Part 1: Mexico Through the Eyes of Brian and Carolyn

It has been a long time since we have sent out a blog, one reason is that we were short of pictures and another reason is that we have have a fair amount of company over this past month and I have been busy touring them and Nancy has been busy cooking for them.

My brother Dave came the 1st of Feb and his partner showed up about the middle of the month. Gary and Andra Bradbury and their daughter Emily and Carolyn and Brian Otto have just left after a week's stay and Jim and June Tagg came back from the coast and were around for a couple more days.

The problem with not having enough pictures changed immediately after Carolyn and Brian came, as Carolyn is a prolific picture taker and all through new eyes to the views of Tlaquepaque and the surrounding area. These next two blog are mostly of her photos, or her husband Brian photos

The first is a man roasting peanets and covering them with all sorts of good things in the market in Tonala

In Mexico and most other latin countires, the turning of 15 years old for a girl is a very special occasion and families spend fortunes on the celebration. These next three photos of some of the dresses that are available for the girl who turns 15.

The market in Tonala is large and very crowded and after an hour or so of exploring it, it is time for a rest and I have a favorite place to rest at a restaurant called MOA. This particular time a band of very old men came and seranaded us. There music ablities had long past but it was such fun and we tipped them well.

And not only our favorite waiter at MOA but the only waiter at MOA. They serve great cappaccino.

Gary and Andra and Kate checking out the central park in Tonala

And just some of the massive amounts of stuff that is for sale in Tonala,

Back in Tlaquepaque and doing our nightly walk about, we came upon a clown, doing his thing and soon he had many of our group helping him do his thing. The photo is not so good but if you look you can see Gary and Brian and I making fools of ourselves and getting great laughs from the crowd.

The beautiful and well stocked market in Tlaquepaque.

Other things besides veggies sold in the Market. It is the place we buy all our very good bread.

And chicken and eggs.

And fish. This is our favorite seller of fish and our favorite fish. It is called Dorado and it is great.

The basement of the market is filled with food stands. This one, one of maybe 50.

This is not in the market but a few blocks away and the butcher shop where Nancy buys all her meat

We did a day trip to Chapala, a gringo town on Lake Chapala and these are two old men sitting in the park. Many old men sit in many parks all over Latin America. It is the equivalent of the coffee shop in small town Alberta.

A rest time for all of us in Chapala

Not a rest this time but just good people and a beautiful bougainvillea tree.

And Emily and Andra, looking at beautiful (but not clean) lake Chapala

A while ago there was a photo of Bill and Lynette standing under this arch that says "a little corner of love". This time it is Brain and Carolyn, just as much in love.

Just a pretty house in Chapala.

Every day at 3:00PM and for one hour, a female Mariachi band plays and sings in one of the restaurants here in Tlaquepaque. Not only that but they sell Margaritas 2 for 1. The band is great and so are the Margaritias.

One of the many quite large and very wonderful suppers we have had at our apartment. They have been such fun with great conversation and friendship.

This blog will come in two parts and somewho I published the second part without writting on it so it will show up when you get this one but in a day or so it will also get some dialogue, Just be patient or just look at the photos.