The flags of 5 countries - Texas, USA, Mexico, Canada, Japan

Just wanted to point out to you folks that out front of the Las Palmas hotel in Matejuala, the flags of 5 countries proudly fly. First, of course, is Texas, followed by the US, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. Japan bought their way in by building a Nissan plant nearby.

My head is spinning at the moment. So much to share about our journey from Dallas to Ajijic.

I’ll keep it short for now….

After leaving Laredo we anticipated many problems trying to get through immigration and get the tag for our car.

While we were there about one and one half hours and no one was particularly helpful, most tolerated out apparent confusion. We did not have all of the copies we needed for the car and had to go back a few times to get everything in order – however immigrations took less then 20 minutes and after we got the car tag they waved us through a line of 25 cars and out of the lot. Within minutes we were on the road to Monterrey.  (We were never stopped at any checkpoint throughout our journey – which leads me to believe Gilbert could have made it – though he would have probably chosen that moment to burst into the only two stanza’s he knows of Row, Row, Row Your Boat – so we are greatful that Josh and Johnice are giving him all the love he needs for a wonderful life.)

The weather was beautiful and the scenary interesting and new to us. We stayed at the Las Palmas motel in Matehuala and the people couldn’t have been nicer. The accommodations were great and the food served in their restaurant that evening drew us back for breakfast the next morning.

Here’s the “honesty” part…while David drove from Dallas to Laredo and Laredo to Matehuala, his leg was bothering him so much, I drove from Matehuala to Ajijic.

I’m a pretty calm person and don’t get rattled easily – however we took a wrong turn and ended up driving through San Luis Potosi which, quite honestly, freaked me out…we made it through and just when I began to get my nerves settled down we hit the mountains! I’m not used to moutains quite as high as these and narrow roads, some without guardrails, with much traffic including many, many trucks. I’m not sure I too a breath until we finally left the mountains.

After a few deep breaths, construction and a few stops for David to stretch his legs, we began our journey to our final destination.

Welcome to “freakout” land again! I was always amazed at how David handled driving in Guadalajara and I also knew it wouldn’t be my idea of fun. By this time David was pretty used to my freaking out and we made it through better then I thought.

We arrived in Ajijic as the festivites for “The Day of The Dead” were really getting started…people everywhere. Children in costumes – adults in customes, music, fireworks and so many cars on such narrow streets it was amazing!

We arrived at Hidalgo 71 in Ajijic, Jalisco around 8:00 p.m. I know David was nervous about how I would react to seeing the house for the first time. It is beautiful and he did a fabulous job of of picking out a beautiful Mediterrian house where I’m sure we will have many beautiful adventures together.

Let’s hope our furniture and possessions arrive soon and we can begin our search for just the right additions to our new home.

We are both excited!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
— Mark Twain

And so it begins, David and my great adventure….well, truth be told not the first for either of us but the first for “us”.

The unknown can be somewhat frightening (this whole prep time has been a salute to the unknown). Our list of “have to dos” has grown shorter and most items have entered the “have done” column.

The movers will be here Tuesday to pack (still trying to figure out what to take, what to donate and what to toss). On Wednesday they will pack up the truck and on Thursday we will begin our journey.

I think we are both filled with excitement, trepidation, a little angst for leaving some of our lives behind both here and in Wisconsin – not for good, certainly, but for “now”. Sleep does not come easily, with thoughts colliding and notes being made on a pad of paper set next to the bed.

What were tentative steps at first have become a march to the finish now. To the adventure ahead!!

Don’t forget to check out our gallery of photographs of Historical Guadalajara by clicking on this picture of the Cathedral Dome. You can also find it by clicking on the link in the blogroll on the left.

Photos of Historical Guadalajara

The hotel is lovely, an ancient building only four stories high.  Rehabbed by the Guadalajaraian government, it boasts beautiful dark wood stairways, doors, furniture and lovely old world paintings.  Several fountains – one just outside our hotel room door, covered with beautiful mosaic tiles. Lush greens, an ancient lamp post and a park bench is welcoming and begs the traveler to site a while and relax.  Looking up, from this park bench, you see beautiful blue skies, fluffy white clouds and find yourself breathing a sigh of relief realizing you made it through the chaotic Guadalajarian traffic and seem to remain among the living.

A place of beauty and peace

This is my first trip to Mexico (naturally there would be a pandemic while I’m here – it makes perfect sense). David checked out everything before we left. He is amazingly organized – I guess that’s what an economics degree from Yale will do for you. I, dear reader was born a blonde (which should explain some of my problems) but did manage to get a degree in psychology (my friend Bev will attest to the fact that it doesn’t help since she travelled to Ireland and England with me and can tell stories about my driving that would curl your toes!). Which led me to my first big mistake – apparently you should let your bank know when you leave the country (who knew – probably everybody). My Visa was declined several times before I noticed a pattern. David handled everything – however I was feeling awful. Hours after our arrival and after many calls to a very patient young lady at the front desk of our hotel, I was able to reach a representative of the bank. He’s parting comment after all was resolved; “Never leave the country without telling us in advance,” is duly noted.

Les

At night, the streets in Downtown Guadalajara come alive. We stumbled upon this breakdancing exhibition by accident. Click on the picture to view the movie.

Breakdancing on Saturday night

Sidewalk Cafes in the Plaza de Guadalajara

Open air restaurant on Ave. Ramon Carona

Sidewalk cafes, open air restaurants, Guadalajara has it all.

Traffic in Ajijic, Lake Chapala

There’s only one road around Lake Chapala, and sometimes the traffic can build up. Especially in Ajijic.

Halway and courtyard, The Hotel Morales, Guadalajara

We’d be able to drive to Guadalajara on special occasions and stay at the Hotel Morales.