AROUND TOWN

Art Auction at Hotel Neuvo Pasada. We went to the Art Auction at the Neuvo Pasada. It was a dinner and auction with Efren being the auctioneer. Great fun and fine food. The proceeds went to a good cause - an Easter production by children of Ajijic. There were about 40 pieces. Great prices too.

The Leather Guy - I have been taking friends to this leather shop because he does a great job on special orders for purses etc and his prices are right. This trip my friends bought at least 3 bags from him - some with special features, also belts. Then I took a friend there to order a couple of small leather bags that hang around the neck - for passport and id etc. I have one. It took almost 2 weeks to get them made and we must have gone back 5 times after he said, "I forgot come back at 6pm" more than once. We did get them and they are great but what a runaround - was it because it was a different style? Was it because he didn't have the zippers? He didn't say. It couldn't have been the color of my friends skin or the fact that he was a male......do you think? Anyway, the price was right. I guess I might continue to recommend him. But I might forget also.

The Malecon - Ajijic has the most lovely malecon. Mornings are great for those people who get up early and insist upon exercising. Evenings are my time, especially when all of the families and children are there. Also the young lovers. As we were walking a few days ago, we stopped to watch two egrets doing a mating dance. They were so beautiful with their top knots all fluffed up. The same day we saw some yellow birds doing the same thing. It must be spring here in paradise.

The Lakeside Little Theater - So we thought we would eat dinner at the Hotel Casa Blanca. French food - very good. Then we walked to the square and caught a taxi to the Little Theater in San Antonio. The production was "The Foreigner". I must say that it was very well done and very funny. Many of the people involved in the theater are retired professionals or people who have had a bit of experience (Duh) and so the sets, production, direction and acting are excellent.

We thought we would be able to get a bus and indeed there was a bus stop but, we waited about 15 minutes and decided to walk home in the dark. Well, no sidewalks, cobble stones and very little light plus it was a long way (relatively). A bus went by, of course. We made it - no sprained ankles or scrapes.

The Rythum of the days

Experimenting with the fresh food

MAZAMITLA AND MORE

Look at the photo. Does that look like Mexican architecture? It looks very alpine - because it is alpine. Mazamitla is located in the mountains south of Chapala at an elevation of about 7200 feet which is about 2200 feet higher than Ajijic.

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We took a day trip from Ajijic, stopping by a wonderful little city by the name of Manzanilla de la Paz. That city was surprising all around. Bustling with activity. A beautiful square and church but ... the most interesting aspect to me was the people. Many were very light skinned and with light hair. The men were taller than I had seen in other villages with broad shoulders. It was striking and very noticeable. I only wish that I could have talked with some of them or that our guide had known more about these people. There are beautiful people all over Mexico and these were no exception.

We learned the names of two of the largest trees - Indian Laurel - and Zalate which can be confused with a Ficus but has some fig like fruits. They grow huge and get very old. Okay, Mazamitla - The guide drove the car way up the mountain. Most of the roads were good, some places a little bumpy. At one point we got out and walked among the evergreen trees. There are three different kinds of pine trees and the air there was fragent with pine.

Around the beautiful town square were buildings made of wood, two stories with balconies that gave them an alpine (think Leavenworth, WA) look. Very surprising. Interesting too, were all of the children who were either getting out of school or going to school, who were all bundled up! We were very warm and sitting in the shade. Obviously, these people are used to extreme heat in the summer and cold in the winter. One of the young girls in her school uniform of a short skirt and high socks and sweater was almost as tall as Pete. Again very attractive people and a town that is obviously prosperous.

We (some of us) slept on the ride back but we sure enjoyed our tour.

San Luis Potosi Mid March Trip

It seems such a long time since we spent two nights in San Luis Potosi with our friends Steve and Cuquis. Steve had a friend pick us up here in Ajijic and drive us to Guadalajara, where he picked us up and drove us to his house. We had a huge delicious breakfast and hopped in his car with Cuquis for the long drive to San Luis Potosi. The roads (toll) were very good and the scenery was reminescent of California or eastern Oregon.

Our hotel was in the Historico District and very nice. It was just off the square so we were in on all the happenings there. The first afternoon we met a man from Chicago who told us not to miss the symphony orchestra and the playing of the carillion at 7 in front of the church in the square. Well, it turned out he had been in San Luis Potosi for 2 months practicing with the orchestra and he was the one who played the carillion. There were chairs for about 1000 and all were occupied. We were unfortunately in front of the amps but still enjoyed it - the church was lit in various colors as the bells played. We enjoyed watching all of the families - small children too.

We took a bus tour around the historical section however it was all in Spanish and the guide spoke very fast (for us that is). We concluded that it is a beautiful city with lots of parks - squares - and some very beautiful old buildings. There are many very good looking young men and women stylishly dressed.

On Sunday we were privileged to see several girls and families celebrating cince annos (15th birthday) in their beautiful gowns. There was also a wedding and we got to see photographers taking pictures of all of the girls. It was interesting because we don't have such a celebration for girls or boys. The young women and men are extremely comfortable "dressing up" and seem to enjoy themselves very much. They are dressed up from the time they are born so to put on a gown or suit is nothing new to them. We rarely get most young people out of jeans. It was fun to see and I know the families are expected to do this and it is costly.

On Monday we headed back but this time on non toll roads that went thru lots of small towns and roads that were two lanes. We saw a car coming around a bend with lights blinking - there was a horse on the side and a big cow in the road. Thank you for the heads up! We decided to go to Leon which is the "leather city". There were shoes and leather goods of all types. Many streets were blocked so that they were pedestrian only. The main square was HUGE and we would have like to see more but it was hot so we sat is the shade and had a very nice lunch. This part of the trip took us thru miles and miles as far as you could see of farm land. Probably as much as two hundred miles. Beautiful.

Last Parade Before Lent

There was a small parade on Saturday and music and dance, a little larger parade on Sunday, a bit larger party on Monday, and a real blow out Fat Tuesday Parade. The children get a real kick out of running "away" from the clowns (men dress up as women) who chase them and shower them with flour. A long time tradition which probably once meant something - maybe the flour chased away the bad demons. Those characters dance and act up at every intersection and throw flour on the crowd and also confetti. Of course, there are floats! Maybe not like the Rose Parade but some of them have beautiful girls dancing hula or wearing beautiful white gowns and waving. They throw candy. Other floats have men dressed up - one in particular made the crowd really laugh - it said "Por Gulpa del Alcohol Una Boda Resulta" and had a very large man in a white brides gown with another large man in a mariachi suit, some of the attendants were dressed as mariaches but they were women dressed as men. There was also a float with "women" in some scanty clothes posing alluringly. The side walks were crowded with families, grandparents and small babies. There was so much talk and laughter at all the flour throwing and who became covered with it. Most of it was thrown at pretty teenaged senoritas who laughted and screamed. We did get caught in a little flour but were not really the target. What fun!

We stopped by a little hole in the wall to get a drink and ended up having lunch - a wet("drowned") bagette pork sandwich and a coke. We had never had one and enjoyed it as well as talking to the owner, an older senora who spoke only Spanish.

We are enjoying our guests very much. They are adventureous and independent. We have tried lots of fruits and veggies - today we bought cactus leaves (nopales) which we will cook. Also bought a different kind of squash and some ceviche. A while ago we bought a fruit named, mame, which was good for one taste for everyone and then we threw it away. Maybe we needed someone to tell us how to prepare it. We like to experiement.

Don't want to get too carried away with this blog so I'll find a nice picture and be blogging you later.

A MONTH - ALMOST - IN AJIJIC

This is a photo of part of our garden.

We are sitting in the garden on another beautiful day. Birds are seranading us with songs. Afternoons, when it gets the warmest, the garden is the place to be- reading and talking.

This morning Pete went to the gym and worked out. Then we went to breakfast at a lovely little hotel with a garden room in the middle. The food was great and we met the owner who is from Pennsylvania and very charming.

I stopped by a salon and got a hair cut. Badly needed. The square was filled today with many older gentlemen sitting on benches. They all looked as if they were having a relaxed day. Everyone, Mexican and Gringos, are very friendly. Everyone has been negatively effected by the bad stories about the violence in Mexico. Of course, it is not here, there is no reason for the narcos to come to this "retired community". We feel we are perfectly safe here.

MORELIA AND THE MARIPOSAS

After spending a lot of time on the internet, we decided to take a tour to see the Monarch Butterflies. The trip to Morelia is some distance and so it turned out that we stayed two nights in Morelia. The tour included a walking tour of historic Morelia with a wonderful informative guide. Morelia is so beautiful. There are over 1000 buildings which are on the Unesco Heritage list and the ones we saw on our walking tour were well kept up baroque buildings with a great history. There are many squares and wide boulevards. The city is a planned city because they wanted it to be the capital of Michoacan State. 62 spanish noble familites were directed by the queen of Spain to come and settle the city. Of course, they were given lots of land and indian servants (slaves) as incentive. Anyway, it is about 6500 feet in altitude and the air is beautiful and clean. The people are beautiful too. There is a large university so there are many young people. There are the standard beautiful, ornate, golden cathedrals and churches.

Our trip to find the where the butterflies come to overwinter, mate, lay their eggs and to die, was all up hill. Up hill in the van (14 of us) up hill after we got to the parking lot and more up hill to 11,000 feet elevation, where the butterflies COVERED the trees. The sun came out for a while and the butterflies warmed up and started flying around. An amazing sight. We were lucky to see it because the clouds came back and it cooled down and the butterflies settled down on the branches of the huge fir trees again. You have probably seen all of this on the Discovery Channel but in person it is magnificent.

Now, I have to confess that the altitude did bother me as it always does. Maybe it is those many years of smoking or maybe it is the fact that I was born and have lived at sea level. (It could not have anything to do with my advanced age.) So, I took a horse up the mountain and Pete walked. Going straight up hill on a horse which was led by a Tarascan Indian young man was also a work out. Then I was going to walk down but on the way down I slipped on soft sand which was like ice. Didn't hurt myself but I was very dizzy for a few minutes and all of the tour guides thought that the horse was a better way for me to go down. So on the horse I got again. Well, going straight down the mountain on the horse was a workout. I made it but those horse riding muscles are a bit sore today if I sit very long.

We stayed two nights in Morelia and came home last evening (Sun. Feb 10). Our friends here has expected that we would be very hungry and had dinner for us.

Now I will get a lovely photo from Pete and talk to you again soon.

BACK IN AJIJIC

Here we are again in Paradise. We arrived Februay 1st and met the owners of the house we have rented. They showed us around and were very friendly and helpful. This house is hacienda style, an open concept, with a garden in the middle. Of course, from the street it looks like nothing. The decor is very tasteful, the kitchen is terrific (as if we really cared, but we are doing some cooking). There are lots of flowers and plants and even a fountain in the middle of the garden.

We have friends staying with us now and we are happy that they seem to be enjoying the town and the atmosphere as much as we do. We try not to eat out every day but we are sampling some of the excellent restaurants that are here.

We have visited the tianguis (outdoor market). It is here every Wednesday and in Chapala on Fridays. They have almost everything that you might need and a lot of stuff you just have to exclaim about. All the fruits and vegetables you could want.

We have been deprived of seeing parades so far and look forward to next Sunday. We have signed up for a tour of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary near Morelos for next week. The week after I have 4 days of painting with Efren Gonzales. I am really looking forward to that. Others of our friends are going on day tours to Guadalajara and around the lake. Enough for now, I'll keep you updated on our adventures in beautiful Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.