RVing Mexico 2016

Saturday, 12 March 2016

Patzcuarro February 13 - 16, 2016

Our tour today began in Santa Clara del Cobre, a short drive from Patzcuarro. We stopped at a store selling items from large vases, wall decorations to jewellery all made from copper. We proceeded to the rear of the store where they have the workshop.

Our campsite at Patzcuarro

City view from the campground

Our group touring the copper products store

Copper products manufacturing

Forming copper goods (gender equality)!

Stone sculpture for sale

Stan "chilling" while Colleen shops

The Danza de los Viejitos, or the Dance of the Little Old Men

Sunday, 6 March 2016

Map of our route from Nogales AZ through Mexico and back to AZ

Cuitzeo Feb. 9 - 12, 2016

Cuitzeo Feb. 9 – 12, 2016

February 10, 2016
Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary

We had an 8 am departure for this tour to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. The transport of the day was bus, horseback and walking into the sanctuary. The drive there was approximately 2 hours, 15 minute horseback and about 20-30 minute hike depending on your lung capacity at over 10,000 feet! The temperature was quite cool and unfortunately the best butterfly flight activity is during warm temperatures. We did manage to see a few flying but not the spectacular sight it would have been had it been warmer. The hike back was a bit of an incline, with several stops to get the oxygen levels up we made it back with no problems.

February 11, 2016

City Tour of Morelia

We had a great tour of the city of Morelia, including stops at the Government Palace, Cathedral of Morelia, and the Tourism Exposition. We were to meet in front of the Cathedral to go for lunch (I know more dining!!), and some of the streets had been closed for a teachers protest.

Drivers and dog briefing

Another one of many parades

One of several Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries

Giddy up!?

Trail ride partway to the "Monarchs"

There are thousands of butterflies attached to the tree trunks (honest)!

Most of the butterflies are "resting" because of the cool air

One butterfly was fairly active.

Betty, Anne and Colleen (tres amigas)

Mexican Santa Claus looks a little different than ours

Distance signpost to many cities

Interesting visual presentation of Mexican history with moving statues

Delicious fruit snack

Pope Francisco was visiting Morelia during February

Anne with a new "look"

Guanajuato Feb. 5 - 8, 2016

Guanajuato Feb. 5 – 8, 2016

We arrived in Guanajuato mid afternoon and were greeted by Kevin and Ruth Read. They will be our Wagon Masters for the next 4 weeks. Our Wagon Master, Paul has to leave us to get his wife Terry to Puerto Vallarta for a flight back to Canada for medical treatments. We will see them again March 3. Paul has given us orders to be on good behavior for our new leaders! J

Our tour began with a stop at the ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera. The hacienda was the summer home for Captain Gabriel de Barrera. Beautiful gardens surround the hacienda providing a tranquil area and opened as a museum in 1979.

The Rio Guanajuato used to flow beneath the city of Guanajuato, and frequently caused the streets to flood during the rainy season. A dam was constructed in the mid 20^th century to redirect the river into underground caverns. This left behind a network of underground tunnels that were converted into roadways to accommodate the city’s traffic.

Following a stop at the viewpoint overlooking the city we toured the opera house and a break for lunch. Before returning to the RV park we had free time to go to the Mercado, the main market in the downtown area.

In the evening we returned to the downtown area to follow the serenading of the Estudentes music. We followed them through the narrow streets and alleyways to our destination Callejon del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), an alley so narrow that couples can kiss from opposite balconies.

On Sunday we had a "memorable" 50th Superbowl get together with potluck style dinner with good food!

San Miguel day trip
Started with a country bus tour to quaint village of San Miguel. After a visit to two pottery production facilities (one was individual art and the other was mass production) we enjoyed lunch (it's true - that's all we do)!? We were able to view a parade in the town square and enjoy ice cream.

Sunrise over the park

Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera

Gardens

Mercado (almost everything available)

Tortillas by the volume

Bob and Betty's dog Resa

1955 Chev still used everyday

Superbowl

Tres Amigos

More Lunch

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Mazatlan January 27 - 29 2016

Mazatlan Jan. 27 – 29, 2016

We have been to Mazatlan before, but many years have passed since our last visit. The population and size of the city has more than doubled. On our first evening we were bussed over to the El Cid Hotel to enjoy a Mexican Fiesta dinner and show. The food was delicious and the entertainment great.

Our next day Larry joined 8 others for a morning of deep sea fishing and the balance of our group had a city tour. The drivers were very knowledgeable and entertaining. Following our tour we lunched at the Playa Bruja .

The next morning we had a full day country bus tour to La Noria and El Quelite including a stop at an artisan leather shop. Following lunch was a stop at a rooster breeder of cock fighters. This was not a highlight for Anne (see pic). That evening we joined our good friends Paul and Gwen Ysselmuiden for dinner on the beach.