Jacarandas and Jocotepec

Well, time is winding down. We have only one more week. I am getting ready for cold and dark but am not liking it. The climate here is just right and the flowers and trees are so beautiful The people, everyone of them are very friendly. We can almost pass for Canadians since most of them have family or friends in Seattle.

I finished my portrait class on Friday and am pleased with what I have learned and the progress that I have made. There were only three students in the class and we all became friends. On Monday we will visit the home of Elaine, one of the students. We are all looking forward to seeing her home because it was in the book, "Behind the Walls". It has been Elaine's creative outlet for the past 8 years and it looks beautiful. So we will all go out to dinner after. I am interested also because it is in the town of Ajijic and it would seem to me that that is where I would want to live if I ever rented or had a house here.

I have seen license plates - my little game - from 33 states so far. I'm not looking for Canada plates but I haven't seen Yukon yet.

We took a bus to Jocotepec today. Saw the town square, where there is a carved sign saying that the town was founded in 1529! Open markets, many people, and lots of restaurants serving birria (very popular goat stew, looks good but we had just had breakfast). We are certain (Elva is anyway) that Lorena Ochoa was sitting in the square with her nieces. If not it was a girl who could pass as Lorena. We also saw the malecon in Jocotepec which has a whole park which contains exercise equipment. The malecon (like a board walk) is new and is about a kilometer long. It is all planted beautifully and has many sculptures. There was a wonderful cool breeze coming off the lake.

Recently all of the Jacaranda trees have come into bloom. Suddenly purple flowers--really purple trees--everywhere among the green of the other trees. The blossoms last a month, I am told but as they drop, the ground under and around the trees turns purple. There is also a tree called the Orchid tree which is a sight to behold - very surprising to see orchid blooms on a tree. Another tree that blooms soon has yellow blossoms. Along with the purple it must be a real treat. Unfortunately we will be gone.

Many people who live here year round enjoy the rainy season from June to October most of all. It rains at night time in the summer and is warmer (up to about 82 degrees) in mid day but everything blooms and is green. Every morning winter or summer it is beautiful and cool until about 12 or 1. Maybe next time we will come in the summer. Of course that means not complaining about the winter at home.