Lake Chapala and Ajijic

Today we did a day trip by buses to Lake Chapala about 1 hour south of Guadalajara. It is the largest fresh water lake in Mexico and is a pretty area of several villages with a large ex-pat community in one of them, Ajijic. It is a very interesting area. The town is an arts community and many of the buildings are painted in bright colors and there are more art gallery's than we thought was possible in such a small community. There are a lot of year round residents from both the US and Canada. But again prices are US comparable. The weather is mild here year round and though it reminded us a little of San Miguel it was not as upscale and high end. We met some really nice folks and shared a lunch table with them at a restaurant on the plaza. They not only gave us the low down on living there, they also gave us a 20 minute driving tour of the different areas of town and then gave us a ride back to the town of Chapala to catch the bus. A very fortunate day for us. We still got back late and are tired and have had a quick taco dinner and will take an early bus tomorrow to Morelia. We may decide to bail out on Patzcuaro as the weather is supposed to be raining and cold all this week in all of Southern Mexico. Just like our last venture into the mountains 2 years ago ... it will be cold (50 in the day and freezing at night) and most places in our price range do not have heat. Last time we both got sick from the weather change so we want to avoid that. We hear it is even raining in Oaxaca but at least there it is in the 80's. We miss the heat of the beach already. In the meantime there is a lot of Museums and art to see in Morelia.

Guadalajara

 

This is such an exciting city and a real change from the peace of the ocean. The plazas are alive with people at all hours day and night and there is so much to do. We are staying at the Frances Hotel right on the main plaza. It is a nearly 400 year old colonial mansion that has been converted to a hotel. Last night we had a room in the wing by the disco that played loud music until 4:00 am. Finally turned on our fan to muffle the beat of the rhythms. Today we moved to a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking a pedestrain street. Our room is on the third floor and will be much better. It has a elegant courtyard lobby with live music every evening until about 11. We spent the day wandering the plazas listening to music and then several hours at the market wandering around looking at the produce and crafts and eating tacos and ice cream. Tomorrow we will do a day trip to Lake Chapala and Monday to Patzcuaro and Uruapan. For now planning to head to through Mexico City and on to Oaxaca for Carnival. We will see.

 

 

Mexican Circus

On Tuesday the Mexican Circus rolled into town and set up their big top tents on the highway between Guayabitos and La Penita. They have a motley menagerie of animals that they parade through both towns several times a day pulling the cages behind a vehicle with loudspeaker and music. Most noisy and very strange. Lots of cats as in black panthers and leopards, camels and elephant and other various leftovers.  As you can see from below it can be a little dangerous.

Dec 23, 2009.  MORELIA, Mexico —  Authorities say three tigers escaped from a circus caravan in southwestern Mexico.
The Civil Protection agency says one of the tigers was quickly caught. But the other two escaped into a mountainous area about 19 miles from Morelia, capital of the Pacific coast state of Michoacan.
The tigers escaped Wednesday when their cage burst open while the caravan of the Circo Aquilar Hermanos drove along a highway. Police and circus employees are searching for the two missing tigers. Mexico has a problem with dangerous animals escaping from their caretakers. Tigers, an elephant, a lion, buffalo and camels have escaped around the country over the past year, with some of the animals attacking people before being caught.

Last year an elephant got hit by a fully loaded bus at night just outside Mexico City. We joke around every time we see flashing police lights in town that they must be looking 'cats'. 

Yesterday was one of our normal breakfasts on our front deck. Loving the fresh fruit and little pineapple empanedas. We have recovered from our stomach flu and are back to normal and enjoying all the foods again 

Tomorrow we leave the beach. We have been caught in something that's called the "sand suck". It has to do with getting so lazy laying in the hot sun and sand and doing nothing that it is an effort to even decide if you want to roll over or sit up. A very common malady and contagious too! We are reluctant to leave the peace and rhythm of waves and surf but know it is time to move on or we will never get out of here. So on to Guadalajara and inland adventures.

Market Day

Thursday is Market Day in La Penita, the neighboring town. We did not make it there yesterday but did the week before with Patti and Sam. I always love to look, but not buying anything yet. Still a lot of our trip to do, and many of theses items we will see at their source. Since we are carrying our backpacks this trip (no rolling wheels for me) I am being very careful about adding extra stuff early in the trip.
Tuesday morning our hotel posted a sign warning about a town wide outbreak of stomach flu and unfortunately we both have gotten it. We are slowing down even more (is that even possible?? ... this is already life in the slow lane) and taking it easy and eating lots of fresh fruits and liquids while we recover. Lots of reading and sleeping in the sun and shade. Nice to know that it is a real virus and we aren't just wimps that couldn't handle our hot sauce or Margaritas.
We have decided to stay here on the beach in the warmth with easy access to lots of markets and services until we are completely recovered. Traveling by bus in Mexico is strenuous and stressful and our next stop will be into the cool of winter in the mountains and we need to be healthy before we move on.
Sam and Patti left on Monday and are back in the Northwest. We miss them but are glad they had a good time and were able to get toasty and relaxed while they were here. We are still unable to fully comprehend that we are not on a tight schedule and can take our time. I guess it takes a while to really "get" that.  Hope all is well with everyone.
Below is a view of the town from the headland on the south.
We are on the curve of the beach just before it goes into shadow.

In Paradise

So glad to be back here. Once again back in Guayabitos a small (3000 pop) fishing/resort village about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. We are all laying in the sand and swimming and trying not to get fried in the sun. Nice that Sam is now grown up and we are having a great time with Happy Hour Margaritas and lots of rest and relaxation. Unfortunately she and Patti will  leave in a few days, but for now the waves are great and the ocean is 78 degrees and Sam and Steve hit the waves today and the waves hit back! Going to the market tomorrow and then a boat trip to whale watch and to another village for the day. More later.

Getting Ready

We are off on Monday to the Pacific Coast of Mexico to one of favorite little beach towns about 50 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. We will go directly from the airport to the bus station and head over a small pass to Jaltemba Bay for some relaxing time in the sun. We have travelers with us for the first part of this journey. It should be fun and we are looking forward to sharing this great spot.

We hope to do regular posts here and add photos of our travels as time and access allows so check back occasionally to see what is new and where we are ... even we don't know where that will be!