This morning I took the opportunity to climb to the fourth floor for coffee and a look around. Here’s what I saw:

But to be faithful, there is also a lot of this:

Most everything, everywhere is in a constant state of construction. There are stacks of building materials randomly scattered about. Exposed rebar juts out of every building. Things are patched, piled, left abandoned, cobbled together. The built environment is a mish mash of concrete, stone rubble, metal and plaster. Is it beautiful? To some, yes. To me it is jarring and a far cry from the beautiful public spaces in the center of town. And there you have it – always Mexico is (to me) patchwork of the beautiful and ugly side by side. And at all times, I’m aware of the great wealth in which Americans are steeped. We’re so accustomed to it that we don’t even notice it.

As our travels with Rowan Tree Travel take us further and further away from home, they also expose us to the wider world and our economic and material status relative to everyone else. Feeling frustrated that you can’t get ahead in America? Can’t buy a house? Can’t have a big enough flat screen tv? Don’t have that new car you’ve been admiring?

Drive south for a few hours and get some perspective, people.

Then tell me about how held back you are by low wages, the cost of housing, oversees competition, the educated elite, the government favoring others, the corporations, the… Do you have running water in your house (hot and cold)? Electricity? A safe neighborhood? Access to the great outdoors? Cars, trains, planes, boats , etc at your beck and call?

Right. Onward, then, with a little perspective.

As I share this little rant, I’m seated in the condo’s courtyard.

Janie made sure I had some authentic Mexican chocolate this morning for my rooftop sojourn. She’s also been the voice of wisdom in terms of what to do (Go here!) and what not to do (Under no circumstances are you to take in any water but from this bottle of filtered water in the house and no street food and no fresh vegetables or fruit that hasn’t been washed here in the condo or by a reputable restaurant). She also came out in her wheelchair to take these pictures:

See that poncho I’m wearing? Bought it yesterday in a weaving shop I simply couldn’t resist because the work was so fine. Yes, I know. Leave it to Suzie to find the one weaver working in black and white in this huge city full of COLOR. At least I’m consistent. But what I wanted to really say is that I’ve rekindled my deep love of cotton while here.

Since leaving southern Arizona, my need for clothing that can both protect and breathe in the heat has greatly diminished. Summers do get hot in Santa Fe. But mornings and evenings are cool. And I’m seldom out in the real heat of the day anymore. But in the low desert of Tucson, there was no avoiding the heat. And here in Mexico, if the temperatures are reaching 80 something in December, you can imagine that dressing to protect from heat and sun is what textiles here are all about.

I’d forgotten the fantastic feel of good quality cotton under my fingertips.

Scrummy! As Mary Barry would say. Now she’d say it about some boozy cake or delectable Genoese sponge. But I say it about how really fine textiles feel.

I’m on a new mission: to find out more about how cotton is grown, spun, distributed and worked with here in Mexico. I’ll keep you in the loop if I get a chance to come back and learn more.

Dear wool,

I still love you dearly and maintain all things sheep in the highest regard. However, I’d like to bring cotton into our relationship as well. How would you feel about that? Just… sit with it for a bit and I’ll check back in with you after a while. Oh, and maybe consider linen as well because of recent trips to Northern Ireland. We’ll talk…

Hey! Janie’s neighbor just came down to announce there’s no water available in any of the condos today! Glad I showered last night. Welcome to Mexico! Let’s see if the internet is still working so I can post this and attend a Zoom staff meeting with my coworkers.

Hasta luego.