I have been so lazy about updating this blog.  This past year was been one of great stress.  We were happy to see 2013 end.  To end the year on a positive note we threw a party to celebrate the solstice and the wonderfully supportive friends and neighbors we have.  Lee introduced the game of "Snap Dragon" to a new and eager group of players.  This is a centuries old game where brandy is placed in a bowl with raisins.  The brandy is set on fire and brave players stick their hands in the flames grabbing a raisin and eating them.  I wish that a picture would have turned out with the hands covered in blue flame,  Our guests were really enjoying this game .  I think for as long as memory served our friends , it was the only party in which the adults got to hit the Pinata and not the children.  To end the night we all became artists with sparklers. 

 

preparing the snap dragon game

love the blue flames

Becky and Javier

Becky up to bat

 Dead on but no breakage-Gabby

Nadia

Sergio

Lee taking aim

Becky looking more like she's granting a wish

Sparklers

Cam in hat and Javier

 

Marta

Nadia

Sergio--The End!

We  spent some time enjoying the surrounding towns and sights,  Not so much out of the Guadalajara region because of the numerous warnings by the American Consolate of kidnappings and deaths.  It was all made more real in that a good friend was dealing with the death of her nephew. He was kidnapped and then killed while leaving a funeral.  It took almost all of 2013 to find and then positively identify him.  Just this month they were able to hold his memorial.  This was not written to bum you all out.  It is a notice to all we take the warnings seriously and try to live our lives in a safe manner.

very cool mural

Vendor's Delivery wagon in Tlajomulco

Vendor's delivery wagon in Guadalajara

Guadlajara /Cathedredral

The crypts in Guad, Cathedral

Baby Jesus

nativity figures

Best view 

Officially we had our first visitor from the states.  Kate came down and spent time with us, although she mostly  spent her time walking and running with Bear.  We were able to take her around some of our favorite places.  We really appreciate the time she spent here.

Sasha

Bear

 

Trying to hide from Lee

Negro

Neither appreciated this shower

(Bear was mourning the loss of our dog and friend Sasha.  Sasha had severe seizures that became none stop.  Bear and Sasha's best bud Negro whined and looked for Sasha for days.  It was heart breaking to watch.  Kates attention to Bear helped him recover.) Lee is not normally a dog person but she has come under the influence of Bear and broken all house rules.  

While here we took Kate into the Centro of Guadalajara and out to the local Guachimontone's.   On the drive into the Centro we had to stop to take pictures.  Workers were putting in  huge electrical towers.  And while we are used to this in the States we were not used to seeing a dozen men hanging off of the tower, moving around as if they were 5feet off of the ground not 50.

Lee has spent a lot of time with the neighborhood kids. Making oversized games for their use, giving them use of the numerous toys and games we have.  She even spent time making sure the kids would have the materials needed to make Christmas presents for their families.  She was very disappointed in the end that there wasn't enough time or money for all to do exactly what they wanted.  But the idea is out that this is available and waiting until the last minute is bad.

Edith 

Cam

Edith

 Here's hoping 2014 is filled with good times and fun people!

Elizabeth

Lee

Guachimontones located near Teuchitlan, Jalisco Mexico

Looking at Alter 

Lee and I had the true adventure not to long ago.  About 25 miles from our home in Tlajomulco is the remains of a Guachimontone.  At the base is a museum and restaurant.  Then about a 1/4mile hike up a steep driveway to the actual site of the ruins.  While you are up top, there is a sense of awe at the amount of work done using crude hand tools.  I also experienced a quietness that I only feel at places of great reverence.                            

Smaller of two ball fields

This particular site is home to the largest ball game court of its time.  The court was built at three separate times with the final size being measured at 111meters long.  The game consists of hitting the ball with ones hips until the opposite side was reached.  When a team stopped the ball, the other team received a point. This is different than other places in Mesoamerica that required the ball to go through a hoop.
I can only think of this as a  stricter form of soccer which allows for player to use any   part of the body except the hands.

Terraces

At the center of the site is built  a large circular mound atop which is the alter.  The alter has a hole which supports large poles. The ritual"Palo del volader" (flyer's pole) was performed by men as a tribute to the God of Wind.  Encircling the alter is a wide avenue and then a circle of rectangular mounds for buildings ,  There are several of these rings of  rectangular mounds.  The rectangular mounds were sites for religious buildings, public use buildings and private homes.  They were each fronted by a wide avenue used for the ritual dancing.  The site has 10 circular buildings, two ball courts, rectangular public squares, residential units and terraces used for cultivation.

The Walk up from the museum is very steep
(they do allow handicap/disabled people to drive up
but the car must return to the parking lot in 15min.)

The site is midway on the side of a long since dead volcano overlooking a huge valley and Presa de la Vega.  The lakeside still has remnants of ancient aqueducts built in the 1800's which supplied water to the surrounding towns.  Truly a valley and region proud of it's heritage.

Interesting to note is  it was the discovery by American archaeologist Phil Clayton Weigand of obsidian that lead to his curiosity of the area and eventually the Guachimontones. He also lead the way for a multi-language interactive museum which has been open and the zone known as the Teuchitlan zone was later set aside as a heritage site by UNESCO., thus saving it for generations to come and explore.

The town of Teuchitlan, Jalisco, Mx

.

terrace 

The lake valley

Lee is not taller than the mound

The signage is bi-lingual

Explanation of ball field

The amount of work it must
have taken is unthinkable

The Displays are interactive

She is happy to be going downhill

The Avenue

Remains of 1800's aqueduct on lake

You can't see the lake from the algae but it is there.