Dinner with the Neighbors

Our wonderful neighbors Ron and Maxine

Ron and Maxine invited us over for a farewell dinner. The food was wonderful and Maxine's dessert was out of this world! They made our stay so much the better. Ron was so helpful and Maxine was just as nice as could be.

Ron was away from home pretty much everyday volunteering for one thing or another. I don't know why he retired to be kept so busy. He knows practically everyone we ran into. He even got Ken and I to volunteer several times. He has a heart of gold.

Ron has a taste for rum, he loves it. We had him over many times to share a few drinks with us. Ken bought him a bottle of Cuban rum as a token of our appreciation. Maxine loves wine so we bought her a bottle of wine. Ron was a chef in Canada, he owned his own restaurant. He still loves to entertain people and he loves to cook.

A Weekend in Guadalajara

Stayed at Hotel Morales

Ken and I decided we to do a weekend trip to Guadaljara since there is so much history there and we were so close to the city.
We had Juan our favorite taxi driver take us to the hotel. The drive there was crazy since Juan is channeling Mario Andretti. He knows only one speed, FAST!

We arrived at our hotel a little early but they let us check-in anyway. I arranged for a nice large room with a huge spa tub. There were three balconies from which you could watch the foot and street traffic. Plus Ken had a place to smoke his cigars.

The hotel itself has a  history. The original Morales opened his home in the 1860's to visitors. He added a second floor since then his descendents added the remaining floors.The original owner was an avid fan of bull fighting. He made it a point to allow any bull fighter who was fighting that evening to stay free of charge at his hotel.  Eventually the hotel was closed for more than 30 years.

We were starving when we arrived and did have a short wait so we decided to eat at the buffet. Not a great idea, since it was very close to shutting down for breakfast. The food choices were poor and the meal wsa expensive. We did have some room service and it was good. The staff was very professional and service was quick.

They have the European type setup as far as the power is concerned. You cannot leave the A/C on once you leave the room since you have to insert your room key into a card reader in the room in order to have power to the room. Very energy efficient.

I loved this tub! Very relaxing with jets.

There were some great restaurants nearby to choose from for breakfast and dinner. We did quite a bit of sightseeing on both days. The weather was a bit warm but we were dressed for it. We decided to explore the plaza. The plaza in Mexico is a very important gathering place. Especially on the weekends. You can sit and people watch all day long. You don't even have to leave your seat for food because there are all kinds of food vendors out there willing to sell you something.

In most cities they have music in the plaza on the weekends. Guadalajara had a symphony orchestra. You get to watch a concert free of charge! The music was great. Look at what the children in Mexico are exposed to instead of cartoons or video games! I wish we would do more of this here in our country.

I wanted to upload a vidoe but it wouldn't take. Anyway here are some pictures I took on our mini vacation to Guadaljara.

I love the way they provide art and music for the children in Mexico.

 

A memorial to Benito Juarez

Political bills on the wall. Looks like supremist to me.

Weekend in Guadalajara

We were able to make a weekend trip to Guadalajara. Such a wonderful city. Very crowded of course seeing how it's the second largest city in Mexico. The hotel we stayed at was very nice. The name of the hotel was Hotel Morales. At one time back in the day, the original owner was very fond of bullfighting. He would give every bullfighter a free night at the hotel on the night of their fight. The hotel is in the historical and colonial downtown district, very convenient to many of the museums and theaters.
Our room was a suite with a spa tub. The king sized bed was extremely comfortable.Very nice. It had two Juliet balconies on either side of the room. One faced a very busy intersection. People watching from there was great! Of course convenient for cigar smoking too.

The room was typical Mexican hacienda style room with tall ceilings which allow more air to flow in the room.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

Yesterday we decided to take a stroll through the village where we are actually staying. We noticed it on a bus ride. So we walked down to the plaza walked around a bit and went to see the local church. I like to see the churchs because they are usually very old buildings and have lots of history. Well the day we went they were decorating it with fresh flowers, lots of fresh flowers! It smelled so good. I asked the young lady who was working on the decorations what they were for, I thought maybe a wedding... she said it was for the Virgin of Guadalupe, they were celebrating her birthday or anniversary or something to do with her.

Today there will be many celebrations, we hope to go see them and get many pictures.

San Antonio Church

The history of the Virgin de Guadalupe is interesting

In 1523 just after the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan fell to Hernan Cortes and his Conquistadors, the first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived to begin the religious conquest of Mexico. Among their conquest was a man baptized Juan Diego. In 1531, Juan Diego was walking to Mass over the hilss just north of Mexico City. The land there is dry and rocky. He passed a hill of Tepeyac where once sat the temple to Tonantzin, the gentle Godess of earth and corn, whose name means our mother. The Spanierds had destroyed this and all of the sacred places of the indigenous people, forbidding them to pray or worship their protecting spirits.

As Juan passed this once revered place he stopped and stood still disbelieving the heavenly fragrance and celestial music that surrounded the spot. Before him shown a blinding radience, like a glowing cloud surrounded by rainbows. An astounding vision emerged robed in blue and gold and rose-- a beautiflul dark-skinned woman declaring herself to be the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

She calmed his fears calling him "little son" and told him it was her desire to have a church built on Tepeyac hill on the very place of the fallen goddess. She asked him to realy this message to the bishop Juan de Zummaraga. It was no easy task for the humble idian to be granted an audience with the Bishop, but the persistant Juan Diego was eventually permitted to see the Bishop.

The incredulous Bishop demanded to see proof of this unlikely encounter. Juan Diego avoided Tepeyac for several days. One day he was rushing to find a priest for his ill Uncle he took a shortcut along the hill. The Virgin once again appeared and Juan Diego told her of the Bishops request. The Virgin requested Juan pick up the Castillian roses, impossible to exist in that climate, but growing in abundance at that place. he gathered them in his tilma, a rectangle of muslin worn as a cape.  She told him not to put them down until he was in the precense of the church dignatary. When he this this in the church in Tlatelolco, they saw that the front of his tilma was emblazoned with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the miraculous blossoms lay at her feet.

Juan Diegos mantle preserved in the new Basilica has been subjected to extensive analysis over the years.Experts have authenticated the fabric to be from the 16th century but not have been able to determine the type of pigment from which the image is rendered.

A miracle indeed.

The beautiful Virgin de Guadalupe

The aisles were being decorated with fresh flowers

San Antonio plaza gazebo

Toms Bar

We frequented Tom's bar many times while we were in Chapala. The atmosphere was great, and the bartender Marisol was even better! She knew how to take care of her customers.

She has a bubbly personality, a genuine laugh and great with her boss Tom's children. Ken nicknamed her Mexico City because he had a hard time pronouncing her name.

Marisol our favorite bartender in Ajijic

Our Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa trip

Well we are back from our week long trip to Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa. We had a wonderful time, the food was great and the locals were wonderful! Can't wait to go back to Yelapa! Puerto Vallarta was very nice too, but we preferred Yelapa over the hustle and bustle of Puerto Vallarta.

As soon as you get off the boat there are a couple of men waiting with iguana's. If  you take them to pose for a picture there is a small fee. So be prepared to pay.

The village is charming from what I could see from the beach. Although I never made it to the village many of the people came to us. Bringing with them their wares and trinkets.

Here we are having dinner at Chico's Bar & Grill in Yelapa.

I have to say the food and service were outstanding! The bar is owned by a very pretty lady by the name of Yasmin Vazquez, she has a bubbly personality which you notice right away. She is a wonderful hostess. Her youngest daughter who we met is very cute and seemingly shy, but her mother said that was not how she usually was, so maybe it was just us.

 Back at Puerto Vallarta Ken, Javier and myself went shopping and sightseeing. We found this little outdoor round bar in one of the outdoor shopping malls. We stopped for a drink and cuban cigars.

The food was delicious and pleasing to the eye as well.

We took off from Ajijic and headed to the bus station in Guadalajara. Juan our driver picked us up and drove us there for 250 pesos for a total of four people. It took about 45 minutes to get there so the $20 is a great deal!  We call him to pick us up, take us somewhere tell him what time to return and he is there on the dot! What service we have here in Mexico. One thing too he drives very very fast. He does 140 Kilometers in a 80 Kilometer highway. But he is an excellent driver. He has been doing this for over 20 years.

The bus ride was very comfortable. We chose Primera Plus which is a First class bus line. They have reclining seats, leg rests, movies, snack bar, his and hers bathrooms and of course A/C. They give you a bag lunch and choice of sodas or water. The sandwich is a croissant with ham and some sort of soft cheese which is out of this world! The tickets costs 1100 Pesos roundtrip for both of us. Around $85

Drinks are great in Mexico!

We were tired of sitting around so we decided we'd go for a walk. My nieghbor had mentioned to me that they might be able to fill a prescription that I had at this little Pharmacy down the hill. Yeah that dreadful hill which once you are down it, you have to come back up it!

The lady told me to come back tomorrow and she would be able to fill it. So we noticed across the road something was happening at the local liquor store. We crossed the carraterra in order to check it out. Well they were having a wine tasting. Which I thought was great since they have so darn many wines here you just don't know what to choose. We bought a few bottles of wine and they gave us little mini's to go with them.

We decided to check out the rum aisle and found some Cuban rum ,we bought one bottle of that to take home too. Since our neighbor who is very nice about giving us rides here and there likes rum.

Once we bought that Ken said well we should probably haul our loot up the hill back home. WAIT! I hate that hill. So I suggested we stop at Letys Marisco, anything to avoid that HILL! Ken wasn't hungry enough to eat so I ordered myself a couple of seviche tacos. Yummy! He had a Leon and I had a glass of white wine. Very good I might add. The salsa here is always great too.

We met and talked with a Canadian gentleman who has lived in the area for 12 years. He just loves it here. and told us that when they talk to people back home they want to keep this place small and hidden so he tells them stuff like " I had to walk the wall last night, it was my turn. We take turns walking the wall to keep intruders out" his friends think he's crazy to live somewhere that Dangerous! LOL

It is very safe here, the people are great! I love this town. Ken and I don't want to jump the gun though, we are still going to look at other places. But this place is a great place to get your feet wet and to give you a sense of peace.


Well Ken discovered Tequila! We were eating at Mariscos Lety and while we were sipping our wine and beer, this guy at a table next to us was getting a refill. Ken looked over and said WOW look at that bottle of wine! Well apparantly it was not wine but Tequila and it was a HUGE bottle. I had to take a picture of Ken holding this bottle!

Huge bottle of Tequila!

After a few wines, and a few beers we decided we better get our bottles back home! Darn had to climb that dang hill. I barely made it up this time! I tell you the next time we are taking a cab back! My legs were on fire! Ken said oh that's good! Like hell that's good! Let me set fire to your legs!

Oh I forgot to mention, there is this rabid looking dog very sickly with red eyes, his beard kinda looks like foam coming from his mouth when you first glance at him, He can be very intimidating. He always barks a few barks at you. Some days we don't see him and I wonder if he went off somewhere and died? Well yesterday we saw him, he was just laying there on his side with his eyes closed. Ken said " is he dead?" and I got a closer look then he opened his eyes! but no barking. I said "hmm I wonder why he didn't bark? "Ken answered " it's Siesta time!" and I'm like "oh yeah it is huh? "Duh! Even dogs honor Siesta time in Mexico.

The Food in Mexico is Great

I must admit, I wasn't too sure how the food was going to be here, well I have to tell you it's great! I have yet to eat something that I didn't like. We try everything we can. I found out that I love Octopus and Jicama.

I am keeping my eye out for Sugar Apples and Gineps. The Limes here are the size of the lemons back home. They sooo juicy. The tomatos are picked when they are ripe so they are amazingly sweet. The avocados are heaven. They are huge and ripe, sweet and soft like butter. Yummy I cannot get enough of them.

The meat is extraordinary! The beef is marbled like Kobi beef, the chicken is bright yellow due to the corn they have been fed and they are big and plump. But most of all they are tender and juicy.

The berries are out of this world! Nothing like fresh strawberries and fresh lime added to your rum and a couple of sugar cubes makes the most spectacular daquiris.

Check out these berries!

Fresh vegetables

Our Second Week in Mexico

We spent most of the first week walking around. Our second week was spent with me recovering from muscle aches etc. I am still a bit sore, we have walked some during our second week but not near as much as we did on the first week.

We did go to a craft fair which was wonderful. There were all sorts of pottery, linens, paintings, jewelry etc. Not much different then the Art in the Park we have in town. I fell in love with all the artisians there, Ken kept me on my budget, thank goodness he was there or he'd have to go back to work.

Some nice Pineapple pottery

Ken and I had to check out the Tequila stand and yes we bought a bottle of Arette Anejo for $220 pesos plus for $30 more pesos we got a set of shot glasses.

Our First Week in Mexico

I know this was supposed to be a daily adventure, but Facebook seems to be the first place I go to when I log on to my laptop.
I told Ken maybe he should do the blog, so I think he will start keeping up with it.

Our first day here was uneventful. The flight from Phoenix to Guadalajara was very comfortable and quick. We got off the plane no problemo going through customs, found a cab and off we went to Ajijic.

It took us about 30 minutes but we got there in one piece. The roads are great, divided four lane road most of the way, then two lane paved for about 5 miles.

The weather here has been the best part of our travels, consistently in the low to mid 70's. Great for walking, no overheating.

We did not rent a car since they are very expensive here, about $1000 for a month! So we are on foot. Which is ok. We can get out and about catch a cab if we get tired for about $3 or take a bus for about .50 cents. Our wonderful neighbors offer us rides whenever they are headed somewhere too.

Here is Ken at the entrance to our condo.

Lake Chapala

Ken volunteered to bartend at a local craft fair for the Lake Chapala Society club

A view back from the boat pier

Our Hacienda for two months

This is a little patio in the back for dining alfresco.

Guest bedroom. Come on down!

This says it all!

One week countdown begins!

I have not packed one bag and yet, we have only one week left till we leave! I have been pouring over blogs others have written about their travels to Mexico and beyond. I am forever grateful to the internet and all the fine people who are willing to share their travel adventures both the good and the bad.

I will be meeting many of the bloggers who I follow over the net. I've already arranged a meeting with a fellow traveler in Lake Chapala and maybe one in Yelapa.

I finally got my Magic Jack today and tried it out. Perfect for us. What more can I say?