On Sep. 28, 2022, I departed Fresno Airport on a direct red-eye to Guadalajara, Mexico (pink dotted line) where my 5-week trek started to the cities below with pink dots.
Contrary to popular belief, I felt safe and never had an issue. The people I met were very friendly and I’d go back in a second!
First stop, Guadalajara, Historic District (photos below).
Sunrise from the balcony at my hotel room in Guadalajara (above).
The museums are well worth visiting. Below are a few photos taken inside a museum.
(Above) I find it very interesting to notice the types of hands in very old paintings. Even you might notice the thin and lanky the fingers. These types of fingers belong to poets and intuitives.
Some of the very first equipment used for typing (above). Writers, can you imagine using one of these, now?
Next stop, San Pancho (a.k.a. San Francisco), Mexico (photos below).
My room in San Pancho (above and below).
View (above) from the beach in San Pancho, looking toward a hurricane that did not hit land on Oct. 2. But another one did hit land on Oct. 22.
Below is a photo (right) I took on the beach in Sayulita on Oct. 5, 2022. The photo (left) came from a friend of the same beach on Oct. 22, 2022, after the hurricane hit land.
I don’t think any part of animal(s) are wasted; they’re all in the cook-pot. Just add salt!
Enjoying a meal in San Pancho, just a couple blocks up from the beach. Highly recommend.
My books love being on display at the beach!
After 8 days in San Pancho, I taxied back to a suburb of Guadalajara called Tlaquepaque for one night.
This is one of many statues (above) sprinkled around the city. All artists, of any kind, would love to see the variety of art in Tlaquepaque. I was highly inspired. Many art studios and museums did not allow photos to be taken. See a few that I was permitted to capture, below.
I especially love this ceramic display (above) because it represents what I love most about Mexico; Family.
Next stop: Guanajuato, Mexico (below).
Typical ally walk in Guanajuato (above).
View out one of my rooms in Guanajuato (above).
The houses are painted in beautiful colors as part of a long-time tradition.
My room at the home where I stayed during Spanish school in Guanajuato. My home-stay host was wonderful and she didn’t speak any English, whatsoever.
On a break from Spanish class (above).
One of my Spanish teachers (above)
After 11 days in Guanajuato, I traveled to Ajijic on Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico. I spent three weeks in Ajijic back in February so I knew my way around and had a few friends guide me to see new things in the area.
My room for two weeks in Ajijic (above).
This is the view from Lake Chapala, looking toward the Pacific Ocean on the evening before the hurricane that hit land on Oct. 22, 2022. As a crow flys, Lake Chapala, Ajijic, is about 3 hours away from the ocean.
Sunrise, from the balcony of my room in Ajijic (above)
The books I wrote are still in the library, in Ajijic, where I donated them back in Feb. 2022.
Here is Nadia (above). She lives in Ajijic and has been my Spanish teacher, meeting every week, since Feb. 2022.
Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 2) and Halloween (Oct. 31) are a very big deal in Mexico so I decided to dress up (below). That mask got a lot of comments, even from the locals!
My hotel was in the center of town so I didn’t miss a second of excitement. Loud music, lots of people and fireworks lasted for hours and days!
Here is a very large painting (above) on display in Ajijic. Artist: Bruno Mariscal.
Ajijic city center (above).
It is not uncommon to see display after display of Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) decorations. Honoring the deceased, young and old, is a long-held tradition in Mexico. I visited the cemetery on Nov. 2, along with hundreds of other locals, paying homage to their loved ones. I was told, it was disrespectful to take photos, so I did not. Being part of this ‘celebration’ and talking with a few of the locals about their departed loved ones, moved me deeply. I wish we, in America, would speak more openly about, and honor our lost loved ones, as a community. It is a worthwhile healing practice.
