LOS DOMINGOS FELICES

Sundays seem to be happy days here in my world and the world of the Queretanos.

I started this Sunday with a big norte americano type breakfast: bacon, eggs, toast and instant coffee. Then I settled in at the computer for a Skype appointment with my friend Marty in California. For those of you who don't know about Skype, it is a fabulous way to really stay in touch with family and friends from afar. It's free to download onto your computer, and free to call computer to computer with others who have Skype. AND you can not only hear each other but SEE each other in real time!! It's particularly easy with a MAC because there is a built in camera and mic. For all of you unfortunate PC users, you would have to get a little camcorder to mount on your computer. It's what you call a "no brainer".

Anyway, so much for my Skype testimonial (I'm not getting paid). After the Skype session, I talked to 2 of my sons, grandsons and a daughter-in-law on my cell phone. Why, you ask, don't they have Skype? Good question! Anyway, it's great to talk with them in any form, and they've promised to have Skype by Thanksgiving. Also called a friend whose birthday I had forgotten earlier this month and answered some email.

Then I HAD to get out of the house, because it was a beautiful, clear, warm day. And, as usual, it seems like everyone in town is out walking about -- multigenerational groups: mom, dad, kids, babies in strollers or in arms, grandparents, and probably great grandparents. And some kind of entertainment is happening in each plaza. I walk everyday, but Sundays are noticeably different.... more festive and light hearted.

My goals for my long walk this day were to check out a Yoga studio Kikey had told me about and visit Quinto Real -- a Mexican handcraft store and cafe owned by Chris (originally from Seattle) and his Mexican wife, Renata. Chris keeps a kind of very small lending library of books in English which were donated to him by some ex-pat. Unfortunately, they are all of the detective, mystery, thriller genre, to which I'm afraid I'm becoming addicted. They're like literary cocaine -- you get all hopped up reading, and then you finish, go through withdrawal, and need more. I'm afraid at some point good literature won't do it for me any more. I'll have to go through rehab, reading nothing but old classics. I should make an ad, "This is your brain on Patricia Cornwall....." At least I'm also reading El Principito (The Little Prince in Spanish)as part of my spanish homework.

The Yoga studio was closed and there was no telephone number on the sign, but at least now I know where it is. One step closer to actually doing Yoga. I chose another book at Quinto Real and had some great ChocoLatte. On the way home, I stopped in Plaza de Armas to listen to a little music. In the evening, I went to Teatro de la Republica to hear a very farcical little Renaissance opera that was part of El Festival de Musica Antigua. Every night this week, there is a performance of musica barroca in a different cathedral. I'm particularly looking forward to Gregorian choral music at Santa Rosa, my favorite cathedral.

I've never gone out of my way to hear classical music at the Flynn or the University at home, but I'm finding here, I quite enjoy it.