Caray, Caray!

Regarding Perla from yesterday, look at it from Bernarda's point of view. Bernarda provided the letter, and all Perla did was find someone to read it. For her work, Perla was bought out of slavary, and all Bernarda got was a few coins. I'd be pissed, too!!

Of course, Luis knew that Bernarda had the letter because someone robbed Vicente and possibly killed him, so Luis is not incline to reward Bernarda too lavishly! But from Bernarda's pont of view, Perla double crossed her.

Regarding Agustin, he must've been a person of some substance before the fire. Otherwise Juana would've had him permanently silenced way back then.
 

Paula, Thanks once again for your efforts to post this discussion. I am enjoying Alborada so much once again. It is like seeing old friends and just waiting for them to say things you remember. I don't have a lot of time to join in the discussion everyday but wanted to assure you that you are so appreciated.
 

Wow..this episode had some smoldering closeups of that handsome face. By the way, do you think that's FC's real hair or a wig ? It seems like the real deal to me. Also, Hip must have made some big money doing laundry at the brothel in Panama because she has some gorgeous clothes. That white nighty and robe set was stunning, but she should forget that cap.
 

What's going on? No show in Pacific time zone tonight? It's 10:20, and and it's still Viuda Joven. But they just showed a tease for Albo, saying "Tonight at 10:00."
 

Everything was moved out because of the Copa Oro futbol match. I think Alborada started around 10:30 or so. I just started watching and am recording the following hour just to make sure I get it all.
 

Tonight we see Hipolita's first suspicion that Luis Manrique might be the Mystery Boinker of Santa Rita. Think Hipolita, think!!

Well, we sure didn't have to wait too long to meet Augustin. He seems to be a match for Juana.

Pay attention to the ranch Las Tunas, which means prickly pear cactus. In the scenes tonight it looks like they are harvesting the nopales, the pads, for use in food, export or whatever.

Remember that Diego has many businesses that Luis manages? We'll see another very important one in the future that relies on this cactus crop. It was a huge export at the time (still in use today) and likely had a lot to do with the family fortune. It's these little historical details that make this telenovela so superb.

Susanlynn, I never could decide if LM's hair is real or a wig. I'll have to pay attention. His hair is not nearly as hideous as the other wigs and maybe that's meant to throw us off?

Paula, serves Bernarda right for being such a thieving witch. It seemed to me she is used to running the show and getting her way. Perla didn't wish to double-cross her, Luis pretty much gave Perla no choice.

Thank to Paula and Melinama for the post and recap. This is great stuff!
 

If it weren't for Luis, the Fake Count Diego would have spent down a great deal of the fortune. But Luis seems to be the man of all trades in making money. It looks as if, perhaps, he and Critsbal are pharmacists, as well, with the room with all the interesting looking wooden drawers which I assume are holding herbs, minerals and whatever. I think there was another room in his home where Luis was concocting something or performing a chemistry experiment. Ahh, brains and brawn in a hero, how nice. Quite unlike Rodrigo, of brawn but little brain, in the novela D A which is being rerun also.

Paula, thanks, because I need all the help possible with this novela.

And I wasn't expecting Agustin to appear so soon.

GinCA
 

One of the most impressive things about this series is that Luis is presented as a man of the future. He's a diversified entrepreneur who isn't waiting for an inheritance. Titles mean nothing to him and he tries to do right by the women in his life.

Add the spectacular looks and his sexual talent and you have the classic romance novel hero. He's completely irresistible, which is why Esperanza is mental.

So is her father, BTW, who would rather see her die in childbirth than end up divorced. Based on the previous episodes it doesn't sound like she would have the option of entering a convent, which would be the best choice for her.
 

Paula, you are absolutely right, Agustin must have been a well known wealthy/titled man around before the fire in the farm... also if she had got rid of him right away it would have raised suspicions since he was at the farm when the tragedy happened when the count (Luis' dad) and mother died.

'aun si me gustara' = even if I were attracted to him'

About Luis' hair... yes, I would say it is his natural hair with tons of gel to keep it looking full like that. All other wigs are hideous, so he looks even better by comparison.

Luis does the location management for Diego, since apparently Diego hates traveling (by boat? does he get dizzy? ... wimp!) ... but Luis also has his own self-made money since he uses the trips to do some exra commerce of his own...
And Luis' lab is in the room to teh left of teh staircase entrance to teh Guevara castle. That is why we see Luis coming from the Left sometimes when someone arrives. That is where his 'lab' is.

So how many people are swooning for Luis? (Espe, Perla, Hipo, ?)
and for Hipo
(Antonio?, Martin, Luis, Diego, ?)
 

Loved FC's acting in this scene...
In Hipo’s room: L: Did you have a child by another man? H: Have you ever been to Santa Rita? Francisco (Frank) interrupts them. L: I’m willing to make reparación. I can’t marry her. Even though I’d like to. [priceless face on Luis] L (to Frank): Would you accept money? H (appalled): As if I were a prostitute? L (earnestly) [again, priceless 'oops!' face on Luis]: No.

btw, 'reparacion', i would translate as 'damage repair settlement'
 

Regarding FC's hair, he has a lot of hair, I think the top & sides are natural with extensions in the back.

!Que hombre!!!!!!

So glad I didn't chg channels when I saw futbol. They are trying to drive us loco.
 

One of my character listings says the Sor Teresa is Lucero Lander, I think that is Lucero's madre.
 

Variopinta, Lucero's mother is Lucero Leon. I think you may be right about FC's hair, his own with extensions. Gosh I love your avatar.

I agree it's pretty cool that both Luis and Cristobal are, as UA says, "men of the future". That's an excellent way of looking at it. I liked it when Cristobal's sister, Sor Teresa, asked him why he is a man of the church when he never obeys its laws.

Cheryl, I hope you, Willa and Cisco are doing OK out there in the fires and smoke.

Marta, I think Diego probably gets hopelessly seasick. If that's the case I don't blame for not wanting to travel by boat. On the other hand, maybe he just doesn't care for the relative discomfort of boat travel, in which case he is indeed a wimp.

Yes, the reparacion scene was great. LM's face was priceless when he realized his insult. Um...money isn't always the most appropriate solution.
 

Wow another exciting episode! When Luis scaled that ladder, I thought he was ready to carry off Hipólita!, not just interrogate her. Too bad Hipólita's counter interrogation was interrupted.

Sylvia, thanks for mentioning it. I also noticed the nopales but hadn't connected with "Tunas" which now I remember is the name of the fruit (pear) of the cactus. People around here eat a lot of nopales. All the grocery stores have them and there is often someone cleaning the leaves before chopping them. In our neighboring state Tamaulipus they raise a huge amount for food.

Oooh! I know you must be talking about cochineal! I saw artisans using it in Oaxaca, and they raised and harvested their own. I sometimes collect and demonstrate it around here.

I couldn't figure out what weeds Hipo and (was it Asunción?) were picking in the young cornfield. Were they supposed to be gathering dandelion greens or something?

Anyone know what religious order Cristóbal is supposed to be in? I don't begin to recognize the flowing white hooded cape, and I hadn't heard it mentioned. The convent is Benedictine, and the brown robed friars Franciscan.

Audrey
 

yes, he might get seasick, but I still think it is more...
maybe he just doesn't care for the relative discomfort of boat travel, in which case he is indeed a wimp.

yes, I too love the fact that both Luis and Cristobal are so 'DIRECT' when it comes to 'telling it like it is' and won't give in to 'the customs of the times' neccessarily if they don't thihk that is the way to do it.
 

Audrey, right you are about the cochineal!! How fascinating that you actually collect it and demonstrate with it.

I didn't notice what Hipolita and Asuncion were picking. Maybe I'll check again but my TV is so crappy it's hard to notice things like that.
 

Help!

So is Isabel Doña Juana's sister? Last night she said that her brother would be very disappointed how Diego turned out. I'm still struggling with the family ties here.

Carlos
 

I think Isabel is Diego's aunt on his dad's side, or Juana's sister in law. So if Diego were Juana's real son, he would be Isabel's nephew. Luis calls her 'tia' since they believe they are aunt/nephew.

Now keep that in mind, because they call the place they live at 'el palacio de Guevara' ...
 

Audrey, I couldn't tell what Hipolita and Asuncion were picking. It looked like it could have been dandelion greens or maybe epazote. Both those will grow in disturbed earth like a cornfield. It didn't look like verdolagas (purslane), too tall. Or maybe it could just be an edible spinach-type green.
 

Doña Juana is Luis' paternal aunt (his real father's sister).
Tia Isabel is Juana's husband's sister. Juana's husband is deceased. So when Isabel said that her brother would be very disappointed, she was talking about Juana's husband who she thinks is Luis' father. There is actually no blood tie between Tia Isabel and Luis.

Audrey
 

Anyone know where the fire was described? Juana changed babies, so if it was on a boat, how did she do that, was she also on the boat with Diego?
 

I heard the reference to the boat one day this week. I posted it in either the summary or comments. Someone else posted that they were out on the boat for the count's baby's baptism (party). So it makes sense that many relatives and close friends would be lost at the same time. Also, they couldn't run away like you can on land.

Last night we found out that Frank married Sunny before Hipo was born.

Cristobal tells his sister that he knows most novices are there, not due to calling but to family pressure. The way he says it makes you think he's talking about himself as well.

When Luis offered money, I think Hipo thought he was speaking to her, making the insult worse yet. But he was definitely talking to Frank, because he had been using tú with Hipo and usted with Frank. He probably knows that Frank would sell both his own kidneys if enough money were offered.
 

I think that Juana switched the babies after the fire. Since both the count and countess died and Juana was left to take care of the babies, she just started referring to Luis as Diego and Diego as Luis. I wonder when her husband died. Did he die on the boat ?
 

@Syliva - on the cochineal all I do is carefully lift off the cocoon or whatever it is, from the prickly pear leaf. It's the white fuzzy stuff. And then squish it between layers of a tissue to see the the resulting deep red liquid that stains the tissue. Sometimes the dye is so concentrated that it comes out purple. I try to avoid getting any on my fingers!!! That's all!

Audrey
 

PaulaH
Do you know what episode that info was on about the fire?
 

Variopinta, sorry, I don't know.

Marta I said, So how many people are swooning for Luis?
Me! ME, ME ME!!!
 

More info will be revealed about the fire in future episodes. For now, just be content to know there was a fire at the time of Luis's & Diego's infancy and that Juana took advantage of this disaster to switch kids for her own (and her real son's) benefit. She was very astute about witnesses to this tragedy (not sure how much has been revealed yet about the extent of her actions). Unlike most novelas, you do not need a beanie to second guess the story line. Just let it unfold.
 

I didn't notice while watching last night, but I watched it again today. Isabel was holding a slim cigar while talking to Luis.
 

I guess I'm just trying to figure out how we know about the fire. Who was talking to who?