Walking.....we do a lot of walking here in San Miguel. On Tuesday I walked from home across the centro and out to the Fabrica on Aurora. I'm guessing it is 1-1/2 to 2 miles distance. Then I walked back home with a few stops along the way.
I walked out there because I wanted to check out the shops in this old fabric factory which has become a kind of upscale design center. What is the recession doing to the businesses there? I couldn't see much difference except there are more of the expensive shops now. I think some of the prices exceed what you would pay for comparable merchandise in the USA. It is really interesting what happens to prices when things aren't selling in San Miguel. The shopkeepers raise their prices instead of lowering them. I've had one or two of them tell me that they had to raise their prices to earn the same dollars even if the merchandise is made in Mexico. Okay.....but they are living on the peso in Mexico and so far we haven't seen that much of an increase in peso prices. That may come but not yet. Of course if some of the raw materials are purchased in the USA or Europe they may be having to pay more pesos for the merchandise but not that much more.
There are so many beautiful decorative things at the Fabrica. I use to buy that "stuff." But when we moved we sold all that stuff. It was liberating. We no longer had to house it and take care of it. We live a really full life without being able to serve wine from the "appropriate" wine glass or have waterford crystal napkin rings. Still the beauty of many of these things makes me start to think, I could use this for.......and so I have to step back and say, "Billie, you don't really NEED this."
All that walking made me thirsty, so I sat for a while with a limonada at the bar in the Fabrica. I loved being surrounded by the soft pumpkin colored walls. The ceiling was painted in a silver metallic paint which reflected more of the pumpkin. Color is such an emotional force for me. This soft pumpkin wrapped me in calm and warmth.
I like to plan new nests....like if we ever go back to Texas and if we bought a high rise condo, would colors like this pumpkin work juxtaposed against a rust colored entry? It works in Mexico. But would it work there. Maybe a high rise condo should be more stark, contemporary and minimalist. More monochromatic. My imagination can just run off in any direction now because I'm not buying a high-rise condo. I guess you could call my time sipping the limonada, a daydream.
When I left the Fabrica I headed a little further East so I could see Jim's exhibition. It was in a tiny restaurant but my-oh-my how his images of the headdresses of some of the indian dancers lit up the space. You always met up with old friends when you go to an event and I met some new people. From there it was time to head back home....down the hill and then back up another one.
It is good to walk, both for the body and for the mind. And a little daydreaming is good for the soul.
14 comments:
You're one of my inspirations on blogging. I'm considering starting a blog, but struggling with how to make it real and relevant, without being too self-revealing for a therapist. You do a masterful job, Billie. Deborah in Houston
I just had a wonderful walk in San Miguel and the color pumpkin fills my mind too with the colors that would go with it. Reds, mangos, bright yellows. I also enjoyed that limonada. You took me for a walk and I so enjoyed being there. Thank you for sharing your dreams. I think I see a little bit of wanting to go back home in the future. Could that be true? Thanks Billie, I am refreshed now. Take care.
What looks fine in one part of the world can look totally odd in another part of the world. Some stuff doesn´t travel.
Michael, you are so right. Sometimes when people move all their USA stuff to SMA, it does look odd.
Gloria, I don't know if we will go back to the USA to live. We are just working on five year plans here at our ages. But it is always fun to think about creating another place to live.
Deborah....is this the Deborah that I worked with many years ago? At any rate, just start a blog. You can keep it private until you decide you want to go public.
Billie -- This post is what blogs should be: a mixture of the personal, but at enough distance to be cerebral. Deborah is exactly right.
And topped by a masterful photograph. Though it strikes me as just a bit naughty. And that is just right, as well.
It was nice to follow along with you. My favorite thing about SMA is the walking and the sites along the way. Some days when I read your blog, I miss San Miguel so much. (Stuck in Houston right now.)
I have eaten lunch at Aurora many times, but always in the outdoor area near the back -- the one with no walls. Is the pumpkin-wall place near the entrance? The colors sound wonderful.
Steve, Cerebral? Oh my, I'm not sure how I got there. But thanks anyway.
Cynthia, Yes it is up front by the Food Factory. I think it is called Divino. It is a bar that also serves a bit of food and has entertainment some nights.
Billie--I've been discovering the joy of having less "stuff" too. I've moved a few times over the last few years, and each time I shed more of what I've accumulated. All the "stuff" at Aurora is tempting, but my goal is to get down to a single backpack I can haul around the world. OK. That's not gonna happen, but this week I'm giving around 300 books to the Biblioteca.
John, I agree it feels good to have less "stuff." But I can't get past the desire to not just see beautiful things, but I also want to own them. Bad habit.
Ahh, well, remember Cuellar's Cafe at San Felipe and 610. When I designed that restaurant in 1985 it was SO outrageous that it was in all the magazine layouts, the backdrops for photo shoots and their customer base increased 3000% after the remodel. So sometimes using unexpected colors in a monochromatic city really revs up your life and your energy! If you LOVE it you sould use it - wherever.
LOVE the photograph!
compelling photograph. was it part of your walk?
Nancy, Several years ago when the Fabrica was mostly an empty building I photographed there several times. This was made at that time. So no it wasn't a part of the walk this week, it was part of another walk to the same place at another time.
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