Summer in Mexico and a Few Hats

[portolan]

I just joined this forum before leaving for most of the summer in Mexico. I am in discussions with the Major regarding a new hat and sent him some pics to help the project along....

I thought you all might enjoy a few hat shots reflecting my time in Mexico. We had some major floods. So what happens when I get back to Florida? Screwy Fay hits....and hits and hits....Just shows you can't gauge a storm by 1,2,3,4, 5 alone. This one had minimal wind and maximum rain. Huge problems on Florida's east coast. Anyway, enjoy the pics....I can't wait to see what the Major makes me!

 

[Beowulf67]

Nice pictures. Thanks for posting them, and welcome back!

 

[RBH]

Great photos!!!!
Thanks... be sure to let us in on what the Major does!

 

[Tariacuri]

Hey, what did you do in Mexico??

 

[Colby Jack]

Great pics...I'm ducking from Fay now....so far continuous rain![huh]

 

[portolan]

Thanks all for the comments.....What do I do in Mexico

well, I lecture on the integration of psychology and theology...my academic discipline and supposed expertise....I watch our river when it floods, I go up into the Sierra and simply enjoy the views. I write (feature article in Catholic Digest this winter - funny, since I am Mennonite!). I work in the orchard. I practice my Spanish and lastly I try and do all I can to help the Mata Ortiz potters. They make beautiful work, but are having a time adjusting to the realities of their new found pottery wealth. Guess that is about it....I need a new hat! Gotta find out if there are any hat stores near here!

 

[PabloElFlamenco]

Hi Portolan, thanks for the pictures. I was in Mexico (Tampico and DF) recently, and neither the places I visited nor the time-span I was there could ever be considered indicative of general trends there...
I noted some fine looking older men wearing (mostly straw) cowboy style hats; and far fewer young 'uns: they seem all to be baseball fans, if not outright gangstas (or something).
I bought myself a fine tobacco colored straw "panama" hat "hecho en Ecuador" as well as "Hecho en México"...my guess is, it's a Cuenca hat. Bought it in Tardan's shop on the Zócalo in México DF.
At Tampico, there was one fine old crooner, Pepe Cantábrias is his name, performed a very enjoyable (but oh, so very very sentimental!) ranchera music repertoire; he wore a tejana hat (felt western style).
One thing's for sure: I tremendously enjoyed talking to people, very, very nice, love that accent (my Spanish is ...well... learned it in Spain tacca-tacca-tac style), none of that wonderful mexican slow drawl.
Que le vaya bien, amigo!
Pablo

 

[portolan]

Igualmente, mi amigo.....

Where I live in Chihuahua every male has either a white or a black Tejano. They all think I am very rich because I have a number of hats in different colors and styles. I have been offered chickens, a week of work, pottery and a few sisters in exchange for one of my hats. They really live by the number of x's in a hat. I have one white tejano that says 100X on the inside band. Oh my, do they all want that one. I don't think it means a thing, but it surely is a status symbol. Things like beaver, felt or wool are lost on them.....they just want to look at the x's. Wide brim hats are also a real rarity. They just don't exist down there.

Thanks for the message. Phil