Jekyll2020-08-11T08:12:57-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/El Terreno ReverdecerPermaculture VanDwellingMuseos en Ciudad Mexico2019-06-29T05:00:00-04:002019-06-29T05:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/06/29/museos-en-ciudad-mexico<p>Get on the metro and make your way to the blue line</p>Get on the metro and make your way to the blue lineGetting our money back, chapter 32019-06-21T07:00:00-04:002019-06-21T07:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/06/21/getting-our-money-back-chapter-3<p>We’ve spent a lot of time and money trying to get ~$1000 back from the Mexican government. We paid a lot for temporary resident visas for our time in Mexico, and turns out <a href="https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/03/18/getting-our-money-back/">we paid too much</a>.</p>
<p>We could only get in back by going to government offices in Mexico City, and we couldn’t even get the corrent instructions or forms until we were there in person. We learned we’d each need a Mexican bank account in our names for the government to deposit our money into.</p>
<p>The office would be open til 2pm so we hit the pavement and waited in lines at three banks to use our lousy Spanish and try to open bank accounts. We needed passports (yep) and a minimum opening deposit (fine) and proof of address (official bill from a utility company or a lease signed by a landlord). No chance.</p>
<p>Plus, someone finally explained in slow-enough-Spanish that even if we had that paperwork, we’d have to open the accounts in Morelia, anyway, since that’s where we live.</p>
<p>Turns out most people in Mexico can’t open bank accounts, since people in the country or small towns may not have this formal paperwork, and only some people in a household would be listed on bills or leases. Officially, the complicated and inconsistent rules for all manner of transaction are supposed to minimize corruption - but as usual, poor people suffer and the richest achieve corruption without interruption.</p>
<p>We went back to the government office and learned that Uncle Stan (or anyone) can deliver our paperwork once it’s finished. We don’t have to finish this before we leave Mexico!</p>
<p><a href="/images/bella_artes.jpg"><img src="/images/bella_artes_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/09/getting-our-money-back-chapter-2/">We probably won’t get the extra $1000 back, but we’re still trying</a> and the saga continues into at least a fourth chapter! Will we ever open a bank account?</p>We’ve spent a lot of time and money trying to get ~$1000 back from the Mexican government. We paid a lot for temporary resident visas for our time in Mexico, and turns out we paid too much.Mexico City Metro2019-06-18T06:00:00-04:002019-06-18T06:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/06/18/mexico-city-metro<p>Explore Mexico City with coins you dig out of your sofa.</p>
<p>Seriously; it’s 5 pesos/ticket, which is less than $.25. Transfer trains all day if you feel like it - on the same ticket if you stay on the platforms. While the stations are beautiful, you’ll want to get above ground eventually. And look at all the places you’ll go!</p>
<p><a href="/images/metro_mapa.jpg"><img src="/images/metro_mapa_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>Each route has a color and also a number.</p>
<p>You buy tickets with cash. They look like raffle tickets and will easily get lost. You could buy extra to avoid waiting in the ticket line at peak hours, but put them somewhere safe. (You can buy a card if you’ll be in CdMx long enough.)</p>
<p>Free rides to kids under 5, seniors, uniformed police and some other groups.</p>
<p>Bring your bike on board!</p>
<p>Use the paper ticket to get through the turnstyle, then find your platform.</p>
<p>Instructions for waiting at the platform are painted on the floor. This is useful! Riders might charge the train because the doors don’t stay open long. Don’t be offended if you’re from one of the places where people leave a lot of personal space. Just get on the train.</p>
<p><a href="/images/baby_cdmx3.jpg"><img src="/images/baby_cdmx3_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>Public transit is its own sightseeing. Enjoy more eye-contact and smiles with strangers than a typical US city.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t sweat theft threat. Everyone and their brother (and their baby) is absorbed by their cell phones and usually leave the train with their wallet (and those phones, too).</p>
<p><a href="/images/baby_cdmx2.jpg"><img src="/images/baby_cdmx2_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>But don’t be foolish either - never hurts to loop purse straps around wrists, shoulders, etc; keep wallets in front pockets; stay awake. Even <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+16%3A15%2CMatthew+24%3A43%2C1+Thessalonians+5%3A2%2C1+Thessalonians+5%3A4%2C2+Peter+3%3A10&version=ESV">Jesus comes like a thief while you’re sleeping</a>! (Does anyone read this blog but my mom, anyway?)</p>
<p>The metro survived the 1985 earthquake - it has earned your trust! It won’t run on time like trains of Europe, but might be more reliable than BART or NYC transit. Maps and apps are widely available. <a href="https://www.metro.cdmx.gob.mx/">Read more.</a></p>Explore Mexico City with coins you dig out of your sofa.Guanajuato light show2019-05-22T04:00:00-04:002019-05-22T04:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/22/guanajuato-light-show<p>There’s a lot to see in Guanajuato in the daytime.</p>
<p><a href="/images/gto_depot.jpg"><img src="/images/gto_depot_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>And given the stairs, easier to navigate with sunlight.</p>
<p><a href="/images/gto_park.jpg"><img src="/images/gto_park_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>With night comes a light show.</p>
<p>Be patient, it takes awhile to set up.</p>
<p>Sometimes we didn’t know if we were watching set up or the show. We condensed it significantly for your schedule:</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/nucAwMGy0yo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<p>Max couldn’t see it.</p>
<p><a href="/images/max_eyes.jpg"><img src="/images/max_eyes_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>There’s a lot to see in Guanajuato in the daytime.Amor y almuerzo2019-05-13T05:00:00-04:002019-05-13T05:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/13/amor-y-almuerzo<p>Lunch in the church plaza was couples’ time.</p>
<p>The dogs came with a punk crew and intimidated people moving through the plaza, so the black one was ordered to his back, where he stayed for ten minutes.</p>
<p><a href="/images/cdmx_dog.jpg"><img src="/images/cdmx_dog_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>How often does this couple meet for lunch? They’ve got a system down.</p>
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<p>We strolled and sat, reading people and signs. City life has serious perks.</p>
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<p>Do you have a favorite lunch park or people-watching plaza? Who do you meet there? Who do you speak to?</p>
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<td><a href="/images/cdmx_church3.jpg"><img src="/images/cdmx_church3_.jpg" alt="" /></a></td>
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</table>Lunch in the church plaza was couples’ time.Getting our money back, chapter 22019-05-09T07:00:00-04:002019-05-09T07:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/09/getting-our-money-back-chapter-2<p>How would we retrieve the $1000 the Mexican government owes us? If you don’t know why they have our money, <a href="http://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/03/18/getting-our-money-back/">read chapter 1</a>.</p>
<p>We thought we’d have to make separate trips to Mexico City, each navigating one of the biggest cities in the world in a language we barely speak. We expected semi-rude and overly complicated beauracracy. Our days in Mexico were running out, and we just had to try - $1000! Could we think of it as a potentially-paid trip to Mexico City?</p>
<p>My mom was visiting and we decided to go together, while Phillip stayed home with the animals. On our way to the bus station Mom suggested that she stay with the animals, and Phillip and I could go together and just get it done. Efficient and smart idea! But not the vacation/visit she’d been planning on. <a href="http://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/03/28/vanlife-and-re-wombing/">Oh, a mother’s love!</a></p>
<p>We went back to El Terreno and talked through the details of pets, solar electricity, food options. We packed. Finally ready, we called a cab company but couldn’t explain how to get to El Terreno in our lousy Spanish. Next we called Ezekiel, a taxi driver who could find the place. An hour later the taxi came, and Ezekiel got us to the bus station (dozens of stalls along the way).</p>
<p><a href="/images/cdmx_subway.jpg"><img src="/images/cdmx_subway_.jpg" alt="" width="40%" /></a></p>
<p>We got to Mexico City at bedtime, and Stan explained how we’d get to the government offices the next day. We took a taxi to the subway and a train to the downtown. The <em>Servicio de Administracion Tributaria</em> building is amidst about <a href="http://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/03/23/mexico-city-just-a-taste/">100 fascinating places to visit</a>. Maybe we’d get our business done and have time to <a href="http://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/11/museos-en-ciudad-mexico/">sightsee</a>?!</p>
<p><a href="/images/cdmx_parque.jpg"><img src="/images/cdmx_parque_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>We found the buildings without trouble and dared hope for friendly government officials. Though at least 5 guards at the gate had huge guns, they all said <em>Bienvenidos</em> with a smile and helped us find the office we needed. No one rolled an eye at our lousy Spanish. We started to go in the wrong door (having misunderstood some instructions) and a guard fetched and redirected us. We weren’t relaxed, but we started to breathe a little deeper.</p>
<p><a href="https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/06/09/getting-our-money-back-chapter-3/">Read more in chapter 3.</a></p>How would we retrieve the $1000 the Mexican government owes us? If you don’t know why they have our money, read chapter 1.Guanajuato2019-05-01T07:00:00-04:002019-05-01T07:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/05/01/guanajuato<p>Travel writing inevitably reuses adjectives: unique, charming, enticing, entertaining, lovely…but these adjectives are utterly appropriate for Guanajuato! Put it high up on your Mexico travel list.</p>
<p><a href="/images/dogs_gto.jpg"><img src="/images/dogs_gto_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>This is a place to walk. We don’t recommend taking dogs, though (of course) we had ours along. They were patient, and they met a <a href="https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2018/09/23/fly/">Fly</a>-look-alike!</p>
<p><a href="/images/not_fly_gto.jpg"><img src="/images/not_fly_gto_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>The town is built into hillsides, full of steep and winding roads; many homes are only available by stairs.</p>
<p><a href="/images/houses_gto.jpg"><img src="/images/houses_gto_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>We were there as the town set up for its annual street race, and wished we could stick around to hear the loud cars go fast. Except…how fast can they go in a city of stairs?</p>
<p><a href="/images/circle_gto.jpg"><img src="/images/circle_gto_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>
<p>Nearly everywhere you go has a great view. We liked the one from our hotel patio.</p>
<p><a href="/images/plaza_gto.jpg"><img src="/images/plaza_gto_.jpg" alt="" width="60%" /></a></p>Travel writing inevitably reuses adjectives: unique, charming, enticing, entertaining, lovely…but these adjectives are utterly appropriate for Guanajuato! Put it high up on your Mexico travel list.Resurrection day2019-04-21T07:00:00-04:002019-04-21T07:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/04/21/resurrection-day<p>Happy Easter!</p>
<p>Did you commemorate Holy Week with a bull that scares you into repentance?</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/URFh4xMkF_o" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<p><br />
May you find your rhythm, sorrow/joy, regret/freedom, rain/flowers, today.</p>
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</table>Happy Easter!Hoods of holy week2019-04-18T07:00:00-04:002019-04-18T07:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/04/18/hoods-of-holy-week<p>If we were in Mexico for Holy Week we’d be in vacation and festival season. Schools and many jobs take two-week vacations. Heavy traffic and busy-ness move from cities to beach towns. Mexico gets extra colorful and flowery.</p>
<p>Like the Viernes Santa procession (Good Friday). We went to historic downtown Morelia last year and watched. Devout of all ages prepared costumes and displays and walked for hours.</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lLnWg7mkH1g" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<p><br />
We were surprised by the hoods, and realized how large the KKK looms in our sight when hoods are involved. <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capirote">Capriote</a>, the hood, has a long religious tradition and perhaps the KKK was appropriating it from the Catholics they hated? Do you know?</p>
<p><a href="/images/hoods.jpg"><img src="/images/hoods_.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>The procession is supposed to be silent and solemn. At least it used to be - maybe the rules are changing, or maybe self-control is waning? Capitalism is powerful.</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/HlHRkWXBbuM" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<p><br /></p>
<p>Good Friday always sounds off-kilter. It’s the day we commemorate Jesus’ execution. I know we’re supposed to be grateful and impressed, but why call it <em>good</em>? The Spanish <em>santa</em> works better; it’s a day to revere, but not celebrate or praise.</p>
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<p>Holy day, to you.</p>If we were in Mexico for Holy Week we’d be in vacation and festival season. Schools and many jobs take two-week vacations. Heavy traffic and busy-ness move from cities to beach towns. Mexico gets extra colorful and flowery.What this parabola can do2019-04-15T06:00:00-04:002019-04-15T06:00:00-04:00https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/04/15/what-this-parabola-can-do<p>So I made a parabola out of wood, foam board, and aluminum foil. What can it do?
<a href="/images/parabola-foil.jpg"><img src="/images/parabola-foil_.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Melt Plastic</p>
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<p>Melt Foam</p>
<p><a href="/images/melt-foam.jpg"><img src="/images/melt-foam_.jpg" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>What do I wish it could do?</p>
<p>Cook beans - we’ve tried several ways to cook beans. It takes hours (wasting propane) <a href="link">on the grill.</a></p>
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<p>Recharge <a href="https://reverdecer.annalisagross.com/2019/01/04/first-experiments-with-solar-salt-batteries/">salt heaters</a></p>
<p>This crude solar parabola was able to reach temperatures between 180F and 200F. It was able to melt plastic, but not boil water. There are two big improvements that can be made with better materials. The first is a better reflective surface (such as a sheet of aluminum or stainless steel, scraps of glass mirror, or mylar glued to foam.) The second is a more precise parabola shape with a frame of metal bent exactly to shape instead of a curde approximation of the square wooden frame. With both of theses improvements the solar concentrator should be able to reach temperatures in excess of 400F!</p>So I made a parabola out of wood, foam board, and aluminum foil. What can it do?