Patzcuaro, not Chacala

Two different shots of the Basilica de al Salud, in Patzcuaro
(Lower photo courtesy of DD)

My favorite parts of Patzcuaro are the squares and churches, especially the Bascilica de la Salud. I spend quite a bit of time, morning and evening, enjoying being inside this building.
I was drawn here repeatedly during my short stay in the Posada across the street.

But the wonderful street markets that start right at the edge of the smaller plaza and run all over town, are just amazing. Beautiful fruits and vegetables and just about everything you could imagine needing or wanting. Well, not everything, but lots of things. They are also vendors under the portales around the plazas. The covered wide walkways that allow you walk out of the sun or the rain, depending on what's happening.

We took an evening walk heading away from the Plazas, and into a quiet neighborhood. Our goal was a small church, which was lovely from the outside. I could easily imagine myself living in own of these neighborhoods. On the walk I finally noticed that all the building in the main area of town where painted deep red on the bottom, and white from about waist-high up. I asked my local friend about it, and he said the red was iron-oxide, and that it's a tradition in much of Michoacan to paint buildings this way. He also pointed out that all the building signs were written in the same script, and in black. Except for the first letter, which is always written in deep red.

It's a little deary for my taste, but it does make for a nice appearance. Especially when you are sitting in one of the plazas. Everything looks sort of calm and orderly. In some areas of the smaller towns we visited the color schemems were what I think of as "normal". Colorful paint jobs on every building. At least two colors usually. Red tile roofs are the standard here. They really look nice when you are looking down on the town from the various viewpoints.

I love all the colors in the crafts in Mexico. At least in Michoacan. The pinatas, and smaller art pieces, and even the table clothes, and especially the oilcloths, and the pottery.

When we drove over to the Lago de Patzcuaro, we drove by towns specializing in specific crafts. There were examples of stone and wood carvings lining the highway near the towns where those crafts have been made traditionally. Other towns have mask, and copper items, and I don't know what else. Very interesting. I was able to resist the stone and wood carvings because I didn't think I could get them on the bus. And didn't think the drivers would like me tie them on the roof. Although, you never know.

We walked around the town of Quiroga, and had lunch in the plaza, sitting on one of the shady benches. My friend had a sandwich of pulled-pork (park hacked off a big clump of roasted pork meat). It looked delicious and the taste of the pork was perfect. I tried an ice-cream cone later, but it turned out to be the kind of ice-cream that stays solid with being kept at cold temparatures. Some kind of gelatin is added, I think, and it tastes really strange. There is a good ice cream place with "real" ice cream right betweeen the two plazas in Patzcuaro.

The lovely church in Quiroga, near Lago de Patzcuaro
(photos thanks to DD)
We spent time at this lovely small Cathedral (or church maybe), right in the middle of town, but surround by trees and a park area and a big street market.

The Lake as four or five islands. The islands I saw each had a steep hill in the middle, with the houses built right up the hillside. Reminded me of pictures of islands in Sicily and Greece. One of these islands is famous all over Mexico for it's celebration of the Day of the Dead, the last day of October. Thousand upon thousands of people come from all over Mexico for the festivities.

Doing my Laundry in Patzcuaro

Last night I had dinner with my friend here. He has a really nice Blog about Patzcuaro with wonderful photos. He has been living here since Springtime. And has lived here other years. Before we walked downtown he showed me his lovely little casita. The compound he lives in is right next door to the Posada de la Salud, but you would never know anyone lived there. From the street there's just an old wall and some beat-up wooden doors, but when you get inside there are two patios and about eight rentals. Some apartments and some B&B type set-ups. Really private, with lots of flowers and vines and beautiful pottery and glass things all around.

We walked down to the small town square and ate outside, across from the park, at the Gran Hotel restuarant. Chicken enchiladas. Very good, and good company too. I love sitting around eating and talking and people watching in Mexico. In Mexico it seems like there is always stime to just relax watch the world go by. There are lots more indigenous people here than around PV, and some of the faces are so beautiful. I was picking out some Guadalupe cards at the religious objects store, and the lady thought it was really funny that I wanted dark-skinned Guadalupe's instead of gringo-looking ones. But she went in back somewhere and found some for me. She also had a couple of Christ with dark skin, which I haven´t seen much of in Mexico.

I found the shop when I was walking back to the lavendaria, where I had left my dirty clothes this morning. I was a long ways away from the lavendaria when I realized I had left my umbrella in the laundry bag. I got really really lost trying to find the lavenderia again. Finally found it, and found the religious objects place too. So it all worked out.

I had breakfast sitting outside eating rolls spread with butter and jam. I got the jam from the Hotel Gran. They have those little packets, and they wouldn´t let me pay for a few of them. And I got some bananas and nectarines (ripe and delicious) from the very large outside fruit and vegtable market.

So I sat outside in the larger plaza eating and watching a political demonstration going on in the plaza. There were about 300 people listening to a younger woman with long, dark, wavy hair talking about something. There were women and men with signs too, but I don´t really understand what side they are on. I am assuming it´s about the corrupt election process issue. There are a bunch of soldiers at the Elections Board place, with guns, etc. I guess everyone is worried about demonstrations.

This internet place is set so I can watch out the door and keep an eye on the demonstration. And it is definitely growing. I am on my way to walk around the markets until my laundry is ready. Then I am going to start looking thru all the craft shops. There are some amazing things, and some things I would love to buy. But moving to different living spaces every six months doesn´t work well with collecting objects. So I will probably resist, except for little gifts. And hopefully some succulent plants.

I am meeting my friend later for dinner and more exploring. Tomorrow we are going driving around Lake Patzcuaro. There are little villages all around the lake, and most of them specialize in one particular craft, like pottery, or copper or something. I have been reading a little about Patzcuaro´s history, and it is very interesting. But I won´t go into it here.

At the moment Chacala seems far, far away, but I know it will feel good to be home. Warmer too, probably too warm.

Missing Chacala, Loving Patzcuaro

I got to Patzcuaro mid-day today. I got a lovely room at the Posada de al Salud. It´s more pesos than my place in Morelia, and it´s really nice. $20USD, and I am here for two nights, then leaving town on the third night on the 11:30pm bus to Guadalajara (arriving there at 5am). The bus is $17, and it's really comfy buses with reclining seats and leg rests, so it should be all right. Plus I have the earplugs Nancy brought down last fall. They have been lifesavers, especially at the hostel, where people come and go early and late.

It´s kind of chilly here, but I have a fleece vest, so it´s okay. I even have socks if it gets really cold. My room is about two blocks from the two town squares, which are really beautiful, with trees and benches and grass and lots of people. And this a town for shoppers. There are things to buy everywhere. I am resisting so far, but it´s very tempting. I have brought gifts for all the people in Chacala that have brought me gifts when they went on trips. Payback time. I am still really liking Guadalupe stuff, and have gotten nice cheap things that I really like. And lots of plain little wooden boxes that I am going to decorate. And some oilcloth, my favorite "fabric" at the moment.

I have a friend here, who was in Chacala last winter when I was staying on the beach. He is here for four months I think, and lives right next door to where I am staying. We are going to get together later. He has a car and I think we are going to doing some driving around tomorrow or Friday. There´s a big market Friday morning here, and I am looking forward to wandering around. This is a big tourist town for Mexican families on vacation and it´s really fun to sit at a table and watch the kids being kids.

Missing Chacala, Loving Morelia

Cathedral in Morelia, Michoacan

It´s 8pm and I am interneting at a great spot with brand new flat screens and very fast computers. And a little breeze. No rain today. Nice comfortable weather. Met some people who are friends of my friends who left Morelia yesterday, and we spent some time at the Casa de la Artisans, which has lots of beautiful, very tempting, objects to purchase.

First thing this morning I took my dirty clothes to the they-do-it-for-you laundry. While I waited I walked next door to the biggest fruit and vegetable market I have ever seen. I had, for breakfast, a banana (tiny and sweet), a banana (large and regular tasting), two peaches, one nectarine, and a yoghurt. And an apple juice. Managed to put off my morning Coke until 11am, when the caffeine headache hit like a bomb. Took my nice clean clothes back to Hostel Allende and met up with my friend´s friends. The husband is Cuban, the wife from the US, and they have lived in Costa Rica for a long time, and now live around Morelia. Really nice people. Had a good time with them. Did some more museums and little shops.

Everytime I see an open door along the street I peak in, and take a look into the central patios. The inside patios are so beautiful. So are the museums. Incredible old buildings being put to good use in the "modern" world. It makes me especially happy that the building down at the Chacala dingy beach is being put to good use. All the old parts are still showing, plus they are now protected, and the building is useful, instead of being an eyesore and trash collection area.

Anyway. When my feet got really tired I got on one of the¨"Red" collectivos. There are six different colors of collectivos, which indicate where they are going. Of course, I had no idea where the red one was going. I just got on because by feet were tired and the front seat (my favorite) was empty. We drove a long ways, dropping people off mostly, and then ended up at the garage place. The driver took me over to the other driver, who was taking another collectivo back to the center of town, the Zocalo. This driver pointed out every single point of interest all the way back in, and even swung out of the way a couple of times to show me cool buildings.

Another view, same Cathedral

When we got to the center of town, which is built around two plazas and a cathedral, he wouldn´t take a tip. Really, really wouldn´t. Not just being polite. So I paid less than 80 cents US for about an hour and a 1/2 tour of Morelia´s colonias (neighborhoods).

I am tired and going home to bed. Tomorrow is Patzcuaro, which is a much smaller and very beautiful town. Today on the way to the Internet Cafe I ran into three Chacala people, who are in Morelia on a subsidized trip for the scholarship kids plus a few other people who can afford it. It was really nice to see them. I was so surprised when someone said "Hola Andee" to me on the street.

Just my opinion, but it´s starting to look like the gap between resources available for kids in Chacala in the scholarship program, and those who aren´t, is widening. I hope my understanding is incorrect. Hard for me to understand what´s really happening anywhere in Chacala. The family interconnections and small-town history are pretty unknowable to new residents, gringas in particular. And of course, no mattter how kind and generous peoples´ intentions are, there are always unforseen consequences to any generous act. It seems as though some of those consequences are starting to become more obvious in Chacala.

My (short) Life in Morelia

Well, at the end of the last post I was looking for a ride to the Pacifico Bus Terminal early Sunday am. I found Miguel Angel, the collectivo driver who makes the first collectivo run of the day at about 6:30am, and he agreed to come up and get me at the house in the morning, which was great. And he actually showed up right on time. I had only been waiting at the end of the driveway for about two minutes, sitting in a plastic chair. I threw it in the bushes when I saw him coming. I will retrieve it upon my return.

The three photos on this post are
the Santuario de Guadaupe

Before I forget, the rainy season started Tuesday night, and it has been raining real rain, not sprinkles, every evening, pretty much. Saturday night, when I was looking for Miguel Angel, we had the first flooding, drenching, wet, wet wet rain of the year. Streets running in red muddy water, kids jumping up and down in the water pouring off the roofs and houses and stores, and the streets turning into lakes within minutes. Rivers flowing down the streets.

Got to the Pacifico Terminal at 7am, and the same thing happened again: two times the Guadalajara bus didn´t stop. The five us us who were waiting ended up going to Tepic and then Guadalajara. A total of 5.5 hours/230pesos instead of 3 hours and 150 pesos. Very annoying. Pesos to dollars is about 1:10, sort of.

Got to Guadalajara on a nice Pacifico bus. It was a strange ride. Could have been almost anywhere in the US. Familiar freeway-style roads and signs, and toll booths with rest areas with baths rooms and places to get stuff to eat. There was a whole busload of women and girls waiting in line for three toilets, so I wandered off into the buses to take of business. No one seemed to notice, I hope.
When we got to G. all the Morelia buses seemed to be full. Couldn´t find room on any of them. Went to all the Modules (terminals) and finally I tried Amarilla Flecha, which is part of Primera Plus, and they had room for me. On a bus leaving in 10 minutes. Perfect!!! The actual bus was a Primera Plus, which hadn´t had room for me at their reservation desks. Oh well.

And when I was chatting with the lady sitting next to me we compared our tickets. It turned out I paid 170 pesos and she paid 230 pesos. Same seats (reclining seats with extended legs rests), same built-in cup holders, same two-layer sunshades, and the same "included" bag lunch. First time I rode on an "all-inclusive bus".

I feel like I rarely "get" the whole picture about what's going on here in Mexico. It isn't the language issue so much as constantly making assumptions based on my past experiences, instead of remembering to look and ask, don't assume.

At the Morelia bus terminal I got a taxi for $2.50USD for about a 15 minute drive downtown, to where I am staying: the Hostel Allende. $13USD a night. Small room with bed and nice bath. Two windows, very clean and a decent overhead reading light.


I have been touristing today and am waiting out a rainstorm in an internet place. There are so many beautiful buildings here, and so many places to shop, and so many parks. I love it. Last night I walked the six block to the zocalo (town square at the Cathredral) and watched a concert and the people and had two delicious chocolate chip cookies. From guess where? Subway. They have Subway here, right on the Zocala, and Burger King too. It was weird to see it, and even weirder to buy something there. It's kind of creepy but the cookies were great. American cookies are different from Mexican cookies, and I always seem to prefer the taste of food like my Mommy gave me. Not that she ever made chocolate chip cookies. But Mexican cookies taste different, not familiar.

Anyway, the rain has stopped, and I am Museum bound. This am was Cathedrals and (churches), and now I will museum until I drop.

Mixed-up Day in Chacala

Waldo swinging at the birthday pinata
Well, I woke up still feeling kind of out-of-sorts and crabby about yesterday. After worrying for awhile about how to get to Las Varas in for 6:30am bus to Guadalajara, I talked to my neighbor, Jesus, about something else, and then starting thinking maybe he wouldgive me a ride in this afternoon, and I could spend the night in Tonala/Guadalajara and go to the famous Sunday tianguis (street markets) in the am and still get to Morelia at a reasonable time of day.

Jesus said yes, he would pick be up between one and two so I could catch the 2:30pm bus. i offered him $10USD. He drives back and forth Las Varas all day long, for whatever reason. Anyway, I packed up and tidied up and showered and found three cheap convenient places on the internet, where I could stay in Tonala. Then I waited, and waited and, at 2:45, Jesus was still a no-show. I walked over to Juan's and asked for a ride. It ended up his brother, Arturo, showed up in about four minutes later to give me a ride.

We were in plenty of time for the Guadalajara express, which comes on the every half-hour(2:30, 3:30 etc) but it turned out something was going wrong and there was no bus at 2:30, 3:30, or 4:30, and the 5:00 bus from another company that was supposed to stop in Las Varas didn't stop either. So I caught a ride back to Chacala. I didn't want to arrive at the bus station in Guadalajara at 10pm. There are 3.5million people in that city, and I have never been there before, and I don't want to arrive way after dark.

So, here I am again, trying to figure out how to get into Las Varas before 6.30am on Sunday morning.

Interestingly enough, while I was waiting for Jesus to pick me up, my brother made his annual telephone to warn me that if I left on my trip before mid morning tomorrow I would have lots of delays. How weird. He reads this Blog and was concerned by this trip stuff.

Kind of a Bummed out Chacala Day

Well, here's some Chacala updates.

Last night the folks at the new huge white building with the swimming pool on the second floor had some kind of live (I think) music until 11:30pm. It's quite a ways from this house, and sort of buffered by the landscape, but it was so loud I couldn't hear the phone ring or much of anything. This morning I asked my neighbors where the noise was coming from, and they all covered their ears. I'm not sure if someone forced them to turn the music off at 11:30pm, or what. Usually that kind of noise goes on til 2:30am or so. Thank god it stopped sooner. We have been making jokes around town that it's a casino, and I think it might be true. The inside certainly does not look like a house. It's right across the paved road from the new hotel. I don't imagine their guests will love the noise if it's going to be a regular thing.

Of course, when the hotel opened last Christmas, they played the loudest music I ever heard until 2:30am for three nights in a row. And there were no guests in the public areas the second and third nights. It was so loud you could here it at Mar de Jade.

Anyway....

The hardware store is finishing their second floor. I have been told it's the family living quarters.

The little white rental that used to have a big hole in the front yard, called Casa Serena last I heard, is getting a second story. Staircase it up. It's right next to the huge white place. I pity the owners of Casa Serena if the noise continues from the new place.

I didn't realize the big wedding down at Delphin's last weekend was for one of the son's of Chilango and Sofia, the 3rd daughter of Leo, of Kokobongo. She is fifteen and he is sixteen. Apparently, the couple is living at Delphin's.

The little house on the corner of Gracia's Techo de Mexico lot is almost done. It's for Salvatore's daughter's family. Small with very little natural light or cross venelation, but with some nice touches: tiled eating counter and tiled bathroom, for example.

Some of the local kids playing on the basketball court (fiesta spot, schoolyard, paradeground, volleyball court, graduation ceremony location, tricycle racing rink, dance floor) at the primaria (elementary school)

The ex-restaurant just south of Las Brisas'seems to be putting a second story on one of the buildings. I noticed on Susana's website that the owner wants to rent the outstairs unit for $150 a night. Probably not during construction though, but who knows.

I guess Posada Guadalupe, a three or four unit motel with a restaurant space, is for sale for $350,000USD. Noe has been doing some kind of building project down there for months. I'm not sure what it is, but probably some more rental units.

Another place on the beach is getting a second story, but I can't remember which one, maybe Tres Hermanos.

The other day I after swimming, I took a look at Om´s lot. The one in front of the dingy beach, where Om is having a building created behind the sort-of-famous stone column surrounded by a strangler figs. There´s alot of photos floating around the internet about the stone column. Luckily, Jose Enrique, Om´s brother, and owner of Majahua Resort, had designed a lovely building that sits back behind most of the stone columns. It looks so nice.

I think Chacala is luck to have it´s one older "structure" saved from vandals, picnickers, and the weather. (Added later: And I appreciate how Jose Enrique designed the building even more, now that I see that in Morelia they are doing the same thing. Saving the oldest pieces of the town by building kind of around them, often protecting the special places with roofs, to keep the rain off the older pieces.

Chad, of Casa Tortuga, and his Dad Wayne, and some guy friends are here for a few days. They nicely gave me a ride into Chacala from the Crucero yesterday. Juan was driving them up from airport in one of his families Taxi/Van's. Brothers Cundo and Juan do airport pickups and take tourists on trips, like to San Blas.

The two other building projects near the church are moving quickly. One is a rental and I think the other is a vacation home for a family from the US.

This afternoon/early evening was a wonderful graduation ceremony and fiesta honoring all students in Chacala, particularly the 6th and 8th grade graduates from the Chacala primary and telesecundaria school. It was put on mostly by Trini and Aurora, with help by other people, including Leo and the EBACH kids. Large turnout, more than a 150 people when I left after the ceremony and entertainment. There was going to be dancing, and beer, and soft drinks were being iced when I left. I don't know how things went, but it started raining heavily about 8pm, and I can't hear the music, so I don't know what's happening. I don't think they would keep all the music speakers outside in the thunder and ligthning, but who knows.

Sunday early am I am leaving for a short (in days) bus trip to Morelia and Patzcuaro, seeing friends in both places. I am really looking forward to the trip. I haven't figured out how I am getting into Las Varas in time for the 6:30 am bus to Guadalajara, but I know it will work out.

I had a kind of crummy day yesterday and today. Still working on my social skills and my "avoiding the bad guys" skills I guess. Or getting some instant karma. Oh well, I'll probably feel better tomorrow. Henia and her sister and their kids are coming up in the morning to make chocolate cake from a mix. A much planned event that keeps getting put off.

Remember Trini and Cundo´s new website, Chacala Escape has detailed information about airport pickups, boat rides for whale watching and surfer trips to La Caleta, and tourist trips to special places in the area, like Alta Vista.

Chacala Kindergarten Kids

This year's crop of Chacala's kindergarten kids has their graduation ceremony and fiesta late this afternoon. Eight of this year's kids are moving onto the first year of Primaria, some going to school in Chacala and others in Las Varas. It was a wonderful event, and the kids were very precious and sweet.

The event was held at Mingo's, and was supposed to start at 4-m and actually started at about 5:30. The subsirute teacher form last week had taken the CD with the music for the ceremony home and then didn't show up for the ceremon, so we waited for awhile. Meanwhile Lalo and some other kids were trying to fix the microphone. I don't think anyone minded. It was a little breezy, and very shade at Mingo's and everyone sat around talking and visiting. Finally things got underway, with Julietta as mistress of ceremonies.

I can't remember the whole event, but first the retiring Kinder teacher, Julietta, gave a nice talk to the assembled group of maybe 120 people. There was an opening ceremony with the children doing some kind of hand gestures and then everyone stood and sang a song with the words "Mexico" and "Nayarit" in it, so it wasn't the National Anthem. Maybe the state ong. All the school kids sing that song on every occasion, whatever it is.

Then the eight graduates, four boys and four girls did a kind of formal dance, kind of like a very slow-motion square dance. There were speeches by the town's Juez (kind of sheriff with no authority) and a couple of other of lthe town's self-appointed officials. The teacher gave a nice little speech, saying something about each child and their parents. There was a skit with the Kinder's in costume, but without the music it didn't workj too well.

My favorite part was when each child came up to get their diploma and a gift bag. It was very sweet, especially when I realized it was the god-parents who came up with the graduating child. Just like at baptisms and First Communions. It's the godparents who stand up with the child. I really like that idea. That there is definitely someone besides the parents who feel responsible for the child (at least in theory). I noticed two of the little kids didn't have godparents, in fact, they only had their mother to stand up for them.

Anyway, it was a wonderful afternoon. The little boys all wore linen-ish Mexican wedding style shirts with turquoise pants, and the girls all wore full-length cream-colored satin dresses with jewerly, make-up and high heels. That was the part I didn't appreciate very much, dressing up babies in sexy women's clothing doesn't work for me. But they all looked beautiful (the girls) and handsome (the boys) and they knew it. They were so proud of themselves they could have bursted.

Think about it. They were way more than a hundred adults there, watching eight little kids graduate from Kindergarten. All family and godparents and a few friends (like me).

I left while everyone was still eating. It had been a very hot day and just wanted to go home and take a shower. But it was a nice afternoon.

I think one of the things I especially liked is that I have known six of those kids for two-and-a- half years, and it's really neat to see them grow and change. And to know their parents, and grandparents, and aunts and uncles and siblings and cousins too. Not all of them, but quite a few.

Dead Cow in Chacala

This is the lot next to Chata and Isreal's and across the street from Casa Tortuga.
The lot overlooks the ocean on two sides,
and has been for sale for at least three and a half years.

People who visit Chacala often notice a beautiful tall white-barked tree located right where the paved road turns toward the Chacalilla gate. People like to take photos of that tree and another tree in the same area, one with smooth red bark. It looks like a madrone.
but who am I to say, not knowing much about the trees in Chacala.

Anyway, the white barked tree is located right next to a cattle holding pen which has a water trough in it. The trough is filled by a truck occasionally. The white tree often has 80, 90, a hundred, or even more vultures sitting high on it's branches. I always though they hung around there because of the water trough.

But today, when I was walking home from the Kindergarten graduation, I noticed there were even more birds up there than usual, and they flying around very actively. I was thinking they were probably thirsty because of the current drought-like conditions. And hoping they weren't plotting to have me for dinner.

But as I got closer I saw there was a dead cow lying next to the water trough. Legs sticking straight out, bloated, but not smelling. The vultures were taking turns dancing and hopping around on the cow's swollen belly, but it looked like they hadn't actually pecked into the body yet.

I was standing there, looking things over, when a pickup drove up. The driver said "Buenas tardes" to me, and pulled over and parked. Then he saw the dead body, and got really upset for a minute. Then he said something about dinner, "comida", and pulled out his cell phone and called someone.

I walked on home, but kept an eye on the cattle pen. In a few minutes two other trucks pulled up with some other men in them. With machetes, of course. Who would go anywhere without a machete. After awhile I wondered if they were hacking up the cow. Couldn't see what they were doing. And then they left. I don't know if they were really butchering it. And if they were, was the meat for human consumption ?

The vultures were very active and kept flying down to the ground after the trucks left. I am not inclined to walk over there and take a closer look. Maybe tomorrow.

Another time in Chacala were I have no idea what was going on, but I feel free to make up stories to fill in any gaps in actual fact. Like maybe someone is barbequeing a cow's worth of beef tonight. Or maybe the body is still lying there and the men were just checking it out.

Wish I had a photo of a dead cow, maybe tomorrow.

Too Too Hot in Chacala

I think this is a poiciana tree, but who knows.
It's still blooming around town.

It's too hot in Chacala, and the general opinion seems to be it's because we have only had a very few, very light sprinkles so far in this "rainy season". It is so very hot and humid. Maybe like Washington DC and New Orleans. Everyone finds different ways to cool off, mostly involving getting in the shady spot with a breeze. Lying down is good too. In a hammock, on a mat on the ground, or using two plastic chairs as kind of a lounge. I am lucky because this house is very well designed to catch breezes. And no glass to get in the way. Only screens. I think it's the coolest place in town most of the time. Ignoring the gated place which seems to generally have air-conditioning available in most houses.

After finding shady breeze, the next best way to get cool is to get in the water. Half the town is either on the north end of main beach or at the dinghy beach every evening. It's too hot to be on the beach until after 6pm or so. Although there are always people in the water. I think they are mostly vacationers. The shower works wells too. Or watering the plants and myself at the same time. Nothing like a nice wet tee-shirt to keep you cool for awhile.

I am thinking about taking a trip later this summer. Right now I am thinking of Colima and Patzcuaro, looping back thru Guadalajara on the way home. But it has just occured to me that my shorts, cotton shirts and flip-flops might not cut it in more conservative areas. In fact, my clothes don't even meet the dress standards of Chacala. For one thing I am not a big fan of underwear. But people seem to just ignore me and what I wear. And alot of times when they are teasing me I don't know what they are saying.

I do have two pairs of long cotton pants. I have worn one pair several times in the last couple of years. And I have a fleece vest and a jacket if it's cold. Oh well, one of my favorite things about living here is not having to even think about clothes and what to wear, and I guess I just won't start thinking about it now.

There's a website www.weatherunderground.com that has weather reports for everywhere, and I'm going to start taking a look at it, just to get an idea of the weather in the mountains of Michocan.

I have been totally focused on blogging for a week or so. I tidied up my typo's and errors and added Links to Friends of Chacala, started Gardener in Mexico, and cleaned up and added photos to Chacala Nayarit, and added some photos and tried to tidy up
Chacala Budget Rentals. There is something seriously odd about the hmtl's for Budget Rentals and I haven't figured it out yet. Looks sort of okay though.

I am still practicing placing photos here and there. I can't find my list of who I got different photos from, so I can attribute the photos to their owners. Somethings I think it would be fun to have a digital camera, but I probably couldn't figure out how to take the pictures or download them so I could post them.

Zipped into Las Varas this am. Lucked out with the Collectivo coming by as I walked down the driveway at 8:30am or so. Got into town, went to the PO looking for a package that I expected to arrive weeks ago (a LonelyPlanet book that somehow ended up in the US). Got some packets of microwave popcorn, toilet paper, drinking water, and some little favors for the kindergarten graduation party. I was also looking for a present for Alexis, one of the kindergarteners. Couldn't find the right thing. Don't know what I will do about that. Got home before 10am, before it got unbareable to be outside.

This an old photo from maybe three years ago, when the church was just finished, I think. No windows fans, doors, a few benchs, and no real altar or religious decorations. It looks very nice now,
but my favorite part is still the arched brick ceiling.

In Las Varas I got some little notebooks to mess around with. I have been putting my drawings on the covers of little notebooks and then covering them with that clear plastic sticky film. Looks neat. I keep my passwords and weather records, and other stuff in little books, and these are turning out pretty well.

No water today, but I don't need any for awhile, so that's okay. The sun is about a foot off the ocean and I want to run down to Aurora's so I am stopping for now.