Pictures from Mexico

I've been wanting to post pictures from my Mexico trip for a while. So here they are now! Just as background, I traveled to Mexico with archaeologists at University of Arizona. We visited some 700-year old sites near the city of Nuevos Casas Grandes, in the northern state of Chihuahua - the largest state in Mexico. We also went to a village called Mata Ortiz, where we met artisans who have recently developed a pottery tradition inspired from pots found at these archaeological sites.

So to begin with, here's a picture of a portion of the ruins at the site of Paquime (this picture doesn't do justice, I think, but it's the best I have):

Here are a couple of examples of contemporary pottery at a gallery in Mata Ortiz.

And here I am posing with Juan Quezada, the man whose efforts since the 1970s have led to the pottery renaissance.

I walked around the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes by myself quite a bit, and found these interesting abandoned food stalls (not too many surprises there given my interest in food :)) by the road side:

Finally, a depressed me, back in my office! :)

I also have other pictures of my trip here.

On an unrelated note, I've been posting (and writing in general) quite regularly on my blog. You can check my most recent posts/articles at: http://thirtylettersinmyname.blogspot.com/

It's a boy...

Hi there everyone --

Just wanted to share the good news that Shari and Eric are now the proud parents of a new baby boy. Shari gave birth on Friday (June 22), just before midnight. They haven't named him yet, but will soon...he was 7 lbs. 12 oz. with a full head of dark hair when he was born. I'll post again when I know his name -- for the moment, I just wanted to share his arrival! Congratulations, Shari and Eric!