Band Practice at Gypsy Cafe and a Child's Funeral
San Miguel de Allende. We have been here for two weeks in our new apartment, in the Colonia San Antonio, which is away from the tourist center (20 minutes by foot) and we like it that way. San Miguel is a town known to be the *most* inhabited ex-pat town in the country of Mexico. That means there's more big dogs here, and it's more dog friendly. That does not mean that more english is spoken as one may expect, though. We need to use our spanish speaking skills always. That's good!
Eugene has been jamming with the 'house band' at Gypsy International Cafe. Today, Lama, Erika, and Eugene hung out there with the staff and their buddies, who have become our local friends. There's Michelle, Miriella, her fiance Ben (another ex-pat our age), and the guys in the band, Fredericko who plays killer guitar, Michelangelo, Miguel and a few more (including a shakuhachi player who we haven't met yet.) They have just opened their cafe within the past 6 months. They have paintings, multi-media art, a small sound stage, breakfast, lunch, snacks, beers (and liquor por la noche.) It's a small place but offers all the things we like. Last week they had a fashion show, and tomorrow night we will dj as "DJ Team Here Are The Facts You Requested".
So, today was band practice - some of the tunes played were Herbie Hancock's 'Camelion', some Stevie Wonder, and a Willie Nelson tune. Erika chipped in some advice about phrasing for the jazz tune, while eating a swiss meatball baguette that was very delicious. Just when the funkiness was settling in, Michelangelo rushed in, yelling, "Stop, Stop, cut the music! Hay una persona muerte in la calle..." a dead person in the street? Everyone hushed and looked out the front door. A quiet moment followed, and then the singing of sad women was heard, as a funeral parade slowly passed by, the men carrying the smallest white coffin we had ever seen, trimmed in gold and adorned with marigolds. The moment lasted only a few seconds, but everyone was silent for what felt like an hour. Pushing through the sadness, Ben suggested getting back to the music and soon we all felt better, and customers came in to rub Lama's belly. Happiness returned.
Eugene has been jamming with the 'house band' at Gypsy International Cafe. Today, Lama, Erika, and Eugene hung out there with the staff and their buddies, who have become our local friends. There's Michelle, Miriella, her fiance Ben (another ex-pat our age), and the guys in the band, Fredericko who plays killer guitar, Michelangelo, Miguel and a few more (including a shakuhachi player who we haven't met yet.) They have just opened their cafe within the past 6 months. They have paintings, multi-media art, a small sound stage, breakfast, lunch, snacks, beers (and liquor por la noche.) It's a small place but offers all the things we like. Last week they had a fashion show, and tomorrow night we will dj as "DJ Team Here Are The Facts You Requested".
So, today was band practice - some of the tunes played were Herbie Hancock's 'Camelion', some Stevie Wonder, and a Willie Nelson tune. Erika chipped in some advice about phrasing for the jazz tune, while eating a swiss meatball baguette that was very delicious. Just when the funkiness was settling in, Michelangelo rushed in, yelling, "Stop, Stop, cut the music! Hay una persona muerte in la calle..." a dead person in the street? Everyone hushed and looked out the front door. A quiet moment followed, and then the singing of sad women was heard, as a funeral parade slowly passed by, the men carrying the smallest white coffin we had ever seen, trimmed in gold and adorned with marigolds. The moment lasted only a few seconds, but everyone was silent for what felt like an hour. Pushing through the sadness, Ben suggested getting back to the music and soon we all felt better, and customers came in to rub Lama's belly. Happiness returned.
posted by Akire at 4:31 PM
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