Mexico–The Second Wave

I hate good-byes.  They are the worst.  That being said, it is so much easier to say good-bye when a “Hello!” follows almost immediately after.  The day Ryan dropped his parents off at the airport, our second wave of company arrived.  He picked up his aunts and we began a whole new round of fun!

Laurel (Lolly) and JoAmy are wonderfully inquisitive people and they are up for anything!  We began our adventures in Jocotepec.  This city of around 38,000 occupants is only a half-hour drive from Ajijic on the western shore of Lake Chapala.  After a very filling lunch, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll down the malecon where we observed the local wildlife and soaked up some sun.

I had unfortunately caught a cold in all of the excitement of our first wave of company.  Therefore, on the second day of their visit, Ryan took his aunts into Guadalajara while I stayed home to recover.  In addition to Centro Historico, including the large market, they ate some authentic tacos filled with all types of meats.  To my surprise, pork stomach (buche) seemed to be a hit.

Luckily for me, Lolly had brought some magical oregano oil and “breathe.”  These essential oils were amazing!  One drop of oregano oil at the back of my throat twice a day, coupled with the refreshing “breathe,” and I was all but cured.  It was the shortest cold I’ve ever had!

Now that I was seemingly fully recovered, we piled back into the car.  Our next adventure took us to Teuchitlan to see the circular pyramids of Los Guachimontones.  On the way we stopped at a cemetery that was still colorfully decorated for the Day of the Dead.  We even investigated some stacks of corn hulls.  Labor is so cheap in the area that all of the planting and harvesting is done by hand.

The day was surprisingly overcast when we arrived at Los Guachimontones.  This is a prehispanic archaeological site (possibly Aztec) that can be found just outside the town of Teuchitlan.  The circular stepped pyramids are located at the centers of what would have been building complexes also arranged in a unique circular fashion.  A ceremonial pole would have been placed at the top of the pyramids and was used to honor the wind God Ehecatl.

As luck would have it (whether good or bad), timing placed Laurel and JoAmy in Ajijic during USA election time.  Pinatas of Trump and Hillary could be purchased by the side of the road and signs reading “Our American friends, please support Mexico and vote for Hillary” were displayed on the sides of buildings.  When the big night arrived, they attended a Democrats Abroad Election Party and came home with some entertaining stories.

After the election, we took it easy for a day or two.  This gave Aunt JoAmy the opportunity to get in some bird watching.  Because Lake Chapala is the largest body of fresh water in Mexico, the surrounding areas are teeming with aquatic bird life.  She even found a humming bird’s nest in our back year and every day, she or Laurel would go out and check on how things were progressing.

Towards the end of their visit, we also took Laurel and JoAmy to Mazamitla.  This pretty little village town has a population of about 11,600 people.  It is located up in the mountains and is known as Mexico’s Switzerland.  In my opinion, this was one of the more scenic drives we’ve taken while in Jalicso and I enjoyed exploring this charmingly beautiful town with Ryan and his aunts.  It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful visit.  Thank you Laurel and JoAmy for coming to see us.  What a treat!