It's always rainy in Guanajuato (in June)

Hola, chicas/chicos,

This weekend has been extremely eventful. I have to admit, I left Las Libres early on Friday because I was too antsy sitting there on my own. Everyone else had moved on to their weekends, and Mexico and South Africa had just tied in a game... so it was time for me to go home and eat an amazing lunch with my "family". However, these next two weeks I really need to get to work. I guess I'm a little intimidated to know that I could- or could not- affect the sentences of these women in el cereso. However, applying for funds could not harm the situation, so I'm really going to get to work... especially because my sister is coming in a few weeks! GAAAH so excited :)

Friday night I went on an adventure with friends to find their friend David's house to attend a house party. We were super excited to find the house when, suddenly, it was raining harder than I've experienced in a while. (If you're wondering, there's no term for 'raining cats and dogs' in Spanish.) On top of that, I always seem to be wearing my super stylish and super un-waterproof shoes when it rains like this, and there are hills everywhere, so the shoes just are not ideal for this season in general, though they are cute. We eventually gave up on finding his house and went to El Centro to go grab tacos at my favorite taco joint, then to go to Zilch, probably my favorite bar here so far, and then to hang out on the roof to see the whole city, all beautiful and lit up. I drank an Elefante Blanco. We ventured home relatively early (on Mexican time) and prepared to go to San Miguel in the morning.

We left for Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende early in the morning on Saturday. First we went to Dolores Hidalgo to see the church at which began the fight for Mexican Independence (for my family- it's where Father Miguel Hidalgo did el grito...and you have to respect el grito). Also in Dolores Hidalgo, we stopped for ice cream, but not just any ice cream- the flavors consisted of tequila, shrimp with octopus, guanabana...I tried all of those, but only bought vanilla "especial". Afterwards we went to los Balnearios, which are naturally occurring hot/warm/cool springs that you can swim in. Then we headed to San Miguel, and I was on a mission. My friend Leticia from high school has family in San Miguel and told me to visit three places: La Cucaracha (bar), Mamma Mia (Italian restaurant), and San Augustin (churro restaurant). I could not have been happier with these places, particularly with the food. I was elated, despite the fact that my mango margarita cost the same as my margherita pizza. It was worth it- absolutely delish. Afterwards we walked around the centro a bit. I succesfully found a scarf and a skeleton ornament (for my family's obsession with Dia de los Muertos). Upon buying the scarf, my friend Kathy and I learned exactly what it feels like to be hit on by ruthless, but kind, men. When they asked us if we wanted to go out that night, where we wanted to go, where we wanted to meet, we decided to say polite "no" answers in the form of "hmmm no sabemos. es posible". It probably took a good five minutes to get the message across... because we are too nice. The churros at San Augustin... I mean, I can hardly mention them without tears coming to my eyes. They. were. amazing. They were filled with chocolate and strawberry, and I just have absolutely no complaints. At night, I went with my friends Traci and Caitlin (okay that's kind of a lie- we started out in a big group of Americans, but then we gradually broke off into less obnoxious pieces) to a bar with live music called Nivel Cero. Again, I had a michelada con clamato y indio (Indio is the name of a beer here. It definitely irks me so I try not to order it too often, but I've found it goes well in a michelada).

This morning we ate breakfast in the hotel in San Miguel (Hotel Real de Minas, I think). We left to return to Guanajuato straight from San Miguel in the morning. One night in San Miguel definitely doesn't do the place justice, so I hope to return when my sister comes to visit. Despite taking dramamine for the curvey ride back to Gto, I eventually woke up and went with my roommate Sam to el mercadito (little market) by our house here. I also visited jewelry places and of course, got ice cream. Afterwards, we went to the University of Gto to watch an Italian independent film for 20 pesos (under $2), and it was fabulous. The theatre was surrounded by modern art done by students. I felt pretty artsy.

Tomorrow a new week at Las Libres begins, and I would really like to do a thorough job with the grant applications, so... I'm going to :)

Nos vemos,
Blair