Azulejos

I like the Spanish word for decorative tiles: azulejos. Could it be a fusion of azul and lejos, Spanish for “blue” and “far”? Blue far. The words evoke exotic places, like the Mediterranean or the Blue Mosque.

Azulejos are everywhere in Casa Skip y Nancy, our San Pancho house. Vibrant blue tiles on kitchen counters; intricate patterns of turquoise and navy on stair risers; geometric designs of blue and gold on the patio steps; a border of lily tiles around a bathroom mirror.

The house is one-of-a-kind and made of indigenous materials. Walls are stuccoed block, built by masons from the village and painted pink. A San Pancho carpenter crafted the windows and doors from parota, a local hardwood. And the decorative tiles, made of Nayarit clay, were hand-finished in Puerto Vallarta according to the traditional Talavera process. I revel in the individuality of Casa Skip y Nancy, and I appreciate its connection to its place.

Our Connecticut condo, where we spend the spring and summer, is pleasant enough and meets our needs. But it is identical to 149 other units in our condo complex. All the materials, including the tiles, look like they came from Home Depot. Exterior walls are stucco veneer embellished with fake half-timbers. Each unit is painted the same beige, per condo regulations. An attempt to look Tudor, I guess, but what’s Tudor got to do with southern Connecticut?