Photo ABCs

Santa Fe de la Laguna

I believe this lovely girl's name is Nicole, posing for me in Santa Fe de la Laguna, Michoacán:

La Familia de Don Santos

The highlight of my entire birding trip through Sinaloa and Nayarit in May of this year was the two lunches I had at the house of Don Santos Vasquez, the caretaker and birding guide at the Tufted Jay Preserve in El Palmito, Sinaloa.

Since I had my camera, the many children (and adults, and pets!) at the house were more than happy to pose, and I consider these shots the most memorable and meaningful of all of the photos I took on my trip.

I have forgotten exactly who belonged to whom in the family, but the children are either grandchildren or grand-nieces and nephews of Don Santos.

At least one has already expressed great interest in becoming a naturalist, like their grandfather.

The wife of Don Santos:

Cooking over an open fire:

These enchiladas with a homemade green sauce had the most delicious flavor of any dish I have tasted in my hundreds of days spent in Mexico. In addition to the open-fire stove, they had this gas stove:

Great Grandma:

 

 

This lovely girl showed me her field guide to the butterflies of the region:

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Tepo, mask maker in Xico, Veracruz

David Tepo poses with a clown mask which I purchased from him.

A visit with Don David Tepo, Xico mask maker

Most of the masks worn in parades in Veracruz, are  hand-made by various local craftsmen.

On a previous trip to Veracruz I visited the home of Don Toño Vasquez Tepo, a maskmaker in Xico, who unfortunately passed away a few weeks later.

On my last trip to Veracruz, I visited the home of Don David Tepo, another mask maker in the town of Xico. Besides purchasing a number of masks, I visited his workshop, which was full of wooden masks, carving implements, paints, as well as molds to make less expensive paper-maché masks.

 

 

Don Toño Vasquez Tepo, (1933-2017)

I was saddened to learn that master mask-maker Don Toño passed away a few days ago.

Last month while visiting Xico, Veracruz, I was fortunate to visit Don Toño in his home, surrounded by his masks which he carved and painted by hand.

Finding his house was not difficult, I did not need Google Maps, I simply asked townspeople in the street. They all knew him, and all pointed me in the right direction.

He was clearly a kind and gentle man, and he joked that the town's alcoholic drink, torito, might have played a part in his longevity.

A newpaper article and Xico's Facebook commemoration say that he was beloved in Xico, and was known by all for selling peanuts and ice cream in the streets from his home-made bicycle-cart. His masks are featured in Xico's Museum of the Dance. He was also a sculptor and musical composer, and some of his creations are also found in Mexico City's Museum of Popular Art.

I am honored to have made this gentleman's acquaintance, and I treasure the mask that I purchased from him that day.

La Guerrerense

La Guerrerense is a food stand in downtown Ensenada, specializing in seafood tostadas and ceviche. Thanks to its fabulous food, and endorsement by Anthony Bourdain, the owner, Sabina Bandera has achieved near celebrity status. When not collecting payment (on the honor system) from diners of her stand, she poses for portraits and selfies with her fans, which now, of course, include me!

La Guerrerense translates to "the one from Guerrero (the Mexican state)," which, of course, refers to Sabina. Do yourself a favor and try out her delicious creations!

Day of the Dead: San Miguel de Allende

Lovely Isabel, dressed and made up for Day of the Dead, in a gallery in San Miguel de Allende.

 

Mantilla

A lovely brooch holds an elegant cream-colored mantilla in place on a lady partaking in the 2016 Feria de Pedro Romero, in Ronda, Spain. In the blurred background you can see tourists with their phones taking her picture!

Ronda Señorita

Another lady shows off her lovely mantilla during Ronda's 2016 Feria de Pedro Romero.

Ronda Girls

Four girls dressed in flamenco outfits assume a somewhat conspiratorial air in a plaza in Ronda, Spain, during the 2016 Feria de Pedro Romero.