Get me some culture...

So, what do elephants, ducks, mermaids, cats, the Greek god Hermes, and various other caryatids have in common?

A bad eighties music video, you say? No, not quite.

I found the answer to this very question as I wandered the streets of downtown Querétaro this afternoon and came across the Museo de Arte de Querétaro. Having nothing better to do, I decided to go and "get me some culture." In my pre-cultured state, I was certainly convinced that all of the artwork would be extravagant, brightly colored, and have an overall aura of flamboyance. After all, isn't that how Latin America rolls?

Well, I was right. And wrong.

The museum is housed inside the restored Templo y Convento de San Agustin which was built between 1731 and 1736. The open air Baroque style convent is simply breath-taking. And, after taking one look inside, I would never classify it as museum material by United States' standards. Interestingly enough, the designs carved into the columns feature a number of symbolic components. That's where your bad 80's pop music comes into play. The Baroque columns are decorated with an assortment of various animals and persons, leaving foreigners to speculate as to their particular significance.

When talking about art museums, I suppose it is appropriate to mention art as well. For the majority of the exhibitions, I was unable to take photographs. However, I will tell you that their collection of 19th century Mexican art (featuring José Jara and Luis Portú) is quite formidable. The museum has a great selection of art from the style of Manierismo. Some of the artists in this collection include: Baltasar de Echave Orio, Luis Juárez, and Basilio Salazar.

I was, however, able to photograph and enjoy the ceramic artwork of Carlos Marin in a temporary exhibition. His artwork, though not flashy or brightly colored, quickly captured my attention. Below you can see his piece entitled, Nueve (that's "Nine" for us gringos).

I came across another interesting piece by Carlos Marin. The ceramic statuette (seen at left) stands perfectly balanced and unabashed, pointing the way for all to see. I have to say, I truly admire this piece for the artist's ability to balance the unbalanceable. Just tiptoeing by, I was afraid it might shatter into a million pieces on the floor. Twas a scary thought to say the least. Who knows what those scary museum attendants would have done to me?!

So there you have it, folks. The flamboyant, the seemingly mundane, Hermes, ducks, and cats all working together to bring you a wonderful afternoon at a Mexican art museum.

The good stuff...

While I spend my semester living in Querétaro, I'd love to send a little Mexican love back home to the United States. So let's get started with the good stuff: FOOD!

My first stop today was for coffee and cake at an adorable café located close to the Querétaro Historic Center. The café, María y su Bici, offers a variety of ethnic food and wine from both Oaxaqueña and Querétaro. And, thus far, their hot coffee is the best that I've had at a Mexican establishment.

The service, however, is what really endeared me to the café. Unknowingly, I stumbled into the restaurant about a half-hour before opening time. Offering their apologies, the waiters refused that I should leave and escorted me to the best table. As I was the only person there, I truly experienced the best they had to offer. After taking my order (in near perfect English), the waiter hurried away to make sure the order was placed.

While waiting for my food, I noticed the colorful decor and festive display of cultural items. The waiter must have noticed my rubbernecking, because he stopped in his tracks and asked if I was enjoying Mexico. Affirming that I was, he smiled and trotted away to find my food. After finishing my meal, the staff offered me a quite reasonable bill and cordially invited me to their café's upcoming anniversary celebration. I joyously declared that I would love to join them, and that perhaps, I might even be so brave as to enjoy their grasshopper entrée.