For this Cinco de Mayo I thought I would repost the highlights of our 2015-2016 trip to Mexico!
JANUARY
MEXICO
December 15 - March 15 2016
We ended 2015 in Mazatlan Mexico the first leg of our three month winter sojourn. We had made a couple of long term rentals from home.
Three weeks in Mazatlan at El Cid, four weeks in San Miguel de Allende and a month in Puerto Vallarta.
We knew we wanted to go to Guadalajara for a few days as well.
We met up with friends and bloggers in Mazatlan who pointed out that we should definitely make a trip to Guanajuato while here and that was the best suggestion!!
The schedule worked out like this:
December 15 to January 9 Mazatlan
January 9 to 14 Guadalajara we added two additional days based on advice from friends.
January 15 to February 14 8 San Miguel de Allende reduced by two days at the start added to Guadalajara and we left five days earlier to include Guanajuato (3 days) and Leon (2 days)
Guanajuato February 9 to 12 as soon as we arrived we feel in love and cancelled Leon and extended our stay by two days.
Guadalajara February 12 to 14
Puerto Vallarta February 14 to March 19 15 this was reduced by three days due to flight limitations and we also managed to use some frequent flyer points for a flight to LA.
Where we are - Mazatlan
January 1 in Mazatlan and we dined at The Shrimp Bucket.
We went back to El Quelite and also took a trip to Le Noria. Such pretty unspoiled towns.
A stroll around Le Noria
A highlight was on our last night when we went to Beach Burger for dinner with friends Bill and Carol of The Golden Years blog. Another blogger George of Tioga and George, a legendary (he's in his 80s *RIP) blogger was visiting Bill and Carol. As we were having our drinks Carol and I spotted another blogger, neither of us had ever met her but immediately recognized her husband from photos on her blog. It was Contessa of 5C's Que Pasa.
Our favourite server, Roberto was working and Rafael Rodriguez was performing also a friend of Bill's.
Our good friends Bill and Carol tribute
January 9 saw us embarking on our first bus trip using ETN and what a pleasure it was. This is the only way to travel around Mexico!!
Semana cinco
Semana seis
Semana siete
The definite highlight of the week was the "Callejoneadas" performed before or after a wedding. Bride and groom along with guests stroll through the callejones, drinking and singing along with mariachis.
We also took a day trip by bus to Dolores Hidalgo
Semana ocho our last week as we head out to Guanajuato.
Scrabble - 11-2 for John
What did we buy? In the brown bag are six tequila glasses.
Toronto to LA - on Air Canada used AMEX points
Sheraton Hotel in LA used 2015 $200 AMEX travel credit
LA to Mazatlan - Alaska Air booked through Cheapo Air
Timeshare El Cid 3 weeks
ETN buses used from town to town
Hotel Morales Guadalajara
AirBnB San Miguel de Allende
Hotel Posada Santa Fe
Hotel NH Guadalajara
condo Marina Plaza PV
Puerto Vallarta to LA - Alaska Air used AMEX points
The book Nomadland made reference to George.
Click below for the bus ride and our hotel.
Where we are - Guadalajara
We spent five days in Guadalajara, a cosmopolitan and enjoyable city. It is high in the mountains so the evenings got quite cool but the days were full of heat and sunshine.
We took a tour in a carriage on our first day then we walked all over the town making sure we stopped at the bar beside the theatre as recommended by George. I also had my first Michelada here.
Our hotel was quaint and historical, the staff were superb.
The city abounds with murals. Click the links below.
And more to come in future posts!
The number of gorgeous churches is astounding.
Santisimo Scramento holds our vote for the most fantastic we saw on this trip.
And many more to come.
It included semana cuatro and semana cinco
Deserving of its own post are the Chair sculptures.
Listen to some mariachi music in the mariachi bar. it's a little blurry at the start.
Here are the highlights.
We took a day trip to Tequila which was fun.
We went to Tlaquepaque on our own even though there are tours you can take. This gave us the flexibility to do what we please. We did get caught in a torrential downpour in the afternoon but it only lasted a while.
We caught a show by The Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), or Palo Volador (pole flying), is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony/ritual still performed today, albeit in modified form, in isolated pockets in Mexico. It is believed to have originated with he Nahua, Huastec and Otomi peoples in central Mexico, and then spread throughout most of Mesoamerica. The ritual consists of dance and the climbing of a 30-meter pole from which four of the five participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground. The fifth remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum.
We caught a show by The Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), or Palo Volador (pole flying), is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony/ritual still performed today, albeit in modified form, in isolated pockets in Mexico. It is believed to have originated with he Nahua, Huastec and Otomi peoples in central Mexico, and then spread throughout most of Mesoamerica. The ritual consists of dance and the climbing of a 30-meter pole from which four of the five participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground. The fifth remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum.
A guided tour to Lake Chapala was a big disappointment as tours go, but we enjoyed ourselves anyway!
An incredible five days!!
January 14 we took the bus from Guadalajara to San Miguel de Allende.
We had rented an amazing artist home for the duration. We spent many hours enjoying the heat in the garden. The house got amazing cold overnight and we often woke to 59 F or 15 C.
For 7 pesos we could get the bus into town from the corner. A cab ride was only 40 pesos. The house was a five minute walk to Mega for groceries.
For 7 pesos we could get the bus into town from the corner. A cab ride was only 40 pesos. The house was a five minute walk to Mega for groceries.
Semana cinco
Semana seis
Semana siete
The definite highlight of the week was the "Callejoneadas" performed before or after a wedding. Bride and groom along with guests stroll through the callejones, drinking and singing along with mariachis.
We also took a day trip by bus to Dolores Hidalgo
Semana ocho our last week as we head out to Guanajuato.
Bellas Artes
Coffee signs
A church reflection
Restaurant reflection
Instituto Allende
Mural at the Instituto
A trip to the Toy Museum
Scene from an Italian Restaurant
A Sunday stroll
Breakfast at Buen Dia
The women of SMA
A day at the Tuesday market
CHURCHES
San Miguel Archangel the most photographed church in Mexico
San Felipe Neri
Las Morjas
Where we are - Guanajuato
Off the bus, into a cab and were are stunned by the tunnels under the town.
Click here for a video of the tunnels.
We stayed for 5 nights at the Posada Santa Fe. Everything was perfect, location, staff except for the included breakfast.
The hotel is on the Jardin Union perfect for wandering.
Click here for our first view of this incredible town.
The first thing that comes to mind about Guanajuato is the street musicians, they are everywhere and not only at night.
Our hotel had included a complimentary city tour which was longer and better than we expected.
MUSIC everywhere all the time!
Where we are - Guadalajara We made a weekend stop in Guadalajara on our way to Puerto Vallarta.
We couldn't get into the Hotel Morales so we booked a brand new hotel the NH located on the Plaza Universidad. So new our taxi driver had never heard of it.
An overview - the weekend included the 374 th anniversary of Guadalajara, Valentine's Day and a very unusual public baptism attended by thousands of people.
Churches
San Augustin
A visit to San Juan market
Saturday walk
Where we are - Puerto Vallarta we left Guadalajara on Monday morning and took a bus to Puerto Vallarta. We will spend four weeks here.
We had rented a condo at Plaza Marina a five minute walk from the Marina.
This is our first trip to PV in 22 years!!!
A walk down memory lane - Puerto Vallarta 1982
Memories 1983
Memories 1985
Memories 1987
More PV memories 1989,1993,1994
This was also a relaxing month, not much sightseeing, well, there isn't that much in PV anyway.
Week Nine
Week Ten
Week Eleven
Week Twelve
I'm just going to do overview collages around town.
Marina - evidently we ate a lot here!! It was a five minute walk away.
Puerto Vallarta Malecon
Around Los Muertos
Rio Cuale
Around town.
General
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Frida Kahlo
Coffee signs
A church reflection
Restaurant reflection
Instituto Allende
Mural at the Instituto
A trip to the Toy Museum
Scene from an Italian Restaurant
A Sunday stroll
Breakfast at Buen Dia
The women of SMA
A day at the Tuesday market
CHURCHES
San Miguel Archangel the most photographed church in Mexico
San Felipe Neri
Las Morjas
FEBRUARY
Where we are - Guanajuato
Off the bus, into a cab and were are stunned by the tunnels under the town.
Click here for a video of the tunnels.
We stayed for 5 nights at the Posada Santa Fe. Everything was perfect, location, staff except for the included breakfast.
The hotel is on the Jardin Union perfect for wandering.
Click here for our first view of this incredible town.
The first thing that comes to mind about Guanajuato is the street musicians, they are everywhere and not only at night.
Our hotel had included a complimentary city tour which was longer and better than we expected.
MUSIC everywhere all the time!
Where we are - Guadalajara We made a weekend stop in Guadalajara on our way to Puerto Vallarta.
We couldn't get into the Hotel Morales so we booked a brand new hotel the NH located on the Plaza Universidad. So new our taxi driver had never heard of it.
An overview - the weekend included the 374 th anniversary of Guadalajara, Valentine's Day and a very unusual public baptism attended by thousands of people.
Churches
San Augustin
A visit to San Juan market
Saturday walk
Where we are - Puerto Vallarta we left Guadalajara on Monday morning and took a bus to Puerto Vallarta. We will spend four weeks here.
We had rented a condo at Plaza Marina a five minute walk from the Marina.
This is our first trip to PV in 22 years!!!
A walk down memory lane - Puerto Vallarta 1982
Memories 1983
Memories 1985
Memories 1987
More PV memories 1989,1993,1994
This was also a relaxing month, not much sightseeing, well, there isn't that much in PV anyway.
Week Nine
Week Ten
Week Eleven
Week Twelve
I'm just going to do overview collages around town.
Marina - evidently we ate a lot here!! It was a five minute walk away.
Puerto Vallarta Malecon
Around Los Muertos
Rio Cuale
Around town.
We spent a day in Bucerias, about twenty minutes from PV.
General
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Frida Kahlo
Scrabble - 11-2 for John
What did we buy? In the brown bag are six tequila glasses.
Toronto to LA - on Air Canada used AMEX points
Sheraton Hotel in LA used 2015 $200 AMEX travel credit
LA to Mazatlan - Alaska Air booked through Cheapo Air
Timeshare El Cid 3 weeks
ETN buses used from town to town
Hotel Morales Guadalajara
AirBnB San Miguel de Allende
Hotel Posada Santa Fe
Hotel NH Guadalajara
condo Marina Plaza PV
Puerto Vallarta to LA - Alaska Air used AMEX points
You had a busy winter!
ReplyDeleteWow, you really put some work into the planning of the trip. So where was your favourite place?
ReplyDeleteAndrew, that is a hard question. It was an incredible trip. It would be easier to say we didn't enjoy Puerto Vallarta this time. We had great memories but it is just too touristy now. Guanajuato was definitely a big highlight as it wasn't on our original plan but having friends/bloggers saying we had to go and we are so glad that we did!!!
DeleteWow, I had Andrew´s question, too. Wonderful trip!!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete