February Expenses

Well, we're off to a pretty good start on the year.

$1,430 CAD in January, and $1,471 CAD in February. (Subtract about 25% for $USD equivalent). This is pretty typical of our expenses when we are traveling here in Mexico. Food, booze, and restaurants are all reasonably priced... it is only gasoline that is now considered expensive to our travel expenses here.

Haven't done that for a long time!

Usually, a good hike takes us somewhere between 7 to 15 kms (4 to 9 miles).

Yesterday, we set off at 9:00am, and by the time we returned at around 3:30pm we had done 23.6 kms (14.6 miles). Yikes! Haven't done that for a long time!

Mazamitla, fish tacos, and waterfall

We took the group into the town of Mazamitla yesterday. It's a pretty little town, but really busy on weekends because it is a popular getaway place for people who live in the big city of Guadalajara. During the week is a better time to visit.

On the way, there is a new fish taco place that came highly recommended.

A visit to Whiskey's tree, and a fiesta!

Beautiful day yesterday, and we set off with a few others to walk down the road to the old Hacienda Contreras RV Park.

The main reason for Ruth and I was to visit Whiskey's tree, but we also wanted to show the others the park that we had spent so much time at over the years since our first visit in 2009.

I love going to the dentist!

Said no one.

Ever.

But if you need to go to the dentist, the one we go to here in Valle de Juárez is pretty easy to take. We've been to her several times in the past. The last time was three years ago in February 2016 when I had caps put on my two rear upper molars.

You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning!

An old Irish proverb I once heard.

And it applied to a lot of us yesterday!

We took the group up into the mountains of Jalisco in behind the town of Valle de Juárez in order to visit an old working mescal distillery. For Ruth and I, this was our fourth visit to this interesting and beautiful place.

Sherman gets another blemish

Another driving day yesterday as we made our way from Camecuaro National Park to Valle de Juárez and the state of Jalisco.

We have eight nights planned at Valle de Juárez, and I had noticed that there was a Walmart in the south end of the small city of Zamora. So I figured the group might like to do some stocking up on things.

Another one of Mexico's beautiful National Parks

Yesterday, we did the relatively short 128 km (79 mile) drive from Patzcuaro to Camecuaro National Park.

As is always the case, it takes a lot longer than you would expect to get anywhere in Mexico. Especially when you avoid the toll roads like we normally do!

Taking advantage of another gorgeous day

Nothing planned for the group yesterday, so it was just a day off to do as you choose. We chose to do a 15 km (9.3 mile) hike!

We headed off at just after 9:30am. Our destination was the overlook on a very old volcano crater on the opposite side of town. It's a great hike because you get views in all directions. And, it was another gorgeous blue sky day.

The copper production at Santa Clara del Cobre

Yesterday morning, we took 11 members of the group to the copper town... Santa Clara del Cobre. We ordered 3 taxis and it cost 200 pesos ($10.50 USD, $13.75 CAD) per cab for the 16 km (10 mile) journey.

They say that 80% of the inhabitants in and around the town of Santa Clara del Cobre are in some way involved in the production of copper items.