Mexico Again, But Beginning in Puerto Vallarta

What an interesting place it is, very different than any other Latin American place we have been in. First of all, no one speaks spanish, english is the language of choice and secondly, we are younger than the average age. And my is it touristy but guess what, we feel like tourists and sort of like it.

As we were arriving late, we did book a hotel in the center of the old city before we arrived. We asked for a ground floor room as not to have to do stairs and that we got. But there was only one very narrow bed and that just about filled the room and the ceiling in the bathroom was so low, all business happening there had to be done seated.

The next morning I was up early, checking out other hotels and there were many with space. But when I got back to our hotel, we complained a bit to the manager and he moved us up one floor to a very nice, much larger room with two beds so we are happy here.

The first three photos are of said hotel, the Posada Roger. It is really very nice, with wireless internet in most places. Also a very nice court yard with much visiting with other guests.

We started our journey in Seattle to visit our son and his family, who live there, and he gave us a new to us, very large and showy camera. When we carry it around our neck, people we meet and chat with think we are from either the cruise ship or a 5 star resort. Needless to say, our hotel is not 5 star.

Just a street scene in PV with a group of workmen making it look nice.

A lovely stained glass window near the central park.

Arches and ocean, seen from the central park.

There are many statues and sculptures along the malacon, this being one of the many.

No scaffolding here. But he was getting the job done and he only had to move about 3 more steps to get to the top.

This is the malacon, a km long ocean front sidewalk, very new and very beautiful and busy.

Along one side of the malacon is the ocean, on the other are many very touristy shops, all after your business.

The next 5 photos show some of the shops and some of the items that are for sale.

This shop was of particular interest to us as it is all done with tiny beads.

The part of Puerto Vallarta that we are staying in is very flat but not too far to the east there are mountains, with many condos and apartments. If you look close you can see the stairs going up the mountain, way up the mountain. We would not like that very much.

Earlier in the week we did a day trip to Bucerias, a small beach town 30 km up the coast. We like it, found a place to stay so tomorrow we are off to Bucerias for a week and we will plan some more of our journey from there. We have to be back in Tlaquepaque by the 1st of March as we have an apartment rented there for the month of March but until then, the wind will take us.

A New Year and a New Apartment

Happy New Year to you all and to start our New Year we got moved to a bigger and fancier apartment. The first photo is what you see when you walk in the door, the first room is the living room.

And the dining area with a very small table. Works fine for Nancy and I.

And a huge, well furnished kitchen with more cupboard space than we have in our new home in Lethbridge.

And a lovely back patio and back yard with automatic sprinklers and in that area is also a washer and dryer. A pretty nice place.

There is not only good music in the Parian but many mornings, this group is playing in the central market for tips and they are very good. And such fun they are.

A most interesting way to deliver electrical bills. All along our street they were taped to the front of the electrical meter. Can you imagine doing that in windy southern Alberta.

Besides Nancy and I, the other two people are Richard and Kim and they live upstairs from our downstairs apartment. Kim is an artist and Richard is an almost retired Anthropologist who teaches at a small art college in Kansas City. He also made the website for the apartments that we are living in. http://www.oliviasapartments.com/. It is a very good website.

The lake behind us is Lake Chapala which we have written about in previous posts.

Yesterday we went to the center of Guadalajara, wandered around a whole lot, had lunch, and visited a couple of churches. This is the altar of a Church called St. Francis of Assisi.

On our journey from Tlaqupaque we pass one of the campuses of the University of Guadalajara and that stop is always a very busy stop, both getting on the bus and getting off the bus. The following photo is picture of the University of Guadalajara, the downtown campus.

And another church in downtown Guadalajara. This one is the Cathedral and if you click on the picture and make it large you can see a very old man on top of the dome cleaning the top of the dome. He was much older than either of us and we could see no ladder for his ascent or descent. We think he must have had some angel wings.

When we went to the center of Guadalajara with our boys we always ate in the same restaurant which was very good. But we thought we found one that might top it but we were wrong. The next time we go we will switch back to our original restaurant. This photo is the restaurant we ate in yesterday. It is so pretty and we thought the food would match.

Just a good photo of the central park in Guadalajara. Under the main plaza there is an underground shopping plaza and the steps you see in the photo are one set of many that go down to this mall. It is also a metro station.

We are on our last week here in Tlaquepaque and we are not looking forward so much to go home to the snow and cold. But not for long, as we are home for less than 2 weeks and we will return to the warmth of Mexico.

And another exciting happening in our life. Jill and Len Levere who many of you know are arriving Sunday morning to spend some time with us. With our new apartment we do have lots of room and we are looking forward to showing them some sights they may not have seen before.

Last Week In Tlaquepaque and Surrounds

The first week we were here we went down to Lake Chapala, Mexico's biggest lake. It has a perfect climate and for many years has been populated with North American ex pats. On the street we met a couple from Detroit, who had pulled up stakes in America and moved here permently. We visited for a time and most enjoyed them, so last week we made arrangments to meet them again, in Chapala. The trip is about an hour from here and pretty easy. This time we got much more time to enjoy them, visited there new home in Chapala and got a bit of tour around the very small town.

This is the upper patio of their home of which they are very proud and they are so happy to live here. He is a techie, does most of his work here but has to go back a few times a year for work reasons.
They had purchased the lot beside their house and Paula has if filled with plants. There is also a shop and a garden shed and a place to park their car.

Back in Tlaquepaque, Olivia, our landlady, and her husband also have a horse and carriage in which they give rides around Tlaqupaque.

Christmas day was not only a day for presents and family gatherings but was also first communion for many young people in Tlaquepaque. Oliva's young son and daughter were receiving their first communion and Juan Carlos (Olivia's husband) was taking the kids to the cathedral in horse and buggy. His horse was not doing what it was suppose to be doing and he was struggling to get it going in the right direction and also using some words that more than likely young first communicants should not have been hearing. It was all quite funny but finally he got going in the right direction and on their way to the church.

And here are the first communicants. They are 11 and 12 years old which I think is a bit older than children in North America when they make their first communion

And after the service there was a big party in the restaurant part of Olivia's holdings. We were invited but declined as it would have been so difficult to talk. But there were many, many of the extended family and this photo is just a few.

Guadaljara is to Mariachi music as New Orleans is to Jazz. It is everywhere and here in Tlaquepaque is one of the most famous venues for Mariachi music and dance. It is called the Parian. It is a fortress like building, one block square with many restaurants forming the outside perimeter. In the inside is stage and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at 3:30PM there is 30 mnutes of Folk dancing and then 1 hour of very good Mariachi music, all for free.

This photo is of three dancers, watching other dancers and waiting for their turn.

And a very beautiful singer who is being accompanied by the Maiachi band. We like here a lot and have listened to her often. Her name is Maria Madero and has a deep and very powerful voice.

And here is Juan Pablo Garcia, very young, very handsome, with a smile every dentist would be proud of. He is our favorite of the male singers. If you make the picture large you can see a gun and holster he wears on his right hand side.

And one more Mariachi singer. They call her Dulce Maria (Sweet Maria).

That day there was more than one party for the first communicants and this one we happened upon while walking up the street in the evening. A small hall had been rented for a dance with a juke box and besides pop for the younsters, alcohol for the parents. Great fun was had by all.

When we were in Chapala visiting with Paula and Dave, they told us to try and get there on the weekend as the population of the town multiplied many times with visiters from the city. So yesterday (Sunday) we went out again.

This photo is the manger scene in front of the church in Chapala, made also with corn husks and straw.

And finally to the lake and the boardwalk and yes it was true that the population increased significantly. There were 1000's and more coming all the time. The lake is not good for swimming but the weather was beautiful, it was Christmas time and families were out for picnics and street food.

This particular street food is called cameron diablo (the devils shrimp). And many were enjoying it.

And this is the devils brew that makes it hot and spicy.

Christmas is over and the New Year is coming and who knows what new adventures that will bring but hopefully next week we can let you know.

Christmas time in Tlaquepaque

Feliz Navidad to all. It is the week before Christmas and the city is very active with shoppers and gawkers ,with many new instant stores on the streets in the center, and in the evening are very busy. We are among the gawkers and most enjoy just watching.

We think they ran out of red material for Santa Claus suits. First blue one we have ever seen.

Two very pretty Mariachi girls who were taking a break from their music.

A most beautiful scarf, too pricy for Nancy to buy. It was $80 Canadian.

We often buy empanadas at a small store up the street from where we live and they are yummy but not so good for us so Nancy will not let me buy as many as I would like. This is the daughter of the people who run the store. Her parents are nice looking also.

Last week we took a bus to another suburb of Guadalajara, Zopapan, and this is the manger scene in the plaza in front of the cathedral. It is made entirely of straw and corn husks. Most amazing.

And this is that said cathedral. If you make the picture big you can see clearly the man in front, beginning the long crawl on his knees to the altar. Right after him was a woman with her 8 year old son on her back.

And the inside of the cathedral.

From our balcony viewing area I see many interesting things happening. Their car quit, right in the middle of this very narrow street. They pushed it to the side, then got out the jumper cables, hooked them to the battery, strung them out on the street and waited for a good samaraton to come by and give them a boost. And sure enough, it all worked according to their plan.

Another car in a different part of town. Don't know where he had been or where he had come from but must have been following a herd of cattle somewhere. We wondered if he was as covered as the car.

This is the busiest corner in all of Tlaquepaque and there are no cars. Just people and street sellers and lots of benches for people to sit on.

Last Friday was an exceptional busy night on the streets in Tlaquepaque. There were dancers and mariachi bands, street entertainmnet, and thousands of people out to enjoy. There was also free tequila as one of the distillers was passing it out quite freely and people were taking advantage of their good will. The next 7 photos tell a bit of a story of last Friday night.

Beside great entertainment, there is also great food as the next three photos attest to.

There is corn on the cob or off the cob, served with hot sauce and lime. No butter or salt.

And a donut like treat served with strawberry jam or brown sugar sauce and dipped in sugar. They are yummy if you can get them right out of the boiling grease.

And last but not least are deep fried french fries and weiner pieces. You get a huge bowl for about $2.00 and they are also served with hot sauce and lime. And no salt or ketchup.

There are still 5 days till Christmas and hope all the activity continues. The weather remains perfect except it was a bit chilly the last couple of mornings but once the sun comes out, presto, warmth. And then you need to walk on the shady side of the street.