PART ONE: PHOTO MEMORIES FROM MEXICO AND BEYOND: LAURA'S PHOTO JOURNEY

 

The above is my favorite "selfie"

In this blog posting I have decided to share some of my favorite photo memories by regions and countries.  So if your bag is packed, here we go! 

MEXICO 

I believe it's only appropriate to start with photo memories from our "home" country of Mexico where we arrived in 1996 and where we have settled permanently after some amazing years of living in other wonderful Latin American countries.  So let's get started on this nostalgic posting with some of my favorite photographs from Mexico and Beyond.

The tradition of weaving on a backstrap loom is alive and well in Mexico.

Making friends will a local delivery donkey always made me happy!  

The Guelaquetza pageantry and celebration in Mexico is dazzling.

We fell in love with San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and it was there my husband suggested I start blogging.  Little did he know what he was creating.  

The festival of Our Lord of the Conquest is celebrated the first Friday of March each year in San Miguel de Allende. Groups of Conchero dancers come from many surrounding regions in honor of Jesus Cristo (Jesus Christ) for this special day. 

Images of the lovely ladies of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico during the annual Guelaquetza Festival. The Guelaguetza, or Los Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill) is an annual indigenous cultural event in Mexico that takes place in the city of Oaxaca, capital of the state of Oaxaca, and nearby villages. The following link will magically take you to more of blog postings on the wonderful world of Mexico.

MY BLOGS SIXTH BIRTHDAY POSTING

. 

                                                                 Guatemala

We found Guatemala with its natural beauty, the warm and friendly indigenous people, and the amazing pyramids were simply wonderful. I loved everything about this country and I look forward to sharing it here with you.

                                    

Visiting the pyramids of Guatemala and I loved them all!  

There are more then 1,500 Mayan ruins in Guatemala most of which are located in the northern region of the Peten Basin. There are hundreds of ruins, however, still buried under dense forest.  My fantasy growing up was to be an archaeologist which probably contributed to this fascination.  

 

Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is a body of water located in a massive volcanic crater in Guatemala’s southwestern highlands. Surrounded by steep verdant hills it is known for its Mayan villages and volcanoes with striking pointed cones.

Mayan women as seen in Panajachel with their beautiful weavings for sale. I find the culture and traditions of the local indigenous people wonderful.

Another photo of Lago Atitlan in Guatemala with local indigenous people out fishing.

The Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations in Antigua, Guatemala are sincerely awesome!

Images of friendly local women in their colorful wrap skirts and traditional huipil blouses.

Our daughter as seen in Lago Atitlan who visited us while we were living in Guatemala. What incredible memories, mi hija, with my love.  

The indigenous women of Guatemala still weave in the traditional manner and their work is stunning.

My husband participated in the flying of kites during the Day of Dead celebrations in Guatemala.   

The following link will take you to my blog posting for all over the map of Central America:

                                 ALL OVER THE MAP OF CENTRAL AMERICA

                                                                Chile

Chile and its culture, people, natural beauty, and wine (!) was amazing and I wouldn't hesitate in returning. Here are a few of our photo memories.

  Chile's welcome flowers was super special after a long bus journey. 

As many of you know I seriously admire street art and maybe my passion started in Chile.

We found the culture of herders in Chile fascinating and maybe this hombre was herding sheep for shearing to make the wonderful Chilean weavings and textiles. 

Chile is known for its fabulous fish markets and we couldn't resist checking them out.  

Walking the streets of Chile was always a treat and I particularly like this photo memory.

While visiting Santiago, the capital of Chile, we were treated to an amazing outdoor photo art exhibit in the main plaza. It was very contemporary art and and I couldn't resist sharing this photo which was taken by my husband.

                          

More street art in Chile which made me very happy!  

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF CHILE

Eventually is was time to cross over the Andes and leave Chile. What an amazing visit and I thank you from my heart.  And now on to Uruguay.

                   

                                                   

Uruguay

Established in 1680 quaint Colonia is one of the things Uruguay is known for and a must-see. One of the country’s oldest towns, it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995 thanks to its mix of Portuguese and Spanish colonial and neoclassical architecture.  (check out the cars on the street)

           

                                                     

From the way Uruguayans speak Spanish to the modernization of the country’s economy and developments in the visual arts, the Portuguese had their hand in the very creation of Uruguay as we know it.    

                               

 I love visiting the local produce markets and Uruguay was no exception. 

Uruguay is known as a predominantly flat country where ranching reigns supreme. It is also notable for its virtually unspoiled coast, its high standard of living, and its socially liberal record in recent decades. 

Uruguay received a consistent influx of Italians between the 1840s and the 1960s. Estimates vary widely yet between forty percent and a half of the country’s population are Italian descendants.

                    A little music while waiting to dine always wets my appetite.  

The Italian legacy goes far beyond that, though. From the way Uruguayans speak Spanish to the modernization of the country’s economy and developments in the visual arts, Italians have had their hand in the very creation of Uruguay as we know it today.  

                                                   

       I was totally taken by the old preserved cars and this one served as a dining "venue."

Apart from really tiny nations, Uruguay has one of the largest concentrations of people living in its capital. Greater Montevideo is home to about 40% of the country’s population and it is the one and only center of the Uruguayan "civilization" in the country.

                                        

The Lighthouse of Montevideo dates to the 1850's and has a staircase to the top which contains historical displays. It is the iconic image of Montevideo and I think it is wonderful.                                                   

The department of Canelones which almost entirely surrounds Montevideo is Uruguay’s wine making region par excellence. That means the best Tannat available nationwide will be less than an hour’s drive away at all times. Any place with good wine is definitely my kind of place!  

                                           AN EXCURSION TO URUGUAY

Venezuela 

Venezuela's original inhabitants were the Carib and Arawak Amerindian peoples. Spanish explorers founded the settlement Santiago de Leon de Caracas in 1567. Its society has been deeply shaped by Spanish colonization which introduced Roman Catholicism and the Spanish language. Today the dominant culture of Venezuela reflects a blend of indigenous and Spanish customs as well as regional Caribbean and Andean influences.

                                                    

Most Venezuelans come from a mixed Spanish and indigenous background with nearly half said to be “Mestizos.” Around 40 percent of the population claim to be direct descendants of the Spanish and their culture is evident through the food and the prevalence of bullfights.

                                

Venezuela has the world's largest known oil reserves and has been one of the world's leading exporter of oil. Previously, the country was an underdeveloped exporter of agricultural commodities such as coffee and cocoa, but oil quickly came to dominate exports and government revenues. And the women are stunning as anyone knows if they follow international beauty pageants.

We were fascinated by the fishing lifestyle of the Venezuelan people and hauling in a catch of fish was no easy feat. Venezuela was the perfect escape from the hustle of city life. 

We met the owners of this tricked out "exploring" vehicle and noticed the emblem from Venezuela so we shared stories and bought them a cerveza many, many moons ago.  How time flies!  

A REPRISE OF BLOG POSTS FROM ALL OVER SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina 

Lago Nahuel Huapi is a grand lake on which San Martin de Los Andes is located and where we lived while exploring this beautiful region in Argentina.

                              

The Mapuche indigenous people of Argentina were gracious and dignified and I appreciated this lovely lady allowing me to take her photograph.  

A large portion of the population of Buenos Aries have four legs and dog walkers are a thriving profession.

 

The pressed tin houses in the barrio of Boca in Argentina are painted in a rainbow of colors and muralists have turned the district's side streets into avenues of outstanding beauty. Wow!

This sub-way (subte) station in Buenos Aires had some of the first mural work I had experienced and I loved it! 

To a Porteno (resident of Buenos Aires) to dance the tango is what life is all about.

Checking out the waterway in Buenos Aires on a warm and lovely day. What a lovely stay and muchas gracias!    

I hope you have enjoyed my photo memories taken with my oldie, but still goodie camera for this blog posting. I certainly have had a great time finding old photos and memories to share. With my sincere thanks for your joining me on my Blog Journey. Until next time, wishing you well and safe travels wherever the road may take you. Saludos, Laura

PS I must have upset the blogger gods because just a few days ago my oldie camera decided it was time to permanently retire. I will miss you mucho!