A LIGHTER NOTE

Having spent months describing my many problems and of the difficulties of living in Mexico, I thought it was time I told you about one of the many things that I love about Mexico.  It is the wonderful Mexican Folk Art.  I have managed to collect a small collection for very little money (need I mention again, that I am cheap!).  Much of it dates back to pre-Hispanic times.  It is illegal to buy actual pre-Columbian artifacts, but there are lots of copies. There is a great  deal of humor in much of their art..  Much of it is primitive, whimsical and colorful.

One of my favorites is the intricate bead work of the Houicho Indians native to this area.  The colorful iguana is an example of that.  The patterns are symbolic to their religion and culture.  Every one is different.
The pottery pot behind is a popular pattern that I have collected a lot of.  The blue dish is also a very common article here.

I love the Mexican hand blown glass wear.  I picked this pattern with the green swirl for the color.  I love the papier mache vegetables and fruit, and of course the wonderful colorful paper flowers.  The blue and white pedestal with the potted philodendron was one of the most expensive of my purchases (still cheap compared to The States) I bought at the tile factory when I was buying the tiles for my kitchen counter.  Hanging on the wall are the brilliantly colored clay peppers.  The carved hanging shelf was about $30.00.

In front of the Aztec Warrior is a papier mache frog,  I love him.  In front of the "fake" pre-Columbian figure is just a carved clay box where I keep my change for buses.  I have several pieces of the hand painted tin art, but I favor the sun.  I also love the clay smiling sun which I surrounded with paper flowers.

For many years I have loved the equipauli furniture.  I had it on my deck in Laguna Beach in 1970.  It is made of pig skin cured in horse urine (you have to leave it outside for several days).  On the wall is an angel made of sun dried clay.  On the table a circle of seven men around a votive candle ( they cost just a few dollars).

I found them all over the town, but most came from one shop next to my favorite coffee shop "A Page in the Sun".  The owner sits at the back bent over his computer, he never looks up (he is probably on FaceBook) He has never greeted me or ever recognized me in the dozens of times I have shopped there.  I now demand and get a 10% discount, but he still will not acknowledge my presence in the shop.  Mexicans are really the worst business men in the world.  Just really don't care.  Amazing!! But, it is Mexico.

Truly there are many things about living in Mexico that I enjoy. However I still cannot tolerate the hot chili sauces, nor can I down a shot of Tequila and the Mexicans inability to tell time drives me crazy.  You didn't really think I could finish an entire postings without complaining about something.  Did you?

Don't expect any posts for a few weeks, as I will be in California.

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