Jack Handy, an American writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003 once said: “A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then you call the guy and hold the burning fuse up to the phone. “Hear that?” You say. “That’s dynamite, baby.””
That might actually work if you could, in fact, get the phone call to actually go through. This brings me to the thread of this blog – Phone Calling 101 – a course that should be offered throughout Mexico for those of us who seem unable to consummate a phone call….of any kind.
David has several friends who meet each day in the town square at 10:00 a.m. for coffee and conversation. He asked, at one of these get-togethers, how does one dial any number and actually get the person to whom they wish to speak?
Without being too loquacious I will try to synopsize some of the answers he received.
If someone gives you a phone number, you dial it. Pretty upfront and one would think easy to follow. (My suggestion, don’t think…just dial.)
If, after dialing you don’t reach the party you intended to reach, or anyone at all for that matter, place a “33” prior to the number. By placing a “33” prior to the number you are calling a Guadalajara number. (Makes sense.)
If after prefacing your number with a “33’ you still don’t reach the party you intended to reach (now I feel like I’m doing a Lilly Tomlin “Ernestine the Telephone Operator” act), it is probably a cell phone number. You ask, quite reasonably, if it’s a cell number, why don’t they say so? This query usually simply gets a look like – well, if it isn’t one then it’s the other. (I can accept that.)
Okay so if it’s a cell number you place a “045” and then a “33” prior to the number. (Please folks, if I’ve got this all wrong, bear with me.)
By way of further information they also explained Mexico City and Guadalajara have 2 digit area codes followed by an 8 digit number. All the rest of Mexico has 3 digit area codes followed by a 7 digit number. Yes, for those of you who are counting, both equal 10 digits and, if you are like me, your head is spinning and the word “duh” is coming up frequently as both a noun and a verb.
To add to all of the above information we have two phones. You’ve got that right folks, a US phone and a Mexican phone. No, they do not translate (Spanish to English or visa versa). We’ve found it unnecessary for them to translate as we never get through on the Mexican phone anyway.
Another problem for us is we are used to phone numbers in the states (that’s reasonable given we both have lived there most of our lives)…a number such as 414.214.4444 tells us instantly the phone number is a Wisconsin number and, if we happen to be out of Wisconsin (we are way out of Wisconsin now!), we will need to dial a “1” prior to that number. When you are given a Mexican number it can look like, for example, 765 5249 y 50 or 763 2330. Looks pretty simple up front, doesn’t it? Don’t let that fool you. By the time you are through you will be puzzled, perplexed, mystified, baffled, bewildered, befuddled, your dialing digit will ache… well you get my drift.
The series of pictures accompanying this blog are of the various phones we have in our house. The phones are labeled both in the pictures below and at home (don’t go there it’s the only way we can remember which phone number goes with which phone). These are followed by several pictures of David in the act of using said phones (and I “use” that term lightly). The last picture is of the only “person” in our house who has been able to do anything with the Mexican phone besides grip it firmly and pray for some type of connection and a friendly voice on the other end! One good thing, neither of us will be threatening anyone soon as neither of us has received our certificate of graduation in Phone Calling “101″. Viva La Mexico!
Phones at Rest
US Phone, Diabolically Simple in Appearance
Mexican Phone - Glibly Facile in Appearance
David – Remaining Calm Under Pressure
David – Audacious in Spirit
Senior Parrot in Charge
Arch_Trees_from Porch
Grace and Beauty
A quote from “Northern Exposure, Three Doctors, 1993 by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider. “Sometimes the mind, for reasons we don’t necessarily understand, just decides to go to the store for a quart of milk”.
David took the two pictures accompanying this post yesterday morning as we sat on our porch eating our lunch…or was it breakfast…whatever and enjoying a little down time.
Down time, you ask, I am sure. Yes, oddly the days are going by rather quickly here….at least so since our furniture/belongings arrived and we’ve begun the nesting process.
I’m sure everyone is aware of the phrase “multiple personalities” also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. My generation will naturally gravitate to “Sybil” a TV movie about Shirley Ardell Mason. The movie came out in 1976 with the character Sybil being played by Sally Fields. It was excellently done and portrayed Shirley’s battle with 16 different personalities – diagnosed by Dr. Cornelia Wilber. Long story short, after 11 years of therapy Dr. Wilber and Ms. Mason were able to combine all of these personalities into one complete self and Shirley seemed content and well adjusted. She went on to teach art and was a prolific painter until her death in 1998.
My area of study, so you’ll have to bear with me as I try to get to my point, although I seem to have misplaced it at the moment. Which, in essence is my point.
We love the beautiful lush green plants (even out of season they are lush). While some of the mountains have lost their color, they are still beautiful, rolling, immense and enchanting. The mornings are sunny and, though the nights may be cool at between 40 and 50 degrees, the days usually are in the high 70’s to 80’s. Nothing to complain about, right? After all, my family in Wisconsin is suffering through it’s first major snow storm with temperatures in the teens and wind chills at 17 degrees below zero and David’s family, in Texas, have had lows and highs pretty close together in the 30’s and 40’s.
One minute we are enjoying all the beauty that Mexico has to offer, and the next we are trying to remember exactly what needs to be accomplished today, what can be put off until tomorrow and what may never happen or, for that matter, does anything “need” to be done at all?
We’ve tried the Jimmy Buffet approach – which works rather well for a while…find a comfy beach chair, sit down, drink and do nothing.
We’ve tried the intrepid traveler stance – let’s walk the area and get to know our surroundings. This too works except that after a while wobbling over cobblestones – no matter how great the exercise is – can put one’s muscles – some we never knew we had – into a uproar.
We’ve jumped in the car and headed into the manic traffic patterns of which David is becoming quite comfortable – good/bad – we’re still unsure. The gleam in his eye could mean he’s enjoying himself or something completely diabolically sacry…I’m not so sure what. And the remnants of city life kick in – we must stop at the farmicia (pharmacy), the Super Lake (large gringo grocery store), Mailboxes Etc. store (speaks for itself), the ferreteria (hardware store) and on and on. Until we realize we are launching ourselves into a frenzy of “must dos” like we were back in the states.
My point, we are gradually trying to contain our many personalities into a single, easy-going, it-will-get-done-when-it-gets-done attitude and it is not going quite as easily as we expected. Good grief, I hope it doesn’t take us 11 years to accomplish.
Right now I’m thinking I really should sweep the house. I’d like to sit down and read. I’d like to get our shared office/studio finished so that we can use it as the view from the mirror door is amazing. We should pick up the laundry.
See what I mean, the insanity of “life” with all its “could do”, “should do”, “must do” phrases preface each thought – not that I’ve ever been accused of thinking too heavily. For now, I think I’ll make this post and move onto the porch with my latest J.D.Robb novel and try to put at bay any of my personalities that think otherwise…or maybe I really should pick up the milk?!
“Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the “right stuff” to turn our dreams into reality.” James Womack is an American biologist and a professor at Texas A&M University
Doors play an important part in our lives. As such, there are all types of doors one that comes to mind is the door that Alice in Wonderland opened and she found a small passage, not much larger then a rat-hole which led her on a number of great adventures.
Then there’s the “Green Door” a popular song composed by Bob Davie with lyrics written by Marvin Moore. The song describes a nondescript establishment with a green door. Behind the door is a happy crowd with playing piano, smoke and lots of laughter and inside which the singer is not allowed.
I’ve stumbled through doors. I’ve stumbled upon doors. I’ve run head long into doors. I’ve forgotten my keys to open doors. I’ve wondered how a door got there or where the heck a door went! I’ve looked longingly at doors I wished I could have opened and others I wished I’d kept shut. I’ve been sent to my room and told to shut the door and think about what I’ve said or done, and the list goes on.
My guess is, given the question “what do you think about doors?”, people would come up with all sorts of answers – some humorous, some sad, some naughty, some nice, some interesting, etc.
Mexico and, in particular, our focus on Ajijic and Chapala, have so many beautiful, curious, thought provoking and simply unique doors David decided to take pictures of each one he saw during our travels throughout the region. These doors have provided us with hours of thought, miles of smiles, invoked conversations on just who might have come up with the artistry for these doors and how very unique and beautiful they can make any establishment seem – when first stumbled upon by an intrepid traveler!
Colors Bright and Cheerful
Color and Character
The Studio
Unique
Gentle Colors
A View from the Top
What is behind this door?
Scenic Street View
Hello? May I come in?
Okay, so it's a window. How many of us have exited or entered through a window in our life time?!
We are still working through our attempts at slaughtering the beautiful Mexican language. I know there is something called “pig Latin” out there and I’m thinking of naming our interpretation of the Mexican language as “Mixed Mexican”. My guess is, however, it won’t catch on judging by the expressions on the faces of people trying desperately to understand what we are yammering about!! Moving ever forward, one night several weeks ago David and I decided we would visit the festivities – before they ended – in Ajijic’s town square.
We ran into our usual assortment of neighborhood dogs on our way to the square. The question has been raised, at least in my mind; do animals speak the language of the region in which they live? Dogs bark in what I consider English as do cats meow and, yet, they also embrace a unilateral language which responds to kindness, nurturing and the occasional dog biscuit (which I’ve taken to carrying every time I go for a walk since I see so many dogs in my travels).
I am an “animal person” meaning I love most furry critters – I do take exception to some but that isn’t something I’d think would be necessary to go into here. I am trying to get used to the “universal” way dogs wonder through the streets of Ajijic as David has assured me they all have homes. I’m not sure I’m “down” with that hence the carting of dog biscuits where ever I go.
I digress, so we set out on our journey to enjoy the festival one last time. The lights, as always were amazing. The activities fun and the people all were having a great time. As we traveled up one street and down the next we came upon vendor after vendor of interesting jewelry, toys, kitchenware, home décor, fanciful desserts, lots of fruits, beautiful flowers and the list goes on.
The pictures that follow are some David took on that evening. He was, as he usually does, able to catch the color and beauty of the evening – so much so that I know you are going to enjoy these pictures as the tell the story of Ajijic’s St. Andrew’s Festival.
Entrance to Town Square
Libations at the Ready
Welcoming Smiles
You Name It, You'll Find It
Music
Song
Rides
Set Up
DVDs
Jewelry
Bracelets
Everyone Having Fun
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck – American Humorist
No where have I seen more togetherness, family spirit, and family happiness then in Mexico. Now, we haven’t been here that long and have not been invited into any of the homes of our neighbors or the few friends we have made in the past month – so our observations are purely based on what we’ve seen throughout any given day here in Ajijic.
Parents waiting, as parents do, to pick up or drop off children at school each day. Women and men walking with a tight arm around an elderly parent. Moms, dads, brothers and sisters holding the hand of a younger child who might trip or dash into the street without warning. Each evening, when we return home, we’ve seen families heading toward the town square – to simply sit and talk, laugh, eat some special treats being sold from homemade kiosks or grilled on barrel grills, or simply watch the kids run and jump around the square.
One Saturday evening, not to long ago, we overhead what sounded like a party right on our doorstep. With the large gates that are in place at the beginning of our property – we often hear but miss seeing what is going on. It was later in the evening but David decided to grab his camera and head out to see what he might be able to catch on film.
The pictures that follow this post are those he took at this special gathering. We had been told when we moved here the people who had rented our home to us were very special. They are a large family and live right next door. Trust me when I say, neither of us are quite sure how they are all linked together, but they are and each and every one of them is gracious, smiling, accommodating and a pleasure to talk with and get to know.
We found out, after we had settled in that one of the brothers, the one who was getting our place ready for us, had been rushed to the hospital with Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever is a flu-like illness generally spread by mosquitoes and found heavily in the tropics. It can be extremely vicious, results in hospital stays as was the case of our neighbor and surgery to stop the illness from spreading. It is not something to be overly concerned about, for those planning on visiting us. If a mosquito bites you and you disinfect it immediately – there is no problem. However, this young man was working and didn’t notice it until it was too late.
He is home now and doing much better but that evening several weeks ago was in response to the family being told he would need an operation. The neighborhood pulled together immediately – and the party began. It was a fund raiser for the family. Everyone attended and from our pictures and the music and happiness it produced – we know it was a huge success.
You will see a large brown gate in many of the pictures. It is the gate to our residence and, as you will notice, the band was set up right in front of it. Consequently, we were able to enjoy the music, great smells and much laughter into the evening. You’ll also have an opportunity to get a closer look at the cobblestone streets that are a part of small town life here. For those planning on visiting, a good pair of walking shoes, tennis shoes, etc. will be important.
Every adventure in our new home in Aijic and the surrounding area brings a new dawning of knowledge for both of us and the ability to share this with our family and friends keeps us connected to those who remain ever so important in our lives – today and always.
Ticket Booth - Just Like in the States
The Menu
Making Change
Hot Food
Wonderful Choices with Lots of Smiles
More Choices
Places to Sit and Chat
All Having a Good Time
Neighbors, Family and Friends
Tuning Up
Let the Music Begin
A Great Time for A Great Cause
A Face of the Evening
Dave Barry (American Writer and Humorist) says: “Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages!”
David does a fine job of “trying” to communicate with our wonderful Mexican neighbors, shop owners, wait staff, etc and everyone else here…I’m not doing as well.
That being said, last evening, after a trip to Home Depot and Sam’s in Guadalajara, we began sharing our thoughts on our lovely journey. Laugher is good for the heart and soul!
The journey was, in fact, very nice since we took a different route in and found both places fairly easily. I think it was a combination of easier and less traveled roads and the fact that David has learned to drive like a seasoned maniac (no offense to the Mexican people as you rarely see accidents and EVERYONE ELSE seems to drive the same way – fast and furious). The countryside with its high mountains shrouded in clouds and beautiful valleys a-glisten in the afternoon sunshine permeated our travel. Small villages with the ever prominent and always simple and beautiful church steeples dotted the countryside. Vast fields of green, copper, burnt orange and flowers of red, deep purple, pink, white stretched for miles in either direction.
There are times, when traveling through the country side; I expect to see Zorro come flying toward us on his trusty steed, black cape flying in the breeze and eyes covered by the ever-present mask. You do see caballeros (charro or cowboys) on horseback often – in town or in the country – thank goodness none of whom are wearing masks or that would lead me into an entirely different story.
Before we moved to Mexico our dear friends, Linda and Charlie, gave us some much needed advise in regard to what phrases one needs to know – like “where’s the bathroom” and “how much is that” which they translated into Mexican for us and I promptly forgot. Another friend, Ruth, gave us “good morning”, “good afternoon”, “good day”, “good evening” which I always get wrong and I suspect everyone simply thinks I don’t have a clue as to the time of day.
The longer we are here, however, the more we enjoy the simple act of shopping for our needs and finding out how kind, considerate (most people we meet don’t laugh out loud at our shattering of their mother tongue) some just simply smile and answer us in the correct “turn of phrase”.
That leads me to our humorous conversation last evening. David mentioned while watching a re-play of a football game on TV the other day the announcer said, in his deepest professional voice, the Super Bowl would be held at ‘Estadio Land Shark en Miami’ (Dolphin’s Stadium in Miami) this year. David had to wonder if someone had been watching old Saturday Night Live shows when they wrote the ad. Then there was the movie we started watching where they didn’t even try to change the title because even “they” couldn’t figure out what to call it in Mexican “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, or “Time Cop” which came out ‘El Policio de Futuro” which we figure meant “Policeman of the Future”. Well, you get my drift – we are extremely apologetic about slaughtering the Mexican language and will keep trying…I think, although after seeing David try to explain our need to the person at Home Depot in Guadalajara, I may re-think that statement.
We are trying to hook up our washer and dryer. The washer requires the necessary hoses for the hot and cold water. David was looking for the couplings needed to make this happen. When the young man he asked to help us did not seem to understand what he was saying he launched into hand gestures. Hand gestures don’t work when trying to explain the “female” and “male” connector parts. The guy kept sneaking peaks at me and shaking his head….I guess you had to be there. My solution, before even speaking (something I try to do rarely) I will simply find the Mexican translation to preface anything I say with: “excuse me, I’m from a different planet” giving them good reason to question my sanity.
We are both wondering how “Mother Jugs and Speed” would translate from Mexican to English.
Below are some beautiful pictures David took of our journey from Ajijic to Home Depot in Guadalajara.
I’ve added the last picture – he did take it on the trip back – just because we both got a kick out of it!
The Village Ahead
A Beautiful Valley
Expanse Caught on Camera
The Road Ahead
Santa in a Jam
“The garden gazebo is a thing of beauty, it has been known that in the past kings and queens had enjoyed gazebos in their royal gardens, setting up a trend of garden gazebos for history’s rich and famous.” Irish Gazebos, Caherdaniel, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland
Gazebos have been around for centuries. 5,000 years ago they ornamented Egyptian gardens of the very wealthy which they felt substituted as earthly paradises. In the Middle Ages (14th century) France had four gazebos built at the Louvre. However they did not gain popularity in the U.S. until the 18th century with the prosperity of the new middle classes.
Now, gazebos and/or band shells can be found in almost every town square – Mexico is no exception.
During the past week of revelry, some of the most interesting shots David took were of the gazebo in Ajijic’s town square. We noticed even during our trip to Guadalajara last spring, almost every town square has a gazebo and it serves as the centerpiece for not only the beauty of the area but all of the activities associated with family get-togethers…for that is what seems to take place each and every evening here in Mexico.
The town square is where everyone heads, particularly at the end of a long day, to sit and “people watch”, eat some of the wonderful foods of the area, watch the children run (for they don’t seem to have a walk mode!) , the local dogs visit and guard the area and people enjoy the very uniquely Mexican way of life which seems to be centered around family and friends.
A glass of lemonade, wine, Tequila, or whatever, enhances the beauty of the moment. As a beautiful sunset descends upon Lake Chapala with its soft pinks, brilliant blues and wispy white clouds – the square comes alive.
Here are some photos David took as he walked through the square after evening had descended and the festivities had begun. I’m sure you will enjoy the spectacular display of lights and motions he has captured so well in each of the pictures.
Blue Hues
Purple Hues
Gentle White
Soft Colors
Beauty and Light
Pablo Casals, a Spanish Cellist and Conductor (1876-1973) said “The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.”
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy (America’s 35th President) (1917 to 1963)
Over the course of the many parades of this last week, David has been taking pictures and, believe it or not, I have taken a very few as well.
Children are such a precious commodity. No matter where I have traveled, no matter how many children I’ve seen, their smiles, laughter, tears, excitement and joy – though expressed in different languages – has brightened the day and given hope to a tired soul.
Ajijic is no different. Its children are very much a part of the fabric of life here. No matter how early or, for that matter, how late the parades may begin – there are always children marching or sitting on the curbs, in doorways and windows cheering. The excitement that shows on their faces and the laughter that accompanies the music is heart warming.
This morning, as with most mornings this past week, the church bells began tolling all over Ajijic before 6:00 a.m. Along with the church bells came the fireworks, the melodious tones of the doggies’ chorus, the drums kicking out a cadence for the marchers who soon followed, again accompanied with the laughter of the children.
Of course, one would wonder: “do they ever sleep?” My guess, after this past week, is no! Believe it or not, it has not been annoying. We have not awakened or, for that matter, tried to sleep saying when will this end? The music, food, beauty, lights, etc have so quickly become comforting. A lullaby for an evenings rest.
Have you ever had the opportunity to fall asleep with a mariachi band playing a tune that you wake up the next morning humming? If you haven’t, try it. No sleep aides needed for the music whisks you away into a gentle slumber from which you awaken refreshed and ready to greet another day. Thank goodness for that, otherwise there would be a bunch of ornery people traipsing through the streets of Ajijic this entire week!
A Neighbors Smile
Neighbors Saying "Hola"
The Best Neighbors
Natural Beauty
Little Friend on the Square
Two Friends
Little Cowboy
Sweet Smile
“Round the centre of the covered market, where there is a basin of water, are the flowers: red, white, pink roses in heaps, many-colored little carnations, poppies, bits of larkspur, lemon and orange marigolds, buds of madonna lilies, pansies, a few forget-me-nots. They don’t bring the tropical flowers. Only the lilies come wild from the hills, and the mauve red orchids.” - – - D. H. Lawrence Mornings in Mexico
I spent quite a bit of time researching Mexican History this morning. It is fascinating. I wanted to follow my last post with more pictures of the parade David captured at the beginning of the week.
The quote above talks of the beauty of a morning in Mexico, yet those very colors it mentions are even more prominent in the clothing the people wear to celebrate their history.
The festival dedicated to the patron saint of Ajijic (St. Andrew) began on November 20th which is also the anniversary of the Revolution of 1910. It started because the Mexican people were not happy with the dictator rule of President Porfino Diaz. It didn’t simply encompass the peasants. The revolution included people of all classes including the upper and middle classes. The poor struggled with inflation, inferior housing and low wages and, basically, no social services. Everyone fought – men, women and children.
Yet, as you look at the pictures below you will see – though there is still much poverty here and life is definitely not anything like living in the States – there are smiles and happiness on the faces of everyone, especially the children, that become contagious.
The week has been filled with bells, bangs, barks and beauty. Almost each morning we are awakened (oddly not ever at any specific time usually beginning at just before sunrise – this is probably why the roosters are so screwed up here!) you will hear fireworks, bells sounding and marching bands. And, of course, there is the doggie chorus ever present in daily life here. They are a part and parcel of the fabric that makes Mexico so interesting.
Yes, folks, you’ve got that right, anywhere from your typical marching band, to drum and bugle corps, mariachi bands, and high-tech loud speakers with current Mexican music resounding through the streets. Thus begins another day of celebration. The Mexican people, in my humble opinion, have perfected the art of celebrating. They excel at it.
(Note: my posts are taking a bit longer to arrive since we finally received our furniture on Monday and are unpacking and luxuriating in the comfort of a real honest to goodness bed).
Please, again, enjoy the beauty of this place captured by the camera that is ever-present in David’s hand and his ability to tell a story without words.
Peasants and Soldiers Alike
The March Continues
Drum and Bugle Corp (Great View of Cobblestones)
Constitution 1917
Dignateries
Crowd Control by Neighborhood Guardian
Father and Son - Faces of Happiness
Next President of Mexico
Splashes of Color and Beauty Everywhere
Beauty Queens
A Job Well Done
“The nicest thing about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you’re doing someone else does.”
I believe we live in the heart of Ajijic. Even without being told we do, Hidalgo seems to be the starting point for parades, block parties, activities that connect the area and its people. And quite often, dear reader, I have no clue as to what is going on. Thank goodness David does and everyone else does, for that matter.
That being said, we were for-warned about this week. Do you enjoy noise? Do you happen to have any ear plugs? How do you handle continuous excitement, activity, marching bands, sirens going off continuously, drums being pounded at what seems like odd hours, and the list goes on. And, of course, there is the constant chorus of dogs barking and roosters cackling…no matter what time of day it is.
This week is the biggest fiesta of the year for Ajijic celebrating its patron saint, Saint Andrew. These are naturally joyous and friendly people and, give them a fiesta, and the heavens open wide with their celebration. Everyone is welcome. Smiles and laughter are their way of sharing their joy…from November 20th through the 30th…along with great food, great music and much merriment.
These are the first set of pictures, out of so many David has shot, that we both decided to call a story in pictures.
Jose Doroteo Arango Arambula (5 June 1878 – 20 July 1923), better known as Pancho Villa, was one of the first Mexican revolutionary generals along with Ramiro Cervantes and Uriel Carrasco. And then there were the soldaderas (paid soldiers basically females hired by the soldiers to work as servants doing domestic chores while they were in camp) women who fought for the revolutions as well – no domestic chores for them. Names such as Rosa Bobadilla, Carmen Amelia Robles and Petra Ruiz among many others. (If I’ve made any mistakes in the above narrative, please bear with me as I learn about our wonderful Mexican neighbors and their birthright.)
The pictures below are of young school children – everyone marches in the parade – dressed in celebration of their heritage. Most of the “young couples” holding hands as they marched toward the town square. What is interesting about these photos is the progression of the young lady and her various reactions to having her image recorded and her companion, seemingly oblivious to all the various antics of his partner. All of the pictures were taken on the street just outside our door.
Enjoy, for there are more to come.
Peasant Uprising 1
Peasant Uprising 2
Peasant Uprising 3
Peasant Uprising 4
Peasant Uprising 5 - The Smile Says It All
