sunday. There have been numerous folks selling fresh fruits and veggies at our gate. More than usual -- must be the season to try to earn money for the gift-giving season. We try to buy at least one item from them. The prices are about the same as in stores, and they travel so far to make these small sales, some from as far away as Ciudad Mendoza, on the far side of Orizaba to the west of us.
What a small world we live in! Tuesday Colyn, our neighbor a few doors south, who is a Jehovah's Witness, was here for dinner for the first time. She no longer tries to convert us. We really all enjoyed our conversation. She said that she needed to speak english for awhile. We knew she had a house in Santa Cruz, CA, where our dear friend Peggy lives. This day we discovered that she and Peggy are the same age, plus she and Peggy lived in Iran at the same time!
Well, who should appear early morning on Xmas day, but Carmelo, with another bag of plants to sell! We bought a couple and gave him a bonus for the holiday. Despite the winter weather and night-time lows into the upper 40's F, this is still great for growing flowers, and especially some of the orchids seem to want to bloom in the cooler air. After lots of debate about the situation of Alex's invitation to come to his home Xmas day, we solved it by taking a bouquet of flowers & greens from our property to his home about 12:30pm. Turned out that no one was there, except a young fellow came as we were trying to announce ourselves. He did say he would tell his grandmother and father that we had been there. We delivered the flowers the next day. When there is no doorbell, one just stands at the doorway and hollers a hello, until someone responds. Must admit that it feels strange to do this.
Saturday Ania made pirogies for the lunch. These are one of Carmen's favorite foods, and were especially delicious coming from the kitchen of a real polaca. We had lunch with them and they showed us where keys for their house and car were stashed, in case an emergency happened in the six weeks that they will be near Puerta Vaiarta. Her mother Wanda flies back to Poland from PV. Yes, we will feed their kitty some while they are away. We are sharing this task along with a housekeeper who will be there two days a week.
Our evening entertainment at front gate is still happening, but has changed since Xmas, as per the traditions in this part of Veracruz. No longer is La Rama carried around, but now the children come in groups of three or four and give a little play with song and dance. All about El Viejo (the old man), symbolizing the end of the year. They dress as the elderly do, use bastones (canes or walking sticks) which they bounce on the ground in time to the tune, in their bent over oldness. At the end of the music and gyrations the child representing the old man, with his paper white beard and straw sombrero, falls to the ground and succumbs. Here are some of the verses, which may or may not be sung or repeated in these enjoyable youthful performances.
The group we had friday evening was the best by far. They were so cute, that we went into happy laughter after they left! The next evening, a mother stood at the side and a toddler stood at the front of the group and did his adorable dancing to the music. What a treat for us! The first night this started, the group went into hysterical giggles when we opened the door, and took awhile before they could continue with their routine.
Christmas day was quiet for us. A couple services happened at the church contraesquina (diagonally across) the intersection from us. We ate leftovers for lunch – well, they were good! Dan forgot to put up our Xmas lights outside. Actually with all the plants, the lights would hardly be noticed. Celia came by later in the week with a white lirio (iris) plant for us, and she left with a plate of Xmas cookies Carmen had stashed in the freezer. Life is good. The only thing that could make it better would be to have relatives and old friends closer, which we know is pretty unlikely to happen, except for some visits. Otherwise, we are very happy with our decision to move here to beautiful Fortín de las Flores, Mexico. Feliz Navidad a todos!
Our area night time watchman, Nahu, was here by his usual 11am sunday morning. We gave him some aguinaldo (annual bonus) money and a plate of cookies, plus the usual 15 pesos per week. He was carrying many gifts he had acquired that moring and he left them here with us, saying he'd stop back later for them, rather than lug them about the neighbor hood. He did return later, but only took the homemade cookies we had given him. Nahu never returned for the rest of his goodies 'til the following sunday. There have been numerous folks selling fresh fruits and veggies at our gate. More than usual -- must be the season to try to earn money for the gift-giving season. We try to buy at least one item from them. The prices are about the same as in stores, and they travel so far to make these small sales, some from as far away as Ciudad Mendoza, on the far side of Orizaba to the west of us.
What a small world we live in! Tuesday Colyn, our neighbor a few doors south, who is a Jehovah's Witness, was here for dinner for the first time. She no longer tries to convert us. We really all enjoyed our conversation. She said that she needed to speak english for awhile. We knew she had a house in Santa Cruz, CA, where our dear friend Peggy lives. This day we discovered that she and Peggy are the same age, plus she and Peggy lived in Iran at the same time!
Saturday Ania made pirogies for the lunch. These are one of Carmen's favorite foods, and were especially delicious coming from the kitchen of a real polaca. We had lunch with them and they showed us where keys for their house and car were stashed, in case an emergency happened in the six weeks that they will be near Puerta Vaiarta. Her mother Wanda flies back to Poland from PV. Yes, we will feed their kitty some while they are away. We are sharing this task along with a housekeeper who will be there two days a week.
Our evening entertainment at front gate is still happening, but has changed since Xmas, as per the traditions in this part of Veracruz. No longer is La Rama carried around, but now the children come in groups of three or four and give a little play with song and dance. All about El Viejo (the old man), symbolizing the end of the year. They dress as the elderly do, use bastones (canes or walking sticks) which they bounce on the ground in time to the tune, in their bent over oldness. At the end of the music and gyrations the child representing the old man, with his paper white beard and straw sombrero, falls to the ground and succumbs. Here are some of the verses, which may or may not be sung or repeated in these enjoyable youthful performances.
Una limosna para este pobre Viejo Una limosna para este pobre viejo Que ha dejado hijo, que ha dejado hijo Para el año nuevo, para el año nuevo
Este viejito se llama Don Vicente Este viejito se llama Don Vicente Que ha dejado hijo, que ha dejado hijo Para el año nuevo, para el año nuevo
Esta viejita se llama Doña Lola Esta viejita se llama Doña Lola Que ha dejado hijo, que ha dejado hijo Para el año nuevo, para el año nuevo
Ahí viene el viejo bailando en el alambre Ahí viene el viejo bailando en el alambre Por qué el pobrecito, por qué el pobrecito Esta muerto de hambre, esta muerto de hambre
Denle su quintito para el tabaquito Denle su dé a veinte para el aguardiente Den le su tostón para el vacilón.
Dice Camacho que tiene el ojo gacho Dice Camacho que tiene el ojo gacho Pero lo que tiene pero lo que tiene Es que anda bien borracho.
Dice el doctor que tiene el sarampión Dice el doctor que tiene sarampión Pero lo que tiene, pero lo que tiene Es un ataque al corazón, ataque al corazón
Mi pobre viejo ya no quiere cenar Mi pobre viejo ya no quiere cenar Por que a media noche Por que a media noche Lo van a quemar, lo van a quemar.
Ya se va el viejo muriéndose de risa Ya se va el viejo muriéndose de risa Por que a media noche Por qué a media noche Lo vuelven ceniza, lo vuelven ceniza
The group we had friday evening was the best by far. They were so cute, that we went into happy laughter after they left! The next evening, a mother stood at the side and a toddler stood at the front of the group and did his adorable dancing to the music. What a treat for us! The first night this started, the group went into hysterical giggles when we opened the door, and took awhile before they could continue with their routine.
