Guanajuato, Mexico

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We love Mexico. Arrived in Guanajuato on Monday March 24th. We were welcomed by Sigfrido and Janet, and their two sons Tzintzun and Sereno, the Aguilar-Izzo family. Sigfrido is a master of clown theater, and he and Janet are an inspiring and moving artistic force in the Guanajuato community, drawing artists, mathematicians, and established musicians into their magical circle of movement theater. We made our home base at their imaginatively constructed house on a hill in Valenciana, at an old mine, where what was once a huge water tank has been transformed into an outdoor ampitheater. Each day was filled with activities. Because Tzintzun and Sereno have been homeschooled for a number of years now, the Aguilar-Izzo family gave us a marvelous model for interactive experiential learning. In addition to the constant flow of rehearsals at which Sigfrdo mentored, Chingan classes led by Janet, and math tutoring by a professor from the nearby institute, we were also treated to wonderful tamales, arroz con frijoles and fabulous desayunos. We ventured out twice to explore other parts, once to Dolores Hidalgo, and then, along with our hosts, to the region of Lake Patzcuaro, known for its artisan villages. We couldn't resist some of the beautiful ceramics and masks along the way, which we now have to send along to New York, because there is no room in our trailer.
The only sad note was that Jenny, our dog, died in Phoenix while we were in Mexico. We had left her in the care of Dave, who told us that she ate well the night before she died, and chewed on a bone around the bonfire he made that night.

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