Not shivering all the time = Happier

This is the first week I have been in Rosarito wherein I am not wearing 5 layers of clothing to keep warm while sitting at the computer. Have any of you in the depths of winter in the north been dealing with such things? Probably not. You all have hissing, pinging, clanging, wonderful radiators in every room with a magic thermostat that gives you the power to make your home the Sahara desert at your command, if it suited you.
Since the space heater fried a couple weeks back, I haven’t even have that for relief. So it has been quite difficult to sit still and think about/deal with 1st world problems.
I have already done my share of shivering when I lived in a 1953 bread truck in Brooklyn through all the seasons (ALL of them), but it was dead easy to find a warm (hot even) spot somewhere to sit for a while.  I learned that, for delicate, bloodless me, mid to low forties was bearable, but just barely. I knew I wouldn’t die in that sort of weather, but it was not very comfortable to stay in for long periods- and try to be a productive and useful member of society. So here I have been, in a roomy house, not in a cramped vehicle, suffering through these barely tolerable temperatures. I say this house is roomy, I should also mention it is drafty, and completely backward when it comes to distributing the sun’s radiant heat- it DOESN’T. Well, not really any way. It could be a lovely 65 degrees outside and 20 degrees cooler INSIDE the house. Maybe it isn’t such an extreme difference, but my perpetually goose-pimpled body doesn’t really care for scientific exactness.
And if you are saying, well then just go out and sit in a cafe or something. Well, very few places here have any kind of climate control whatsoever and there have been few chances for me to really warm up (to the bone) except when I lay down to sleep under an electric blanket or take that occasional hot shower. And I for one cannot telecommute while in the shower!
I must add that taking walks up and down the main boulevard has proved very helpful in keeping warm; and staying fit; and discovering the shops in town! A closet sized boutique of a shop opened up at the far end of town where they sell homemade natural treats like this tasty spread.
{ I will leave it up to y’all to translate the composition of the substance. 🙂 }
So as the weather here has taken a turn for the better, I am feeling a little less oppressed- under the weather- at the mercy of it!
Now I can think beyond basic necessity, beyond the simple words that I have kept close to my heart: MOVE OR DIE.

Rosca Day- Now It’s All about Cake.

Three Kings Day remains an important holiday for the people of Mexico. In addition to the gift-giving aspect of the day there is also a culinary treat that is specific to the holiday. Known as ‘Rosca de Reyes’ (King’s Cake), this holiday dessert offers much in the way of symbolism. Shaped in the round to signify a king’s crown, this sweet bread holds a special surprise. Baked inside is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token is obligated to host an upcoming party for
the occasion of ‘Dia de la Candelaria’ 
(Candlemas Day) which occurs each year on February 2nd. The effigy of the baby Jesus, hidden inside the cake, represents another aspect of the

holiday. The reason Jesus is ‘hidden’ inside the bread is to symbolize how in life, the Christ child’s birth location also needed to remain secret, in order that his life be spared.

(taken from mexonline.com/history-lostresreyes.htm)

 January 6th 2013. Some time after 2pm.

Parades At Night- No sun- MORE FUN!

These were my Facebook comments from the eve of 112th December 2012 – 

I hear a noisy procession on the street- drums and singing; cheering voices and fire works; they are celebrating The Great Lady of Mexico- La Virgen de Guadalupe.
~~
Wow.. we just ran outside into the night to see what the noise looked like. There were were natives with faces painted and feathers in their hair shaking their decorated sticks into the air.. we tried to get shots of it all but was having terrible luck with the camera!

And these were a few of the shots The Human took that night. Naturally, they are in black and white. What I didn’t mention in the posts was that there was at least one devil character in the back of a pick up truck. He was responsible for launching the cohetes in to the night sky while the ones dressed as natives drummed danced hooted and hollered; the more pious carried their saintly imagery and sang church songs. This was like Halloween with a more cohesive theme!

While were were following this riot band of natives we saw another more modest procession moving in the opposite direction to turn down a different dark street. This was amazing hell for the folks trying to get anywhere in a vehicle.

The evening of December 12th brought out more parading people! We picked up this crew of parishioners and followed their drum beats to a stage setup outside of a church. There was hot chocolate, elote.. oh, all kinds of food available in booths. And the ones dressed as natives danced into the church to bless and be blessed. There was a priest showering everyone with holy water. All the youngsters were changing costumes to continue the folk dance festivities longer into the night. I don’t think I had ever heard such a ruckus of ‘pagan’ noise in a catholic church. I loved it. ALL of my shot came out blurry- but interesting nonetheless. Here are a few of them. Enjoy!