Sunday adventure..

Decided today was the day for some exploring and my point of destination was

This is a small town about 9 miles from SMA.  I packed a lunch and drinks and headed out for where I thought I could catch the local bus to the town.  Found the right departure point and my travel book told me 10am.  So right on time at 11.10am the rickety old bus set out on the journey.

25 minutes and 9 pesos later I arrived at Atotonilco.  Sunday was market day.

 

 

 

This town is very famous for the local church named the Sanctuary of Atotonilco.

My inside photos did not turn out too well as I had to turn off the flash.

 

 

 

 

 

This church has been a place of worship and pilgrimage since 1740 and during the years 1000’s of people come here to worship.  It is nothing remarkable from the outside but inside quite beautiful.

The  Sanctuary also has a reputation as the site of flagellantism.

Many whips are sold at the stalls in the market.

Now this part I am not sure of but it is what I believed to have been taking place.  I noticed many men walking up this side street.

I followed them and got through the gate but then was stopped from going any further.

Now I could quite clearly hear yells and moaning coming from inside the building and I can only imagine what was taking place inside.

I came back the way I had gone and then saw these hundreds of men marching through the street. I followed them out of town

As they were walking they were also chanting, they marched about 2 miles then turned around and went back into the town.

I really don’t know what the meaning of all of this was but it was very interesting and quite noticeable that there were no women present.

Off on a gravel road I noticed a sign for a Monastery so I followed the signs and came upon this sign.

It was about a 2 mile walk and was well worth the effort.

Inside there were a few monks saying prayers.

 

 

 

 

 

This was a lovely place very serene and quiet and amazing what the difference between the scenes I had witnessed a couple of miles away.

Next I went back to the highway and saw lots of vehicles going down another gravel road so I started to walk that way and after about 2 minutes a car stopped and I hopped in and had a lift to the local rodeo.

 

 

 

 

 

They start them young here.

It was a very interesting afternoon.  I walked back to the highway and this time got a much better bus and can you believe it was only 6 pesos!!

Now had a long shower, soup for supper and listening to the live broadcast of the Canucks hockey game.  I am a little tired I reckon I walked about 8 miles and of course another great day.  Better get some studying done for my class tomorrow, best wishes to all..

Saturday sleep in day…

After a very busy week Saturday comes around and I get a chance to sleep in, now I don’t even hear the bells or the roosters, well I still hear them but don’t get bothered by them.  So it was 8.15am when I lifted my tender head off the pillow…keep your comments to yourselves please.

Whilst having a great breakfast of French (Mexican) toast I received an e mail from the computer genius in my family, my neph, Andy, telling me to go to a certain website where I could watch the live coverage of the soccer game involving the MIGHTY TIGERS, in the Premiership.  So I did and I was able to watch the match live and they won 2-1 how sweet is that? 

I then walked into town and again took the Saturday morning tour, this time the tour was to a Papel Mache factory.

First the moulds are all made by hand and dried on the roof in the sun.

Then these ladies prepare them and then paint them

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished products are sorted

 

 

 

 

 

the majority of the finished products are shipped to the States.

There is a small show room upstairs

 

 

 

 

 

It was a great informative tour and again brings you down to earth to realize that all of these items are hand made and all with non toxic materials.

From here we were driven into the country for a tour of one of the nicest homes in SMA.  How would you like to live here?

This is the ceiling in the dining room.

Some amazing art work.

Imagine having morning tea with this view!!!

It was another good tour this is the last one until the New Year.

I then came home and did my run.  I guess I am still not completely acclimatized cannot seem to get past running the 4 laps, tried for 5 but had to walk maybe by next week, will keep you posted.

I then had a relaxing afternoon sunbathing, reading, having lunch, studying and snoozing.

Tonight Linda and Guy have invited me to go with them and two of their friends to an Italian restaurant, I hope they serve steak and kidney pie, where the live music is supposed to be incredible.  I will finish this post when I get back from dinner.

Part 2.

What renown Italian restaurant does not have steak and kidney pie on the menu?  Just got back from a fabulous evening.

Linda is next to me then Guy and their two friends, Connie and Mary Ann.  The food was not that great, the service was mediocre but the MUSIC!!!!

The gentlemen on the guitar and violin were absolutely incredible, the best I have ever heard.  It was another one of those memorable nights.

When I walked back through the main plaza it seems there were mass Mariachi bands performing.

I know I sound like a broken record but this was just another in the long list of great days.

Tomorrow I have a little adventure planned.  Going to take a bus to a town about 25 minutes away where the church and surroundings are according to my book, “not to be missed”.  We will see..have a great Sunday..

Where do the hours go…

It seems like the hours and days go by so fast, I have been here already 10 days and I seem not to have had a chance to have quiet time.  Not complaining just making observations.

Woke at the usual time and off to class for 9am, the school is about a five minute walk away so very handy.  I really enjoy my class, my teacher, Lilly is very good and I believe for the first time I am beginning to make progress.  Three classes and I am learning the important survival phrases, the numbers, time and how to buy fruit and vegetables at the market.  I will admit it is hard for me to remember all the words but it is making sense, so I am very happy.

After class I met up with Linda and we did some errands.  Linda had ordered a special rug made for her family and we picked the rug up at this road side store.

The inside was very interesting.

We then went back to the big mega store and bought some more clothes and gifts for the children at the school for the deaf.  The party there is on Tuesday so we have a few days to get things all ready.

Then it was back home for some lunch and then I went on my run.  It is easier now to run so I guess I am OK with the altitude.

After about one hour relaxation in my lovely chair in the sun it was back to school for  the English class.

These children are about 12- 14 years of age and have been taking English for two years and they are very good.  I enjoy participating in the class and the kids are eager,  fun and they like it when I tell them stories about my life.

Just finished supper, I had a BBQ hamburger, beans, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes and spuds, I know a typical Mexican dinner.

Now listening to the live Canucks hockey broadcast and having a quiet evening.

Reflecting back on my days here I have to say that I am overjoyed by the connection I have made with Paola and I look forward to spending more time with her and of course following her progress through the months.  My teacher, Lilly, is also the teacher for Paola’s class and Lilly told me this morning that she is happy to tell me that Paola is very smart and intelligent.  My classes are all going very well.  I made arrangements to hire a car when Janet and Malc are here which will make their visit much more enjoyable for everyone.

So truly can say that life is good.  I feel healthy and happy and look forward to a busy few weeks.

I wish you all a great, happy and safe weekend…