Saturday, February 22, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thoughts on Town Planning (Latin America vs. Norte Americana)
We enjoyed a leisurely morning driving to the other side of Lake Chapala to visit the women's cooperative in San Cristobel. It is now spring in our area and the sub-tropical plants are bursting into flower, the days are warmer at this high altitude, and the sky is an amazing deep blue. The bright yellow tall Primavera trees present spectacular flowers, flashes of yellow that will soon be followed by the Jacaranda tree, this tree is fuller with move blue flowers that fall to the ground much later creating a carpet of stunning blue petals.
Sonia and Dave joined us today on a short
drive to a small peaceful town where we not only supported the cooperative by
purchasing some of their straw creations but also explored the town and enjoyed
a picnic in the plaza. Every small town by the water has a malecon, a walkway
along the lake or sea. In most of the countries I have been to in Latin
America, keeping public spaces by the sea, or lake, and creating gorgeous
plazas in the town center is just a normal feature. It seems aesthetics and the
enjoyment of beauty has always been part of the culture here.
I find it is so sad that back home it is not a
"given" that walkways by the sea are essential to our quality of
life. That green public spaces with benches for the old or tired are not
provided liberally. Yet in so many poorer countries I have visited, nature is
not only featured but expected to be the focal point of any size town.
We had a picnic in a tiny town with large
shade trees, many ornate but comfortable metal benches, and a central raised
circular stage seen in most plazas in Mexico.
Ivan has been gardening and here are some
pictures of both his creations and the artwork at the cooperative!
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