Settling In

After working hard to get to San Miguel, I had trouble deciding what to do first. Bilbo helped by reminding me that he wants to walk at least four times each day. Fabian, the house manager's 8 year old son, got the job of walking and playing with Bilbo once a day. We went to a tienda (small store) together to buy a ball and then I gave him lessons in making Bilbo sit, lie down, wait, and come. Happily, Bilbo has not forgotten his Spanish and cooperated well, much to Fabian's delight. Fabian has an old portable CD player and loves his tunes, so the 40 Pesos he makes each week for this job is most welcome.

Next, I thought about eating. I started a no/low carbohydrate way of eating a few months ago and it has made a big and positive impact on my blood sugar numbers - they are normal for the most part and I am using 60% less insulin than before. Bilbo and I went off to San Juan de Dios market to look around and found that I will have no problem maintaining this diet here. Vegetables of very kind fill the aisles so I got some lettuce, green beans, and mushrooms. I also purchased walnuts, pecans, and almonds from the nuts man, and some local farm cheese from the lady who had a basket full of 1/2 pound balls. From the butcher I got sliced ham and some ground beef for Bilbo who is on a hunger strike, missing his familar bagged food from Vermont. In Mexico, you can buy any meat pounded flat - "milanese" style. I got some chicken to make for dinner. I wrapped the thin chicken around a portabello mushrooms after stuffing then with walnuts, italian spices, fresh basil, and farmer cheese and then baked them for 40 minutes. The flavor was GREAT, and narry a carbohydrate in sight.

A few days later I went to see Don Pedro Alvarez, a good eye doctor, to get my long awaited new glasses - the reward for having stable blood glucose. Sadly and surprisingly, he said glasses would not help me, and that the laser surgery I've had left me with permanent fuzzy vision. I confess, I was taken aback. Later that night, I went online and signed up for a vision improvement program for this kind of condition and am now in the fifth day of an eight week course of eye exercises. So far, my eyes feel more relaxed so that is nice. I can see well enough on the computer, but I have trouble with changes in plane when I walk, tripping on steps and in holes. The sight cane helps quite a bit but I am still getting my head around the idea that I may not see clearly again. Interestng to contemplate and I will remain positive until there is reason not to be.

The big news in San Miguel de Allende is that the city is elected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This means there will be funding for traffic and tourism management, and for rehabilitation of historic buildings here and in Atontanilco, a nearby village where the Mexican revolution against Spain started. There was a big fireworks display during a light rain, and an evening parade. One of the protected cultural activities is the use of fireworks for neighborhood religious festivals about which there have been complaints by some visitors - that is now behind us, so bring some earplugs when you visit!

I am taking pictures as I wander around the city. If you want to see what is going on in San Miguel, go to www.portalsanmiguel.com Be in touch. Gracias.