so much.

i'm honestly not usually one to take a ton of pictures. in the last 2 days, i took 125. i was surrounded by so much beauty. it was impossible not to. i'll post a few below.

yesterday, we started by going to a government meeting in a school in one of the communities to discuss some projects--an interesting look into mexican bureaucracy. then, we went immediately to a hotel owned-by and primarily for gringos. i have to admit, i would get married there in a second (they do weddings, although almost all canceled for the summer because of swine flu.) it is really a paradise. incredible. i put some pictures up of it before, at least on facebook, if not on the blog.

next, we went back to the community called 'el gusano' that i stayed at last week. we went to drop off some other US students that will be working there and to have lunch. the girls cooked for us and it was delicious! and from there, we went to another community, this one a bit larger (about 2000 ish people) and with a bit more wealth in select parts. there are a good number of americans there, working on forming it into more of a tourist spot, which would actually be pretty great for the people there. we stayed in one of these peoples houses. and i kid you not, AMAZING. it is the most beautiful house i have ever been in. there were either plants or art or both covering every inch. it was really incredible. i was more in awe than i have ever been of a home before. he even had a signed picture of the rat pack. unbelievable. and most of the art and plants are local. cactii (?) everywhere. oh, and they made us pina coladas when we got there to sip on as we rested/toured.

in the morning, we got up slowly, had an amazing breakfast, left the other US student that will be staying there and working for a couple weeks, and then went around the community to meet some people and see the projects they're working on. the main project there is doll-making. i was really taken aback by how beautiful the dolls where. hand-made.

okay, some fotos below.

ok, this first one is of the gringo hotel. this is where they have weddings. i'm totally filing it away.


this is a few of the kids in el gusano watching a movie. they are really great.


this is the foyer area of the amazing house. the green plants everywhere was almost too much. but not, of course. it was at that table that they (it was actually the couple that helps take care of the house, mexicans, as the owners were in a different town for a couple days), made us dinner, including grilled tuna fillet for adriana and i since we are vegetarians. (we were still sipping on the pina coladas). as much as i dog capatalism sometimes, there are times when i am okay with reaping the benefits...
NOT pictured: the huge TV and unending moving selection, the life-size statues of pirates and a wizard (the owner has a thing for pirates), the signed rat pick or al pacino/scarface pictures, the swimming pool, the horse corral, the random outdoor dining room thing, the two little side houses, etc, etc, etc.


this was the view from my room in the morning. i also got some amazing shots of the sunset, but i seriously couldnt pick just one...



and yes, mom, they even had a chihuahua. (along with a HUGE german shepherd.)


these are the dolls that are made. the pictures arent great because they were behind a plastic sheet thing. im sure i'll get better ones in the future.


and this is a hand-made and -carved drum from another art shop. the art in this town was incredible.


and these were the ruins of what used to be a mine/mining house thing. it was a big mining town until the 50s.


okay, i just had to update. if i didnt get some of it out, i knew id get backed up. plus, i'm thinking about traveling this weekend, which would mean no blog updates. i'll be in touch though.

thanks for reading. feel free to email me with stories or fotos of immense beauty in your own lives!
besitos.
kati