Have Guts, Will Travel

Physical Theatre Performance Workshop in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

2010-01-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

After I taught a 15 hour weekend performance workshop in 'teatro fisico', a group of 13 performers improvised for an hour in the streets of San Cristobal de las Casas - 6 Mexicans, 5 Argentinians, 1 Spaniard & 1 Italian. They were incredible !

Performer Portraits

2010-01-24T22:13:00.000-08:00

My last weekend in San Cristobal de las Casas I was gifted with a group of incredibly talented workshop participants - intense, highly imaginative & beautiful. I can't believe it ever gets better than this! I am so grateful for my life. Those are rubber gloves on their heads. They were pollxs, chickens who play with their eggs! There was a rubber chicken too. Here is a photo of the group doing close-up magic with the tiny rubber chicken who lays an egg. It probably sounds nuts. With this madness we all learned a lot individually plus had a profound group experience.

Thank you to the greater forces that allowed each of us to be present for this collision of energies. Thank you too to Gabriela Ottogalli, the local great force who keeps the traditions alive in San Cristobal de las Casas & creates opportunities for performance.

Colors of Chiapas

2010-01-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

Living Pictures Class - final day's performance

2009-07-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Sculpture Garden adjacent to Palo Alto's Main Library.

Picasso's Familia de Saltimbancos

Portrait Gallery

Palo Alto Art Center - Living Pictures Class

2009-07-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Camp Winnarainbow for Adults - Solstice

2009-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

The labyrinth, a rock sculpture in the creek & Wavy Gravy being confronted by his evil twin, Lumpy Gravy.

Parade & Clown Banquet in Big Show Winnarainbow for Adults

2009-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Los Espectaculocos - performance photos

2009-03-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

Los Espectaculocos - rehearsal photos

2009-03-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

I met half of the people in these photos for the first time on March 11th, when they arrived to take a Teatro Fisico performance workshop that I taught in the stunning new theatre of LaFOMMA, Fortaleza de la Mujer Maya.

Four days later they performed like a cohesive group to the delight of the general public, the women of FOMMA & certainly myself. Thank you Elizabeth, Fernanda, Gabriela, Luisa, Manon, Luis & Rafael. Thank you to the women of FOMMA & Doris Difarnacio of Instituto Hemisferico.

Sister Warriors at Poncho's Stencil Art Exhibit

2009-03-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

There were 3 Sister Warriors who captured the King & banished him, crown first, at the opening of Poncho's art exhibit at FOMMA: Gabriela Ottogalli, a superb, flaming, red-headed Argentinian performance force; Rossi who works at the Internet Cafe in FOMMA; & myself. I don't know the photographer's name, but the accordion player is Kata from Quebec, who plays with the San Cristobal de las Casas band Fractal. The art is Poncho's stencil art.

Masks - Create & Animate

2009-02-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico - Feb. 18-27, together with Victoria of FOMMA, we offered a workshop in mask making & masked improvisation. The above are photos of that process & performance.

Green Cay Purple Gallinule, Delray, Florida

2008-11-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

Green Cay Nature Reserve, Delray, Florida

2008-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

Baby Alligators

Glossy Ibis

Egret

Wood Stork

Limpkin

Orchid Society Gardens in Delray, Florida

2008-11-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Garden at the Orchid Society, Delray, Florida

2008-11-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

Boat Through the Everglades - Holiday Park

2008-10-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Self As Model

2008-10-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

When you are alone a lot & drawn to life drawing, you find yourself drawing yourself a lot. These are two old & two recent drawings of myself by myself.

Cover Art

2008-08-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

This week I taught at Palo Alto Art Center - classes in autobiography & self-portraiture. These are some examples of covers created for the sketch books that each teen participant was given the first class. Except for one. Guess whose self-portrait the first cover is?

Winnarainbow for Adults 2008 - Big Show

2008-06-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here comes Wavy Gravy, leading the parade!

Then it is time for the Big Show.

Nao & Txi - Captured by Frankie LaFoto

2008-06-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

From Featured Teacher Talent Night at Winnarainbow for Adults 2008

Weeding the Labyrinth at Camp Winnarainbow 2008

2008-06-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

San Cristobal Performance Photos

2008-03-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

Performance in San Cristobal de las Casas on March 9th, 2008

2008-03-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Albany Bulb - Nature, Industrial Waste & Art

2007-10-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Whereas I am only getting around to posting these in October, they were taken in August 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. This small protruding peninsula was created by the dumping of industrial waste. When they stopped dumping there, natural began to reclaim the area, & then came the artists..............

Who Is That Masked Santa, Where does she think she is going?, Who is that Masked Dog? Why does he look so satisfied?

2007-09-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Great T-Shirt Escape

2007-09-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Kids Show - la Escuelita in Atizapan de Zaragoza

2007-07-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

This was such an amazing experience. I lead workshops that facilitated a school community to come together to perform pieces they created from tools that I gave them. It had all of the elements of a fairy tale - fairies, witches & a rock band with dancers. Some of the school volunteers & a teacher were also in the kids' show.

After a short but beautiful guitar recital from a group of 10 local musicians, the teachers & parents performed their piece. I think we all felt the magic of theatre envelop us that afternoon. I think it left lasting impressions. These are photos of the adult group - teachers, volunteers, parents of students at the school & one older sister who took both classes I taught. She had to survive 4 hours of my Spanish. It was an experience I would be happy to repeat.

San Angel, Mexico City

2007-07-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Art Camp

2007-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

My two classes on show day. The racoons.
The puma.
The monster.

My class of youngest kids. They were real sweet! With them is Sarah, my helpful assistant.

Camp Winnarainbow for Adults 2007 Parade & Big Show

2007-07-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

Camp Winnarainbow Time Again - Yippee!!!!

2007-05-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

In 2007 Winnarainbow for Adults takes place June 12 - 17 in Mendocino County, California, at a ranch just off Route 101. You can go to www.campwinnarainbow.org click on Adult Camp & you will find the registration form. We have the best collection of teachers & workshop leaders we have ever assembled. We welcome campers 18 years & older of all skill levels. For some campers this is the holiday that sustains all year. For others it is a chance to improvise with your friends, new & old, in a highly supportive atmosphere. For most of us it is BIG FUN! Please consider joining Wavy Gravy & I for this week of weeks, an experience to remember.

Wonders in March in Berkeley, California

2007-03-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

De Young Museum in San Francisco

2007-03-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I visited the de Young & took these photographs. Life is a visual feast! The last shot might actually be a BART underground station on my journey from Berkeley to San Francisco.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

2007-03-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

I flew home to Vancouver today. A week ago I visited the SFMOMA & saw the current exhibit of Picasso & the Americans he influenced. These photos are of the foyer, stairs, ceilings & halls. They won't let you photograph the art. The building smiled though.

Parade & Performance - My Workshop Students

2007-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Performance Workshop, San Cristobal de las Casas

2007-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

2007-02-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

La Huella

2007-02-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

La Huella is a performing troupe of 3 women, an Argentinian, a Cuban & an Italian, who met, live & work out of San Cristobal de las Casas.

San Cristobal de las Casas Stencil Street Art

2007-02-24T11:28:00.000-08:00

Chip Norris's Gourd Sculptures & 2 Floral Arrangements

2007-02-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

2007-02-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

Where Am I?

2007-02-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

You might be wondering. I am in Vancouver until Friday, when I return to Berkeley & San Francisco for almost 4 weeks more. The photos I am posting from here are California & Mexico shots. Last night Adad had an installation at the Vancouver Art Gallery. I will post a shot or two from last night soon. However, in the meanwhile..........here are 2 Berkeley mailboxes.

24th St. Murals, Serpents & Painted House, San Francisco

2007-02-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

Flynn Elementary School Murals, San Francisco

2007-02-22T12:13:00.000-08:00

Sibley Park Labyrinth, Oakland, California

2007-02-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

Albany Bulb Sculptures & Graffiti

2007-02-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

Albany Bulb, California

2007-01-04T01:50:00.000-08:00

Albany Bulb - Art Bark Park

2006-12-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

These dogs are all the work of one artist who visits Albany Bulb. A haven for artists & off-leash dogs, this park was once a landfill site. For many years San Francisco dumped its demolition wastes here. After they stopped the dumping, the bulb, which protrudes into the East Bay, was taken over by both nature & artists. These puppies in hats were all painted pointing left, a subtle political message with which I sympathize.

All of the art is created utilizing the industrial remains piled everywhere to build this land mass. I have been visiting this park for many years & each time I come, there are new structures & paintings.

Tree Decorating Party

2006-12-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

Tonight I attended a party in the Berkeley hills. Being as this morning we had the third small earthquake of the last 4 days, there was a bit of excitement in the home in which we had the party, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. We ate well & decorated the unusual tree that you see below.

UBC & the MOA

2006-12-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

I am in Berkeley, California for the holidays, but the photos I am posting are still from Vancouver, BC. These are some totems up at UBC, the University of British Columbia & the stunning Museum of Anthropology building at UBC. The photo with multiple totems is the Haida longhouse behind the MOA.

Snow Capped Mountain Backdrop

2006-12-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

This was Vancouver yesterday.

Boil Water Advisory Cancelled

2006-11-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

They have cancelled the boil water advisory, but we are under 8 inches of snow & it is colder than I can remember it being here for several years. It is the new Vancouver in the new world.

The Slinky Family

2006-11-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

These are portraits of my beloved friends, the Slinky Family. They visited me this past summer in Vancouver. We had fun slinking & slunking around this fine city in its glorious summerness.

Couldn't Be My Photos, Because I'm In Most of Them

2006-11-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

They are Chris Randle's photos. This is the butoh we do on the beach. The next performances will be August 11 & 12, 2007. It's called the Wreck Beach Butoh Project & Kokoro Dance puts it together & choreographs the group. It sure beats war as an activity!

My Photos of Great Art by Other Artists

2006-11-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

These are all from a visit to the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco this past summer.

Butoh on the Beach Trios, photos by Chris Randle

2006-11-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

I Love My Work

2006-11-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

Today I spoke to my mother & she again asked me how come I left that job I had that gave me a regular salary. These four photos are the reason, & it was worth it. One needs to give one's greatest gift. At this time in my life it seems that mine is helping to build Fools of the Trade.

Trunks in Fairchild Gardens, Miami, Florida

2006-11-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

Butoh on the Beach

2006-11-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

A welcome addition to my summers has been Kokoro Dance's Wreck Beach Butoh Project. The two weeks of rehearsal always shake up any notion that I had about being in shape. And my aging brain sharpens up while attempting to learn the choreography as quickly as all of the young dancers. I have just looked at some stunning photos by Chris Randle of the summer 2006 version. There are too many beautiful photos to post at one time, but a cluster of photographs of duos from the performance jumped out. I hope you enjoy them.

This coming summer 2007 the performances will take place on Aug. 11th & 12th in Vancouver. Put it on your 2007 calendar. Or better yet, learn the choreography & dance with us. It is a 2 week devotion, but worth every ounce of energy it takes.

Fairchild Gardens in Miami with my cousin Jane

2006-11-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

Here you see Jane & I, an incredible lily pond, a wall of baby orchids & a pineapple. I loved Fairchild Gardens.

Morikami Gardens in Florida

2006-11-01T22:39:00.000-08:00

The bird is a female anhinga & it is an iguana in the tree at Morikami Gardens.

Florida Wildlife

2006-10-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

It is hard to imagine this alligator is real, until it decides to move, sometimes quite quickly. And the egrets positioned behind it on this small island did not seem put off.

This anhinga has speared itself a fish & is about to eat it whole.

This tri-colored heron was standing on the railing around the boardwalk that allowed me to walk around Wakotahatchee Wetlands, where I saw all of these animals.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig!

2006-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

It is always great to get home to Vancouver. My son Adad visited for a few days & now has returned to his home in Montreal. I have discovered the Aquatic Centre & walked over yesterday & swam for 45 minutes. Tomorrow I will swim at the Y with my daughter Kefi. Life is good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

I am now in Florida

2006-09-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

So I am in Florida helping my parents through hurricane season. Luckily, there are no hurricanes at the moment & it actually looks quite calm in the forecast so far. It is, however, 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of the day, so who knows what tomorrow might bring. And so far no photos until I get back to Vancouver, but that too might change. We'll see.

Vote Now for Your Favorite Headshot

2006-09-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

You are viewing some of the headshots that my son Adad took of me yesterday. If you have any opinions about which one might get me some work, you are invited to reply in the comments.

Headshots by Adad

2006-09-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Masks in Chiapas

2006-09-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

If you look back to my November 2005 posting from San Cristobal de las Casas, you will see the beginning stages of the mask workshop that I taught for FOMMA, Fortaleza de la Mujer Maya, Strength of the Mayan Woman. They are an indigenous women's theatre company & I taught two members of the company to make both papier mache & latex masks. The above mask was the sample that I made to demonstrate the process. The other masks in this posting were made by the women in the workshop.

These are the latex masks made by Marie & Victoria. They are half masks. After taking this photo of Marie in a mask, we added a mop to see what it would look like as hair.

Latex is good for depicting old people I find. The next three masks fulfilled the original request for an old couple, two youngsters & a jaguar. These next three are papier mache masks.

Artichoke

2006-09-04T22:07:00.000-07:00

Holocaust Memorial Outside the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco

2006-09-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

Palo Alto Arts Center Parasol Project - June 2006

2006-09-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Datura Blooms in Berkeley in June

2006-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Camp Winnarainbow Adults

2006-09-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Tree

2006-09-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

This photo is a tree in a San Francisco neighborhood, strung with red flags that the sun shone upon.

I've Been Inspired Again

2006-09-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

After letting my blog slip since April, I am posting today because I just read my son Adad's blog & was encouraged to get going again.

Above is a photo I took of Juanita Rusev emerging from a tipi to attend the Croquet & Tea Party during Winnarainbow for Adults' 6-day June camp at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville, California. The character with the umbrella is me, in a photo that Juanita took of me that same day. This photo is proof that I didn't evaporate last April when the blog lagged.

NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

2006-04-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

WINNARAINBOW FOR ADULTS 2006 is taking place JUNE 13 - 18 in Laytonville, California. It is our 20th year of this Performing Arts & Circus Camp for adults of all ages & skill levels.

Wavy Gravy says "BIG FUN, or your money back!"

We have inspired teachers, excellent food & an idyllic site.

To register you should call: (510) 525-4304. And to learn more about this amazing 6 day experience, you can look at the website, www.campwinnarainbow.org

I posted these camp photos to give you a feel of the adventure. These were taken by Frankie Kerr, the tap dance teacher at Winnarainbow for Adults.

The first photo is the center of Wavy Gravy's labyrinth, the spirit of camp.

The second photo is Hiroko Sadamori dancing on stage during teacher talent night.

And the last photograph is one of those group shots we always take at the Croquet & Tea Party in the middle of the camp week.

Come join us this coming summer! We'll put you in the picture. Bring your friends. I'm sure they would love to meet our friends. 2006 promises to be the best camp yet!

Cut and Paste Lawn

2006-04-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was walking to the gym the other day & these guys were sodding a neighbor's yard, creating an instant new lawn. They had almost finished but still had a bunch of sod rolls left. I asked what they do with the leftovers. Buddy said that they dump the extra rolls, because they must be used right away. I asked if he would dump any leftovers around the corner in front of my house. No problem, he said.

So when I got back from the gym, there was a stack of sod rolls, waiting for me to do something with them. My friend Maggie was with me & we got to work. It was cutting & laying out, like a carpet. It didn't take long & was a lot of fun to do.

And now it is a rich green plushness. There is just one thing, I guess I forgot about this aspect. You see, now, it needs to be cut. I can't ignore that part of having a lawn. Or can I? Maybe I can let it grow & braid it. Anyway, it looks real good right now.

Snapshots of Surrey

2006-03-29T18:07:00.000-08:00

Surrey is a suburb of Vancouver. In March I worked on an elementary school mask project. It was hard work & hours of travel, but gosh it was big fun! Kids take a lot of energy, but they also give an enourmous amount of energy back. There were 2 different shows, with more than 500 children in each show. They act out little scenes, as if an album of photographs comes to life before your eyes. Besides helping the kids to generate ideas & develop small pieces of theatre, I also had an opportunity to make props. You can see the cardboard coyote head I created the weekend before the show & the cellphones that all those kids are using I made of cardboard & tape. The masks in the photos are Gina Bastone's. It was her mask project that I worked on in March.

Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Theatre

2006-03-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Theatre was in Vancouver for the Vancouver International Dance Festival. First generation butoh masters Koichi & Hiroko Tamano & two budding butoh dancers, Hiroko Sadamori & Aya showed us an evening of butoh at its best. Here are some photos from the dress rehearsal. Hiroko Tamano will be teaching with us at Camp Winnarainbow for Adults this coming June 13-18.

The Streets of San Cristobal de las Casas

2006-01-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

These guys were dancing down the streets of San Cristobal with their pheasant feathers, just a few days before I left last month. They were part of a parade during the festivities associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe. The next photo is the view up Real de Guadalupe & in the distance you can see Huitapec mountain, the mountain on which I lived. And the last photo is a gate I walked past many times on my route between the offices of FOMMA, the indigenous women's theatre group I work with, & the big market. Ah, the colors..............

De Young Museum

2005-12-14T22:56:00.000-08:00

These photos are from my visit to the deYoung Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with my friend Juanita.

Yesterday's Workshop

2005-12-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

We had big fun mixing butoh & bouffon & we will do more tomorrow & Monday. Stay tuned.

Baharei House Almost Finished

2005-12-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

You might remember that I was helping some wonderful Tseltal Mayan craftsmen build a house with Santiago, the son of my friend Luis. The house is almost finished. This is the window I helped to install.

More Feathers From Angel

2005-12-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Amatenango Workshop Participants

2005-11-26T13:40:00.000-08:00

Steaming Mound of Wood & Earth

2005-11-24T13:54:00.000-08:00

This smoking pile has been outside my bedroom window for several days. It is the handiwork of Don Victor, who is making charcoal from tree stumps that were uprooted by Hurricane Stan. It smells great.

Nature is Incredible

2005-11-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

Actor, Dancer & Juggler

2005-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

These photos are of Ivan Ramirez, a very talented local performer. If you have been following my blog for a long time, you might remember Ivan from the cast of Señor de la Tierra. This winter he is in a dance production called La Senda de las Maya.

Feathers of an Angel

2005-11-24T13:33:00.000-08:00

This piece of art was created by this San Cristobal de las Casas artist named Angel. A stunning array of local feathers.

It´s My Daughter's 30th Birthday Today

2005-11-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

I would love to wish my daughter an excellent day & will help her celebrate when I get home in December. In the meantime, I am going to Guatemala tomorrow for a long weekend, so you can expect some more photos after I return on Sunday.

Doors

2005-11-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

As I was walking to the second workshop I gave today I thought I would take some photos of the inviting doors of San Cristobal de las Casas. The last door is the door to the house in which I gave the workshop & the bougamvilla is in the yard of the house.

Making Masks

2005-11-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

I have been teaching two women from the San Cristobal de las Casas theatre group FOMMA how to make masks. We are modeling them in clay & then covering the clay with latex in the case of the older people portrayed & covering them in papier mache' in the case of the young people portrayed. We will also make the jaguar mask out of papier mache'. FOMMA stands for Fortaleza de la Mujer Maya, which translates as Strength of the Mayan Woman.

These are photos of the masks in progress & the women who I am teaching to make them.

Grafitti from the Streets of San Cristobal de las Casas

2005-11-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

My sentiments exactly!

Helping Local Guys Build with Local Materials

2005-11-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

These are the local Mayan guys from Amatenango, who speak Tseltal & build in the traditional way. This is Tomas the dad & Silviano, one of his sons. I helped them for two days, learned a tiny bit of Tseltal & had a memorable & much fun time of it.

This is the structure we were building. It is being built of twigs cut locally & nailed to both sides of posts. This coming week they will create a mud of dirt dug just meters from the house, & dry pine needles collected from the local forest. They will then throw this mud between the twigs & create mud walls for this structure, an Earth Ship that Santiago, the son of my friend Luis is building for himself on their ranch.

This is the front porch of the ranch house. And following is the kitchen that we cooked in by candlelight, since there is no electricity there, except what can be collected by one solar panel feeding a batteried generator, which is mostly used to charge cell phones & operate Santiago's computer.

And this is where I slept, upstairs in the ranch house. The sun flooded in each morning at 7, waking up the cell phone bird, who promptly woke me. The cell phone bird is some form of grackle or magpie that has learned to reproduce the sounds of many things, but chose the cell phone ring with which to wake me each morning.

And now I am back in San Cristobal, my friend Alejandra is home & a new week begins. Hasta luego.

Day of the Dead

2005-10-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

I have the week off because of the festivities around the Day of the Dead & am going to the country to my buddy's ranch to help his son build a home called an Earth Ship. However, before I go, I am going to post some photos of various altars that have been constructed in San Cristobal de las Casas for the Day of the Dead. Happy Halloween to you that celebrate that holiday, and I am also including some photos from a party I attended with friends this past Saturday night. See if you can recognize me.

Getting Around San Cristobal de las Casas

2005-10-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is one of the casas in San Cristobal de las Casas. I love the bouganvilla. There is a city ordinance that makes it impossible now to build any building taller than two stories, which keeps the city's character in tact.

Getting around on foot is fairly easy still & I spend more than two hours a day walking I would guess. However, I live on top of a surrounding mountain & get to town every day by combi. A combi is a VW minibus converted to hold as many folks as possible. In fact, my last ride had 13 adults, 3 kids & 3 infants all in one combi, along with everyone's groceries, including a live chicken. The combi costs me about 40 cents for the 20 minute ride into town. It would only cost me 25 cents, but none of the drivers believe that I am over sixty, the age at which the fare gets reduced. I have a 10 minute walk down to the road to catch my combi & a 15 minute walk up to the house on my way home.

It is also possible to take a taxi up there, but I have only done that once. It costs about 3 dollars for the taxi. Speaking of transportation, there is another type of vehicle worthy of mention. It is a kind of pick-up truck with a covered back. It appears that people rent them when they need to transport people or cargo. What I like about these is that they have things written across the front of them. Here are some I jotted down on my way to town today, translated into English, of course.
King of Kings
Gift of God
The Way of Heaven is our Destiny
God is Divine
God is my Best Friend
Black Virgin

As you can see, they mostly have religious overtones, as does most everything in Mexico. On my way to this computer though, I saw one that I really liked & have taken a photo of it for you. Here it is. I hope you don't need a translation.

Home Sweet Home

2005-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have succeeded in posting pictures because I have taken them in the smallest format that my camera would allow me, thereby making it unneccesary to reduce them before posting. So now you can expect more photos. The three posted here are from the wonderful home I am staying in. The first one is the chair that I read in beside the fireplace that has been keeping me warm on these cool mountain evenings. The other two are plants in the inner courtyard.

And now I am off to the gym. Some things change, but others don't. It would take a herd of wild horses to keep me from the gym, & so I have found one here in San Cristobal & am a frequent user. I will post more pictures soon, now that I have found a route that works.

Old Dog, New Tricks

2005-10-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

I thinkI figured out how to re-size my photos so I can include the images for you here on my blog. I did it from my camera onto a computer using Corel, which I never used before. This was almost as fulfilling as fixing my car when it broke down, one of those things that you never know you can do until you do it. The four I have re-sized for today are a church in festive mode in San Cristobal de las Casas here in Chiapas & a shot of my friend Milena with a painted jester. The other two photos are from my 22 hour stopover in SF on the way to Guatemala City. I hope you enjoy them. And now you can expect more images in the future. The murals were down an alley, which was full of murals in SF. Many of them had Latin American themes, as these two do. The alley is called Balmy St. & is somewhere off Mission.

It is a good thing that I don't still have a car. So much for new tricks. After two tries at submitting what I thought were re-sized photos, Blogger rejected my attempts & so again all I can post today are words & apologies. I thought maybe I would delete the paragraph above, but in the end decided to leave you with my good intentions & descriptions of what you might have seen & continue in pursuit of an adequate route to post photos.

How Do I Get So Busy So Fast?

2005-10-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

There is hardly time to make blog entries. I am teaching English, learning Spanish, doing mask workshops with a Mayan women's theatre group, house-sitting a stunning home on a mountain & having another time of my life. Thank you to the universe for its generosity. I will try to post some more photos tomorrow, for today I can only offer these few words.

The People of San Cristobal de las Casas Collect Supplies in Solidarity with Hurricane Victims

2005-10-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Stan's Muddy Signature

2005-10-12T12:27:00.000-07:00