Well we had quite a day in the big city, the friendly policeman last night gave us great directions to get to the bus that would take us from the central plaza in this town to the central plaza in Guadalajara, the bus came and the cost was 18 pesos each about 2 dollars, the ride took 40 minutes and it would have been one of my worst decisions to try to drive downtown, the traffic was quite incredible. The Internet is a wonderful thing I found that there is a tour company that does bus tours down town and we found their base it was an open double Decker bus and for 50 pesos each (because my brother and I are old) we toured the downtown for about 90 minutes. We each had are own headphones describing all the sites. This is the best way to see any big city…we then came back to the centre and went on a small walking tour I have been here before and I wanted Malc to see the world’s largest indoor market and we found it and it is quite a site….then came back to the tour bus (you can get on and off when ever) and took the bus to another small town famous for Mexican handicrafts. The town was very up scale and not really to my liking. We then took another local bus back to the hotel Hacienda del Sol that is where we are staying. A great day and one without getting lost, although it re affirms my dis like for big cities. In the evening we walked the square in Tonola, we noticed that so many people adults children, rich and poor we mostly all bearing a mark on their foreheads, looked like a cross in charcoal, it was getting to me I had to know the meaning so of course I asked and was told that today was Ash Wednesday and it was the sign of the cross. So all the pictures are from today it was a really good and different day.

On a lighter note my well travelled brother came to Tonola knowing we were staying only two days and knowing it was going to be around 90 degrees, so what did he pack in his overnight bag, his pyjamas, 4 pairs of socks, his fold up rain coat and NO UNDER WEAR!!!!!! So I bring him to the second largest city in Mexico steeped in culture, history, romance and wonderful people and sights and what do we do, we go shopping for his undies, hence the picture of Malc and the lady buying his stuff, of course in my pigeon Spanish I told the lady the story, the other picture is the hanging sign advertising the afore mentioned undies, in Spanish the sign is saying chica (small) or Extra Grande (large) I refuse to divulge which pairs he bought on the grounds he has threatened to smack me!!!!!!! I did have permission to print this story!!!!!
Any one keeping the scrabble score??? Mexicokid 4 older Mexico kid 0…!!!!!

Well today was a totally different day, we left early for our drive to the big city of Guadalajara, on the way we stopped at some interesting places.
The town of Comlia, where we had lunch in the lovely square on a bench looking at the magnificent church and underneath an orange tree. The still active volcano was not very clear with the haze, but there it is. One picture is for the tequila lovers…the plant where it all starts. We then visited a small archaeological site off the beaten track, we got a personal tour of the site, very small but interesting and we went down into one of the old tombs.
We then approached the big city, the second largest in Mexico and the traffic was wild, my brother did a great job of map reading and we arrived at out destination, s suburb of the city called Tonola and we found this lovely hotel that had been recommended to us and we are here for two nights, thankfully there is under ground parking and I can leave my vehicle here for 2 days, no way am I driving in Guadalajara, we shall take the bus.We cleaned up and went to the town square, which was hopping where Malc had a very typical Mexican supper Domino’s pizza and coke!!!!!!The square was buzzing with vendors and families and as we were walking in the square we stopped by a police man who was so nice he just wanted to talk, you could tell he was so proud of his city and he gave us great directions for the bus tomorrow and also told us that this evening was a special one and outside the lovely church a special dance was taking place called Day of the Old Man, we went and watched this with about 300 other people, a long day but really interesting…my photos tried to capture all that we did but as I said before I need to get my night shots better. Tomorrow the big city….

WARNING

Some of these photographs contain partial nudity and are not fit for younger readers or any one with health problems, guidance is advised!!!!!!
Today was spent with a group of friends at a beach about 30 miles away, first we stopped in to see the crocodiles (look closely) then off to the beach for the usual stuff, plus I went snorkelling. In the evening was the last night of the carnival and it was a great show. I shall have to read up in my book about taking night photos because I am not getting it right. The show tonight was Mexican night; with different groups performing typical Mexican dances the girl’s costumes were very pretty indeed. Then there was something I had never seen before a dancing horse!!!!!This horse actually danced to music, just incredible. Then a 13 year old boy and boy could he sing and finally a Mexican Band, it was just a great night.Tomorrow my brother and I travel to Guadalajara for two nights a big trip and totally different from the coastal towns, it will be a great journey for him as we shall see of the biggest markets in the world, a small archaeological site, views of 2 volcanoes and of course the incredible flavour of the big city……

Sunday was another day starting off with breakfast whilst watching soccer….then went on a little adventure taking our bikes on a panga (small boat) across the bay and did some biking around the big posh hotel. The evening we went again to the town square where a huge crowd gathered for events and shows for the carnival, tonight we saw local kids doing different dances, a comedy team and 5 young guys doing hip hop dancing (we thought we might try that) then they had the finals of the beauty pageant. Tomorrow is the last day for the carnival so there will be many events then. The days just seem to go by so fast and they seem to be filled, the beauty of it all is that the weather is so nice and you can do as much or as little as you wish. Hope everyone had a good weekend…

Today was sort of a lazy day, I went for my run this morning then Malc and I went to Ramón for breakfast (English style) and watched a live English soccer game, then came back to the apartment and lounged around the pool before going for a bike ride. Then in to the town centre again in the evening as this weekend is carnival weekend and there are many shows on the stage, last night we saw belly dancers and tonight was a group from Guadalajara, Polynesian dancers, both shows very good, then we come home about 10pm and play scrabble, I am not going to say who has won the first two games, oh alright then I WILL, I did!!! AND IF ANY ONE E MAILS ME AND TELLS ME THAT SEALION IS TWO WORDS, they will be banned from reading my blog!!! Pictures today are of course my seven-letter scrabble word, the baby donkey just around the corner from the apartment; the show tonight and the cute kids…have a great weekend everyone…

this is another special picture the young guy in the wheel chair, it was his birthday and he is the same guy I saw and took a picture of 2 years ago, so I snapped him again, please go back to the blog for Jan 28th and see the picture of him then....

Just a regular day we went bike riding and saw the school and the kids playing drums, the tortilla factory and of course the pigs....another great day...take care!!

Well my brother’s first day in Mexico he gets so excited and look what happens!!!!!!!!I did ask his permission to post the photo, we were just walking on the beach and the wave got him, but for me a Kodak moment!!!!! I have my own personal hair dresser(thank you Joy) and I think the after shot I look not bad for an old man, of course you probably only notice that I am cooking again!!!!! Our first full day was great and I am so happy to have my brother to share this part of my journey, take care everyone…

Watch out the Pearson boy’s are in town………….Malc, my brother arrived safely last night and we drove upto Barra this morning and my life of leisure ended, made him tea, made his bed made his dinner, I am wiped out already………have a great day.