Preparing for the wedding

We've been involved yesterday and part of today in preparations for the wedding fiestas.   Jose's mother and aunt spent most of yesterday creating little bags of popcorn, potato chips and something very Mexican called Chicharones.  Each bag is finished off with two packages of hot sauce and a silver ribbon.  These are for one of the parties, not sure which one.

 Some of the other guests from Canada who came to stay with the Reyes family are pitching in to help.  The beautiful young woman in this photo is Jose's sister Natalia.

She's been so helpful to us, showing us around town, helping us to find what we need like a wine store and a place to get Jamie's suit pressed. (He brought it down in his backpack.)

 We went out yesterday afternoon with Natalia to get some tortas for lunch.  Tortas are the Mexican version of a sandwich and these ones were fantastic.  I had Milanese (breaded veal cutlet) with fried cheese, tomato, avocado and onion on a fresh bun.  Fanatastic.  We sat at the counter and watched them cook the tortas for all the people who came in for lunch.

It's so great to have someone here to show us around this charming city, which was founded in 1640!  It's been around quite a while.  Some of the buildings are really beautiful.

The church that Jose will be married in this evening is one of them.  This is the exterior, which can be seen from all over the centro historico.

The interior is stunning with cupolas and chandeliers.  It's going to be a beautiful ceremony (complete with Catholic Mass).  And it will be followed by literally dancing to dawn we're told.  Apparently there is a breakfast served at 3:00 am to keep people standing up!

 

One preparation that surprised me was the purchase of a hand-operated sprayer that will be filled with a potent mixture of rum, tequila, water and Tang.  It will be available to be sprayed into the mouths of (I hope) willing drinkers.  I'm certain I won't be one!

There was some discussion of who would operate it and Jamie's name came up.  I'll leave that decision up to him.  Here's Jose with his sprayer.

I spent an hour this morning getting Gel nails applied in preparation for the big event. Natalia and her mother both had this done and I didn't want to be left out.  I'm having a bit of a challenge with them just now on the computer keyboard.  But hey, it's worth it.

After all, how often do you get to party with the Mexican elite in San Juan del Rio?  This wedding is a big deal. It was on the front page of the society section of the San Juan del Rio newspaper this morning.

Once I've recovered from the party I'll let you know what the evening was like.