Information on the sudden death of a cousin not much older than I filtering through a weak signal was tragic.
Peter, was a bit of an unusual bod…. talented beyond imagination and Father to 11. He spent years researching our families heritage and leaves us a wealth of information especially relevant to the artists who came before us.

I was in and out of my PJ’s 4 times last night. 
It’s not a good look sitting in the lobby with in your PJ’s with your computer propped on your legs.

At 11.30, I hit on the idea of using the hotels computer  “why didn’t I think of that before” but alas, that had shut down too….

Back up again to the room to pack, then I noticed they had charged me for drinks and cookies from the bar…. “Not me Honey”   I tried to ring the lobby  with no success.. Get changed once again and whip down there…
“Oh and by the way, I don’t think I should pay for the Internet”…..

It meant I couldn’t print my boarding pass. 

Planning my departure for the next day I figured with the degree of unpredictably occurring I should get to the airport super early to make sure I had a seat. A piece of paper doesn’t always insure you have somewhere to sit on the plane.

I think I spent an hour or more shifting goods from one case to another the get the weight correct, weigh it with my little green machine and check again….. the blood pressure rising all the time. FI finally fell into bed well after midnight. I set the alarm for 5.00 am.

Experience and a reasonably good plan had me down in the lobby at 5.15 and on the shuttle bus.
Through all the preliminaries of booking the luggage through, my focus turned to the essential morning coffee.

When will I eat next?
so I had a croissant and coffee at the cafe in the airport.

The assistant put it in the microwave and heated it so my plan of taking half of the ham and cheese croissant on the plane (just in case of food deprivation) didn’t happen the heat stuck it to the wrapping paper and unpredictably it was full of scrambled egg.

Unpredictable.  Waiting at the Gate I was the only European, suddenly I heard my name announced in Spanish….  “Pamela Holland come to the desk.”
“Oh Mrs Pamela, Mexicana has put you in Business Class.” 
Unpredictable, I ended up with the best seat in the plane, AF first seat window, more food than I could eat. I dozed, ate and quietly spent 3 hours almost in solitude to Guadalajara

Predictably they searched my bags at the airport I had to explain what my professional cameras were for, and unpredictably they didn’t even give a thought to the pens, inks and quilts.

Finally a flushed and red faced Pam emerged into the throng of waiting people at the airport doors, to be hugged warmly by Gerri and Roger my luggage was whisked from my hands and we were in the car in no time.
This was to be the beginning of my tour.

Gerri and Roger have lived here for 8 years and gave informative answers to my questions as we drove. The imagery of colorful street booths selling everything from the brightest colored fruit and food to woven rugs, and pottery images that you just want to jump out and handle sped past us and eventually we drove down a narrow cobbled street that ended at the lake.

 A restaurant, La Nueva Posada welcomed us and on entering, my head was on a swivel, I sighed a deep sigh of contentment and familiarity. Finally I could relax.

Photo Gallery

My first night was hosted by Martha and Alfredo who have the most amazing house. Could I ever be brave enough to paint my living room green and purple.?
Living in this colorful environment must evoke sheer creative  saturation…  We visited the neighbor  who is also one of my students, originally from Canada, her house is equally stunning…. and the camera ran hot.

We talked well into the evening over a delicious dinner called pork meat with zucchini and vegetables and I fell into bed late and drifted off to sleep to the sounds of a Mexican band performing quite close by.

My first night was hosted by Martha and Alfredo who have the most amazing house. Could I ever be brave enough to paint my living room green and purple. Living in this colorful environment must be sheer creative  saturation…  We visited the neighbor  who is also one of my students, originally from Canada, her house is equally stunning…. and the camera ran hot.

We talked well into the evening over a delicious dinner called pork meat with zucchini and vegetables and I fell into bed late and drifted off to sleep to the sounds of a Mexican band performing quite close by.