"Friends, family and fellow travelers" Personal Page by melosh

All these pictures are personal and not for publication without consent of the subjects and myself. They are shared here for VT and family member enjoyment only and because they can lead to travel ideas or can serve as leads into travel stories that I have yet to figure out how to fit into tips or travelogues.

This hat was purchased with twelve others before this boy was born over 25 years ago. Cheaper than $2 each when bought by the dozen, they were given to friends and family when they came to visit us during the two years my wife and I lived in Mexico.
A great memory was the time was when my parents, my wife and I took four hats like this to the Guadalajara airport to greet a family of four good friends on their first visit to Mexico. Initially we stood at the back of the crowd outside the exit from baggage claim and customs with the hats on our heads. After they arrived, while they waited for their bags they nervously looked for us through the glass but did not recognize us even though they looked right at us and we were the only people in hats. Before they came out we changed positions. At this early hour there was no one at the rent a car station so my father took a seat and placed his head on the counter as if he was a sleepy agent. My mother, my wife and I sat down on the floor in front of the counter with the hats covering our faces. When they recognized us with a great laugh we got up, placed the hats on their heads and gave them good Mexican abrazo welcomes.
It seems people were always leaving things with us when the left for home, but I can not remember anyone leaving their hat.

Morelia, night of the dead

I wanted to take one of these ladies home. The other is the wife of a best friend.

This lady is about to get very wet.

I married a women with a sense of adventure-- She once went across the Sahara desert on the back of a date truck -- but as time has passed she has found less and less time for travel. She does not deny that she could survive a trip under the conditions of economic travel that I prefer, but I think she rather wants more of a vacation then an adventure. She works many hours in a labor of love, so perhaps it is not surprising that she now prefers sleeping to walking strange streets exploring.
The good part is that she does not resent my going off traveling as long as I bring back something for her school children.

Friends share an iced coconut in Rio

What is it about travel that brings out the romance in long term relationships? Could it be the escape from children and other responsibilities?
Could it be the sharing of new experiences?
Could it be the togetherness in the face of a different and challenging world?
Could it be the alcohol without need for a designated driver?
Could it be the romantic music?
Could it be the lack of everyday distractions of home?
Could it be the memories old and new?

New Orleans masked lady

My wife shares the mask she got on a solo trip to New Orleans.

Buying Guadalajaran pottery in Puebla.

A friend on a trip to Puebla, Mexico decided to buy his wife. who had been unable to make the trip, a full collection of dishware. This was a quite modern shop, but the selection process eventually required sitting on the floor. There was method in this madness, because he had all his friends along to help him carry it home. And to top it off, his wife loved it!