La Casa en Guanajuato

3 Jan 2006 - New Years, Boveda

The town was pretty quiet Christmas eve. The students were all away, and many workers had the day off. There were lots of fiestas going on Christmas eve, but they were in the homes. Most of the shops and restaurants shut down early. Many of the people I saw on the street were carrying big pots of food, piñatas, etc. to family gatherings.

The quiet continued through Christmas day, but the day after brought the city back to life. Filled with folks in town for the holiday week, but without the usual blend of students, it was a quieter crowd.

New Years Eve pretty much mirrored Christmas. Many of the restaurants and shops closed up early, including some that I'd never seen closed before. Some stayed open to ring in New Years Eve with party hats and special meals, though reservations appeared to be a requirement, as those that were open in the town center were full.

My wife & I had a drink at the neighborhood bar. The bar was prepared with party hats and noisemakers, but had only a handful of tables occupied. We learned that 12 grapes are eaten at midnight for good luck, and celebrated the coming of the New Year with the staff.

The suites are coming along nicely. Unfortunately I missed the construction of the bóveda ceiling. These soaring brick domes are amazing to see, and they beg the question, "How do they do that?" The architect explained the how, but I really wanted to see it happen...

One thing I did get to witness was laying the 'Tumbling Blocks' pattern in the entryway to the main patio. The worker had a hard time getting his mind around the pattern, so at one point he had several of us offering suggestions on how to lay it out. In spite of all our help, he got the job done. Combined with the stairways in the patio, I think we are headed to a certain Escher type look. I like it!