December 1, 2008

Happy December everyone!

Well....we've had a wonderful time with our friends in San Miguel de Allende and the wind is blowing so we're ready to hit the road again. We were going to head back to Troncones but the wind seems to be blowing in a different direction so......We just purchased air tickets to Tuxtla in the state of Chiapas for this Thursday from Mexico City so will be in a bus by the wee hours of the a.m. on the 4th to get to the airport in Mexico city in time to pick up our tickets and catch our 1:55 pm flight. The trip to Tuxtla is only about one hour in the air and then we'll have another hour on a bus to get to San Cristobel which is where we'll find a hotel for at least a night or two.

We have a contact there (the father of a girl we met at Rosa's today) who owns a restaurant with the best pizza in town and the note we have from her to give to him says that he's to give us a pizza for dinner when we arrive. How lucky are we?!!!

Our plan in San Cristobel is to seek out some day tours to the small unique jungle villages that surround it. Last night we met a woman named Lou who spent quite a bit of time in that part of Mexico and who says that it is a must. We've heard from everyone we've met that Chiapas is a 'must see' part of Mexico so we're happy to be on the road to that state. (Basil....we know you're smiling and nodding in agreement)...

Our time in San Miguel de Allende has been very relaxing....sleeping in each day with lazy days of doing very little around this gorgeous home we're staying in. We've visited the botanical gardens which was really nice and very interesting. It covers a massive area and includes every kind of cactus you can possibly imagine. It also includes a gorge that I'm glad we climbed down to see as it is really a pretty spot. The gardens also include a large wetland area where they're working to grow the number of wildlife that call it home. We've also spent some time (both day and night) in the Zocalo (the town centre square) where everyone congregates to visit at all hours of the day and night. It is right up against the big famous cathedral (the Perochial) that is all back lit at night and with the lights in the trees in the square and the mariachi bands wandering around playing for all the lovers on the benches...it is a very festive and special experience. We've both found San Miguel to be an interesting mix of Mexican and American cultures. The city is certainly Mexican in it's roads made of real cobblestone (rocks that are about 3 inches in diameter) and very bumpy to walk or to drive on. The architecture is very old and traditional. In fact, San Miguel is the home of the Mexican Revolution so there is lots of history here (both Spanish and Mexican). The old buildings have all retained their original look and are now home to little boutiques, restaurants, and yes....even Starbucks! Many Americans call San Miguel home for most if not all of the year. The culture here is very artsy and many of the expats are here for that reason....they're artists. A couple of days ago Rosa dropped Lynda and I off at a natural hotsprings called La Gruta (the Grotto) where we spent several hours in the pools and relaxing on the grounds. It was really unique and to access the hottest of the pools you had to go through the other pools and then through a long tunnel with water that is about waist deep before you come into a huge round cave where the water causes the air to be all steamy and where you should only stay for a few minutes as it is too hot to stay for longer than that. The minerals in the hot water left both of us ready for bed that night! We've also visited the city market and tomorrow are going to go to the Tuesday market that is supposed to be a "sight to see" where everything imaginable is available for sale. As soon as we see the Tuesday market in the a.m., Lynda and I are going to catch a bus to spend the rest of the day and into the evening in Guanajuato and then Weds will be spent washing clothes and packing to get ready for our very early morning departure on Thursday.

Hopefully, we'll find a place with internet access in San Cristobel so we'll be able to bring you up to date on our adventures but until then......hasta luego......
Lorrie