Your correspondents in Morelia

[GeckoS]

Donna, I asked around and the dancers are called " the Viejitos" around Patzcuaro. They wear slightly over sized huaraches with hard leather soles and do a kind of slap dance. They do put out a lot of energy. The festival sounds like fun. I am interested in Jarocha music. The music from around Veracruz. Their music and dance festivals are called Fandangos. I would guess there are some pretty good fireworks in DC on the fourth, too. Last night we went to a concert with the Bobby Watson Jazz Band in a 16th century courtyard. The acoustics are very nice surrounded by stone walls. We have been running around a lot, so I haven't played much. We are staying in a hacienda converted to apartments with our own little stone courtyard and the uke sounds so good there.
If the board members haven't heard Donna sing and play, you are missing something. The last time we went to Moro I took my uke. We didn't expect any company but Sarah and Rick showed up. Rick asked if I was going to play something. So I did. They might not have wanted to make the same mistake twice, but they should have had you play on the bird crawl.
We will be back in Vallarta tomorrow.
Hasta la vista.

Gloria, the first China Comida was good. A Chinese lady and her daughters ran it. We tried another Chinese and Japanese place that were so,so. The sushi had cheese in it, Which is taking fusion too far for me. I'm sticking to Asian food by Asians.

[donnadaf]

Sorry for the misinformation, what you saw was clearly a different group. I just checked Smithsonian site - the chinelos were from Morelos not Morelia (a different place????). But I loved the political nature of the chinelos anyway. You can find some youtube videos of them at various events.

The Smithsonian festival changes the countries, cultures, etc., featured each year. In 2011, focus is on Columbia and rhythm and blues . That should be great with folks coming in from all over to perform and then some great jams at the parties at night. June 30–July 4 and July 7–11, 2011.

There is quite a fireworks show in Washington on the 4th ....but it's been years since I've gone down to the Monument to watch. Too too too many people! Sometomes we catch a bit of them over the top of the Capitol from streets in our neighborhood.

[freeeye]

I loved your playing at Moro, Brian. I told you that at the time. Never heard Donna, tho. Maybe she is shy?

[GeckoS]

Thanks, Rick. Just fishing for compliments. I can carry a tune but Donna can sing.
Donna, we are probably talking about the same dance. The masks the viejitos wear, the faces are pure white and not complimentary, so poking fun at the Spaniards sounds right. Morelia is named after Morelos, who is sort of Mexico's George Washington, so that may explain the mix up. The guide books I have read describe Morelia as the best city in Mexico that you have never heard of.

[rabihorcada]

We have seen these same pointy chin Spaniard caricatures in Vallarta parades before, and have always wondered. They were in last December's Guadalupe perigrinaciones and Lorna and I were wondering what that was about. We gleefully figured it was something humorous and derogatory.

[GeckoS]

The dancers are all hunched over while they do this vigorous dance. I thought they were witches with the pointy chins. They needed some warts to complete the look.

[donnadaf]

(Hmmm, another post I thought I submitted but apparently didn't. Again, forgive if this is a repeat.)

Thanks for the kind words, Brian.

Rick -- Nope, not really shy. But for some reason it's harder to play for friends than on stage (something about that invisible fourth wall). I don't pull out the guitar in situations where it's possible folks would feel like they had to listen when they'd rather be socializing or whatever. I hadn't been to Moro before and thought it might be an OK situation, but time and place weren't right. The right time will come....