Mexico Week Part 1: Feast for the Senses

Beauty of Mexico

Hilltop View of Patzcuaro Area	Isla Janitzio, Patzcuaro	Laguna de Chapala
Plaza, Guanajuato	Panoramic View Of Guanajuato	Outstanding Scenery

Paula: It’s beautiful everywhere in Mexico. Every time you round a bend, there is a new surprise to enjoy.  Most of the roads were really good.   There were toll highways if you wanted to make time.  In most cases, we preferred to take the free roads, which took us through all the towns and villages.  One of our favorite drives was along the Old Mex 15 Highway heading west to Morelia.  Simply breathtaking views!
 
The scenery throughout the area was absolutely gorgeous.  Unfortunately, there were many places where we would have liked to stop and take pictures, but there were not areas to pull the rig off the road.  While you’re driving, you’ll see donkeys, pigs, horses, and cows in the middle of the road.  There are few fences.  Animals were everywhere.  They always brought a smile to our face and there was another photo opportunity.

Jerry: Mexico is so diverse with the oceans, lakes, mountains, and lowlands. Driving through the larger cities the roads were wider, but there was also a lot more traffic.  In the smaller cities there was less traffic, but the streets were more narrow.  You have to keep on your toes which, at times, is difficult with so much to see.
 
Paula: The landscape in mainland Mexico is so diverse, as Jerry mentioned.  When we were in Zacatecas and Guanajuato, we took cable car rides.   When you get to these high-elevation destinations, there are such great views.

Colors of Mexico

Folk Dancers, Tlaquepaque	Hand Washed (ouch) El Rosario	Colors of Mexico Invade the Camper
Mercado, Guanajuato	Paula & Pottery-Gorky Gonzalez Studio, Guanajuato	Textile Plant, Patzcuaro

Jerry: While in Patzcuaro, Mexico we went on a tour of a textile factory.  We met a man at his retail store and our friends were asking him questions about fabric.
 
Paula: He offered to give us a tour, drove us there and took us through the factory.  We saw them weaving beautiful tablecloths, blankets, placemats, and shawls.  The picture of the spools of yarn was taken at the factory.

At the many shops we visited, we bought bright and colorful tablecloths and pillow covers that we have in our camper.  They are incredibly inexpensive when you consider all of the work involved.  Some of the pillow covers are hand embroidered with scenes of the Mexican way of life.  The colors are so vibrant there – the fabrics, buildings, artwork, décor, flowers, produce, and traditional clothing.

Tastes of Mexico

Breakfast By Our Friend Ken, Villa Patzcuaro	Delicioso! Guanajuato	Dinner In Tlaquepaque
Exotic Ice Cream Flavors, Dolores Hidalgo	HOT Tamales, Patzcuaro	Tequila Bottle, Guanajuato

Jerry: On our trip, we probably split fifty-fifty with cooking in our truck camper and going out to restaurants.  There are wonderful grocery stores in all of the larger towns and cities.  We got food very easily.

Paula: Plus, fresh vegetables are readily available all the time, so we really took advantage of that.  As you can see from our pictures, there are huge markets that have beautifully arranged herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  My favorite food was the coconut mango shrimp I had in Guadalajara.  It’s to die for!

Jerry: I liked the slow-roasted pork from the vendors on the street.  It cooks between ten and twelve hours.  They sell it by the pound and wrap it in tin foil.  When you pull it apart it’s so tender and flavorful.  We would take it back to the truck camper and it made for many inexpensive, delicious meals in tortillas and stir-fry.
 
I also ate this tiny little fish that was about the size of sardines.  The Mexican people would deep-fry them whole outside in large woks. The fish still had their heads and eyeballs.  It’s a real fast food item down there.  They eat them like french fries. Paula was a definite no on that particular food item.

Then, in Dolores Hildago we sampled the many exotic ice-cream flavors that town is famous for, such as tequla, shrimp, and beer, to just name a few.  They had free samples for taste-testing.  After sampling many, we wound up eating strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate.  Such adventurers!

Throughout Mexico we had no problem finding fresh water.  We only drank purified water.  90% of RVers use the water provided at the campgrounds for showering and washing dishes.  However, they put a small amount of bleach or a bottled purifier that you can find in the grocery stores in the tank, before using the water. Even in smaller towns we found water very easily in all the food stores.  The people in Mexico also drink purified water.

Paula: We even used purified water in our fresh-water tank.   Jerry developed increased muscle power pouring large jugs of purified water into our fresh water tank.  I held the funnel!  What a woman, ‘eh?

Mexico Week Part 2: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Mexico Week continues on Wednesday.  We will experience the architecture, the people, and the butterflies of Mexico.  Stay tuned for more Mexican adventures of Jerry & Paula Gale.