San Miguel

Hi Everyone
I was able to shake Al Gore's hand! I was in Mexico City, invited to participate in Al Gore's Global Climate Change Project for Latin America. It was three days of talks and presentations about climate change, so that we can now give talks and the presentation in our regions; spreading the word about what we need to do to slow it down. Then I took a few days to San Miguel de Allende, staying at a friend's house (she loaned it to me for a few days). It was great - the annual Festival de San Miguel. I love the area! Then back to Mexico City for two days; meetings. Now very glad to be back in Akumal too and tons of work to do. I hope you enjoy the photos and I wish to be back in San Miguel again soon.

Gone two weeks

Hi
I was in Nicaragua and Mexico City for two weeks. First, at the Mesoamerican Forum on Watershed Management, organized by the Mexican government. I was invited to give a presentation on social participation in watershed councils in Mexico. It was a great trip, wonderful to learn about another country in Central America; I had never been to Nica. We had one day in the field, to see a wastershed restoration project; beautiful place. We were in Managua and Cordova. The country is very poor, after so many years of extreme left and extreme right governments destroying the place in the name of the people, and the US government in the middle of it all.
Then back to Mexico, for a few meetings in Mexico City and an art exhibit of my friend Luca Bray. I also got to be an extra on a Mexican soap opera, Pobre Diabla, when I went to talk to our cousin Rafael SN about a project. Great times. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Great time in Texas at the wedding of Marissa and Jhet. Wonderful to see the whole family.
We really need to get together more often.
A few fotos. None of them from the wedding are really very good.

HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS I KNOW, ESPECIALLY MY MOM!!
I SPENT THE DAY YESTERDAY IN SIAN KA'AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE, CLEANING THE BEACH FOR OUR MOTHER EARTH. IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH TRASH FLOATS TO MEXICO'S COASTLINE, FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE CARIBBEAN, AND FROM CRUISE SHIPS DUMPING THEIR GARBAGE AT SEA. WELL, LOTS OF WORK CLEANING, BUT ALSO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE. HERE ARE A FEW PHOTOS.
HUGS
AND PLEASE, KEEP YOUR PLASTIC TO YOURSELVES.

Swine

Lots of talk about the virus spreading around the globe. We are trying to make sure we don't get it here in Akumal. Not sure what that means, but I am definitely washing my hands more than usual and not saying hello to anyone with a handshake or kiss. It is going to be weird. It is also difficult to have the "I told you so" running around the brain, after years of saying that the way we raise our animal food sources is not correct and will only bring us trouble; well, it's here.-
I hope it settles soon.

So, I am not really using this blog as it is meant to be, an update for everyone, a way to communicate on a regular basis. Not good at this. Maybe too old, too lazy, too something.
Anyway, I just made a trip to Baja California with some friends, to see whales. Arrived in San Jose del Cabo, then to Cabo San Lucas, saw Barbara, then to La Paz for the night. Next day to Loerto on the Gulf of California. Great town, beautiful sea. Tour in the boat, no whales. Tons of dolfins and not a single photo came out from this amazing dolfin show in nature that we had. Then to Puerto Adolfo Mateos, on the Pacific side, in our search for whales. Again, a good and a bit scary boat ride, but no whales. We didn't see any whales, saw lots of dolfins, sea lions, birds, water, desert (1 or 2 "s", I never could remember) but we saw way too much sand, rocks, cactus and dry. The whales were in San Ignacio, to the north, but we didn't have time to go further north and make it back for our flight on Monday. Also, couldn't easily change the flight, as this is Semana Santa in Mexico, everyone travelling. I had a good time, but must make better plans next year. I've worked for years in conservation, and have never seen a whale up close and personal. Who wants to go next year? We have to make sure to be there the first week of March, seems to be the best time. Anyway, the trip was relaxing, the boat rides great, the food fantastic, and I got to see a good friend who lives in Cabo and I hadn't seen in years.