Home is Where the Hull is: A Bus Trip Inland

We have kept busy this past month. The day after our last post we went to a neighboring town to help with relief efforts for those thost much (if not everything) due to the flooding of the river. The towns were chosen because oat lf need and the government was not offering any help. The organization that works here doing good deeds is PEACE. The following is a link to an article about our efforts and there is a link where you can learn more about PEACE http://www.banderasnews.com/1009/vl-peace21.htm We worked in San Ignacio, clearing the school's play yard of mud 3" to 2 ' deep. The school sits at the bend in the river. Not easy work, but it was great to have the local boys helping too. Afterward at the judge's house (he's like the mayor) we were treated to incredibly delicious shrimp soup, fresh tortillas, avocados, & lime. We weren't sure if we were supposed to eat the shrimp shells since there was no place to put them & no napkin to hide them in. We each crunched through at least one with soup or in a tortilla, before we decided the legs tickled and the tail was a bit too much. After a while the mayor's wife brought out a bowl for us. We were very thankful. If I had felt more at home, I would have just tossed the shells to the chickens that were roaming around nearby. They got them eventually.

The rains have let up (none in the last two weeks0as have the warnings of approaching storms. We have been cautioned not to be lulled into a false sense of "hurricane season is over". October is usually the most active month. We shall be keeping our eyes and ears open. We watch for weather at this website most often http://eebmike.com/ The lightning storms at night are less frequent too, but still beautiful.

Last week we spent 2 nights in Tlaquepaque (pronounced Ta la ka pa kee). It is somewhat of an artists' suburb or Guadalajara. It was a 5 hour, comfortable, airconditioned, lunch included,ongoing movies (funny seeing Sigourney Weaver and Eddie Murphy speaking spanish) bus ride. The sights on the way were beautiful. Fertile valleys some filled with Agave (I think we passed by the town of Tequilla) others with fruit trees, others maize. We didn't realize the volcanic origins of the area. Thought the peaks looked suspicious and then when we saw the lava rocks, we got confirmation.

In Tlaquepaque we stayed at the "boutique" hotel Quinta Don Jose, a wonderful place. The "continental breakfast" included a plate full of fresh fruit, a basket of fresh sweet rolls, fresh squeezed orange juice, along with good coffee or tea. The room was bright and cheery and had a tub that just called one in for a long soaking. Delightful, especially since it's been a year since I've enjoyed such decadence. The hallways were decorated with paintings and folk art and the grounds were breezy and calming.

At night the town became alive with action. Around the corner from the hotel their were two food carts. One served tacos with a variety of meats to choose from the names of which I was not familiar. Phileta had a taco de lingua. Yep, that was definitely a tongue the guy put up on the chopping block. With all the onions, cilantro, & salsa, it was really good. The other cart was what we were told to be on the look out for. The "best churros on Terra Firma". Freshly fried dough, cut open, a swipe of caramel, then dipped in cinnamon sugar. Ummmmm, a bit of heaven. We are on vacation, right?

The next morning we found the double decker bus that tours Guadalajara, Zapora, and Tlaquepaque. You can get off at any of the stops, walk around, then get back on the next bus that comes along. Guadalajara is filled with a lot of history, 16th century cathedrals and government buildings, modern sculpture, arches to copy the Arc de Triompeh that span the roadway, and much more. I was burnt out after two hours on the bus and a half hour walking around the cathedral so we didn't go on to Zapora, but got on the bus back to Tlaquepaque.

Minerva fountain being cleaned
(look under the letter "D)

Maharachi Museum

Inside said Cathedral

Cathedral from 16th Cent.

Hundreds of people marching for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the State of Jalisco. It seemed to be at least 1/4 mile long. They are going in front of one of the Government Buildings in Guadalajara.

Back in Tlaquepacque we eat more great food at Casa de Fuerte. I had Oxacan enchiladas (mole) and Phileta had Houichal dried beef salad. Both were great and we had to try the tamarind margaritas.

We also visited a chocolate shop that showed us how they grind the cocoa beans, add sugar, and then grind that paste in a second machine then put that paste into molds for chocolate bars for hot cocoa.. Lots of tastes of sweet to bitter chocolate, mole, worm (yep the guys in the ground) salt, and chili crickets. We tried them all. And all were very tasty.

I'm putting in an apology for the formating up here and letting you know I'm ending this blog in an incomplete state because after 3 days and God only knows how many hours, I'm tired of fighting the pictures disappearing or moving all over the page. Can't seem to write below the following pictures without it being in the center or making some pictures disappear. So, dear friends and family, this is the news for now. Maybe a stiff Margarita is called for? More late.

Love & Light to you all,

D & P

Okay, now for some sight seeing in Tlaquepacque: