Taxco

Today I´ve learned

– that Taxco is the silver-capital of Mexico. A beautiful, little city with a strong celebration-tradition for the Holy week (the Easter-week)

And I would´t be surprised if Taxco was Torbjørn Egner´s inspiration for “Kardemommeby” (the children´s book Cardemom city, which I will start working with the set-design on when I get home)

– that Taxco is the city of white houses and white VW-taxis (must have been hundreds of them!)

– that lots of Mexican families are blessed with their own angels

– that lots of Mexican go on a pilgrimage in the Holy week, we must have passed several hundreds, some with big wooden crosses on their backs. In Taxco I came across this procession of “roman guards”, all part of the celebration.

– that vendors are not prejudice… If you´re not into Jesus, you might be into fairies? (with or without dragons)

But let´s move on to the silver. The silver is found in the mountains around Taxco, and it takes 3,5 tons of rock to get 1 kilo of pure silver. Pure river is too soft to make anything with, so it needs to be mixed with something stronger, now mainly zinc. 92,5% silver, 7,5% zinc. This is why it´s stamped 925. They claim it is the highest % river can be, but those of us who have worked with PMC, know better 😉

I´ve also learned

– that every year there is a silver-smith contest where original pieces are prized. Some of them are really amazingly beautiful.

– that my taste is not necessarily mainstream

My silver treasures, two bracelets.