Ake's Henequen Factory

Merida Wall Details

Mexico Details

The first two pictures are details from Merida's streets.

And the picture below is from the henequen factory at Ake. The first time we visited the village , the workmen had the gold colored chain off for cleaning and polishing or perhaps mending. The second time we visited it was in place and crushing henequen. If you enlarge the picture you can see the fine strands of the plant adhering to the surface.

Three Pictures from Sudzal Church

Sudzal is a small village about 75 kilometers east of Merida. There is little there except a roofless church that still holds services in its open interior. The day we visited was dark and rainy, which made the place seem even more melancholy than it actually is.

Winter in May

We intended to take a quiet trip south to Hill City,SD, last Saturday and got into our third winter storm since we returned to the States. Below are two pictures from Spearfish Canyon.

Bridal Veil Falls, in the Canyon, are almost back to their winter status--frozen. This picture was NOT taken in black and white.

By the time we returned from Hill City the snow had stopped and melted. Below is one of the creatures who are making a comeback in the Black Hills of South Dakota--a young mountain goat. He was very tame and allowed me to get within about fifteen feet of him.

Miscellaneous Matters

Now that we are home, I find that I am missing adding to the blog. And so, I'll add pictures as I find something that interests me and hope that it interests you as well. Perhaps, if it keeps going, I'll change the title and begin anew, but for the time being I'll keep the Mexican title. I've been looking through some of the Mexican picture files and wanting to redo some and look at others more carefully. I'll include these in the blog as well as local photos.

The first picture is coming up Highway 85 from Cheyenne. Our re-introduction into Wyoming.

Below is the Cheyenne River on Highway 34 in South Dakota between Sturgis and Pierre. We were on our way to visit friends and family in South Dakota and Minnesota and pick up our cat, Minnie, who had spent the winter with our son and family. This used to be more of a landmark when we drove old, powerless automobiles, such as VWs. The Toyota pulls us right up this hill with nary a wheeze.

From our living room window, just after we returned. We've had a good blizzard, even though it's May.

And finally, another destroyed electrical outlet and decaying wall from Merida.

Back in the States

We have made it back into the States, having crossed the border at Las Palomas, Chihuahua/Columbus, NM on April 1 with no problems on either side. Presently we are in Las Cruces, NM, learning about the town in anticipation of moving here. We're not sure when we'll be back in Wyoming, but it should be before the end of April.