From Santo Domingo to Dogs

Santo Domingo Pictures

Another lovely day in Mexico. I spend the day downtown, doing a little exploration at the Santo Domingo Ex-Convent and Cultural Center.

First, let me say, “Wow.” Reconstructed using the original techniques (I know this as the person who ran the project stayed at my uncles B&B”) it is unexpectedly Baroque. The walls are white plaster with a dull sheen and many of the ceiling and doorways are gilded. I wondered the halls for a few hours, sometimes just sitting and enjoying. What is there about a hallway that stretched forever that simply pleases the eye and just makes you want to see what’s around the corner at the end?

In addition to being a beautiful example of architecture, the building houses a museum in its many rooms (they were one bedroom for the monks, I assume). While the artifacts span the range from Mayan to Spanish conquest, I am always more interested in the Mayan.

Finally, you meet interesting people at museums. A guard followed me but apparently he didn’t think I was a thief….he asked me out (I said no). And I met a lovely couple from Arizona who are road-tripping through Central America. Sara is a writer as well (YA) and Sara if you’re reading this….I meant it when I said to email me!

An another note, I was walking to market, stopped to pet the puppy next door, and it’s mother tried to pee on me.

So, there it is. The balance of ‘wow’ with WTF.

Gotta have both!