EL ORGULLA VA ANTES LA CAIDA

That's my best effort to translate our english saying "Pride goes before the fall". And it refers to the fact that I have been sick. I should have known better than to brag to people that I had been in Mexico for 4 months and had never been sick. I always knocked on wood promptly when I realized I was tempting fate by saying it out loud, but finally fate had her way.

I got back to Queretaro early Monday morning after an all night bus ride (Irma's very good suggestion), and got busy immediately unpacking, admiring all my wonderful Oaxaca purchases, washing clothes and getting the house ready to turn back to her owner for the month of January. I have to say the house is looking much more colorful now -- when I arrived everything was very beige.

Tuesday I went to the market for some fresh fruits and veggies and did other errands. By afternoon I was really dragging and thought I just needed a siesta before going to see Kikey's performance in the Pastorale at the theatre. But then I started having chills, body aches, and a headache and then vomiting and diarrhea (TMI?). Needless to say, I didn't go to the Pastorale, and I thought for sure I was in for a week of H1N1. But Wednesday morning I didn't feel worse which was a very welcome surprise.....however, not well enough to keep my appointment in Tequisquiapan (an hour or so away by bus) to have my hair cut. Today I finally got out of bed and showered, ate some breakfast, and ventured out for a very slow walk to go buy my bus ticket to the Mexico City airport Sunday. I was surprised how exhausted I was when I returned home.

On my walk today, I saw how the city was preparing for the New Year's Eve Celebration tonight. There is a tianguis set up next to Jardin Zennea with comedors (eating places) and vendors selling dulces. Opposite Jardin Zennea is a huge bandstand and next to it are lined up a bunch of brand new bicycles and tricycles ..... my guess is part of the entertainment tonight will be giving away those bikes to some lucky kids. I am supposed to meet Sylviah and her mom at Plaza de Armas at 9:00 tonight to see the sights and then go to their house for la cena (late supper)to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR -- PROSPERO ANO NUEVO!!!!