It´s no fun waiting for customers

It´s no fun waiting for the customers.....

when the weather´s just not cold enough 
to create a crowd, waiting for hot wine cider!

Here is classic food along the river.

In Budapest we found these sweet breads, 

cooked on a rolling pin, above a charcoal fire.

It was their country´s classical Christmas treat, we were told.

But at every festival, in 4 different countries, we noticed that

the story was the same:

"A family recipe, handed down through generations".

Sounded a little fishy to us ignorant Americans.

Turns out these things did not exist 5 years ago, 

when someone first came up with the idea.

But, they are now selling better than hotcakes!

(P.S. And, did you notice the propane tank,in the first picture?

Yes ready to boost the charcoal´s flame, in case demand suddenly got a little high)

What we love about Christmas

Now that Christmas is over, lets analyze this season.

Here are some "artistic" rederings form my photos along the Danube´s many Christmas Markets.

Let´s be real:  It´s the food we love!

Whether its the fried potato rings,
the sausages from Regensburg,

or the giant pretzels, at many kiosks,
it is food that brought big smiles to people´s faces!

Merry Christmas

We don´t know if the locals along the Danube 
will be celebrating Midnight Mass at their local village church,
or travel to the big city cathedrals.

But, wherever you are,
may you have a Merry Christmas.

Christkindlmarkt along the Danube

Earlier in December we had time on our hands, 
so I made some caricatures form pics we took on a recent trip.

So, if you too have nothing else to do, how about acting like a tourist?

Get on a carriage ....

and pretend you are a kid.

Join the old folks by the Cathedrals´ parks.

You´ll see cute toys,

and soldier toys

and different style of toys for kids of all ages,

by people proud of what they have created.

You will see houses,

and Christmas tree ornaments,

whether of glass,

or more natural stuff.

And, should you get bored ´cause you've seen it all before,

you might find that the caroling choirs,

and the crowds around you,

might make you feel like you are still a kid after all.

So, from the Christmas Markets along the Danube:
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year !!!!!

Luminaria

Luminaria, in Mexican culture, has to do with lighting up the way. 
Usually it is something simple, like candles in lunch paper sacks, along the sidewalk to a holiday party.
But, San Antonio goes out big for our city´s Luminaria event, held 2 week-ends ago.

They say 300,000 people show up downtown to see it. 
But it sure did not seem crowded to us. 

Artist must present works made of light. It takes a lot of work and preparation.

So, the light crews get to work early :

And even the musicians dress up their act with lights, 

as they prepare to perform for the whole city.

Several artists painted murals on walls which were accentuated by the projected lights. 
Many filled whole building's wall!

Some were more attractive than others.

And some were down right scary.
(Maybe it was because it was right after Halloween.)


They also had projected whimsical light scenes 
which create an opportunity for everyone, from young to old, to pose.

And some of the works are serious indeed. Like this one. 
I don´t know what the artist intended, but I call it
¨The consequence of conquest¨. Wouldn´t you agree?

It´s a diorama, less than 12 inches tall.
Tiny pebbles placed along the stucco wall have been painted to each look like a skull!
And look how the tiny statues pose a shadow TOWARDS you, instead of towards the wall! Wow!
This was my favorite of them all the works!

But the audience brought in a sense of the current times. 
Like that person using a phone to take the snapshot above...  
or …..was she merely texting a friend?

Well, I am distressed to report that texting was indeed the activity for some….

despite what was happening around them.


Meanwhile, in a building close-by, players faces were illuminated by lights from a room-full of pinball machines.

I must say, though, that I liked the riverwalk the best.

That's where musicians played under the bridges, 
and let us enjoy their more classic art!

If you think you'd like this, just come down to San Antonio's Luminaria this time next year! You'll enjoy it.

Lots of hungry mouths

Went to the zoo today
and there were lots of these guys around.


 

Seems like EVERYONE wanted a handout!

No matter where I walked around the pool, 
the whole group followed me!

But, to their credit, I must say that it was the day after a cold front. 




And by Texas standards, 50+ degrees is just too cold
for people to go outside.
So, I am sure these poor fellows felt deprived, 
having no visitors buying food for them. 





I think you will agree, though...

                                                                                             they are so ugly that they are cute. 

They sure know how to use that to their advantage.

South Texas Pow Wow

Made it to the 4th Annual Championship Pow Wow in San Antonio this past weekend.

I was concerned because many friends I worked with in Texas claimed to be Native Americans,
form Oklahoma. But, their mannerisms, speech, and dress could pass for full blooded Scandinavians.

These guys, though, fit more of what I expected after living in NM and AK.

But quite exquisite outfits they wore! More silk than I expected.
Guess 'cause it was a championship event.

No. These are not the simple outfits of the Carancahuas and Lipan I read about as a kid,
along the Texas Gulf Coast.

What really surprised me, though, was the number of young & middle agers,
closely watching the dance steps of the elders.

And the proud look of the mothers, as their daughters joined them in the dance.

Like this moms, getting her daughters ready for the event.

But, do you know what impressed me the most?

It's when right before the dance, one of the young adults pulls out her iPad…….
and gets so immersed in what she is looking at.

A last-minute review of the dance steps?

Well, I assume it's the new being used for preserving the old.

Missing out on the sunsets

I noticed this the other day, as I rode home on my bike, near the end of rush hour.

And wondered if the drivers appreciated the colors in front of them, as they waited at the stop light.

But, as soon as the light turned green,

the race home was on!

No, I think they missed that sunset.