The Best Of Popo - A Photo Journal

Splendor in Blue

The Harvest is Plentiful

Golden Age

Towering Over Us

Crisp Autumn Day

Gray Mystery

A Moment of Tranquility

Majesty Reflected

Master’s Piece

Three Smoke Stacks

Don’t Do This, Don’t Do That

Planning a visit to Mexico this coming year? Here are some “Don’ts” to keep in mind to make your trip a rip roaring success.

1. Don’t look at the police.
2. Don’t talk loudly in public.
3. Don’t put the paper in the toilet bowl.
4. Don’t eat food from non-recommended street venders - or you will get a lot of practice on the previous “don’t”.
5. Don’t fail to get off the metro with your group in Mexico City – or to get on.
6. Don’t point…don’t stare.
7. Don’t forget to bring a sweater – yes, in Mexico.
8. Don’t refuse the hospitality of your hosts.
9. Don’t leave home without a few important Spanish phrases (¿Donde está el baño?/Where is the bathroom?)
10. Don’t forget sunscreen.
11. Don't toss an object to someone.
12. Don’t forget to always greet everyone and always say goodbye to everyone – the “Mexican way”.
13. Don't lay your money on the counter at the cash register.
14. Don't show up on time to a party - it would be rude and rather uncomfortable.
15. Don't pay with a 500 peso for a 40 peso bill, they will not have change.
16. Don't hit the man standing in your blind spot blowing a whistle while you back your car out of a space, and don't forget to tip him.
17. Don't be surprised when your neighbor comes to visit after 10:00 pm.
18. Don't surprise your neighbor with a visit before 10:00 am.
19. Don't forget to tip the grocery bagger, parking attendant, gas station attendant, the person who carries your bags to the car...did I forget anyone?
20. Don't take photos of individuals without asking first.
21. Don't forget an umbrella during rainy season - or maybe even during dry season too.
22. Don’t rinse your toothbrush with tap water and don’t swallow the water in the shower.
23. Don't wear your hat into a church.
24. Don't expect others to follow the rules of the road...oh I forgot, what rules?
25. Don't stand too close to the curb, and don't think that pedestrians have the right of way.
26. Don't yell out people's names to get their attention; whistle instead.
27. Don't expect people to tell you what they really feel, but what they think you want to hear.
28. Don't ask for a quesadilla without cheese.
29. Don't think that you know or understand anything.
30. Don't be judgmental of the culture – it’s not wrong, just different.

(Thanks to contributors for this post: Juan Carlos, Debbie, Keith, Candace, Dawn)

Here We Are

No matter how much I write it still seems impossible to put into words everyday life for you. I guess in this case the worn out cliché “you have to be here” is true.

At the moment I’m sitting in a small restaurant looking out across the road into the park. I’ve just finished a pounded and breaded chicken sandwich served on a bun called a torta. Flies are buzzing around and dust rolls up from the street as heavy trucks pass by. I couldn’t have imagined myself eating here a few years ago and my guess is that you couldn’t have imagined it either.

Buses pass overloaded with passengers, a school girl runs to catch one of them, a BMW drives by as do many vehicles that certainly wouldn’t pass inspection back home. An older gentleman walks by pushing his bicycle.

Just outside a huge kettle filled with oil is used to fry up huge pork skins. The dry season is under way so the sun is in full bloom. I see a lady carrying her “for water” (umbrella) that is used more for sun than rain. The streets are dirty. Men from the city sweep up trash.

Across the way big and small tents have been set up. There’s a week long traveling fiesta (carnival) with food, games, exhibitions and rides. School is out for the day and the park is filled with young people wearing their school uniforms - hanging out, laughing, hugging, kissing. Women carry babies wrapped in heavy blankets on a warm day. A gentle breeze is catching the myriad of colorful flags. The church has been painted fresh and a sign over the gate welcomes the archbishop.

Back inside the restaurant it’s noisy. Traffic continues to bustle by and the radio volume is about three notches louder than is necessary to hear well. A fifty gallon drum sits outside the restroom for flushing the toilet and a pink waste paper basket awaits the arrival of the used paper. It really is a nice establishment. Ancelba is friendly and customers began showing up for the “comida” hour.

Oh yes, the King is here. I'm here too. Here we are.

A Way Of Seeing

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that while back home we discovered a used book store in my home town called “Our Place”. After purchasing The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes my parents, Daniel and I sat down to enjoy books, coffee and each other’s company. Sitting there I spied Edith Schaffer’s A Way of Seeing on the discount rack. Knowing my wife as I do, who loves used books I decided to put down the $1.50 and bring it back to her as a present.

As she was reading this week Diana called out, “Listen to this.” What she read could just as easily have been written this week in response to the current U.S and world financial crisis. Although written in the 70’s let us be encouraged by these timeless truths:

"News magazines and newspapers scream at us with headlines predicting worldwide depression. An anxious scrutiny of the stock reports shows a general decline in value…Prices soar, and rice, margarine, and dried beans have little tags on them which seem like a week-by-week joke as new packages are brought home and put on the shelf beside those purchased weeks before for half the amount of money. Rumors float around by word of mouth as to what might be a safe thing to do with cash, as to what land might be a good investment, as to how to protect what one has.

"As we look into the Bible, our source for practical knowledge of what to do day by day and how to live according to God’s specific advice, we are hit by the truth of how well God knows us, as well as the definiteness of His commands. We can’t one day say, 'Why didn’t You tell us?' He has told us so clearly, but we are so often blind and deaf, or we let words flow over us like rain…Words – words – words – like drops of water or music, pleasant but temporary in effect. The Word of God is not meant to be like that. If it is not cutting us deep, sharper than a two-edged sword, then we have not really listened or seen.

"Read Luke 12:15-34 and think about it as if you had never seen it before. Think about it in relationship to the stock-market report, and the tax bill. What are we to worry about? Anything?...Verse 29 shows us that He wants us to think not about a coming depression and how it might affect our daily need of food and drink. We are not to be 'doubtful' or worried as the world would worry. If we lose everything, we are not to react in an anxious way. Why? Because here is a practical place for us to demonstrate to Satan, the demons, the angels, the 'nations' (all the people who are not in the family of the Lord) that we really do believe the truth of true truth in a practical way. We are to remember that the difference will show up in remembering that our Heavenly Father knows we have need of these material things and that He will 'add' them to us, if we put first things first. And what is first? 'But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God.'"