Nuestro Horno

We had a wonderful trip back to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Please do not underestimate how awesome it is to drink water directly from the sink, especially when brushing ones teeth.

Let's hop back on the blog with a quickie that truly demonstrates life in Mexico: our oven.

Shortly after moving in we noticed the knob that controls the oven was broken. We could get it to light but then that knob would just turn and turn and turn. Was it on high? Low? Medium? Never mind my attempts to convert Celsius. So we asked the landlord to have it fixed.

After a visit from the plumber (seriously) I was presented with all new knobs - installed upside down (so "ignite" is on the "off" side and high flame is with the low picture. Sigh.) except the original knob remained on the oven temperature dial.  Just kind of jammed into place. But it works! So they replaced what wasn't broken and half-assed the thing that was.

Sing it with me : whoah, Mexico.

One of these things is not like the other

Hmmm... pretty sure those should be pointing UP

The oven knob

Our things!!!!

Received this email late Tuesday. Is our stuff coming?

Medicines destroyed? 

It is!! Many men and a very large truck arrived around 11 yesterday.

It was full front to back, but not floor to ceiling...

Apparently someone locked the container and it had to be cut.

"Dear OSHA"

They were excellent movers. Worked quickly and did not complain at all when we asked them to move (large) items to different rooms (floors).




So far it seems most everything has made it, with the exceptions of our silverware and linens. I'm pretty confident they are in boxes somewhere... Much still to unpack.  Of course there is some random breakage.  Always buy the insurance.

Sigh.  I really liked this white vase.  Ok, I have a few others.

This box was clearly opened by customs. Luckily I would have labeled the contents "random basement junk drawer items" so we passed with flying colors.



Never underestimate how nice it is to sleep in your own bed and eat on real plates.

Of course if the truck never arrived we could always have shopped here.

Dia de Muerto

On the day Mexicans believe spirits return to earth things got perfectly spooky.

Quick lesson:  the celebration is on November 1 and 2.  On the first, it is the spirits of deceased children who visit, and on the second the adults.  Shrines are erected in cemeteries and other public places in order to lure the spirits back to their loved ones.  Shrines are full of candies (calaveras de azucar - sugar skulls), pan de muerto (delicious bread of the dead) and other things to entice the spirits of the children and, as you would expect, alcohol, personal effects, and other grown up delights (saw some condoms?) to entice the adults.

This is really best described in picture, so I'll let them do the talking.  To set the mood, I think Jason described it perfectly:  remember the opening scene of The Lost Boys?  Early fall, smoky dusk, carnival atmosphere, and just an overall creepy vibe.  That was the Zocalo.  Church bells rang, a crazy concert burst out of loud speakers, people in costume, top-notch alebrijes on display, smoke everywhere from shamans "cleansing" people and incense for the shrines, and even a motorcycle gang dressed like zombies circling the square.  Creepy.  Awesome.

Zocalo, Alebrijes, Crowds, Church

Typical shrine - marigolds are often featured

The crowd at around the Zocalo

Rocks and Marigolds

Skull art

Sugar skull (taken days earlier)

Another shrine

Stilt walkers

Pan de mmmmuerto

There isn't an abundance of pictures, because I was reminded by a stranger to "hold tight to my children." So I did.

Halle-freaking-lujah

I am so tired of plastic plates.