Day of the Dead

Today we worked on Scene, Summary, and Musing in our writing excercises. After our morning workshop we had a photography workshop with Christina who is a professional photographer. She gave us great tips to use when taking pictures and then we hit the streets to practice what we learnt. In the evening we went to Laura's house for a  reception and saw her lovely house, only 11 feet wide, but designed so well with it's 4 stories that it felt spacious. Afterwards a few of us walked through the village to see what festivities had started for the Day of the Dead. The village was full of people out in the warm evening. 

Anado's Gallery

 Today we worked on using the  5 senses and dialog in our writing in order  to make it tactile for the reader. Our excercise was to incorporate smell, sound, taste, touch, and sight into our story. I wrote about my experience in Cairo when I innocently entered a pita bread bakery where the young men working in the bakery closed the only exit door out, leaving me locked inside with them. We all read aloud our story and recieve feedback from whomever wants to give it. I still have a long way to go before my writing is where I want it to be, but this workshop is helping emmensely to achieve that.
After a wonderful lunch at the villa a driver took us all out to Analdo's, an artist who uses tile and other mediums. His whole house is a piece of art as you can see from the picture.
We all went out for an evening drink on the rooftop of the Rosewood hotel, amazing view of the sunset and the churches all lit up in the night.

View from my rooftop

Today was Day 1 of our writing workshop with Laura. What she is teaching is exactly what I need to learn. We worked on Theme today and did an excercise of writing a family story, but it must have a them to it, otherwise it most likely won't be a story that would interest the reader. Hopefully Laura will help me find the theme behind my travel stories.
Afterwards Carol, Laura's friend who lives in San Miguel, told us about the history of Mexico, then took us out to lunch and on a walking tour of the village. We are all meeting for dinner tonight, but we also have reading homework to do, so we are kept very busy.

Market Stall, handmade sugar treats.

I wandered around the village today playing the tourist and taking pictures. It is Sunday so the village was busy with families out for the day. The market stalls were selling homemade sugary sweets to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Shrines will be made, adorned with gifts and memorabilia to remember loved ones. I had to stop at the famous Churro cafe to have a coffee and a chocolate churro, delish, that was my lunch. Back to my villa for a little siesta. Tonight we have a reception at the villa with the writing group to meet everybody. I'm now relaxing outside in the beautiful outdoor living area at Villa Clara bella enjoying a cerveca, excited to meet everybody.

 

The Day of the Dead decorations have already started to go up. This bride and groom are right in front of my villa.

Arrived in San Miguel

First day in San Miguel and I've fallen in love with it already. Woke up to the sound of explosions set off by the nuns at the church and the church bells. After a wonderful breakfast at Ruth's place with Ted I made my way down the cobblestone street and checked into my beautiful accomodation at Villa Clara Bela. Now it's time to go and explore the village.

 

On October 27th I'll be heading down to San Miquel de Allende for Laura Fraser's Mexican Fiesta writing workshop. It is also the week of the Day of the Dead, a time where the locals remember their loved one's, very conducive to Memoir writing. I'm very excited to discover this artsy village, attend Laura's workshop and partake in the numerous daily excursions available to us such as photography walk, hotsprings, marguerita making, touring the artist's studios, shop at the markets and enjoy my lovely accomodation at the villa Clara Bella! I'll try to find the time to update this blog while I'm in Mexico...Hasta Luego