A Full Moon in Tlaquepaque Part I

16 de Julio, 2008. Hola to you all. ¿Como estas? We are leaving spectacular Mexico this evening and I will update this blog when I return. While the trip was a spur of the moment journey, it was also a civics and social science lesson, and a course in art history, anthropology and archaeology. Now I am even more curious to know more about Mexico and its people, current and past and to learn enough Spanish to have a real conversation about politics with a Spanish speaker.

Perhaps the full moon determined some of the unexpected experiences we had in Tlaquepaque, beginning with the first night in this community of artisans and crafts people, outside of Guadalajara. The guide books list July rainfall for Guadalajara as nine inches and I wouldn't be surprised if all nine inches fell Monday evening as J. and I found ourselves wading ankle deep in a flash storm, while we walked to our dinner destination.

Later, we explored the streets of Tlaquepaque, discovering crafts studios and workshops and the local color and personality. Visiting the Museo del Premeo Nacional de la Ceramica, a famous ceramics museum, we met a Mexican maestro, who was teaching young summer school students in one of the many classrooms. Imagine the students in our Placerville district, who have no summer school this year, being immersed in this world of creativity. When I told him we teach English to many students from Mexico, he thanked us for doing important work and shook our hands, one of the many times people have expressed appreciation to teachers.

La Casa de Las Flores, our B&B, is a riot of color and Mexican art, with comfortable beds, excellent food, including evening refreshments and a fun group of guests. The proprietors, Stan and Jose, have decorated this old building with a variety of pottery and art from different time periods and regions of Mexico. Stan led a tour of the collection and I felt I was in the best seat in the house for an art history course with an expert professor.

I love being surrounded by such magnificent crafts; what an up feeling to live within the vibrancy of exquisite pottery, paintings and hangings in their collection.