Loco Febrero

Guicho grew up in the country. If we need a weather forecast, we ask him and he goes outside, looks at the sky, and comes back with a report. After four or five days of dramatic storming interspersed with intense sunshine and blue skies last week and weekend, Guicho explained that this is 'Loco Febrero,' the month of rapidly alternating extremes. It only seems appropriate, given that this month is also the month of Valentine's day; perhaps the February weather here in Guanajuato reflects the heart and its predictably unpredictable vicissitudes.

Although I did notice the shelves at Mega stocked with Valentine's Day candy, a more noteworthy February holiday (at least to this gringa) was Candelaria -- the 40th day after Christmas. Remember when I found Jesus in the cake several weeks ago? Feb. 2nd was the appointed day that I was supposed to throw a party. I made a cake, and had some help with the rest of the food. According to the story, it was the day Christ was presented by his parents at the temple. I found this information online, by the way -- I sat at a whole table of Mexican people eating carnitas (gloriously fatty pork and tortillas), but none of them could explain the meaning of the holiday, or why we saw people in the streets carrying around Christ dolls swaddled in blankets. Religion is strange.

Met some wonderful people who stayed here at the b+b for a couple of nights -- Franz and Helga. Both German but have lived in the U.S. and abroad for the last 30 years. It's liberating to be some place where I don't have history with anyone (except Hugo), and yet where there are kindred spirits to be found. Franz and Helga have been married for 41 years, speak eight or nine languages between them, and have lived and travelled all over the world. Good role models.

Guicho and Clara and I had a marathon night of food, drink, billiards, karaoke and dancing. . .and on a Tuesday, no less. Clara and Guicho lost to a Mexican couple four or five times; I chose creation over competition.